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 | Marks | Carried to final merit? |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Examination | 100 (objective, 2 hours) | No, screening only |
| Main Written Examination (4 papers) | 600 (150 each) | Yes |
| Personality Test | 50 | Yes |
| Final merit | 650 (Main + Personality Test) | – |
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.
Build toward the whole selection process in one pack. 270 explained mock questions for the Preliminary Examination plus plain-language notes on the exam pattern, eligibility, important dates and the Main Examination and interview-based selection process. OPSC APP Complete Pack, ₹299.
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.
Useful books for this topic
- Bare acts of the new criminal laws (BNS, BNSS, BSA)
- Code of Civil Procedure bare act
- Legal drafting and conveyancing books
- Constitution of India (coat pocket edition)
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