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ASSAM · CIVIL SERVICES

APSC Combined Competitive Examination (CCE): syllabus and eligibility

APSC CCE key facts
Conducting bodyAssam Public Service Commission (APSC). Official website ↗
PostsAssam Civil Service (Jr. Grade), Assam Police Service (Jr. Grade), District Transport Officer, Superintendent of Excise, Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Assam Urban Administrative Service (EO Jr. Gr. II), Inspector of Labour, Inspector of Excise, Assistant Employment Officer, Sub-Registrar, Research Assistant (Border Protection and Development Department)
QualificationA degree from a university set up by an Act of Parliament or a state legislature, a deemed university under the UGC Act, or a qualification the government has declared equivalent. You must hold it on the date you apply.
Age limit21–38 years on 1 January 2025 (general category)
DomicileRequired
Selection stagesPreliminary exam: two objective papers of 200 marks each, for screening only → Main written exam for 11 to 12 times the vacancies in each category: an Essay paper and five General Studies papers, 250 marks each → Interview/Personality Test: 180 marks, for candidates in a 1:3 ratio to vacancies → Final ranking on main written plus interview marks (1,680 in all)
Latest notificationAPSC Advt. No. 01/2026: Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination, 2025 · 78 vacancies

Last checked . Sources

About APSC CCE

The APSC CCE is how the Assam Public Service Commission fills the state's senior administrative posts, including Assam Civil Service and Assam Police Service at junior grade. The CCE 2025 cycle (Advertisement No. 01/2026, dated 10 April 2026) lists 78 vacancies across 11 services. You need a degree and must be an original inhabitant of Assam. Selection moves through a screening prelims, a six-paper written main exam and an interview.

Eligibility

Age limit

General category: 21–38 years, counted on 1 January 2025.

Age relaxation

  • SC: 5 years
  • ST: 5 years
  • OBC: 3 years
  • PwBD: 10 years
  • SC, ST(P) and ST(H): 5 years (up to 43)
  • OBC/MOBC: 3 years (up to 41)
  • PwBD: 10 years, whatever the category
  • Ex-servicemen: only where a post is reserved for them, and none is reserved in CCE 2025

Qualification

A degree from a university set up by an Act of Parliament or a state legislature, a deemed university under the UGC Act, or a qualification the government has declared equivalent. You must hold it on the date you apply.

Other conditions

  • You must be an original inhabitant of Assam.
  • You must be registered with a District Employment Office in Assam.
  • You should be able to speak Assamese, another official or associate official language of the state, or one of its tribal languages.
  • A small family norms declaration (Form-A) is part of the prelims application.

Selection process

  1. Preliminary exam: two objective papers of 200 marks each, for screening only
  2. Main written exam for 11 to 12 times the vacancies in each category: an Essay paper and five General Studies papers, 250 marks each
  3. Interview/Personality Test: 180 marks, for candidates in a 1:3 ratio to vacancies
  4. Final ranking on main written plus interview marks (1,680 in all)

Exam pattern

Preliminary exam

Mode: Objective multiple choice · Duration: 2 hours per paper · Negative marking: One-fourth of a question's marks cut for each wrong answer; marking more than one option counts as wrong

SUBJECTMARKS
Paper I: General Studies I200
Paper II: General Studies II (qualifying, 33% needed)200

Main written exam

Mode: Descriptive papers, written in English or Assamese · Duration: 3 hours per paper

SUBJECTMARKS
Paper 1: Essay250
Papers 2 to 6: General Studies (250 each)1250

Interview/Personality Test

SUBJECTMARKS
Interview180

APSC CCE syllabus

Prelims Paper I: General Studies I

  • Current events of national and international importance
  • History of India and the Indian National Movement
  • Indian and world geography: physical, social and economic
  • Indian polity and governance: Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, public policy, rights issues
  • Economic and social development: sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector schemes
  • Environmental ecology, biodiversity and climate change
  • General science
  • 30 to 35% of the questions relate to Assam

Prelims Paper II: General Studies II (qualifying)

  • Comprehension
  • Interpersonal skills, including communication skills
  • Logical reasoning and analytical ability
  • Decision making and problem solving
  • General mental ability
  • Basic numeracy and data interpretation at Class 10 level

Main written exam

  • Paper 1: Essay
  • Papers 2 to 6: General Studies, one of which is a 250-mark paper on Assam's history, culture, geography, polity and economy
  • Detailed paper-wise topics are in the Assam Public Services Combined Competitive Examination Rules, as amended

What they ask

Prelims Paper I is objective and covers history, geography, polity, economy, environment, science and current events, and the rules say 30 to 35% of its questions relate to Assam. Paper II tests comprehension, reasoning, decision making and Class 10 level numeracy; you only need 33% in it, but missing that mark ends your attempt. A quarter of a question's marks is lost for each wrong answer in prelims. The main exam is fully descriptive: one essay paper and five General Studies papers of 250 marks each, answered in English or Assamese.

How to prepare

  • Build Assam into every GS subject. The state's history, geography, economy and polity appear in Prelims Paper I and come back in the mains GS papers.
  • Do not leave Paper II to chance: solve a timed set of comprehension, reasoning and numeracy questions every week so the 33% minimum is safe.
  • In prelims, skip questions you cannot narrow to two options, because each wrong answer costs a quarter of the question's marks.
  • Start answer writing well before the prelims result. Six 3-hour papers reward regular practice, whether you write in English or Assamese.
  • Use daily topic-wise practice quizzes on the free Improvam app to revise current events and static GS.
FREE ON ANDROID & IOS

Practise APSC CCE syllabus topics a few minutes a day with short quizzes in the Improvam app.

Photo and signature

  • Photo: Recent photo, not older than 3 months, 50 KB to 200 KB
  • Signature: 50 KB to 200 KB

Source: official instructions ↗

Resize your photo and signature for APSC CCE

APSC CCE FAQs

21 to 38 years as on 1 January 2025. SC and ST candidates get 5 extra years (up to 43), OBC/MOBC candidates 3 years (up to 41) and PwBD candidates 10 years.

Sources

Checked against official sources on . Rules change with each notification, so read the latest one before you apply.

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