OPSC APP Syllabus and Subjects to Study 2026

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.