| Exam Name | CCE (Main) Exam 2025 |
| Vacancies | 78 Posts |
| Organization | Assam Public Service Commission |
| Qualification | Graduation |
| Apply Mode | Online |
| Apply Fee | ₹297.20/- |
| Start Date | 4 August 2026 |
| Last Date | 24 August 2026 |
APSC CCE Exam 2026
The Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) has released the official notification for the Combined Competitive (Main) Examination 2025 on 31 July 2026. This notification is a continuation of Advt. No. 01/2026 dated 10 April 2026. This examination recruits candidates for Assam Civil Services, Assam Police Services, and other allied services in the state. A total of 78 vacancies have been announced across 11 different services and posts.
The APSC CCE is one of the toughest state-level competitive exams in Assam. It follows a three-stage selection process: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Personal Interview. Every year, thousands of candidates appear for this exam, competing for a limited number of civil service posts.
The online application window for the Main Examination opens on 4 August 2026 (12:00 Noon) and closes on 24 August 2026 (5:00 PM), and the last date for fee payment is 26 August 2026 (5:00 PM). The Commission will conduct the Main Examination in Guwahati on 9, 10 and 11 October 2026 in two shifts each day.
If you’re looking for the APSC CCE Syllabus, we have a separate page for that. Go to the APSC CCE Syllabus page for the complete exam pattern and subject-wise topics.
Assam Civil Services Exam Overview
Exam Name: Combined Competitive Examination (Main), 2025
Vacancies: 78 Posts
Organization: Assam Public Service Commission
Exam Date: 9, 10, and 11 October 2026
Who Can Apply: Only candidates who qualified the Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination, 2025.
Educational Qualification: Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
Age Limit: Candidates must be at least 21 and no more than 38 years old as of 1st January 2025. Click here to calculate your age.
Age Relaxation: The upper age limit is relaxable by 3 years for OBC/MOBC candidates (up to 41 years), 5 years for SC, ST(P), and ST(H) candidates (up to 43 years), and 10 years for PwBD candidates (irrespective of SC/ST/OBC and General Category). Age relaxation for Ex-Servicemen is applicable only where reservation for Ex-Servicemen is available. Refer to the official notification for complete details.
Nationality: The candidate must be an Indian citizen.
Regional Language Proficiency: The candidate must be able to speak Assamese or any other official or associate official languages of the State, or any of the tribal languages of Assam.
Residency: The candidate must be an original inhabitant of Assam.
Employment Exchange Registration: The candidate must be registered with a District Employment Office of Assam. Click here to know about Employment Exchange Registration.
Small Family Norms: Candidates are required to submit a declaration in Form-A regarding “The Small Family Norms” while applying for the APSC CCE (Preliminary) Examination.
Application Fee: The application fee for General candidates is ₹297.20/- (₹250 application fee + ₹47.20 processing fee). For OBC/MOBC candidates, it is ₹197.20/- (₹150 + ₹47.20). SC/ST, BPL, PwBD, and Women candidates of all categories pay only the processing fee of ₹47.20/-. Payment is made through the official web portal using Net Banking, Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Cards, or UPI. The last date for fee payment is 5th May 2026.
Note: Women candidates are exempted from application fees as per the Assam Public Services CCE (Amendment) Rules, 2019. They only pay the processing fee of ₹47.20/-.
APSC CCE Main Exam Schedule 2026
The Main Examination runs over three consecutive days with two papers each day. The forenoon session is from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and the afternoon session is from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM.
| Date | Forenoon | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|
| 9 October 2026 | Paper-1 Essay | Paper-2 GS-I |
| 10 October 2026 | Paper-3 GS-II | Paper-4 GS-III |
| 11 October 2026 | Paper-5 GS-IV | Paper-6 GS-V |
APSC CCE Main Exam Pattern
The Main Examination has six descriptive papers of 250 marks each, adding up to 1500 marks. Every paper is of 3 hours’ duration, and there is no optional subject. Candidates may write their answers in English or Assamese.
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-1 | Essay | 250 |
| Paper-2 | General Studies-I | 250 |
| Paper-3 | General Studies-II | 250 |
| Paper-4 | General Studies-III | 250 |
| Paper-5 | General Studies-IV | 250 |
| Paper-6 | General Studies-V | 250 |
| Total | 6 Papers | 1500 |
General Studies-V is the Assam-specific paper introduced in 2020, and it covers the history, geography, polity, economy, culture, biodiversity and disaster management of the state. The Essay paper requires candidates to write essays from the given sections, and it is scored on clarity of thought, structure of the argument and command over language.
APSC CCE Category-wise Vacancies
The APSC CCE notification has announced a total of 78 vacancies. The category-wise distribution is given below.
| Category | Total | RFW |
|---|---|---|
| Open | 42 | 9 |
| OBC/ MOBC | 14 | 2 |
| SC | 8 | 2 |
| STP | 7 | – |
| STH | 7 | 1 |
| PwBD (Locomotor) | 3 | – |
| Grand Total | 78 | 14 |
Note: RFW = Reserved for Women. The number of vacancies may be changed by the Government and will be notified accordingly. Reservation is as per the draft advertisement received from the Government against the total number of posts in the cadre.
APSC CCE Service-wise Vacancies
The APSC CCE notification has announced 78 vacancies across 11 services and posts. The service-wise distribution is given below.
| Service | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Assam Civil Service (Jr. Grade) | 45 |
| Assam Police Service (Jr. Grade) | 6 |
| District Transport Officer | 3 |
| Superintendent of Excise | 1 |
| Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies | 2 |
| Assam Urban Administrative Service (EO. Jr. Gr. II) | 2 |
| Inspector of Labour | 5 |
| Inspector of Excise | 1 |
| Assistant Employment Officer | 8 |
| Sub-Registrar | 4 |
| Research Assistant (Border Protection & Development Deptt.) | 1 |
| Grand Total | 78 |
APSC CCE Pay Scale
The pay scale for each post under the APSC CCE is given below for reference.
| Service | Pay Scale + Grade Pay |
|---|---|
| Assam Civil Service (Jr. Grade) | PB-4, ₹30,000 – ₹1,10,000 + Grade Pay ₹13,300/- |
| Assam Police Service (Jr. Grade) | PB-4, ₹30,000 – ₹1,10,000 + Grade Pay ₹13,300/- |
| District Transport Officer | PB-4, ₹30,000 – ₹1,10,000 + Grade Pay ₹12,700/- |
| Superintendent of Excise | PB-4, ₹30,000 – ₹1,10,000 + Grade Pay ₹12,700/- |
| Asst. Registrar of Cooperative Societies | PB-4, ₹30,000 – ₹1,10,000 + Grade Pay ₹12,700/- |
| Assam Urban Administrative Service (EO. Jr. Gr. II) | PB-4, ₹30,000 – ₹1,10,000 + Grade Pay ₹12,700/- |
| Inspector of Labour | PB-3, ₹22,000 – ₹97,000 + Grade Pay ₹9,400/- |
| Inspector of Excise | PB-3, ₹22,000 – ₹97,000 + Grade Pay ₹9,400/- |
| Assistant Employment Officer | PB-3, ₹22,000 – ₹97,000 + Grade Pay ₹9,400/- |
| Sub-Registrar | PB-3, ₹22,000 – ₹97,000 + Grade Pay ₹9,400/- |
| Research Asst. (Border Protection & Dev. Deptt.) | PB-3, ₹22,000 – ₹97,000 + Grade Pay ₹9,400/- |
Stages of the APSC CCE Exam
The APSC CCE is the main recruitment exam for Assam Civil Services, Assam Police Services, and allied services. The exam has a multi-stage selection process with two main stages: Preliminary Examination and Main Examination. The Main Examination includes both a Written Test and a Personal Interview.
Here is a detailed breakdown of each stage. For subject-wise syllabus details, visit the APSC CCE Syllabus page.
Stage 1: Preliminary Examination
The Preliminary Exam is an objective-type (MCQ) test used to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination. It has two papers, each lasting two hours.
Exam Name: APSC CCE Prelims
Question Type: Objective (MCQs)
Total Papers: 2 (General Studies I & II)
Full Marks: 400 Marks (200 Marks each)
Duration: 2 Hours per paper
Negative Marking: One-fourth of the total marks for each incorrect answer
Syllabus: General Studies I & II (Refer to the Assam Public Service Combined Competitive Examination (Amendment) Rules, 2019)
Exam Centres: The Preliminary Examination will be conducted across centres, including Amingaon, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Biswanath Chariali, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Diphu, Goalpara, Golaghat, Guwahati, Haflong, Hailakandi, Hamren, Hatsingimari, Hojai, Jorhat, Kajalgaon, Kokrajhar, Majuli, Mangaldoi, Morigaon, Mushalpur, Nagaon, Nalbari, North Lakhimpur, Pathsala, Silchar, Sivasagar, Sonari, Sribhumi, Tamulpur, Tezpur, Tinsukia, and Udalguri.
The Preliminary Exam is only a qualifying round. Candidates who clear this stage can appear for the Main Examination. Paper II requires a minimum of 33% to qualify.
To practice with past papers, visit our APSC Previous Question Papers page.
Stage 2: Main Examination (Written & Interview)
The Main Examination has two parts: (A) Written Examination and (B) Interview Test.
A. Written Examination
The Written Examination tests candidates’ understanding and analytical abilities through essay-type and objective questions.
Exam Name: APSC CCE Main
Question Type: Essay and Objective
Medium: English or Assamese
Total Papers: 6 Papers
Full Marks: 1500 Marks
Duration: 3 Hours per paper
Exam Centre: Guwahati
Candidates are shortlisted for the Written Examination based on Prelims merit. The number of shortlisted candidates is usually 11-12 times the total vacancies. Selection follows vertical and horizontal reservation norms.
B. Interview Test
The Interview Test assesses a candidate’s personality, suitability for public service, and intellectual and social traits.
Exam Name: APSC CCE Main Interview
Exam Type: Personality Assessment
Full Marks: 180 Marks
Exam Centre: Guwahati
Final Selection and Merit Ranking
The final merit list is prepared by combining marks from the Main Written Examination (1500 marks) and the Personal Interview (180 marks), for a total of 1680 marks. The Prelims score does not count towards the final ranking; it is only used for shortlisting.
Candidates are allocated to different services based on their rank in the final merit list, the service preferences they indicated in their application, and applicable reservation categories. The Commission recommends only the exact number of candidates needed to fill the advertised vacancies.
Books for APSC CCE Preparation
A good guidebook can make a real difference in your preparation. Here are some recommended books for different topics.
APSC Question Papers: APSC CCE Prelims Solved Papers
Assam History: Assam: From Yandabo To Partition
Assam-Related Topics: Assam Year Book (English), Assam Year Book (Assamese)
Computer Awareness: Objective Computer Awareness
Current Affairs: Manorama Year Book 2025
General English: Objective General English by SP Bakshi
General Knowledge: Lucent’s General Knowledge
Geography: Indian and World Geography
Indian Economy: Pratiyogita Darpan General Studies: Indian Economy
Indian Polity: Indian Polity by M Laxmikanth
Modern Indian History: Modern India by Rajiv Ahir
Numerical Ability: Fast Track Objective Arithmetic
Reasoning: Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by RS Aggarwal
These books are useful references, but they work best alongside dedicated, regular study. Cover the full syllabus systematically and practice with APSC previous question papers to get familiar with the exam pattern.
How to Apply for the APSC CCE Exam?
Eligible candidates can submit their applications through the official recruitment portal at apscrecruitment.in. The online application window opens on 4 August 2026 (12:00 Noon) and closes on 24 August 2026 (5:00 PM). No other mode of application will be accepted. If you are applying for the first time, you will need to complete the One Time Registration (OTR) process before filling out the application form.
After registration, log in to the portal using your credentials. Fill in all required personal and educational details, upload your photograph and signature in the specified format (click here to resize your photograph), and preview the completed application before submission. The photograph should be 50 KB – 200 KB in size and not older than 3 months. The signature should be 50 KB – 200 KB.
The last step is to pay the examination fee through the available online payment methods — Net Banking, Credit/Debit Card, or UPI. The last date for fee payment is 5th May 2026 (5:00 PM). After successful payment, download and save the acknowledgement receipt for future reference. Candidates can also apply through Common Service Centres (CSCs) if they do not have a debit card or internet banking facilities. It is always better to complete the application well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical problems.
Note: Applicants are advised to submit a single application only. If multiple applications are submitted due to any unavoidable situation, only the last application will be considered for candidature. The fee paid against any other application number will not be refunded or adjusted.
Important Dates of APSC CCE 2026
| Notification Date | 31 July 2026 |
| Apply Start Date | 4 August 2026 |
| Apply End Date | 4 August 2026 |
| APSC CCE Main | 9 – 11 October 2026 |
Important Links of APSC CCE Exam
| Application Form | Click Here |
| Official Notification | Click Here |
| Download Form-A | Click Here |
| CCE Prelims Guide | Click Here |
| CCE Solved Papers | Click Here |
| APSC CCE Syllabus | Click Here |
| APSC CCE Admit Card | Click Here |
| APSC CCE Result | Click Here |
| APSC CCE PYQs | Click Here |
| WhatsApp Channel | Click Here |
| Install Android App | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
APSC CCE Exam FAQs
When is the APSC CCE notification released?
The APSC CCE notification for the main exam is released on 31 July 2026. The online application process opens on 4 August 2026 (12:00 Noon) and closes on 24 August 2026 (5:00 PM). The Commission will conduct the Main Examination in Guwahati on 9, 10 and 11 October 2026 in two shifts each day.
What are the eligibility criteria for the APSC CCE Exam?
Candidates must be Indian citizens and permanent residents of Assam. They should be between 21 and 38 years of age as of 1st January 2025, with age relaxations of 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC/MOBC, and 10 years for PwBD candidates. A bachelor’s degree from a recognized university is required.
What is the selection process for the APSC CCE?
The selection process has three stages: Preliminary Examination (objective type, 400 marks), Main Examination (written, 1500 marks), and Personal Interview (180 marks). The final merit is based on Mains + Interview marks, giving a total of 1680 marks.
How many vacancies are there in the APSC CCE?
The APSC CCE notification has announced a total of 78 vacancies across 11 services and posts, including Assam Civil Service (45), Assam Police Service (6), Assistant Employment Officer (8), Inspector of Labour (5), Sub-Registrar (4), District Transport Officer (3), and others.
How can I apply for the APSC CCE Exam?
Candidates can apply online through the official recruitment portal of APSC. First-time applicants need to complete a One-Time Registration (OTR). Fill in the required details, upload documents, and pay the fee to complete the application.
Is there any limit on the number of attempts for APSC CCE?
There is no limit on the number of attempts. Candidates can appear for the exam as long as they are within the maximum age limit of 38 years for General, 41 for OBC/MOBC, 43 for SC/ST, and 48 for PwBD candidates.
