SIT Report Reveals Major Lapses in APPSC Group-I Exam Evaluation

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has uncovered significant procedural flaws in the evaluation of Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) Group-I Main examination answer sheets. The investigation, initiated following alleged violations in both digital and manual assessment processes, highlighted deviations from the APPSC’s established rules.

What Happened

The SIT's report, submitted on August 10, 2026, details multiple lapses in the APPSC Group-I examination process. The notification for this examination was issued on December 31, 2018, with the preliminary exam held on May 26, 2019, and the Main exam in December 2020. Initial results following digital evaluation were declared on April 28, 2021, shortlisting 326 candidates. However, the digital evaluation method was challenged in the Andhra Pradesh High Court, leading to an interim order halting interviews and a subsequent directive for manual evaluation of answer scripts.

The SIT investigation established that the digital evaluation process lacked adherence to the Commission’s rules and procedures, particularly concerning the decision to adopt digital evaluation and the approval of the evaluator panel, neither of which received Chairman’s approval. Procedural deviations were noted at nearly every stage. The evaluator panel was not vetted as required by the APPSC Office Manual, and individuals outside the approved list evaluated scripts and were compensated. Communication occurred through unofficial channels lacking tamper-proof controls. Discrepancies were found between recorded evaluator marks and the final results database. In multiple instances, the mandatory second evaluation was conducted by a single freelancer instead of an independent examiner.

Further, the SIT identified a serious breach of confidentiality, with sensitive details about examiners leaked before the evaluation began. This compromised the integrity of the recruitment process. The examination answer scripts were evaluated on three separate occasions, which appears to contradict Rule 3(ix) of the APPSC Rules. Significant procedural changes were implemented during the recruitment, including the digital evaluation system, manual evaluation conducted at Haailand, reprinting of thousands of duplicate barcode OMR and control bundle slips, and a second manual evaluation conducted in Vijayawada.

Key Facts

• The APPSC Group-I Main exam notification was issued on December 31, 2018.
• The preliminary examination took place on May 26, 2019.
• The Main (written) exam was conducted in December 2020.
• Results of the Main examination were declared on April 28, 2021, following digital evaluation.
• A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probed alleged violations in the examination's digital and manual evaluation processes.
• The SIT was constituted through a G.O. dated February 14, 2026.
• The SIT submitted its report on August 10, 2026.
• The digital evaluation process was implemented without strict adherence to APPSC rules, including the approval of the evaluator panel by the Chairman.
• Persons outside the approved evaluator panel evaluated scripts and were paid.
• Confidential details of examiners were leaked before the evaluation process commenced.
• Answer scripts were evaluated on three occasions, potentially violating APPSC Rules.
• Significant procedural changes were introduced, including digital evaluation, manual evaluation at Haailand, reprinting of 48,442 duplicate valuation slips, and a second manual evaluation at Vijayawada.