Newspaper reading has traditionally been regarded as an important component of competitive examination preparation, particularly for APPSC Group 1 and Group 2 aspirants. Many candidates assume that daily, exhaustive newspaper reading is essential for success. However, what truly matters in APPSC preparation is not the volume of reading, but the ability to align news consumption with the examination pattern, syllabus, and weightage—especially the significance accorded to current events in the Prelims syllabus
In APPSC Group 1 and Group 2 Prelims, paper setter distributes current affairs across international, national, and regional (Andhra Pradesh-specific) domains in a very deliberate manner. International current affairs questions are predominantly factual and identity-based. For instance, questions on the Asian Winter Games, WHO declaring a country malaria-free, BRICS expansion, Global Biofuel Alliance supporters, newly elected Presidents of countries, and Nepal becoming the first South Asian nation to register same-sex marriage all test specific outcomes of international events. Aspirants are expected to know exact countries, memberships, host nations, and official recognitions. Reading editorials on geopolitics or global governance without extracting these precise facts offers little advantage at the Prelims stage.
National-level current affairs questions are framed largely through statement-based MCQs. Examples include questions on the Global River Cities Alliance, India Skills Report 2024, PM Vishwakarma Yojana, Swachh Survekshan Awards, MILAN naval exercise, India’s first steel slag road, submarine tourism project, and national-level awards such as Padma Shri, Arjuna Awards, and Sahitya Akademi Awards. These questions test aspirants on official names, implementing agencies, rankings, themes, categories, locations, and eligibility conditions. Even minor inaccuracies in statements render options incorrect. This pattern clearly shows that aspirants must convert national current affairs into verified, point-wise facts, rather than relying on descriptive newspaper reading.
Regional current affairs related to Andhra Pradesh are tested with even greater precision and depth. Questions on the location of Pepper Motion’s EV manufacturing unit, identification of mandals or districts for major projects such as the largest private gold mine, Centre of Excellence under the Indo–Israel Agriculture Project, and Vijayawada Railway Station’s LEED Platinum certification demonstrate APPSC’s strong emphasis on state-specific events. Similarly, questions on Andhra Pradesh welfare schemes test exact objectives and correct scheme–beneficiary mapping.
Across these questions, a clear pattern emerges: awards are tested by recipient and category, sports by winner and discipline, international developments by country and official status, and government schemes by implementing department and stated objectives.
The real utility of newspaper reading lies in helping aspirants develop issue-based understanding. An aspirant reading about rising out-of-pocket health expenditure should think in terms of public health financing, welfare delivery, and state capacity. Over time, this habit improves the quality of answers in Group 1 Mains, where analytical depth and contextual awareness are rewarded more than factual density. It also helps aspirants internalise a balanced, neutral language that is suitable for descriptive answers.
At the same time, a large portion of newspaper content has little or no relevance for APPSC preparation. Political rhetoric, crime reports, sensational headlines, and repetitive opinion columns often add to mental clutter without improving exam readiness. Aspirants who attempt to read everything frequently experience fatigue, anxiety, and poor retention, despite investing significant time. In contrast, those who read selectively—keeping the syllabus constantly in mind—are better able to retain information and apply it effectively in both Prelims and Mains.
The relevance of newspapers also differs across stages of preparation. For Prelims, the focus is on breadth of coverage, particularly of regional, national, and international current events. In this stage, consolidated current affairs notes often prove more efficient than daily newspaper reading. For Mains, newspapers play a more meaningful role, as editorials and analytical articles help aspirants understand arguments, counterarguments, and policy trade-offs. Thus, newspaper reading should evolve with the aspirant’s stage of preparation rather than remain a rigid daily ritual.
In terms of sources, aspirants should limit themselves to a few reliable newspapers rather than reading many. For national and international current affairs, The Hindu remains a preferred source due to its policy-focused reporting and strong editorial content. For regional news related to Andhra Pradesh, newspapers such as The Hindu, The New Indian Express, Eenadu, and The Hans India are useful, provided the reading remains selective and syllabus-oriented.
In conclusion, newspaper reading plays a supportive role in APPSC Group 1 and Group 2 preparation. Given the significant weightage assigned to current events of regional, national, and international importance in Prelims, aspirants must remain informed. However, this awareness must be purposeful and syllabus-driven. Newspapers should function as a lens through which aspirants interpret current affairs. Ultimately, success in APPSC examinations depends far more on how effectively an aspirant thinks and connects ideas than on how much they read.