Category: OPSC APP

OPSC APP, Delhi APP and AIBE are three very different exams that often get mentioned in the same breath by law graduates deciding their next step: OPSC APP is a 172-post Odisha state recruitment for Assistant Public Prosecutor, Delhi APP is a 140-post UPSC recruitment for the same post title in Delhi, and AIBE is a qualifying bar exam that every practising advocate must pass, not a recruitment at all. Knowing the difference matters because preparing for one does not automatically prepare you for the others in the way candidates sometimes assume.

OPSC APP and Delhi APP: same post title, different recruiters and processes

Both exams recruit for the post of Assistant Public Prosecutor, but they are run by different bodies for different jurisdictions and have meaningfully different structures. OPSC APP requires only 2 years’ practice against Delhi APP’s 3 years, and it adds an Odia language requirement that Delhi APP has no equivalent of, reflecting OPSC APP’s Odisha-specific posting. OPSC APP’s selection runs through a three-stage prelims, mains, interview structure totalling 650 marks, while Delhi APP uses a two-stage RT and interview structure combined in a 75:25 ratio. A candidate preparing for one cannot simply walk into the other’s selection process expecting the same format, though the underlying legal subjects, CrPC/BNSS, IPC/BNS and the Evidence Act/BSA, overlap substantially between the two. See our Delhi APP exam date and pattern 2027 guide for the full Delhi APP details.

How AIBE is a fundamentally different kind of exam

AIBE is not a recruitment exam at all; it is a qualifying examination every advocate must pass to receive a Certificate of Practice from the Bar Council of India, and it carries no merit list or job offer attached to it. Many candidates preparing for OPSC APP or Delhi APP have likely already passed AIBE as part of becoming enrolled advocates, since practice years as an advocate are themselves a precondition for both prosecutor recruitments. In terms of subject overlap, AIBE’s wide syllabus of 19 subjects shares real ground with the criminal law portions tested in OPSC APP and Delhi APP, but AIBE also tests many civil and procedural subjects that a prosecutor recruitment does not emphasise to the same degree. Read our AIBE XXII 2026 exam date, syllabus and pattern guide for AIBE’s own structure.

Which one should you prepare for

If you already hold the required years of practice and want to move from private or litigation practice into a permanent prosecutorial government post, both OPSC APP and Delhi APP are worth applying to if you meet their respective eligibility, since applying to both does not conflict in any way; just keep their separate selection formats, dates and language requirements clearly apart in your preparation. AIBE, by contrast, is not a choice at all for a practising advocate; it is a mandatory step you likely already completed, and it is worth revisiting only if you need to brush up on subjects it covers that also appear in a prosecutor recruitment’s Main Examination.

Common mistakes candidates make

• Assuming OPSC APP and Delhi APP share one selection format just because the post title is identical.
• Treating AIBE as a competing career choice rather than the mandatory enrolment step it actually is.
• Skipping the Odia language requirement check for OPSC APP because Delhi APP has no equivalent condition.
• Not applying to both OPSC APP and Delhi APP when eligible for both, assuming they are mutually exclusive.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between OPSC APP and Delhi APP?

OPSC APP is a 172-post Odisha state recruitment requiring 2 years’ practice and an Odia language test, with a three-stage prelims, mains and interview selection out of 650 marks. Delhi APP is a 140-post UPSC recruitment requiring 3 years’ practice, with a two-stage RT and interview selection combined in a 75:25 ratio.

Is AIBE the same kind of exam as OPSC APP or Delhi APP?

No. AIBE is a qualifying bar exam conducted by the Bar Council of India that every advocate must pass for a Certificate of Practice; it is pass/fail with no merit list or job attached, unlike the recruitment-based selection of OPSC APP and Delhi APP.

Can I apply for both OPSC APP and Delhi APP?

Yes, if you meet each recruitment’s own eligibility requirements, since they are run by different bodies (OPSC and UPSC respectively) with separate application processes.

Does passing AIBE help with OPSC APP or Delhi APP preparation?

It can help with the overlapping criminal law portions, since AIBE also tests subjects like criminal law, procedure and evidence, though both prosecutor recruitments also test subjects AIBE does not emphasise to the same degree.

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 2 November 2026.

Start practising for OPSC APP: OPSC APP Mock Papers, ₹149.

The OPSC APP Odia language eligibility requirement asks every candidate to either pass the Middle School Odia language test or have passed Matriculation with Odia as a subject, regardless of their educational background elsewhere. This condition stands alongside, and separately from, the LLB degree and the 2-year practice requirement, and it applies even to candidates who studied law entirely outside Odisha.

What exactly the requirement asks for

OPSC gives candidates two independent routes to meet this condition. The first is passing the Middle School Odia language test, a standard school-level Odia language qualification offered in Odisha. The second is having already passed Matriculation (Class 10) with Odia as one of your subjects, which automatically satisfies the requirement without needing a separate test. A candidate only needs to meet one of these two routes, not both. See our OPSC APP eligibility and age limit guide for how this sits alongside the degree and practice requirements.

What this means if you did not study Odia at Matriculation

If your Matriculation certificate does not list Odia as a subject, whether because you studied in a different state, attended a CBSE or ICSE school in Odisha with a different language option, or for any other reason, you will need to separately clear the Middle School Odia language test before you can be considered eligible for this recruitment. This is a real planning point for law graduates from outside Odisha, or from Odisha schools that did not offer Odia, who are otherwise eligible on their degree and practice years. Because clearing a language test takes its own preparation and registration timeline, candidates in this position should identify and begin this requirement well ahead of a future application cycle, rather than discovering the gap only while filling the application form.

Why a language requirement exists for this specific post

An Assistant Public Prosecutor in Odisha works within the state’s Magistrate and Sessions courts, interacting with the local police, witnesses and court staff where Odia is often the working language in practice, even though the Main Examination’s law papers (Papers II, III and IV) are answered in English. Only Paper I, General English, carries an English-Odia translation component, which is itself a separate, narrower test of Odia proficiency from the broader eligibility condition covered here. The eligibility-stage Odia requirement and the Paper I translation component serve related but distinct purposes: one is a gate to apply at all, the other is a graded component of the Main Examination for those who have already cleared it.

Practical steps for non-Odia-background applicants

If you do not already satisfy the Matriculation-Odia route, treat the Middle School Odia language test as a prerequisite you must plan for independently of your legal preparation, since it tests a different skill set entirely. Begin basic conversational and reading Odia early if you are seriously considering this recruitment in a future cycle, since reaching Middle School level proficiency from zero takes sustained effort over months, not weeks. Candidates who already have some exposure to Odia, such as having grown up in a Odia-speaking household or region without it appearing on their Matriculation marksheet, should still verify they need to sit the formal test, since the eligibility condition is about the certificate or qualification itself, not informal proficiency.

Common mistakes candidates make

• Assuming the Odia requirement is satisfied simply by growing up in Odisha, without checking the actual Matriculation subject list or test certificate.
• Confusing the eligibility-stage Odia requirement with Paper I’s narrower English-Odia translation component in the Main Examination.
• Leaving the Middle School Odia test until close to the application window, underestimating the time needed to reach that level from no prior Odia exposure.
• Not verifying which route (test or Matriculation subject) applies to their own specific educational background before assuming ineligibility or eligibility either way.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Odia language requirement for OPSC APP?

Candidates must either pass the Middle School Odia language test or have passed Matriculation with Odia as a subject. Meeting either one of these two routes satisfies the requirement.

Can a non-Odia-background law graduate apply for OPSC APP?

Yes, provided they clear the Middle School Odia language test before applying, since the degree and practice-year requirements alone do not substitute for the Odia language condition.

Is the Odia requirement the same as the Paper I translation test?

No. The eligibility-stage Odia requirement is a separate condition to be met before you can apply at all. Paper I’s English-Odia translation is a distinct, graded component within the Main Examination for candidates who have already cleared eligibility.

Does speaking Odia fluently without a certificate meet the requirement?

The stated requirement is about holding the Middle School Odia test qualification or a Matriculation certificate showing Odia as a subject, not informal spoken proficiency, so a formal certificate or test pass is what OPSC’s eligibility condition asks for.

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 2 November 2026.

Get the notes: OPSC APP Notes, ₹199.

The OPSC APP Personality Test carries 50 marks and is added directly to your Main Examination score to produce the final merit out of 650, so treating it as a formality after a hard-fought written exam is a costly mistake. Candidates who meet the Main Examination’s qualifying marks are called for this stage at roughly a 1:2 ratio against the number of vacancies, with at least five candidates considered per category.

Understand what the Personality Test is actually assessing

A Personality Test for a prosecutorial post is generally built to assess a candidate’s suitability for courtroom and administrative responsibility, not just legal knowledge, which has already been tested extensively across the Main Examination’s four papers. Expect questions probing your understanding of the Assistant Public Prosecutor’s role, your awareness of recent developments in the criminal law framework (particularly the transition to the BNS, BNSS and BSA), your reasoning on hypothetical prosecutorial situations, and general awareness of Odisha’s administrative and legal context. This page gives general, verified preparation guidance only; it does not claim to reproduce or predict actual board questions.

Revise your own application and background thoroughly

A Personality Test board typically opens with, or returns repeatedly to, details from your own application: your law college, your years of practice, the kinds of cases you have handled as an advocate, and your reasons for seeking a prosecutorial career. Being unable to speak clearly about your own stated experience is one of the most damaging impressions you can leave. Revisit your application form before the test and be ready to discuss anything you mentioned in it in concrete, specific terms.

Be current on the subjects you were examined on

Since the Main Examination already tested you on Criminal Major Laws, Criminal Minor Laws and Miscellaneous Laws, expect the board to probe your understanding of these further, sometimes through a practical, scenario-based question rather than a direct definitional one. Keep your reading of CrPC/BNSS, IPC/BNS and the Evidence Act/BSA fresh going into the interview, since a gap between your written answers and your spoken understanding of the same subjects is noticeable to an experienced board. Our OPSC APP syllabus and subjects to study guide is a useful quick-revision reference before the interview.

Practical presentation points

Dress formally and conservatively, arrive well before your reporting time with all original documents and certified copies in order, including your 2-year practice certificate from a District and Sessions Judge and your Bar Council enrolment proof, since these go to your basic eligibility and the board may ask you to produce or discuss them. Speak clearly and at a measured pace, and if you do not know an answer, say so honestly rather than guessing aloud at length; composure under an unfamiliar question is itself part of what a Personality Test for a prosecutorial role is assessing.

Common mistakes candidates make

• Treating the Personality Test as a formality once the Main Examination is over, despite its direct 50-mark contribution to the final 650.
• Arriving unable to speak fluently about details already stated in their own application.
• Letting written-exam knowledge lapse by the time of the interview, weeks or months after the Main Examination.
• Bringing incomplete or unorganised documents, including the practice certificate and Bar Council proof.

Frequently asked questions

How many marks does the OPSC APP Personality Test carry?

50 marks, added directly to the Main Examination score to produce the final merit out of a combined 650 marks.

In what ratio are candidates called for the OPSC APP Personality Test?

Candidates who meet the Main Examination’s qualifying marks are called at roughly a 1:2 ratio against the number of vacancies, with at least five candidates considered per category.

What documents should I carry to the OPSC APP interview?

All original documents and certified copies relevant to your eligibility, including your 2-year practice certificate from a District and Sessions Judge and your Bar Council enrolment proof, along with any other documents OPSC’s call letter specifies.

What kind of questions are asked in the OPSC APP Personality Test?

Generally questions on your own application and background, your understanding of the Main Examination subjects, and your general suitability for a prosecutorial role; this page gives general preparation guidance only and does not predict specific board questions.

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 2 November 2026.

Prepare fully: OPSC APP Complete Pack, ₹299.

A practical OPSC APP preparation strategy builds around the only three subjects OPSC has confirmed for the Preliminary Examination, Criminal Procedure (CrPC/BNSS), Criminal Law (IPC/BNS) and the Law of Evidence (Evidence Act/BSA), with the exam reported at 22 November 2026 per secondary sources (not officially confirmed; check opsc.gov.in), leaving roughly three weeks from the start of November to prepare. Given this compressed and still-unconfirmed timeline, a focused, bare-Act-first plan works better than chasing an unofficial “full syllabus”.

Step 1: confirm the date before you plan backward

Because the 22 November 2026 date is reported through secondary sources and not independently confirmed from an OPSC notification, your very first step should be checking opsc.gov.in and your registered email or SMS for the official date. If it holds, you have a tight three-week window from early November; if it shifts, adjust your plan without losing the groundwork you have already built on the three confirmed subjects, since that groundwork does not change regardless of the exact date.

Step 2: read the three confirmed subjects as bare Acts first, not as guides

Because OPSC has not published a detailed, subject-wise syllabus, the safest strategy is to read the actual bare Acts, CrPC 1973 alongside BNSS 2023, IPC 1860 alongside BNS 2023, and the Evidence Act 1872 alongside BSA 2023, section by section, rather than relying on an unofficial topic list that could miss or over-emphasise the wrong areas. Our OPSC APP important bare Acts to read guide lays out a practical reading order across these six Acts.

Step 3: practise under the real negative marking rule

The Preliminary Examination deducts 0.25 marks for every wrong answer. Practising under this exact penalty from the start, rather than switching to it only in the final week, trains you to recognise when to leave a question unanswered instead of guessing. See our OPSC APP negative marking explained guide for how this should shape your attempt strategy on exam day.

Step 4: do not lose sight of the Main Examination while chasing prelims

Because prelims marks are not carried forward, and the Main Examination’s four papers (600 marks) are considerably broader than the prelims subjects, candidates with a realistic shot at clearing prelims should start light reading on Paper III and Paper IV subjects, such as the law of torts, the Contract Act and the Transfer of Property Act, even before the Preliminary Examination, rather than starting from zero only after the result. See our OPSC APP syllabus and subjects to study guide for the full stage-wise subject breakdown.

A simple three-week structure (if the 22 November date holds)

• Week 1: first full read-through of the CrPC/BNSS and IPC/BNS, section to section, noting where the new codes changed numbering or substance from the old codes.
• Week 2: first full read-through of the Evidence Act/BSA, followed by a first full-length mock paper under exam time and the real negative marking rule.
• Week 3: revision of all three subjects through practice questions, a second full-length mock, and error analysis focused on questions you got wrong through guessing rather than genuine unfamiliarity.

Common mistakes candidates make

• Waiting for an official date confirmation before starting to study at all, and losing valuable preparation days.
• Studying from an unverified “complete syllabus” instead of the three confirmed subjects and the actual bare Acts.
• Practising mocks without the 0.25 negative marking rule switched on, which gives a falsely optimistic score.
• Ignoring Paper III and Paper IV subjects entirely until after the prelims result, leaving too little time for the Main Examination later.

Frequently asked questions

How should I prepare for OPSC APP 2026 in a short time?

Focus first on the three confirmed Preliminary Examination subjects, Criminal Procedure, Criminal Law and the Law of Evidence, read as bare Acts covering both the old codes and the BNS/BNSS/BSA, then practise full-length mocks under the real 0.25 negative marking rule.

Is the OPSC APP prelims date of 22 November 2026 confirmed?

No, it is reported via secondary sources as a revision from the originally notified 1 November 2026 date, but it has not been independently confirmed from an official OPSC notification, so check opsc.gov.in before finalising your schedule.

Should I start preparing for the Main Examination before the prelims result?

If you have a reasonable shot at clearing prelims, light preparation on Paper III and Paper IV subjects such as torts, contract and property law before the result is a sound use of time, since the Main Examination is considerably broader than the prelims subjects.

What should I prioritise if I only have a few weeks left?

Prioritise the three confirmed subjects over any unofficial topic list, and spend time on timed, negative-marking-accurate mock practice rather than passive reading alone in the final stretch.

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 2 November 2026.

Start practising: OPSC APP Mock Papers, ₹149.

The core bare Acts to read for OPSC APP are the CrPC 1973 alongside the BNSS 2023, the IPC 1860 alongside the BNS 2023, and the Evidence Act 1872 alongside the BSA 2023, since these three subject-pairs are the only ones OPSC has confirmed for the Preliminary Examination. For the Main Examination, add the Arms Act, Dowry Prohibition Act, Motor Vehicles Act, Juvenile Justice Act, the Contract Act, the Transfer of Property Act and the Limitation Act, among others named in OPSC’s own paper descriptions.

The three prelims bare Acts: read old and new side by side

Because questions can be framed around either the pre-2024 codes or their replacements, the most reliable method is a side-by-side reading of each pair of Acts, provision to provision, rather than reading one code in isolation. Start with the CrPC 1973 and the BNSS 2023 together, since procedure sets up how the other two subjects are applied in practice. Move next to the IPC 1860 and the BNS 2023, focusing on offence definitions, punishments and any provisions that were renumbered or substantively altered in the BNS. Finish the trio with the Evidence Act 1872 and the BSA 2023, paying attention to provisions on admissibility, documentary evidence and electronic records, since these have practical relevance to a prosecutor’s daily work. Our OPSC APP syllabus and subjects to study guide explains why OPSC has not gone beyond naming these three subject-pairs for the prelims.

Bare Acts for the Main Examination’s Paper III: Criminal Minor Laws

Paper III covers special and criminal statutes beyond the three main subjects. OPSC’s own paper description names the Arms Act, the Dowry Prohibition Act, the Motor Vehicles Act and the Juvenile Justice Act, along with Odisha-specific laws such as the Excise Act and the Forest Act. These are narrower, more specialised Acts, and a focused reading of their key sections, offences and procedures, rather than a cover-to-cover study, is generally the efficient approach once you have the three main subjects down.

Bare Acts for the Main Examination’s Paper IV: Miscellaneous Laws

Paper IV is civil-side and drafting-focused, drawing on the law of torts, the Contract Act, the Transfer of Property Act, the Limitation Act, and the general principles of interpretation of statutes, along with practical drafting of petitions and pleadings. None of these feature in the prelims paper at all, so candidates who clear prelims and have not touched these Acts beforehand will need dedicated time for them before the Main Examination.

A sensible reading order given limited time

If your time before prelims is genuinely short, the CrPC/BNSS, IPC/BNS and Evidence Act/BSA trio should take priority over everything else, since this is what actually decides whether you proceed past screening. Once prelims is behind you, however your result turns out, shift focus to Paper III’s special statutes first, since they are narrower and faster to cover, and then to Paper IV’s broader civil-side subjects, which need more time to build familiarity with.

Common mistakes candidates make

• Reading only the new codes (BNS, BNSS, BSA) and skipping the older IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act provisions entirely.
• Spending disproportionate time on Paper III’s narrow special statutes before securing the three main prelims subjects.
• Leaving Paper IV’s civil-side Acts untouched until after the Main Examination date is announced, when they could be started earlier.
• Reading summarised notes instead of the bare Act text for provisions that are likely to be tested word for word.

Frequently asked questions

Which bare Acts should I read for OPSC APP prelims?

The CrPC 1973 with the BNSS 2023, the IPC 1860 with the BNS 2023, and the Evidence Act 1872 with the BSA 2023, since these are the only three subject-pairs OPSC has confirmed for the Preliminary Examination.

Do I need to read the old IPC and CrPC, or only the new BNS and BNSS?

Both. Since the BNS, BNSS and BSA replaced the older codes only from 1 July 2024, a side-by-side reading of old and new provisions is the safer approach for a paper that names both frameworks.

Which Acts are needed for the OPSC APP Main Examination beyond the prelims subjects?

Paper III adds special statutes such as the Arms Act, the Dowry Prohibition Act, the Motor Vehicles Act, the Juvenile Justice Act and Odisha-specific laws like the Excise Act and Forest Act. Paper IV adds the law of torts, the Contract Act, the Transfer of Property Act, the Limitation Act and interpretation of statutes.

Should I prioritise bare Acts over coaching notes?

For the three confirmed prelims subjects, yes, since no official detailed syllabus exists and provisions can be tested directly. Notes are useful as a structured companion to the bare Act reading, not a replacement for it.

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 2 November 2026.

Get the notes: OPSC APP Notes, ₹199.

The OPSC APP negative marking rule deducts 0.25 marks, a quarter of a mark, for every wrong answer in the Preliminary Examination, which is a single objective paper of 100 marks for 2 hours. This 25 percent penalty on each wrong answer is meant to discourage blind guessing, and it should directly shape how you attempt questions you are unsure about.

How the 0.25 negative marking actually works

Every wrong answer in the OPSC APP Preliminary Examination costs you 0.25 marks. In practical terms, if you answer four questions wrong, you lose a full mark, equivalent to one correct answer undone. Because prelims marks are not carried forward to the final merit and the paper is used only to screen candidates for the Main Examination, the real goal on exam day is simply to clear the qualifying cut-off safely, not to maximise a score that stops mattering once you are shortlisted.

How this should change your answering strategy

With a 25 percent penalty per wrong answer, pure guessing on a question where you cannot eliminate any options is close to a losing bet over the full paper, since random guessing across four options yields an expected loss once the 0.25 deduction is applied against only a 25 percent chance of being right. The calculus changes once you can confidently eliminate even one or two of the options: at that point, an educated guess between the remaining choices becomes statistically worthwhile. The practical rule is simple: attempt every question you can narrow down to two options or fewer with real reasoning, and leave blank only the questions where you have no basis to eliminate anything.

Why practising with real negative marking matters

A candidate who practises only on untimed, no-penalty question banks tends to overestimate their accuracy and underestimate the damage from random attempts. Practising full-length mocks with the actual 0.25 negative marking switched on, well before exam day, trains you to recognise the difference between an educated guess and a blind one, which is a skill that only comes from repetition under the real penalty. See our OPSC APP preparation strategy guide for how to build this into your overall plan.

Common mistakes candidates make

• Attempting every single question regardless of confidence, treating the paper as if there were no penalty at all.
• Going to the opposite extreme and leaving too many attemptable questions blank out of excess caution.
• Practising on question banks without negative marking turned on, and getting a false sense of readiness.
• Forgetting that the real goal in prelims is clearing the cut-off safely, not maximising a score that is not carried forward.

Frequently asked questions

What is the negative marking in OPSC APP prelims?

0.25 marks are deducted for every wrong answer in the Preliminary Examination, which is a 100-mark, 2-hour objective paper.

Is there a penalty for leaving a question unattempted in OPSC APP?

The fact sheet confirms only a deduction for wrong answers; leaving a question blank does not attract the 0.25 penalty, so an unattempted question is always safer than a pure guess.

Should I guess in the OPSC APP prelims if I am unsure?

Only if you can genuinely eliminate at least one or two options through reasoning. A pure, unreasoned guess across all four options is statistically a losing move once the 0.25 deduction is applied.

Does negative marking apply to the OPSC APP Main Examination too?

The fact sheet describing negative marking applies specifically to the objective Preliminary Examination. The Main Examination is descriptive, not objective, so the same mechanical negative marking rule does not apply in the same way.

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 2 November 2026.

Start practising: OPSC APP Mock Papers, ₹149.

An OPSC Assistant Public Prosecutor is placed in Level 10 of the Pay Matrix under the Odisha Revised Scales of Pay (ORSP) Rules 2017, with a starting basic pay of ₹44,900, plus Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and other applicable allowances. This is the pay structure fixed for the 172 Group-B posts advertised by the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) under Advertisement No. 09 of 2026-27.

Pay scale: Level 10, basic pay ₹44,900

The post sits at Level 10 of the state’s own Pay Matrix under the ORSP Rules 2017, starting at a basic pay of ₹44,900. On top of this basic pay, an Assistant Public Prosecutor draws Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and other allowances applicable to Group-B state government employees in Odisha, so the actual take-home figure is higher than the basic pay alone and moves with periodic DA revisions. This pay level is broadly comparable to other Level 10 law-enforcement-adjacent posts in state and central government, such as the Delhi Assistant Public Prosecutor post recruited by UPSC, which also sits at Level 10 of the 7th Central Pay Commission matrix; see our OPSC APP vs Delhi APP vs AIBE comparison for how the two posts line up.

What an Assistant Public Prosecutor actually does

An Assistant Public Prosecutor conducts criminal prosecutions on behalf of the State, generally before Magistrate and Sessions courts within the Odisha State Prosecution Service. The role involves examining and cross-examining witnesses, framing and arguing charges, opposing or supporting bail applications on behalf of the prosecution, liaising with the investigating police and advising them on the legal sufficiency of evidence, and appearing for the State in day-to-day criminal matters assigned within the district or jurisdiction posted. It is a Group-A level of courtroom responsibility delivered through a Group-B post, and it draws directly on the three Preliminary Examination subjects: Criminal Procedure, Criminal Law and the Law of Evidence, since these are the statutes a prosecutor works with daily.

Why the job profile matters for your preparation

Because the role is built around prosecuting criminal cases, the exam’s heavy focus on CrPC/BNSS, IPC/BNS and the Evidence Act/BSA is not incidental; it mirrors the actual day-to-day work. Reading these Acts with a prosecutor’s eye, not just an exam-taker’s eye, such as thinking about how a charge is framed or how a piece of evidence would be proved at trial, often makes both the objective prelims paper and the descriptive mains papers easier to answer.

Common mistakes candidates make

• Comparing only the basic pay figure across states without accounting for differing DA and HRA structures.
• Treating the post as purely clerical because it is Group-B, when the courtroom responsibilities are substantial.
• Not connecting the job profile back to why CrPC/BNSS, IPC/BNS and the Evidence Act/BSA dominate the exam.

Frequently asked questions

What is the salary of an OPSC Assistant Public Prosecutor?

The post carries a starting basic pay of ₹44,900 at Level 10 of the Pay Matrix under the Odisha Revised Scales of Pay (ORSP) Rules 2017, plus Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and other applicable allowances.

What is the job profile of an Assistant Public Prosecutor in Odisha?

The role involves conducting criminal prosecutions on behalf of the State before Magistrate and Sessions courts, including examining witnesses, framing and arguing charges, handling bail matters for the prosecution, and advising the investigating police.

Is OPSC Assistant Public Prosecutor a Group-A or Group-B post?

It is a Group-B post in the Odisha State Prosecution Service, under the Home Department, Government of Odisha.

How does OPSC APP pay compare to Delhi APP pay?

Both posts sit at Level 10 of their respective Pay Matrix, though under different pay commission frameworks: OPSC APP under the Odisha Revised Scales of Pay (ORSP) Rules 2017 and Delhi APP under the 7th Central Pay Commission matrix.

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 2 November 2026.

Start practising: OPSC APP Mock Papers, ₹149.

For the OPSC APP Preliminary Examination, OPSC has confirmed only three subjects: Criminal Procedure (CrPC 1973 and BNSS 2023), Criminal Law (IPC 1860 and BNS 2023) and the Law of Evidence (Evidence Act 1872 and BSA 2023). OPSC has not published a detailed subject-wise prelims syllabus beyond these three named subjects. The Main Written Examination, by contrast, is spread across four named papers covering a much wider set of laws.

What OPSC has actually confirmed for the Preliminary Examination

OPSC’s own notification names exactly three subject areas for the Preliminary Examination: Criminal Procedure, Criminal Law and the Law of Evidence. Each of these spans both the old code and its 2023 replacement, since India’s criminal statutes changed over this period: the CrPC 1973 sits alongside the BNSS 2023, the IPC 1860 alongside the BNS 2023, and the Evidence Act 1872 alongside the BSA 2023. OPSC has not released a chapter-wise or topic-wise breakup within these three subjects, and it has not released the number of questions per subject either. Treat any detailed topic list you find online as a coaching portal’s own compilation, not an official OPSC document, and build your study plan around the actual bare Acts rather than an invented blueprint. Our OPSC APP important bare Acts to read guide lists exactly which Acts to prioritise.

Why both the old codes and the new codes matter

Because the BNS, BNSS and BSA replaced the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act with effect from 1 July 2024, questions can reasonably draw on either framework, and on how provisions map between them. Studying only the new codes risks missing questions phrased around older, more familiar numbering, and studying only the old codes risks missing questions on provisions that changed meaningfully under the new codes. A side-by-side approach, section to section, is the safer way to prepare for this three-subject prelims paper.

The Main Examination covers far more than the prelims subjects

Once you clear prelims, the Main Examination’s four papers widen the scope considerably. Paper II repeats the three prelims subjects at a descriptive, mains-answer level. Paper III adds special and criminal statutes, several of them Odisha-specific. Paper IV adds civil-side subjects entirely absent from the prelims paper, including the law of torts, the Contract Act, the Transfer of Property Act, the Limitation Act and drafting skills for petitions and pleadings. If you are only now starting your preparation, do not assume prelims-level reading is sufficient for the mains stage later.

Common mistakes candidates make

• Studying from an unofficial “full syllabus” PDF as though OPSC itself had released it.
• Preparing only the new codes (BNS, BNSS, BSA) and skipping the older IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act numbering entirely.
• Assuming prelims-level reading of the three subjects is enough for the much wider Main Examination.
• Not budgeting separate time for Paper IV’s civil-side subjects, which prelims gives no exposure to at all.

Frequently asked questions

What is the syllabus for OPSC APP 2026?

For the Preliminary Examination, OPSC has confirmed only three subjects: Criminal Procedure (CrPC/BNSS), Criminal Law (IPC/BNS) and the Law of Evidence (Evidence Act/BSA), with no detailed topic-wise breakup published. The Main Examination adds General English and two more papers on minor and miscellaneous laws.

Has OPSC published a detailed subject-wise syllabus for the prelims?

No. OPSC has named only the three subjects above. Any detailed topic list you see elsewhere is a coaching portal’s own compilation, not an official OPSC syllabus document.

Do I need to study both the old codes and the new criminal codes?

Yes. Since the BNS, BNSS and BSA replaced the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act from 1 July 2024, questions can be framed around either the old or the new provisions, so studying both, section to section, is the safer approach.

Is the OPSC APP Main Examination syllabus wider than the prelims?

Yes, considerably. It adds General English, special and criminal statutes under Paper III, and civil-side subjects such as torts, contract, property and limitation law under Paper IV, none of which feature in the three-subject prelims paper.

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 2 November 2026.

Get the notes: OPSC APP Notes, ₹199.

The OPSC APP selection process runs through three stages: a Preliminary Examination that only screens candidates, a Main Written Examination of 600 marks across four papers, and a Personality Test of 50 marks, with final merit decided out of a combined 650 marks from the Main Examination and Personality Test together. This is the full selection structure the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has fixed for the 172 posts of Assistant Public Prosecutor under Advertisement No. 09 of 2026-27.

Stage 1: the Preliminary Examination is screening only

The Preliminary Examination is a single objective paper of 100 marks for 2 hours, with 0.25 marks deducted for every wrong answer. Its purpose is purely to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination; prelims marks are not added anywhere in the final merit calculation. This is an important point many candidates miss: once you clear prelims, your score there stops mattering and the contest effectively restarts at the Main Examination. See our OPSC APP exam date and pattern 2026 guide for the full prelims details.

Stage 2: the Main Written Examination, 600 marks across four papers

Candidates who clear prelims sit four descriptive papers of 150 marks each, totalling 600 marks. Paper I is General English, 2.5 hours, and includes English-Odia translation, essay, precis and comprehension. Paper II is Criminal Major Laws, 3 hours, covering CrPC/BNSS, the Evidence Act/BSA and IPC/BNS. Paper III is Criminal Minor Laws, 3 hours, covering special and criminal statutes such as the Arms Act, the Dowry Prohibition Act, the Motor Vehicles Act and the Juvenile Justice Act, along with Odisha-specific laws like the Excise Act and the Forest Act. Paper IV is Miscellaneous Laws, 3 hours, covering drafting of petitions and pleadings, the law of torts, the Contract Act, the Transfer of Property Act, the Limitation Act, and interpretation of statutes. Only the translation portion of Paper I involves Odia; Papers II, III and IV are answered in English. Our OPSC APP syllabus and subjects to study guide goes deeper into each paper’s content.

Stage 3: the Personality Test, 50 marks

Candidates who meet the Main Examination’s qualifying marks are called for a Personality Test, worth 50 marks, at roughly a 1:2 ratio against the number of vacancies, with at least five candidates considered per category. This is the interview stage, and it carries real weight in the final 650-mark total, since it is added directly to your Main Examination score. See our OPSC APP interview and Personality Test tips guide for how to prepare for it.

Common mistakes candidates make

• Treating prelims clearance as an achievement that carries weight later, when it is purely a screening gate.
• Underestimating the four Main Examination papers because prelims felt manageable; the mains papers are descriptive and far more demanding.
• Ignoring the Personality Test’s 50 marks, which can genuinely shift your final position out of 650.
• Not noticing that Paper III and Paper IV cover minor and miscellaneous laws well beyond the three prelims subjects.

Frequently asked questions

What is the OPSC APP selection process?

It has three stages: a screening-only Preliminary Examination, a 600-mark Main Written Examination across four papers, and a 50-mark Personality Test, with final merit based on a combined 650 marks from the Main Examination and Personality Test.

Do OPSC APP prelims marks count in the final merit?

No. The Preliminary Examination only shortlists candidates for the Main Examination; its marks are not carried forward to the final result.

How many papers are there in the OPSC APP Main Examination?

Four descriptive papers of 150 marks each, totalling 600 marks: General English, Criminal Major Laws, Criminal Minor Laws and Miscellaneous Laws.

How much weight does the OPSC APP interview carry?

The Personality Test carries 50 marks, which are added directly to the Main Examination score to produce the final merit out of 650.

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 2 November 2026.

Prepare for every stage: OPSC APP Complete Pack, ₹299.

OPSC APP vacancy details for 2026 show 172 posts of Assistant Public Prosecutor, Group-B, Odisha State Prosecution Service, split category-wise as UR 86, SEBC 23, SC 27 and ST 36. Within this total of 172, 58 posts are reserved for women, and there is horizontal reservation of 9 posts for Ex-Servicemen, 2 for Sports Persons and 8 for Persons with Disability of 40 percent or more.

How the 172 OPSC APP posts break down

The recruitment is under OPSC Advertisement No. 09 of 2026-27, for the post of Assistant Public Prosecutor, Group-B, in the Odisha State Prosecution Service under the Home Department, Government of Odisha. Out of the 172 posts, the vertical, category-wise split is Unreserved 86, SEBC 23, SC 27 and ST 36. These four categories together make up the full 172 vacancies; there is no separate EWS line stated in the fact sheet used for this page.

Women’s reservation and horizontal categories

58 of the 172 posts are reserved for women. This reservation sits on top of the vertical category breakdown, meaning women candidates compete within their own respective category (UR, SEBC, SC or ST) for these reserved posts, as is standard practice for vertical-plus-horizontal reservation schemes. In addition, horizontal reservation applies for Ex-Servicemen (9 posts), Sports Persons (2 posts) and Persons with Disability of 40 percent or more (8 posts). A candidate who qualifies for more than one horizontal category is generally adjusted against the category that benefits them most, though the exact adjustment mechanics should be confirmed from the OPSC notification itself when you apply in a future cycle.

Why vacancy numbers matter beyond just applying

Knowing the category-wise and horizontal split helps you gauge the real competition in your own category, not just the headline 172 figure. It also matters at the final merit stage: OPSC applies these same category and reservation rules when preparing the final merit list after the Main Examination and Personality Test, which together decide selection out of 650 marks. See our OPSC APP selection process and interview explained guide for how the stages connect to the final list.

Common mistakes candidates make

• Reading only the total of 172 and not checking their own category’s actual vacancy count.
• Assuming the women’s reservation is a separate pool of posts outside the 86/23/27/36 split, rather than within it.
• Not applying for a horizontal category such as Ex-Servicemen or Sports Persons they were eligible for, losing a possible advantage.
• Confusing this state-level, 172-post OPSC recruitment with the separate 140-post Delhi APP recruitment conducted by UPSC; see our OPSC APP vs Delhi APP vs AIBE comparison.

Frequently asked questions

How many vacancies are there in OPSC APP recruitment 2026?

There are 172 posts of Assistant Public Prosecutor under OPSC Advertisement No. 09 of 2026-27, split as UR 86, SEBC 23, SC 27 and ST 36.

How many OPSC APP posts are reserved for women?

58 of the 172 posts are reserved for women, within the overall category-wise breakdown.

Is there reservation for Ex-Servicemen and Persons with Disability in OPSC APP?

Yes. There is horizontal reservation of 9 posts for Ex-Servicemen, 2 for Sports Persons and 8 for Persons with Disability of 40 percent or more.

What is the grade and department of the OPSC APP post?

It is a Group-B post of Assistant Public Prosecutor in the Odisha State Prosecution Service, under the Home Department, Government of Odisha.

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 2 November 2026.

Start practising: OPSC APP Mock Papers, ₹149.

The OPSC APP exam date and pattern 2026 centre on one Preliminary Examination: a single objective paper of 100 marks for 2 hours, at LLB standard, with 0.25 marks deducted for every wrong answer. The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) is conducting this Preliminary Examination for 172 posts of Assistant Public Prosecutor under Advertisement No. 09 of 2026-27. The Preliminary Examination was originally notified for 1 November 2026, and several coaching portals and job-alert sites are now reporting a revised date of Sunday, 22 November 2026, to avoid a clash with the OCS Main (Written) Examination 2025. Lexfolio could not independently confirm this revised date from a directly fetched OPSC notification or corrigendum, so treat 22 November 2026 as a reported date, not an official one, and check opsc.gov.in before finalising your plans.

OPSC APP exam date 2026: what is confirmed and what is not

OPSC opened applications for this recruitment from 28 August to 28 September 2026, and that window has already closed. The Preliminary Examination was first notified for 1 November 2026. Secondary reporting, including coaching portals and government-jobs aggregators, now says OPSC has pushed this to 22 November 2026 because the original date clashed with the OCS Main (Written) Examination 2025. Two or more independent secondary sources carry this revised date, but this page has not been able to fetch the OPSC corrigendum directly, so it is reported here as unconfirmed. Keep checking the “What’s New” section of opsc.gov.in and your registered email or SMS for the final word before you plan your last weeks of study around either date.

Whichever date holds, the exam pattern itself is OPSC’s own stated design: one objective paper, 100 marks, 2 hours, pitched at LLB standard.

OPSC APP exam pattern 2026: marking and what the prelims paper tests

The Preliminary Examination is objective (MCQ), carries 100 marks and runs for 2 hours. Every wrong answer costs you 0.25 marks, so guessing at random on questions you cannot narrow down at all works against you over a full paper. OPSC has confirmed three subject areas for this paper: Criminal Procedure (the CrPC 1973 and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, BNSS 2023), Criminal Law (the IPC 1860 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, BNS 2023), and the Law of Evidence (the Evidence Act 1872 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, BSA 2023). OPSC has not published a question count or a subject-wise weightage for this paper, so any site quoting an exact number of questions per subject is estimating, not quoting OPSC. Read our OPSC APP syllabus and subjects to study guide for how these three subjects map onto the actual bare Acts.

Why the prelims is only the first hurdle

Clearing the Preliminary Examination does not carry any marks forward. It only screens candidates for the Main Written Examination, which is 600 marks across four descriptive papers, followed by a 50-mark Personality Test. Final merit is decided out of a combined 650 marks from the Main Examination and the Personality Test. Read the complete flow in our OPSC APP selection process and interview explained guide.

Common mistakes candidates make

• Treating the 22 November 2026 date as officially confirmed instead of checking opsc.gov.in directly before the exam.
• Assuming prelims marks count toward the final merit. They do not; prelims is screening only.
• Ignoring the 0.25 negative marking while guessing on unfamiliar questions. See our OPSC APP negative marking explained guide.
• Preparing from an invented “detailed syllabus” instead of the three subjects OPSC has actually named.

Frequently asked questions

What is the OPSC APP exam date and pattern for 2026?

The OPSC Assistant Public Prosecutor Preliminary Examination is a single objective paper of 100 marks for 2 hours, with 0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer. Secondary sources report the date as revised to 22 November 2026, but this is not officially confirmed; check opsc.gov.in for the final date.

Is the 22 November 2026 OPSC APP prelims date confirmed?

No. It is reported by coaching portals and job-alert sites as a revision from the originally notified 1 November 2026 date, to avoid clashing with the OCS Main (Written) Examination 2025. This page could not independently verify it from an OPSC notification, so treat it as provisional.

How many questions are in the OPSC APP prelims paper?

OPSC has not published the exact number of questions or a subject-wise split. The paper is 100 marks for 2 hours at LLB standard.

Does the OPSC APP prelims score count toward the final result?

No. The Preliminary Examination is used only to screen candidates for the Main Examination; its marks are not added to the final merit, which is based on the Main Examination and Personality Test out of 650.

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 2 November 2026.

Start practising: OPSC APP Mock Papers, ₹149.

OPSC APP eligibility and age limit require an LLB from a recognised university, at least 2 years’ practice as an advocate, a pass in the Middle School Odia language test (or Matriculation with Odia as a subject), and an age between 21 and 42 years as on 1 January 2026. This is the eligibility criteria the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has fixed for the 172 posts of Assistant Public Prosecutor under Advertisement No. 09 of 2026-27.

Educational qualification and the 2-year practice requirement

A candidate must hold an LLB degree from a recognised university. On top of the degree, OPSC asks for at least 2 years’ practice as an advocate. This is shorter than some comparable recruitments; the Delhi Assistant Public Prosecutor recruitment conducted by UPSC, for comparison, asks for 3 years’ practice, as covered in our Delhi APP eligibility and age limit guide. For OPSC APP, the practice must be supported by a certificate from a District and Sessions Judge, along with your Bar Council enrolment details, so keep both ready well before you apply in a future cycle.

The Odia language requirement

OPSC also requires candidates to clear the Middle School Odia language test, or to have passed Matriculation with Odia as one of the subjects. This condition applies regardless of your educational background elsewhere, and it is a separate requirement from your LLB and your years of practice. If you did not study Odia at the Matriculation level, you will need to pass the Middle School Odia test to be eligible. Our dedicated guide, OPSC APP Odia language eligibility explained, covers what this test involves and what candidates without an Odia-medium background should plan for.

Age limit and relaxations

The general age band is 21 to 42 years, calculated as on 1 January 2026. Candidates from SEBC, SC and ST categories, women, and ex-servicemen get a 5-year relaxation. Candidates with a disability of 40 percent or more get a 10-year relaxation. Where more than one relaxation applies to the same candidate, the cumulative relaxation is capped at 15 years. Work out your own exact upper age limit carefully against these bands before assuming you qualify.

Common mistakes candidates make

• Assuming any LLB plus enrolment is enough, and overlooking the 2-year practice certificate requirement from a District and Sessions Judge.
• Forgetting the Odia language condition entirely, especially if coming from an all-India law college outside Odisha.
• Calculating age as on the application date rather than the cut-off of 1 January 2026.
• Missing that relaxations are cumulative but capped at 15 years, not simply added without a ceiling.

Frequently asked questions

What is the eligibility for OPSC APP 2026?

You need an LLB from a recognised university, at least 2 years’ practice as an advocate backed by a District and Sessions Judge’s certificate and Bar Council enrolment details, a pass in the Middle School Odia language test (or Matriculation with Odia as a subject), and an age of 21 to 42 years as on 1 January 2026.

What is the age limit for OPSC Assistant Public Prosecutor?

The general age limit is 21 to 42 years as on 1 January 2026, with a 5-year relaxation for SEBC, SC, ST, women and ex-servicemen, and a 10-year relaxation for PwD candidates with 40 percent or more disability, cumulative relaxation capped at 15 years.

Is Odia language compulsory for OPSC APP?

Yes. Candidates must either pass the Middle School Odia language test or have passed Matriculation with Odia as a subject, in addition to the educational and practice requirements.

How many years of practice are required for OPSC APP?

At least 2 years’ practice as an advocate, which must be supported by a certificate from a District and Sessions Judge along with your Bar Council enrolment details.

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 2 November 2026.

Get the notes: OPSC APP Notes, ₹199.