The premier administrative recruitment for ACS and APS officers in Assam.
Mandatory educational background, age limits, pay scale, and service designations
The Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) conducts the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) for administrative leadership across Assam. Fully restructured on the UPSC Civil Services model, APSC features a 2-paper Prelims and a 6-paper descriptive Mains (1500 marks total) with no optional subjects, notably featuring Paper 6 (GS 5) dedicated exclusively to Assam history, culture, biodiversity, and tea economy, followed by a 180-mark interview.
Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized University or equivalent. Mandatory: Candidate must be an Indian citizen and must be registered with an Employment Exchange in Assam.
21 to 38 Years
OBC / MOBC: 3 years (up to 41) | SC / ST: 5 years (up to 43) | PwBD: 10 years (up to 48)
General / UR: 6 attempts (Up to 38 years of age)
OBC: 9 attempts (Up to 41 years of age)
SC / ST: Unlimited attempts (Up to 43 years of age)
Pay Band 4 (₹30,000 – ₹1,10,000, Grade Pay ₹13,300 / Level 10 equivalent) + DA, HRA & allowances
Annual Vacancies: Approx. 230 – 300 vacancies annually
Stage-wise breakdown, paper timing, question distribution, and negative marking rules
Negative Marking Rule: 1/4th (0.25) marks deducted per incorrect answer in Prelims.
Mode: Offline OMR for Prelims, Descriptive Sheets for Mains, In-Person Interview in Khanapara, Guwahati | Medium: Bilingual (Assamese / English); Written answers can be in Assamese or English.
Two objective papers of 200 marks each. Paper 1 (General Studies I) determines the cutoff for Mains; Paper 2 (General Studies II / CSAT) is qualifying with mandatory 33% minimum marks. Standard 1/4th negative marking applies.
| Paper / Component | Format | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking & Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Paper 1: General Studies I Current events of national and international importance, History of India and Indian National Movement, Indian and World Geography, Indian Polity and Governance, Economic and Social Development, General issues on Environmental Ecology and Climate Change, General Science, History, Heritage, Culture, Geography and Economy of Assam (approx. 30-35 Qs) | Objective (MCQ) | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours | Decides Mains qualification list (11-12x vacancies; 30-35% questions on Assam) |
Paper 2: General Studies II (CSAT) Comprehension, Interpersonal skills including communication, Logical reasoning and analytical ability, Decision making and problem solving, General mental ability, Basic numeracy (Class X level) & Data interpretation | Objective (MCQ) | 80 | 200 | 2 Hours | Qualifying in nature (Mandatory minimum 33% = 66 Marks) |
6 descriptive papers of 250 marks each (3 hours per paper) totaling 1500 marks conducted over 3 days in Guwahati. All optional subjects have been abolished. Notably features Paper 6 (GS 5) dedicated entirely to Assam affairs.
| Paper / Component | Format | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking & Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Paper 1: Essay Two essays on philosophical, socio-economic, political, cultural, or administrative themes | Descriptive (Written) | 250 | 3 Hours | Merit |
Paper 2: General Studies I Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society | Descriptive (Written) | 250 | 3 Hours | Merit |
Paper 3: General Studies II Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations | Descriptive (Written) | 250 | 3 Hours | Merit |
Paper 4: General Studies III Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security & Disaster Management | Descriptive (Written) | 250 | 3 Hours | Merit |
Paper 5: General Studies IV Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude, Public Service Values & Case Studies | Descriptive (Written) | 250 | 3 Hours | Merit |
Paper 6: General Studies V (Assam Special) History, Heritage, Culture, Festivals, Literature of Assam; Geography, Agriculture, Tea & Oil Industry; Polity, Autonomous Councils (Sixth Schedule) & Economy of Assam | Descriptive (Written) | 250 | 3 Hours | Merit (Exclusive Assam Paper) |
Board interview conducted at APSC office at Jawaharnagar, Khanapara, Guwahati evaluating administrative personality, leadership, and awareness of Assam's ethnic harmony and riverine economy.
| Paper / Component | Format | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking & Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Personality Interview Board Personal record & DAF, Brahmaputra annual flood management & erosion mitigation, Assam Accord 1985 & Clause 6 constitutional safeguards, Tea garden worker welfare & oil refineries (Digboi, Numaligarh), Sixth Schedule councils (Bodoland, Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao) | Interview | 180 | 20 – 30 Minutes | Added to Mains marks for 1680 Grand Total Merit |
Detailed curriculum modules categorized by standard foundations vs. high-yield scoring chapters
Phase-by-phase roadmap, daily study schedule, topper golden rules, and fatal pitfalls to avoid
APPSC CCE has eliminated all Optional subjects, aligning 100% with the modern GS blueprint. The single biggest differentiator is Paper 6 (General Studies 5 - Assam Special) carrying 250 marks, alongside 30-35 questions in Prelims Paper 1. Candidates who master Ahom administration, Sankardeva's Satriya culture, the Brahmaputra hydrology, and Sixth Schedule autonomous councils dominate the final rank list.
Edward Gait History of Assam, Assam Year Book, NCERTs, Laxmikanth
Essay, GS 1 to 4, and Paper 6 (GS 5 Assam Special)
GS Paper 1 (including 35 Qs Assam) and CSAT Paper 2
Full mock exams across all 6 merit papers, interview polish
Topper-validated standard reference books and chapter-wise question banks
Author: Sir Edward Gait / Dr. S.L. Baruah | Pub: Surjeet Publications / Spectrum
The definitive academic reference for Ahom dynasty, Saraighat war, Burmese invasions, and British rule.
Author: Santanu Kaushik Baruah | Pub: Jyoti Prakashan Guwahati
Exhaustive factual compilation of Assam geography, flora, fauna, oil fields, tea gardens, and government schemes.
Author: M. Laxmikanth | Pub: McGraw Hill
The definitive guide for Prelims and Mains GS-2 constitutional topics.
Author: Adroit / Bhabani Editorial Board | Pub: Bhabani Books Guwahati
Authentic past papers of APSC CCE with detailed explanations mapped to the revised syllabus.
Official past category-wise cutoffs to benchmark your target mock scores
| Cycle / Tier / Service | General (UR) | OBC | EWS | SC | ST | Scope & Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Prelims GS-1 (Out of 200 Marks) | 118.50 Marks | 112.00 Marks (MOBC) | 114.50 Marks | 105.00 Marks | 102.50 Marks | Cutoff out of 200 marks in Paper 1; CSAT is qualifying at 33%. |
| 2022 Prelims GS-1 (Out of 200 Marks) | 115.00 Marks | 109.50 Marks | 110.00 Marks | 101.50 Marks | 98.00 Marks | Screening cutoff for Mains examination entry. |
| 2022 Final Merit (Out of 1680 Marks) | 945.00 Marks (ACS Junior Grade) | 895.00 Marks | 910.00 Marks | 860.00 Marks | 840.00 Marks | Final aggregate out of 1680 (Mains 1500 + Interview 180). |
From initial application to final cadre allocation and joining the training academy
Apply online at apsc.nic.in with Assam Employment Exchange registration.
Appear for Paper 1 (GS - 200 marks) and Paper 2 (CSAT qualifying - 200 marks). Top 11-12 times vacancies qualify for Mains.
Write 6 descriptive merit papers (1500 marks total) over 3 days in Guwahati.
Attend board interview in Jawaharnagar, Khanapara, Guwahati (180 Marks).
Merit ranking out of 1680 determines allocation to Assam Civil Service (ACS), APS, or Superintendent of Taxes followed by training at Assam Administrative Staff College (AASC) Khanapara.
Authoritative SEO & GEO clarifications: Domicile rules, regional languages, exam centers, pay scale & cutoffs
Explore in-depth patterns, booklists, and preparation strategies for companion examinations:
Verified active circulars & notices from our real-time gazette database:
Free client-side tools to help you complete job forms and eligibility verification accurately:
