APSC Syllabus 2026: CCE Prelims & Mains Exam Pattern (Paper-wise)

What is the APSC CCE?

The Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) is conducted by the Assam Public Service Commission to recruit officers for the Assam Civil Service (ACS), Assam Police Service (APS) and other allied state services. It is the state-level equivalent of the UPSC Civil Services Examination and runs in three stages: Preliminary, Mains and Interview.

APSC CCE Exam Pattern at a Glance

Stage	Type	Purpose
Preliminary Examination	Objective (MCQ), OMR based	Screening only — marks not counted in the final merit
Main Examination	Descriptive / written papers	Counted in the final merit list
Interview / Personality Test	Viva-voce before the Commission board	Counted in the final merit list

APSC Prelims Exam Pattern

Paper	Subject	Marks	Duration
Paper I	General Studies	200	2 hours
Paper II	General Studies II (CSAT — comprehension, reasoning, decision making, basic numeracy)	200	2 hours

Both papers are objective type with negative marking for incorrect answers as specified in the advertisement. Paper II is generally of a qualifying nature; the merit for Mains selection is drawn as per the rule stated in the notification for that cycle.

Prelims Paper I syllabus (General Studies)

History of India and the Indian National Movement.
History, culture, heritage and literature of Assam and the North East.
Indian and World Geography — physical, social and economic geography of India and Assam.
Indian Polity and Governance — Constitution, Panchayati Raj, public policy, rights issues.
Economic and Social Development — sustainable development, poverty, demographics, social sector initiatives.
Environment, ecology, biodiversity and climate change (general awareness, no subject specialisation).
General Science and everyday science applications.
Current events of state, national and international importance.

Prelims Paper II syllabus (CSAT)

Comprehension and interpersonal skills including communication.
Logical reasoning and analytical ability.
Decision making and problem solving.
General mental ability.
Basic numeracy and data interpretation (Class X level) — charts, graphs, tables.

APSC Mains Exam Pattern

Paper	Nature	Remarks
Language paper (Assamese / Bengali / Bodo, or English)	Qualifying	Marks not counted in the final merit
Essay	Counted	Tests structured argument and expression
General Studies papers	Counted	Multiple papers covering polity, economy, history, geography, science & technology, ethics and Assam-specific topics
Optional subject paper(s)	Counted	Chosen from the list of optional subjects in the advertisement
Interview / Personality Test	Counted	Final stage before the merit list

The exact number of Mains papers, marks per paper and the optional-subject list are notified in each CCE advertisement, and the Commission has revised this structure in recent cycles. Always cross-check the paper scheme in the advertisement for your exam year before finalising a preparation plan.

Eligibility & attempts (summary)

A bachelor's degree from a recognised university is the minimum qualification.
Age limits and relaxations for SC / ST / OBC-MOBC / PwBD candidates are specified in the advertisement.
Knowledge of an official language of Assam is generally required as per the recruitment rules.

How to prepare for the APSC CCE

Read the advertisement's syllabus first and map each topic to one standard source.
Build the Assam-specific base — Assam history, culture, geography, economy and state schemes carry high weight.
Follow one national daily plus state news for current affairs, and keep monthly notes.
Practise previous-year APSC papers to identify recurring themes and the depth expected.
For Mains, write timed answers and full essays every week; expression matters as much as content.
Do CSAT practice sets so Paper II never becomes the reason you miss the Mains cut-off.

Official sources you should bookmark

apsc.nic.in — advertisements, syllabus PDFs, admit cards and results.
All active Assam government job notifications on Axom Xarothi.
Assam Police (SLPRB) stage tracker if you are also preparing for police recruitment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the APSC CCE exam pattern?

The APSC Combined Competitive Examination has three stages: a Preliminary examination with two objective papers (General Studies Paper I of 200 marks and Paper II / CSAT of 200 marks), a written Mains examination with essay, general studies and optional subject papers, and a final Interview / Personality Test. Prelims marks are qualifying only for shortlisting to Mains.

How many papers are there in APSC CCE Mains?

The APSC CCE Mains consists of compulsory papers — Essay, General Studies papers, and a qualifying language paper (Assamese/Bengali/Bodo or English) — along with the optional subject papers chosen by the candidate as per the official notification.

Is there negative marking in the APSC Prelims?

Yes. The APSC Preliminary examination is objective (MCQ) based and carries negative marking for wrong answers as specified in the advertisement, so avoid blind guessing.

What is the APSC CCE syllabus for General Studies Paper I?

General Studies Paper I broadly covers History of India and the Indian National Movement, History and Culture of Assam, Indian and World Geography, Indian Polity and Governance, Economic and Social Development, Environment and Ecology, General Science, and Current Events of state, national and international importance.

Where can I download the official APSC syllabus PDF?

The authoritative paper-wise syllabus is published inside each APSC Combined Competitive Examination advertisement on the official website apsc.nic.in. Always confirm the syllabus and pattern against the advertisement for the year you are applying in.