Kerala PSC Secretariat Assistant Syllabus, Exam Pattern
173 topics across 6 subjects. Every question carries a written explanation.
What most people call the Secretariat Assistant exam is Kerala PSC's recruitment for Assistant / Auditor. One exam and one ranked list fill assistant posts in the Government Secretariat, the Kerala PSC office, the Advocate General's Office in Ernakulam, the State Audit Department (as Auditor), the Vigilance Tribunal and the office of the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge.
The last round was Category No. 576/2024 for open candidates, with 577/2024 for low-paid employees by transfer. It was notified on 31 December 2024 and closed on 29 January 2025. The preliminary was part of the 2025 Degree Level Common Preliminary Examination (24 May and 28 June 2025), the main exam was held on 27 September 2025, and Ranked List No. 302/2026 took effect on 16 April 2026.
That list stays in force for at least one year and at most three, or until a new list replaces it after the first year. Expect the next notification no earlier than 2027.
Last checked against the official notification on .
Kerala PSC Secretariat Assistant Details
Exam Pattern
| Stage | Paper | Time | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary | Degree Level Common Preliminary, objective | 1 h 15 min | 100 |
| Main | Paper I, objective | 1 h 30 min | 100 |
| Main | Paper II, objective | 1 h 30 min | 100 |
| Interview | 20 |
The preliminary only decides who writes the main. Rank comes from the two main papers plus the interview. Questions are in English and Malayalam, Tamil or Kannada.
Syllabus
Main Paper I (general studies): history 7, geography 7, economics 7, life science and public health 7, physics 7, chemistry 7, arts, literature and culture 8, sport 3, computer basics 6, arithmetic and reasoning 15, English 13, Malayalam 13.
Main Paper II (administration and Kerala): principles of administration 10, principles of management 10, constitutional structure 12, centre-state relations 8, Kerala's economy 15, the Kerala model of development 15, environment and ecology 10, disaster management 10, and e-governance 10.
Source files: Paper I, Paper II, preliminary.
Eligibility Criteria
- Age: 18 to 36. For 576/2024, born 02.01.1988 to 01.01.2006, with the usual SC, ST and OBC relaxation.
- Education: a degree in any subject from a recognised university.
- Four per cent of posts are reserved for persons with benchmark disabilities, who must produce the disability and functionality certificates when asked.
Selection Process
Preliminary, main exam, then the interview. Only one ranked list is drawn. Candidates are advised to departments in the order vacancies come in, so you cannot pick the Secretariat over the Audit Department; once advised to one department your turn is used up.
Salary
Scale of pay ₹39,300–83,000.
How to Apply
Send one application through the One Time Registration portal, since a single list covers all the offices. No fee. Confirm for the preliminary when the exam programme opens the window.
Important Dates
| 576/2024 | Date |
|---|---|
| Gazette | 31 December 2024 |
| Last date | 29 January 2025 |
| Preliminary | 24 May 2025 (Stage I), 28 June 2025 (Stage II) |
| Main exam | 27 September 2025: Paper I 10.00–11.50 am, Paper II 1.30–3.20 pm |
| Ranked list in force | From 16 April 2026 |
Result
The ranked list for 576/2024 and its addendum are on the ranked list page.
Preparation Tips
- Paper II is where this exam differs from other degree-level posts: public administration, management and the Kerala economy make up most of it.
- Malayalam carries 13 marks in Paper I, as much as English.
Official Links
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Secretariat Assistant the same as Assistant / Auditor?
Yes. The PSC notifies it as Assistant / Auditor across the Secretariat, PSC, AG's Office, State Audit and two smaller offices.
Is there an interview?
Yes, 20 marks, added to the main exam marks.
When is the next notification?
The current list took effect in April 2026 and runs for at least a year, so not before 2027.
What is the qualification?
Any degree.
Computer Awareness (21)
- Computer Fundamentals
- MS Excel
- MS Office
- MS Powerpoint
- MS Word
- Computer Internet
- Computer System Architecture
- Computer Operating System
- Important File Extensions
- Important Abbreviations
- Keyboard Shortcuts
- History of Computers
- Computer Hardware and Software
- Input /Output Devices
- Memory Management
- Computer Languages
- Number System
- Logic Gates
- Computer Network
- Database Management System
- Computer Security
Current Affairs (14)
- National Affairs
- International Affairs
- Sports Current Affairs
- Awards and Honours
- Appointments and Resignations
- Government Schemes and Policies
- Economy and Banking News
- Science and Technology News
- Defence News
- Summits and Conferences
- Agreements and MoUs
- Books and Authors in News
- Important Days in News
- State News
English Language (26)
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Double Synonyms
- Homonyms
- One Word Substitution
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Theme Detection
- Deriving Conclusions from Passages
- Sentence Completion
- Passage Completion
- Fill in the Blanks
- Spotting Errors
- Sentence Improvement
- Passage Correction
- Choose the Correct - Incorrect Sentence
- Reconstruction of Sentence
- Sentences Rearrangement
- Reconstruction of Paragraphs
- Rearrangement of Jumbled Parts
- Word Formation
- Idioms and Phrases
- Active-Passive voice
- Direct-Indirect Speech
- Transformation of Sentences
- Spelling Test
General Awareness / General Knowledge (GK) (23)
- Indian Politics
- Indian History
- Indian Economy
- Important Acts of the Parliament of India
- Honours and Awards
- Indian Geography
- Indian Culture
- World Geography
- Famous Places in India
- Famous Personalities
- Books and Authors
- Sports
- Days and Years
- Inventions
- Highest, Longest, Biggest, Largest, Deepest, Smallest of the World
- General Science
- World Currency
- Country Languages
- Technology
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Scientific Names of Plants and Animals
Quantitative Aptitude (50)
- Number System
- H.C.F. & L.C.M.
- Decimal Fractions
- Simplification
- Square Roots & Cube Roots
- Average
- Problems on Numbers
- Problems on Ages
- Surds & Indices
- Percentage
- Operations on Numbers
- Profit & Loss
- Ratio & Proportion
- Partnership
- Chain Rule
- Time & Work
- Pipes & Cistern
- Time & Distance
- Problems on Trains
- Boats & Streams
- Alligation or Mixture
- Simple Interest
- Compound Interest
- Logarithms
- Area
- Volume & Surface Areas
- Mensuration
- Races & Games of Skill
- Calendar
- Clocks
- Stocks & Shares
- Permutations & Combinations
- Probability
- True Discount
- Banker’s Discount
- Heights & Distances
- Odd Man Out & Series
- Algebra
- Divisibility Rules & Remainder Theorem
- Factorials & Power Cycles
- Progressions (A.P., G.P., H.P.)
- Work & Wages
- Set Theory / Venn Diagrams
- Geometry (Lines, Angles, Triangles, Polygons)
- Coordinate Geometry
- Data Interpretation
- Trigonometry
- Statistics (Mean, Median, Mode)
- Arithmetic Operations
- Quadratic Equations
Reasoning (39)
- Analogy
- Number Series
- Classification
- Series Completion
- Coding-Decoding
- Input Output
- Inequality
- Blood Relation
- Puzzle Test
- Sequential Output Tracing
- Direction Sense Test
- Linear Seating Arrangement
- Circular Seating Arrangement
- Logical Venn Diagrams
- Alphabet Test
- Number, Ranking and Time Sequence Test
- Mathematical Operations
- Logical Sequence of Words
- Arithmetical Reasoning
- Inserting The Missing Character
- Data Sufficiency
- Decision Making
- Assertion and Reason
- Situation Reaction Test
- Verification of Truth of the Statement
- Letter and Symbol Series
- Logic
- Statement - Arguments
- Statement - Assumptions
- Statement - Courses of Action
- Syllogisms
- Statement - Conclusions
- Deriving Conclusions From Passages
- Theme Detection
- Question - Statements
- Miscellaneous Logical Puzzles
- Mirror and Water Images
- Paper Folding and Cutting
- Completion of Incomplete Pattern
Exam Categories
- SSC Exams
- Banking Exams
- Teaching Exams
- Civil Services Exams
- Railways Exams
- Engineering Recruitment Exams
- Defence Exams
- State Government Exams
- Police Exams
- Insurance Exams
- Nursing Exams
- Other Government Exams
- NRA CET
- PG Entrance Exams
- Campus Placement
- MBA Entrance Exams
- CUET and UG Entrance
- Judiciary Exams
- Regulatory Body Exams
- Software Development