Jharkhand APO 2026: Syllabus, Previous Year Papers & Bare Acts

Exam pattern and stages

1. Preliminary examination (objective type): Two objective papers of 300 marks in total, each of 2 hours; General Studies is general level and Laws is law-graduate level.

   Paper	Questions	Marks	Duration
   Paper I: General Studies		100	2 hours
   Paper II: Laws		200	2 hours

2. Main examination (descriptive): Eight written papers of 3 hours each; the scheme lists the Hindi and English papers at matric or general level and the remaining papers at general or law-graduate level.

   Paper	Questions	Marks	Duration
   Paper I: General Hindi		100	3 hours
   Paper II: General English		100	3 hours
   Paper III: Essay Writing		100	3 hours
   Paper IV: General Studies		100	3 hours
   Paper V: Evidence and Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure Code, 1973: 125 marks; Evidence Act: 75 marks		200	3 hours
   Paper VI: Indian Penal Code		200	3 hours
   Paper VII: Indian Constitutional Law		200	3 hours
   Paper VIII: Criminal Minor Acts		200	3 hours

3. Viva-voce (interview): Interview carrying 50 marks.

   Paper	Questions	Marks	Duration
   Interview		50

Syllabus

Paper by paper, as the official syllabus lists it.

Preliminary examination: Paper II Laws (200 marks)

• Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Read the act
• Indian Evidence law (year printed as 1882)
• Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Read the act

Main examination: Paper V Evidence and Criminal Procedure (200 marks)

• Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (125 marks) · Read the act
• Evidence Act (75 marks)

Main examination: Paper VI Indian Penal Code (200 marks)

• Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Read the act

Main examination: Paper VII Indian Constitutional Law (200 marks)

• Indian constitutional law

Main examination: Paper VIII Criminal Minor Acts (200 marks; three groups of 80, 60 and 60 marks)

• Group of 80 marks: Forest Act, 1927
• Group of 80 marks: Arms Act, 1959 and Explosive Substances Act, 1908 · Read the act
• Group of 80 marks: Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 · Read the act
• Group of 80 marks: Prevention of Witch (Dain) Practices Act, 1999
• Group of 80 marks: Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1908 and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 · Read the act
• Group of 60 marks: Electricity Act, 2003 · Read the act
• Group of 60 marks: Information Technology Act, 2000 · Read the act
• Group of 60 marks: Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954
• Group of 60 marks: Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 · Read the act
• Group of 60 marks: Bihar/Jharkhand Prevention of Specified Corruption Act, 1983
• Group of 60 marks: Essential Commodities Act, 1955 · Read the act
• Group of 60 marks: Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 · Read the act
• Group of 60 marks: Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
• Group of 60 marks: Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 · Read the act

Bare Acts for this exam

20 acts tagged for Jharkhand APO. Each opens section by section, free to read.

• Arms Act, 1959
• Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
• Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
• Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
• Constitution of India
• Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
• Electricity Act, 2003
• Essential Commodities Act, 1955
• Explosive Substances Act, 1908
• Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
• Indian Evidence Act, 1872
• Indian Forest Act, 1927
• Indian Penal Code, 1860
• Information Technology Act, 2000
• Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
• Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
• Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
• Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
• Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967

Old law → new law tables: IPC → BNS · CrPC → BNSS · Evidence Act → BSA

Previous year papers

1 prelims paper, 2025. All Jharkhand APO papers by year

2025

• Jharkhand APO Prelims 2025 200 questions · attempt online

Eligibility

A degree in law from a recognised university; the notification has the full conditions.

Relaxations, attempts and category rules are in each cycle's notification.

Jharkhand APO: frequently asked questions

What is the pattern of the Jharkhand APO exam?

Jharkhand Assistant Prosecution Officer (APO) Examination has 3 stages. Preliminary examination (objective type): Two objective papers of 300 marks in total, each of 2 hours; General Studies is general level and Laws is law-graduate level. Papers: Paper I: General Studies: 100 marks, 2 hours; Paper II: Laws: 200 marks, 2 hours. Main examination (descriptive): Eight written papers of 3 hours each; the scheme lists the Hindi and English papers at matric or general level and the remaining papers at general or law-graduate level. Papers: Paper I: General Hindi: 100 marks, 3 hours; Paper II: General English: 100 marks, 3 hours; Paper III: Essay Writing: 100 marks, 3 hours; Paper IV: General Studies: 100 marks, 3 hours; Paper V: Evidence and Criminal Procedure: 200 marks, 3 hours; Paper VI: Indian Penal Code: 200 marks, 3 hours; Paper VII: Indian Constitutional Law: 200 marks, 3 hours; Paper VIII: Criminal Minor Acts: 200 marks, 3 hours. Viva-voce (interview): Interview carrying 50 marks. Papers: Interview: 50 marks.

Who is eligible for Jharkhand APO?

A degree in law from a recognised university; the notification has the full conditions. The notification for each cycle has the full conditions and relaxations.

Where is the Jharkhand APO notification published?

Jharkhand Public Service Commission, Ranchi publishes the notification, dates and results on its official website, jpsc.gov.in. Check it for the current cycle.

Which bare acts are in the Jharkhand APO syllabus?

20 acts are tagged for Jharkhand APO here, including the Arms Act, 1959, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, Constitution of India, Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, Electricity Act, 2003 and more. Each can be read section by section.

Which Jharkhand APO previous year papers are available?

1 paper from 2025: 1 prelims paper to attempt online with answers.