The High Court of Judicature at Allahabad has recently announced the recruitment for the post of Additional Private Secretary (APS) / Private Secretary Grade-I for 195 vacancies. Aspiring candidates looking to secure a position in the administrative cadre of the High Court must have a comprehensive understanding of the syllabus and exam pattern. Preparing in accordance with the official guidelines is crucial to clearing the various stages of the selection process, which includes a computer-based written test, computer knowledge test, translation test, shorthand dictation, and an interview. This article provides a detailed breakdown of the syllabus, selection criteria, and exam pattern to help candidates strategize their preparation effectively.
Allahabad High Court APS Syllabus 2026
| Recruiting Body | High Court of Judicature at Allahabad |
| Post Name | Additional Private Secretary / Private Secretary Grade-I |
| Vacancies | 195 |
| Selection Process |
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| Mode of Exam | Online (Computer-Based Test) & Skill Tests |
| Official Website | allahabadhighcourt.in |
Selection Criteria
The selection process for the Allahabad High Court Additional Private Secretary is rigorously designed to assess candidates’ general knowledge, language proficiency, and technical stenography skills. It comprises three main stages:
Stage I: This foundational stage consists of three parts. Part A is an objective-type Computer-Based Test (CBT) covering General Studies. Part B is a Computer Knowledge Test where candidates must accurately reproduce a legal judgment passage on a computer. Part C is a Subjective Type Translation Test involving translating a shorthand passage into English on the computer.
Stage II: Candidates who meet the qualifying standards in Stage I will proceed to the Shorthand Dictation Test. This skill test evaluates a candidate’s shorthand speed and transcription accuracy under strict time constraints.
Stage III: The final stage is a personal interview round carrying 75 marks. The final merit list is prepared based on the cumulative performance of the candidates across all three stages.
Topic-wise Syllabus
The syllabus for the Allahabad High Court Additional Private Secretary is extensive, particularly for the General Studies section. It covers various subjects ranging from Indian history and geography to current events and specialized regional knowledge of Uttar Pradesh. Candidates must also demonstrate graduate-level proficiency in English and Hindi, along with solid foundational computer skills.
| Subject | Important Topics |
| General Studies & Current Affairs | History of India, Indian National Movement, Indian Polity, Economy & Culture, World Geography, Geography & Resources of India, Current National & International Important Events, Indian Agriculture, Commerce & Trade, Population, Ecology & Urbanization. |
| State-Specific Knowledge | Special knowledge regarding Education, Culture, Agriculture, Industry, Trade, Living, and Social Traditions of Uttar Pradesh. |
| Language & Aptitude | Knowledge of General English and General Hindi at the graduation level, General Aptitude. |
| Computer Knowledge | Elementary knowledge of computers, Data Entry, Word Processing, and Computer Operations. |
| Skill Tests | English Shorthand (Minimum 100 WPM) & Typing (Minimum 40 WPM), translating passages from shorthand to English. |
Preparation Tips
Pro Tip: Time management is critical in this exam. The 15-minute windows for the Computer Knowledge and Translation tests leave no room for hesitation.
Master Shorthand and Typing: The core responsibility of an APS relies heavily on stenography. Dedicate daily hours to practicing shorthand dictation and computer typing to ensure you easily surpass the required speed of 100 WPM in shorthand and 40 WPM in typing.
Focus on General Studies: Create a balanced study schedule to comprehensively cover Indian history, polity, geography, and economy. Regular revision of current affairs and static GK is crucial for maximizing your score in Part A.
Emphasize UP-Specific Knowledge: Since this is a state-level high court recruitment, a deep understanding of Uttar Pradesh’s culture, agriculture, and socio-economic conditions is mandatory.
Enhance Language Proficiency: Read daily newspapers and practice grammar rules to refine your graduate-level English and Hindi skills. Strong language skills will heavily assist in both the objective test and the translation stage.
Take Timed Mock Tests: Regularly practice with CBT mock exams and previous year papers. Simulating exam conditions will help you build the stamina and speed required to confidently tackle the computer-based reproduction and translation sections.
Allahabad High Court APS Exam Pattern 2026
Get the complete details on the Allahabad High Court APS Exam Pattern 2026, from the below table. Check the below table, and know the complete structure of the exam paper.
Stage-1
| Name Of Subject | Number Of Marks | Time Duration |
For both A.P.S.-English Stenography and A.P.S.- Hindi Stenography) Part-A: General Studies · General Science · History of India · Indian National Movement · Indian Polity, Economy and Culture · Indian Agriculture, Commerce and Trade · Population, Ecology, and Urbanisation (in Indian Context) · World Geography and Geography and Resources of India · Current National and International Important Events · General Aptitude · Special Knowledge regarding Education, Culture, Agriculture, Industry, Trade, Living and Social Traditions of Uttar Pradesh · Knowledge of General English and General Hindi of Graduation Level · Elementary Knowledge of Computers | 150 Marks | 120 Minutes |
Part B: Computer Knowledge Test FOR A.P.S.- ENGLISH STENOGRAPHY A copy of part of Judgment (approximately 500 words) in ENGLISH will be given to the Candidates for reproducing the same on the computer in the same format within 15 minutes. FOR A.P.S.- HINDI STENOGRAPHY A copy of part of Judgment (approximately 450 words) in HINDI will be given to the Candidates for reproducing the same on the computer in the same format within 15 minutes. Note: The font to be used for Hindi translation/typing on a computer shall be MANGAL on the INSCRIPT Keyboard layout. | 50 Marks | 15 Minutes |
Part C: Subjective Type Translation Test (approximately 250 words.) FOR A.P.S. -ENGLISH STENOGRAPHY · Translation of a passage of approximately 250 words given in Shorthand to English on Computer (From Sir Issac Pitman’s Book). · It shall be a Subjective Type Test. FOR A.P.S.- HINDI STENOGRAPHY · Translation of a passage of approximately 250 words given in Shorthand to Hindi on Computer (From Sir Issac Pitman’s Book or any other Book of Hindi Stenography of the renowned writer). · It shall be a Subjective Type Test. Note: The font to be used for Hindi translation/typing on a computer shall be MANGAL on the INSCRIPT Keyboard layout. | 150 Marks | 120 Minutes |
- No Negative Marking
- No minimum Qualifying Marks
Note: Part ‘A’, Part ‘B’ & Part ‘C’ of the Stage-I Examination shall be conducted in SINGLE SHIFT. There shall be a gap of 15 minutes in each part of the Stage-I of the Examination.
Stage-2
| Name Of Subject | Number Of Marks | Time Duration |
FOR A.P.S.-ENGLISH STENOGRAPHY · A Dictation of a passage in ENGLISH of 500 words (approximately) in 05 minutes will be given to the Candidates. · The Candidates will take down the dictation in Shorthand and thereafter will transcribe the same on a computer within 30 minutes. FOR A.P.S.-HINDI STENOGRAPHY · A Dictation of a passage in HINDI of 400 words (approximately) in · The Candidates will take down the dictation in Shorthand and thereafter will transcribe the same on a computer within 30 minutes. NOTE: The font to be used for Hindi translation/typing on a computer shall be MANGAL on the INSCRIPT Keyboard layout | 50 Marks | 20 Minutes |
- No Negative Marking
- Minimum Qualifying Marks: 120 marks out of 150 marks (Part-B, C in Stage-1, and Stage-2)
Direct Link to Download Allahabad High Court APS Syllabus 2026 PDF
