APPSC Group 2 Syllabus for Screening Test

APPSC Group 2 Syllabus for Screening Test GENERAL STUDIES AND MENTAL ABILITY (150M)

INDIAN HISTORY (30M)

  • Ancient History: Salient features of Indus Valley Civilization and Vedic age –
    Emergence of Buddhism and Jainism – Mauryan Empire and Gupta Empire: Their administration, Socio-Economic and Religious Conditions, Art and Architecture, Literature – Harshavardhana and his Achievements.
  • Medieval History: The Chola Administrative System – Delhi Sultanate and The Mughal Empire:Their Administration, Socio-Economic and Religious Conditions, Art and Architecture, Language and Literature – Bhakti and Sufi Movements –
    Shivaji and the rise of Maratha Empire – Advent of Europeans.
  • Modern History: 1857 Revolt and its Impact – Rise and Consolidation of British Power in India – Changes in Administration, Social and Cultural Spheres – Social and Religious Reform Movements in the 19th and 20th Century – Indian National Movement: it’s various stages and important contributors and contributions from different parts of the country – Post Independence Consolidation and Reorganization within the country.

GEOGRAPHY (30M)

  • General and Physical Geography: The Earth in our Solar System – Interior of the Earth – Major Landforms and their features – Climate: Structure and Composition of Atmosphere – Ocean Water: Tides, Waves, Currents – India and Andhra Pradesh: Major Physiographic features, Climate, Drainage System, Soils and Vegetation – Natural Hazards and Disasters and their Management.
  • Economic Geography of India and AP: Natural resources and their distribution –
    Agriculture and Agro based Activities – Distribution of Major Industries and Major Industrial Regions. Transport, Communication, Tourism and Trade.
  • Human Geography of India and AP: Human Development – Demographics –
    Urbanization and Migration – Racial, Tribal, Religious and Linguistic groups.

 

INDIAN SOCIETY (30M)

  • Structure of Indian Society: Family, Marriage, Kinship, Caste, Tribe, Ethnicity, Religion and Women
  • Social Issues: Casteism, Communalism and Regionalisation, Crime against Women, Child Abuse and Child Labour, Youth Unrest and Agitation Welfare Mechanism: Public Policies and Welfare Programmes, Constitutional and Statutory Provisions for Schedule Castes, Schedule Tribes, Minorities, BCs, Women, Disabled and Children.

CURRENT AFFAIRS (30M)

Major Current Events and Issues pertaining to

– International,
– National and
– State of Andhra Pradesh

MENTAL ABILITY (30M)

  • Logical Reasoning (Deductive, Inductive, Abductive): Statement and Assumptions, Statement and Argument, Statement and Conclusion, Statement and Courses of Action.
  • Mental Ability: Number Series, Letter Series, Odd Man out, Coding – Decoding, Problems relating to Relations, Shapes and their Sub Sections.
  • Basic Numeracy: Number System, Order of Magnitude, Averages, Ratio and Proportion, Percentage, Simple and Compound Interest, Time and Work and Time and Distance. Data Analysis (Tables, bar diagram, Line graph, Pie-chart).

(FAQs) for the APPSC Group 2 Screening Test Syllabus for General Studies and Mental Ability:

1. What topics are covered under General Studies and Mental Ability for the APPSC Group 2 Screening Test?

The General Studies and Mental Ability section includes:

  • Current Affairs (National and International)
  • General Science (Focus on Science and Technology)
  • Indian Polity, Constitution, and Governance
  • Economy and Development (India and Andhra Pradesh)
  • Geography and History of India and Andhra Pradesh
  • Logical Reasoning, Analytical Ability, and Data Interpretation
  • Environmental and Ecological Issues
  • Disaster Management

2. How much weightage does the General Studies and Mental Ability section carry in the Screening Test?

The General Studies and Mental Ability section forms a significant portion of the Screening Test, contributing about 50 questions out of 150 questions, with each question carrying one mark.

3. What are the best resources to prepare for the General Studies topics?

Some recommended resources include:

  • Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth (for Polity and Governance)
  • Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh (for Economy and Development)
  • NCERT books for Science, Geography, and History basics
  • Andhra Pradesh State Board books for state-specific knowledge
  • Newspapers and monthly current affairs magazines for Current Events

4. Are questions based on current affairs included in the General Studies section?

Yes, current affairs is a core part of the syllabus. Questions related to significant national and international events, Andhra Pradesh-specific news, and recent developments in science and technology are frequently asked.

5. What types of questions are asked in the Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability section?

The Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability section includes:

  • Blood Relations
  • Series (number, letter, pattern)
  • Coding-Decoding
  • Directions
  • Puzzles
  • Data Interpretation (Tables, Graphs, and Charts)

Practicing from RS Aggarwal’s “A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning” can help strengthen these topics.

6. How can I prepare for Environmental and Disaster Management topics?

  • For Environment and Ecology, focus on basic concepts such as ecosystems, biodiversity, and environmental conservation.
  • For Disaster Management, cover key concepts like types of disasters, mitigation strategies, and recent case studies related to Andhra Pradesh.

Useful resources include:

  • NCERT Geography and Biology textbooks
  • Internet resources for recent disaster case studies and management strategies in Andhra Pradesh

7. Is there negative marking in the General Studies and Mental Ability section?

Yes, 1/3rd of a mark is deducted for each incorrect answer in the Screening Test, so it’s important to avoid random guessing.

8. How should I prioritize my studies in General Studies and Mental Ability for maximum scoring?

  • Focus on high-weightage topics such as Current Affairs, Indian Polity, and Logical Reasoning.
  • Make sure to cover Andhra Pradesh-specific knowledge, as it often forms a considerable part of the paper.
  • Regular practice of mock tests and previous papers will help improve time management and accuracy.

9. Is data interpretation a significant part of the syllabus?

Yes, Data Interpretation (DI) is an essential part and involves analyzing data presented in tables, graphs, or charts. DI questions are generally straightforward but require good analytical skills.

10. Are state-specific questions about Andhra Pradesh common in the General Studies and Mental Ability section?

Yes, questions about Andhra Pradesh’s geography, history, culture, economy, and governance are commonly asked. Reviewing state board resources and recent developments in Andhra Pradesh can provide an edge.