Exams   »   APPSC Technical Assistant Syllabus

APPSC Technical Assistant Syllabus And Exam Pattern 2026, Check Exam Schedule Details

The APPSC Technical Assistant Syllabus 2026 has been provided by the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) for recruitment to the A.P. Mines and Geology Sub-Service. The examination will be conducted in CBRT mode and will consist of two papers: General Studies and Mental Ability, and Geology. Candidates can check the subject-wise syllabus, exam pattern, marking scheme, and exam schedule below.

APPSC Technical Assistant Syllabus 2026: Overview

Particulars Details
Recruiting Body Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC)
Post Name Technical Assistant
Department A.P. Mines and Geology Sub-Service
Notification Number 32/2026
Exam Mode Computer-Based Recruitment Test (CBRT)
Exam Type Objective Type
Total Papers 2
Total Questions 300
Total Marks 300
Exam Date To be announced
Official Website psc.ap.gov.in

Must Check: APPSC Technical Assistant Notification

APPSC Technical Assistant Exam Schedule 2026

The APPSC Technical Assistant Exam Schedule 2026 provides important details about the recruitment examination. Candidates should keep track of the exam date, hall ticket release and other important updates to plan their preparation accordingly.

Event Date
Brief Notification Release 13 October 2026
Detailed Notification On or before 6 November 2026
Online Application Begins 6 November 2026
Last Date to Apply 26 November 2026, up to 11:59 PM
APPSC Technical Assistant Exam Date To be announced
Hall Ticket Release To be announced

APPSC Technical Assistant Exam Pattern 2026

The APPSC Technical Assistant examination will comprise two objective-type papers at the degree standard. Paper I will assess candidates’ knowledge of General Studies and Mental Ability, while Paper II will test their understanding of Geology.

Paper Subject Number of Questions Maximum Marks Duration
Paper I General Studies and Mental Ability 150 150 150 minutes
Paper II Geology 150 150 150 minutes
Total – 300 300 300 minutes

Important Points About the Exam Pattern

  • Both papers will contain objective-type questions.
  • Each paper carries 150 marks.
  • The examination will be conducted online in CBRT mode.
  • There will be no separate screening test.
  • One-third of the marks prescribed for a question will be deducted for each wrong answer.
  • If the examination is conducted in multiple sessions, the commission may apply normalisation wherever necessary and applicable.

APPSC Technical Assistant Syllabus 2026

The APPSC Technical Assistant Syllabus 2026 covers two papers: General Studies and Mental Ability, and Geology. Candidates can check the subject-wise topics below to understand the syllabus and prepare systematically for the examination.

APPSC Technical Assistant Syllabus 2026: Paper I

Paper I covers General Studies and Mental Ability. Candidates should prepare current affairs, Indian history, Andhra Pradesh-related topics, geography, polity, economy, science, environmental issues, disaster management and reasoning.

General Studies and Mental Ability Syllabus

Subject Topics to Cover
Current Affairs Major international, national and Andhra Pradesh current events and issues
General Science Everyday applications of science, developments in science and technology, and information technology
Indian History Social, economic, cultural and political aspects of Indian history, with emphasis on Andhra Pradesh and the Indian National Movement
Geography Geography of India, with special focus on Andhra Pradesh
Indian Polity and Governance Constitutional issues, public policy, reforms and e-governance initiatives
Indian Economy Indian economy and planning
Environment Sustainable development and environmental protection
Disaster Management Vulnerability profiles, prevention, mitigation, and the application of remote sensing and GIS in disaster assessment
Logical Reasoning Logical reasoning, analytical ability and logical interpretation
Data Analysis Tabulation, visual representation, basic statistical analysis, mean, median, mode, variance and data interpretation

Candidates should give particular attention to Andhra Pradesh-specific current affairs, geography, history and governance while preparing for Paper I.

APPSC Technical Assistant Syllabus 2026: Paper II (Geology)

Paper II is dedicated to Geology and covers core concepts in general geology, geomorphology, structural geology, crystallography, mineralogy, economic geology, petrology, palaeontology and Indian stratigraphy.

Part I: General Geology, Geomorphology and Structural Geology

Topic Detailed Syllabus
General Geology Solar system; origin, age and internal constitution of the Earth; volcanoes, their types, distribution, geological effects and products; earthquakes, intensity, magnitude, distribution, causes and effects; isostasy, geosynclines, mountain building, continental drift, sea-floor spreading and plate tectonics
Geomorphology Basic concepts; internal and external processes; rock weathering; erosion cycles; fluvial landforms and drainage patterns; aeolian, marine, glacial and karst landscapes; elements of remote sensing
Structural and Field Geology Primary and secondary structures; dip and strike; unconformities; folds, joints, faults, foliation, lineations, overthrusts and nappes; rock deformation; block diagrams; stereographic and equal-area nets; topographic map interpretation; geological mapping and field measurements

Part II: Crystallography, Mineralogy and Economic Geology

Topic Detailed Syllabus
Crystallography Crystal structure; laws of crystallography; symmetry elements of the seven crystal systems; interaction of light with crystalline matter; petrological microscope; Nicol prism; pleochroism, double refraction, extinction angle, birefringence, twinning and isotropic, uniaxial and biaxial minerals
Mineralogy Physical, chemical and optical properties of common rock-forming minerals, including quartz, feldspar, mica, pyroxene, amphibole, olivine, garnet, chlorite, carbonates and aluminosilicates; silicate structures; crystal chemistry and gemstones
Economic Geology Ores, ore minerals and gangue; classification and formation of ore deposits; occurrence and distribution of aluminium, chromium, copper, gold, lead, zinc, iron, manganese and radioactive-element ores in India; minerals used as abrasives, refractories and in ceramics; coal, petroleum and mineral-deposit prospecting

Part III: Petrology

Topic Detailed Syllabus
Igneous Petrology Origin of magma; formation of igneous rocks; Bowen’s reaction principle; crystallisation of binary systems; classification, textures and structures of igneous rocks; granite, syenite, diorite, mafic and ultramafic rocks, anorthosites and alkaline rocks
Sedimentary Petrology Sedimentary processes and products; classification of sedimentary rocks; sedimentary structures; residual and clastic deposits; mineral composition and texture; quartz arenites, arkoses, greywackes, and siliceous and calcareous deposits of chemical and organic origin
Metamorphic Petrology Types and factors of metamorphism; metamorphic zones, grades and facies; regional and contact metamorphism; textures and structures of metamorphic rocks; metamorphism of argillaceous, arenaceous, calcareous and basic rocks; metasomatism

Part IV: Palaeontology and Stratigraphy

Topic Detailed Syllabus
Palaeontology Habits and habitats of animals; fossils and fossilisation; modes of preservation; applications of fossils; morphology and geological history of Foraminiferida, Brachiopoda, Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Cephalopoda, Trilobita, Echinoidea and Anthozoa; mammals of the Siwalik Group; Gondwana flora
Stratigraphy and Geology of India Fundamental laws of stratigraphy; lithostratigraphic, biostratigraphic and chronostratigraphic classification; geological time scale; physiographic divisions of India; stratigraphy of India; Dharwar, Vindhyan, Gondwana and Siwalik Supergroups, including their subdivisions, lithology, fossils, distribution and economic importance

How to Prepare for the APPSC Technical Assistant Exam 2026?

Candidates can follow a structured preparation strategy to cover both papers within the available preparation time.

  • Understand the syllabus: Divide the syllabus into General Studies and Mental Ability and Geology. Prepare a checklist of topics for each section.
  • Strengthen Geology fundamentals: Revise geological concepts, mineral identification, rock classification, structural geology and stratigraphy.
  • Prepare Andhra Pradesh-specific General Studies: Focus on the state’s geography, history, economy, governance and current affairs.
  • Practise objective questions: Solve multiple-choice questions regularly and analyse mistakes to improve accuracy.
  • Revise through mock tests: Attempt timed practice tests to improve speed, accuracy and time management.
  • Account for negative marking: Avoid random guessing and practise eliminating incorrect options before answering.

FAQs

Is there negative marking in the APPSC Technical Assistant examination?

Yes. One-third of the marks prescribed for each question will be deducted for every incorrect answer.

How many papers are there in the APPSC Technical Assistant Exam 2026?

The examination consists of two papers: Paper I (General Studies and Mental Ability) and Paper II (Geology).

What is the total number of questions in the APPSC Technical Assistant examination?

There are 300 questions in total, with 150 questions in each paper.

What is the duration of the APPSC Technical Assistant Exam 2026?

Each paper has a duration of 150 minutes, making the total examination duration five hours.

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