OPSC APP Exam Pattern 2026: Prelims, Mains, Marking Scheme and Interview

The Odisha Public Service Commission has released the exam pattern for the Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) recruitment 2026 under the Odisha State Prosecution Service. The selection process will be conducted in three stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Written Examination, and Personality Test/Interview.

The OPSC APP Preliminary Exam will carry 100 marks, while the Main Examination will have 600 marks, followed by a 50-mark interview. Candidates who qualify for the Prelims will be shortlisted for the Main Examination, and the final merit list will be prepared based on the marks obtained in the Main Written Exam and Interview.

OPSC APP Exam Pattern 2026 Highlights

Candidates can check the key details of the OPSC APP 2026 exam pattern below:

OPSC APP Selection Process 2026

The OPSC APP selection process consists of three stages:

1. Preliminary Examination

2. Main Written Examination

3. Personality Test/Interview

The Preliminary Examination is only a screening test. Its marks will not be added to the final merit list. The Main Written Examination and Personality Test will determine the final selection.

OPSC APP Preliminary Exam Pattern 2026

The Preliminary Examination will consist of one objective-type paper carrying 100 marks. There will be 100 questions, with each question carrying one mark.

The exam will be conducted through OMR-based evaluation or Computer-Based Test (CBT), depending on the decision of OPSC.

Key Details of OPSC APP Prelims

• Total Questions: 100

• Total Marks: 100

• Duration: 2 hours

• Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

• Correct Answer: +1 mark

• Wrong Answer: 0.25 marks deducted

• Unattempted Question: 0 marks

• Purpose: Screening/shortlisting for the Main Examination

The Commission will decide the qualifying marks for different categories. Candidates securing the required qualifying marks will be shortlisted for the Main Examination.

OPSC will shortlist candidates for the Main Examination based on merit, with the number of candidates being up to nearly 10 times the number of vacancies in each category.

OPSC APP Prelims Syllabus

The Preliminary Examination will cover the following major criminal laws:

• Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

• Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

• Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023

The standard of the Preliminary Examination will be that of the LL.B. course under university examinations.

OPSC APP Main Exam Pattern 2026

Candidates qualifying in the Preliminary Examination will be eligible to appear for the Main Written Examination.

The Main Examination will consist of four descriptive papers, with each paper carrying 150 marks. Therefore, the Written Examination will carry a total of 600 marks.

The Main Examination will be subjective and descriptive in nature. OPSC will determine the qualifying marks for individual papers and/or the overall Written Examination.

Paper I: General English

The General English paper will carry 150 marks and will test candidates on language and writing skills.

It will include:

• Translation from English to Odia

• Translation from Odia to English

• Essay writing

• Precis writing

• Comprehension

The standard of the General English paper will be at the degree-course level.

Paper II: Criminal Major Laws

Paper II will carry 150 marks and will cover the major criminal laws, including:

• Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

• Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

• Indian Evidence Act, 1872

• Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023

• Indian Penal Code, 1860

• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

The paper will be based on the LL.B. course level.

Paper III: Criminal Minor Laws

Paper III will also carry 150 marks. It will cover various criminal and special laws, including:

• Arms Act, 1959

• Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961

• Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940

• Odisha Excise Act, 2008

• Explosives Act, 1884

• Explosive Substances Act, 1908

• Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006

• Odisha Forest Act, 1972

• Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008

• Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956

• Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015

• Motor Vehicles Act, 1988

• Probation of Offenders Act, 1958

• Odisha Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1960

• Wild Life Protection Act, 1972

The syllabus also includes other Odisha-specific laws mentioned in the official notification.

Paper IV: Miscellaneous Laws

Paper IV will carry 150 marks and will cover the following areas:

• Drafting of petitions, pleadings and arguments

• Law of Torts

• Indian Contract Act, 1872

• Transfer of Property Act, 1882

• Indian Limitation Act, 1963

• Interpretation of Statutes

This paper will also be at the LL.B. course level.

OPSC APP Interview 2026

Candidates who qualify in the Main Written Examination will be shortlisted for the Personality Test/Interview, which carries 50 marks.

The candidates will be shortlisted for the interview in a 1:2 ratio, subject to a minimum of five candidates with reference to the number of vacancies in the respective categories.

The interview marks will be added to the Main Written Examination marks for preparing the final merit list.

How Is the OPSC APP Final Merit List Prepared?

The Preliminary Examination is only used to shortlist candidates and its marks are not considered for final selection.

The final merit will be based on:

• Main Written Examination: 600 marks

• Personality Test/Interview: 50 marks

Therefore, the final merit list will be prepared out of 650 marks.

If two or more candidates obtain the same aggregate marks, the candidate with higher marks in the Main Written Examination will be placed higher. If the tie still remains, the older candidate will be ranked higher.

OPSC APP Exam Pattern 2026: Language of Examination

Candidates will generally answer the Main Examination papers in English, except for the translation portions where translation into Odia is required.

The General English paper is at the degree level, while the remaining papers are based on the LL.B. course standard.

The OPSC APP Exam Pattern 2026 gives significant importance to the Main Written Examination and Interview. While the Preliminary Examination is important for reaching the next stage, its marks will not affect the final merit. 

Candidates should therefore prepare the prescribed criminal and miscellaneous laws thoroughly and also practice descriptive writing, legal drafting, translation and comprehension to perform well in the Main Examination.

Related Resources:

• OPSC APP Vacancy 2026

• OPSC APP Eligibility 2026

• OPSC APP Salary 2026

• PW Judiciary Online Batches

• PW Judiciary Test Series