Introduction
The Delhi Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) examination — conducted by the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) for the Government of NCT of Delhi — is one of the most aspirational legal services exams in the country. APPs represent the State in criminal trials before Delhi’s District and Sessions Courts, making this an impactful, high-visibility post. This blog gives you a clear, copy-paste-ready guide to the Delhi APP syllabus, eligibility, and exam pattern — designed by Sparsh Sir at JudiciaryPRO, with 13 years of experience and proven success in judiciary courses across Gurugram and Delhi NCR.
About the Delhi APP Exam
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) |
| Post | Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP), Group-B |
| Department | Directorate of Prosecution, GNCTD |
| Selection Stages | Tier-1 (Objective) → Tier-2 (Descriptive) → Document Verification |
| Pay Scale | Pay Level-8 (₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100) + Delhi allowances |
| Probation | 2 years |
| Official Website | dsssb.delhi.gov.in |
Eligibility Criteria
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian citizen |
| Education | Degree in Law (LLB) from a recognised University with Bar Council of India approval |
| Experience | Typically 2 years of practice as an Advocate at the Bar (verify latest DSSSB notification) |
| Age Limit | 21 to 32 years (general) |
| Age Relaxation | SC/ST: +5 | OBC: +3 | PwD: up to +10 | Departmental: as per DoPT |
| Language | Working proficiency in Hindi and English |
| Bar Enrolment | Mandatory at the time of applying |
Exam Pattern
Tier-1 — Objective Paper
| # | Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Awareness | 20 | 20 | — |
| 2 | General Intelligence & Reasoning | 20 | 20 | — |
| 3 | Arithmetical & Numerical Ability | 20 | 20 | — |
| 4 | English Language | 20 | 20 | — |
| 5 | Hindi Language | 20 | 20 | — |
| 6 | Specific subjects (Law & related) | 100 | 100 | — |
| Total | Tier-1 | 200 | 200 | 2 hours |
Negative marking of 0.25 per wrong answer typically applies. Speed and accuracy are critical.
Tier-2 — Descriptive Paper
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Descriptive — long answers, problems, short notes, drafting |
| Subjects | Substantive + Procedural law + Drafting |
| Total Marks | Typically 200–300 (varies by notification) |
| Duration | 3 hours |
Visual Snapshot — Tier-1 Marks Distribution
| Marks per Section (Tier-1) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specific (Law) |
| 100 | ||
| General Awareness |
| 20 | ||
| Reasoning |
| 20 | ||
| Numerical Ability |
| 20 | ||
| English |
| 20 | ||
| Hindi |
| 20 | ||
Detailed Syllabus
General Awareness
| Area | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Current Affairs | National + International, last 8–12 months |
| Polity & Constitution | Fundamental Rights, DPSPs, Parliament, Judiciary, recent amendments |
| History & Culture | Modern Indian history, freedom movement, art & culture basics |
| Geography | Indian + Delhi-specific geography, climate, demography |
| Economy & Schemes | Budget, flagship schemes, RBI, financial institutions |
| Science & Technology | Recent developments, space, IT, defence |
Reasoning, Numerical, English & Hindi
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Reasoning | Analogy, classification, series, coding-decoding, blood relations, syllogism, direction sense |
| Numerical Ability | Number system, percentages, ratio & proportion, profit & loss, time & work, mensuration, DI |
| English | Reading comprehension, synonyms/antonyms, error spotting, sentence improvement, idioms |
| Hindi | व्याकरण (sandhi, samaas, alankar), vocabulary, comprehension, error correction, translation |
Specific Section — Law
| Subject | Key Areas |
|---|---|
| IPC, 1860 / BNS, 2023 | General principles, stages of crime, group liability, offences against State, body, property, marriage, defamation |
| CrPC, 1973 / BNSS, 2023 | FIR, arrest, bail, charge, cognizance, summons & warrant trials, judgment, appeals |
| Indian Evidence Act, 1872 / BSA, 2023 | Relevancy, admissions, confessions, dying declarations, expert evidence, examination of witnesses |
| Constitution | Fundamental Rights, writs, basic structure, Article 21 jurisprudence |
| Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 | Section 138, presumption, defences, summary trial |
| Special Laws | POCSO, NDPS, JJ Act, Domestic Violence Act, Dowry Prohibition |
| Drafting | Charges, FIR, complaints, bail applications, case briefs |
High-yield Zones IPC + CrPC + Evidence dominate the law section — master these three first. Special laws (POCSO, NDPS, JJ Act, DV Act) are favourite Delhi APP topics — never skip them. Hindi + English together carry 40 marks in Tier-1 — small daily practice pays huge dividends. | |
Why JudiciaryPRO & Sparsh Sir
JudiciaryPRO, led by Sparsh Sir, is one of the most trusted names for judiciary courses in Gurugram and Delhi NCR. With 13 years of experience and proven success across Haryana ADA, Delhi APP, Punjab ADA, and various State Judicial Services, the programme combines bilingual delivery, mock-driven preparation, dedicated answer writing, and one-on-one mentorship to convert law graduates into selection-ready prosecutors.
- 13 years of experience and proven success — Sparsh Sir mentors every batch personally.
- Gurugram + Delhi NCR physical campuses + nationwide online access.
- Bilingual delivery for English- and Hindi-medium aspirants.
- Mock-driven preparation with weekly tests and personalised feedback.
FAQs
Q1. Can fresh LLB graduates apply?
Most DSSSB notifications require 2 years of practice at the Bar. Always read the latest notification — exceptions occasionally exist.
Q2. Is Hindi mandatory?
Yes. Hindi is a separate 20-mark section in Tier-1, and working comfort with Hindi is essential for Tier-2 descriptive answers.
Q3. Is there negative marking?
Yes. Tier-1 typically applies 0.25 negative marking per wrong MCQ. Attempt-discipline is critical.
Final Word
Delhi APP is one of the most rewarding legal services posts in India — high-impact, well-paid, and located in the heart of the country’s judicial system. Use this syllabus and eligibility guide as your starting point, then plug into Sparsh Sir’s judiciary courses at JudiciaryPRO in Gurugram and Delhi NCR — 13 years of experience and proven success built for exactly this exam.