Archive · 13 Aug 2026
APPSC Group-I Valuation Under SIT Scanner, Serious Irregularities Flagged
In India, the state of Andhra Pradesh holds big tests to choose people for important government jobs.
One of these tests is called the Group-I exam.
In 2020, almost seven thousand people took the Group-I exam over seven days.
After the tests, examiners graded the papers using computers, but some people said the grading was not fair.
A special detective group called the SIT looked at the exam records.
They found that many papers had changes or scribbles that should not have been there.
A court said the second and third rounds of grading were not allowed and ordered everyone to take a fresh exam.
The SIT wrote a big report about what went wrong and gave it to the court.
Some politicians from the TDP party say two senior officials did wrong things, but those names are not yet proven guilty.
The court will now decide what to do next.
The APPSC Group-I Mains exam was held from December 14 to 20, 2020, with 6,807 candidates appearing for all seven papers.
The SIT found alterations or overwriting in 718 of 736 examined records (97.55 per cent), along with 159 signature mismatches.
On March 13, 2024, the high court declared the second and third valuations illegal and irregular and ordered a fresh Group 1 Main examination.
The Andhra Pradesh Government constituted the SIT on February 14, 2026, after the high court directed it to do so on February 11, 2026.
The SIT did not establish that original answer scripts of selected candidates were substituted or tampered with; TDP leaders alleged involvement of former DGP and APPSC chairman Gautam Sawang and secretary PSR Anjaneyulu.
- Who
- The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC), the Special Investigation Team (SIT), the High Court, and TDP leaders alleging the involvement of former DGP and APPSC chairman Gautam Sawang and secretary PSR Anjaneyulu.
- What
- Serious irregularities were flagged in the APPSC Group-I exam valuation, including alterations in 97.55 per cent of records examined; the high court had earlier declared the second and third valuations illegal and ordered a fresh Group 1 Main examination.
- When
- The Mains exam was held December 14-20, 2020; results were declared on April 1; the SIT was constituted on February 14, 2026, and its final report has now been submitted to the high court.
- Where
- Andhra Pradesh, India, with related examination-integrity concerns noted over student protests in Delhi and Jharkhand.
- Why
- Because the SIT found extensive alterations, signature mismatches, and procedural irregularities in the valuation process, raising questions about the consistency between the digital and manual evaluations.
TDP Allegations of Official Wrongdoing
Due Process and Unproven Allegations
Responsibility for valuation irregularities
TDP Allegations of Official Wrongdoing
The disputed valuation process took place under the YSRCP government; TDP leaders have alleged the involvement of former DGP and APPSC chairman Gautam Sawang and secretary PSR Anjaneyulu, who also served as intelligence chief under then Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Due Process and Unproven Allegations
The notification was issued during the TDP government, the SIT did not establish that original answer scripts were substituted or tampered with, and the allegations against individuals remain allegations unless established through further investigation or proceedings before the high court.
- Exam
- APPSC Group-I Mains
- Exam dates
- December 14-20, 2020
- Candidates appeared
- 6,807
- Shortlisted via digital valuation
- 326 candidates
- Records examined by SIT
- 736; alterations in 718 (97.55%)
- Signature mismatches
- 159
- High court order
- March 13, 2024 - fresh Group 1 Main exam; second and third valuations illegal
- SIT constituted
- February 14, 2026