The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) has released the exam structure for Technical Assistant posts in the A.P. Mines and Geology Sub-Service. The test is a computer-based objective exam with two papers: General Studies and Mental Ability, and Geology. This article covers the APPSC Technical Assistant syllabus and exam pattern together, so you can plan your preparation around what is tested and how it is marked.
Direct Link to Check APPSC Technical Assistant Syllabus 2026
APPSC Technical Assistant Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026 - Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting 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) |
| Question Type | Objective |
| Number of Papers | 2 |
| Total Questions | 300 |
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Total Duration | 300 minutes (150 minutes per paper) |
| Negative Marking | One-third of the marks of a question per wrong answer |
| Official Website | psc.ap.gov.in |
APPSC Technical Assistant Important Dates 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Brief Notification Released | 13 October 2026 |
| Detailed Notification | On or before 6 November 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 6 November 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 26 November 2026 (up to 11:59 PM) |
APPSC Technical Assistant Selection Process 2026
The recruitment is built around a single written stage:
- Application: Candidates apply online through the APPSC website within the notified window.
- CBRT (Paper I and Paper II): Both papers are taken on computer. There is no separate screening test.
- Normalisation: If the exam is held in more than one session, the Commission may apply normalisation where necessary.
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APPSC Technical Assistant Exam Pattern 2026
Both papers are objective type and set at degree standard. Paper I tests General Studies and Mental Ability, and Paper II tests Geology.
CBRT Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subject | Questions | 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 |
Marking Scheme and Key Rules
- Every question is objective type, and each paper carries 150 marks.
- Each wrong answer costs one-third of the marks assigned to that question.
- The exam is conducted online in CBRT mode.
- Normalisation may be applied if the exam runs in multiple sessions.
- Qualifying marks by category (UR/EWS/OBC/SC/ST): Not specified in the source.
APPSC Technical Assistant Syllabus 2026
The syllabus has two parts: a general paper covering current affairs, humanities, science and reasoning, and a technical Geology paper. Topics below follow the structure given in the reference source.
1. Paper I: General Studies and Mental Ability
- Current Affairs: major international, national and Andhra Pradesh 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, 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: the Indian economy and planning.
- Environment: sustainable development and environmental protection.
- Disaster Management: vulnerability profiles, prevention and mitigation, and use of remote sensing and GIS in disaster assessment.
- Logical Reasoning: logical reasoning, analytical ability and logical interpretation.
- Data Analysis: tabulation, visual representation, basic statistics (mean, median, mode, variance) and data interpretation.
2. Paper II: Geology
(A) General Geology, Geomorphology and Structural Geology
- General Geology: the solar system; origin, age and internal structure of the Earth; volcanoes (types, distribution, products); earthquakes (intensity, magnitude, causes, effects); isostasy, geosynclines, mountain building, continental drift, sea-floor spreading and plate tectonics.
- Geomorphology: basic concepts; internal and external processes; 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 reading; geological mapping and field measurements.
(B) Crystallography, Mineralogy and Economic Geology
- Crystallography: crystal structure; laws of crystallography; symmetry of the seven crystal systems; interaction of light with crystals; petrological microscope and Nicol prism; pleochroism, double refraction, extinction angle, birefringence, twinning; isotropic, uniaxial and biaxial minerals.
- Mineralogy: physical, chemical and optical properties of common rock-forming minerals (quartz, feldspar, mica, pyroxene, amphibole, olivine, garnet, chlorite, carbonates, aluminosilicates); silicate structures; crystal chemistry; gemstones.
- Economic Geology: ores, ore minerals and gangue; classification and formation of ore deposits; Indian occurrences of aluminium, chromium, copper, gold, lead, zinc, iron, manganese and radioactive-element ores; abrasives, refractories and ceramic minerals; coal, petroleum and mineral prospecting.
(C) Petrology
- Igneous Petrology: origin of magma; formation of igneous rocks; Bowen's reaction principle; crystallisation of binary systems; classification, textures and structures; granite, syenite, diorite, mafic and ultramafic rocks, anorthosites and alkaline rocks.
- Sedimentary Petrology: sedimentary processes and products; classification; 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; zones, grades and facies; regional and contact metamorphism; textures and structures; metamorphism of argillaceous, arenaceous, calcareous and basic rocks; metasomatism.
(D) Palaeontology and Stratigraphy
- Palaeontology: habits and habitats of animals; fossils, fossilisation and modes of preservation; applications of fossils; morphology and geological history of Foraminiferida, Brachiopoda, Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Cephalopoda, Trilobita, Echinoidea and Anthozoa; Siwalik mammals; 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; the Dharwar, Vindhyan, Gondwana and Siwalik Supergroups, covering subdivisions, lithology, fossils, distribution and economic importance.
How to Prepare for APPSC Technical Assistant Exam 2026
- Split the syllabus by paper. Make one checklist for General Studies and Mental Ability and a separate one for the four Geology parts, and tick topics off as you finish them.
- Give Geology equal time. Both papers carry 150 marks, so the technical paper decides as much of the result as the general one. Spend extra time on mineral and rock identification, structural geology and Indian stratigraphy.
- Make Andhra Pradesh the core of Paper I. The syllabus repeatedly stresses the state, so prepare its history, geography, governance and current events first.
- Practise reasoning and data questions regularly. Logical reasoning and data interpretation are scoring areas that respond well to daily practice.
- Take timed mock tests. You get 150 minutes per paper, so practise full-length sets and review every wrong answer.
- Attempt only questions you can narrow down. With one-third negative marking, eliminate options first and skip questions where you cannot rule anything out.
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