CBI APP & PP Syllabus and Exam Pattern

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has published the official notice for hiring Public Prosecutor (PP) and Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). These are positions under the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.

According to CBI notification 2025, there are 25 positions of CBI Public Prosecutor (PP) and 19 positions of CBI Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP). The notification specifically states the pay scale, age limits, qualifications, responsibilities, and other conditions for both the posts.

The CBI APP post is positioned at Level 7 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix, and the CBI PP post is positioned at Level 10 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix. This reflects the greater experience and seniority for the PP position.

For eligibility, applicants for the post of CBI APP should hold a degree in law from a recognized university. For CBI PP, a degree in law and seven years of practice in criminal cases at the Bar is required.

Both these posts are permanent, gazetted positions in the Central Government service. The CBI headquarters is in New Delhi, but shortlisted candidates can be placed anywhere across India as per requirement.

The CBI notification also mentions that Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) can apply under appropriate categories, and relaxation of age is applicable for reserved categories as per government norms.

The online application began on 23rd August 2025, and the application closes on 11th September 2025. Candidates are requested to complete the application judiciously on the UPSC online portal.

CBI APP Exam Pattern

CBI Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) recruitment test is conducted to verify the legal knowledge, reasoning power, and awareness of the candidates. The pattern of the CBI APP exam is formulated for fairness and equal evaluation.

The CBI APP exam is conducted in offline pen-and-paper mode. The duration of the test is 2 hours, and all the questions are obligatory. The CBI APP question paper contains 120 multiple-choice type objective questions.

Every question is worth 2.5 marks, so the overall of the CBI APP recruitment exam is 300 marks. All questions have the same weightage, and the language of the CBI APP exam is English only.

There is negative marking as well in the CBI APP exam pattern. One-third of the marks assigned to the question will be deducted for each incorrect answer. No marks are deducted if a question is not attempted.

This well-defined pattern of the CBI APP recruitment test exam is beneficial for aspirants to prepare with precision and accuracy. Familiarizing oneself with the marking scheme, time duration, and question pattern is the key to cracking the CBI APP recruitment 2025.

CBI APP Syllabus 2025

The CBI Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) syllabus 2025 is dedicated to the essential areas of law that are required for processing criminal cases and money laundering crimes.

The candidates appearing for the CBI APP exam need to cover the substantive and procedural laws in depth as they are the backbone of the CBI APP recruitment test syllabus.

The syllabus of CBI APP includes key legislations like the Constitution of India, Indian Penal Code of 1860, Indian Evidence Act of 1872, and the Indian Contract Act of 1872. Apart from these, candidates also have to prepare the Negotiable Instruments Act of 1881, the Transfer of Property Act of 1882, and the Registration Act of 1908.

The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 are also key components of the CBI APP syllabus as they contain the civil and criminal procedures framework.

Apart from these core laws, the syllabus of CBI APP 2025 involves financial and regulatory laws like the Banking Regulation Act of 1949, Limitation Act of 1963, and Securities and Exchange Board of India Act of 1992.

CBI APP Selection Process

The process of selection of the CBI Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) is carried out by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) as a part of the CBI APP recruitment 2025. Those applicants who want to get the job have to clear all the stages of the CBI APP exam carefully.

Application screening is the initial phase of the CBI APP recruitment process. The Commission verifies every online application to ensure that the applicants fulfill the CBI APP eligibility requirements like age limit, educational qualification, and background in law.

Only those candidates who are eligible for CBI APP move further in the CBI APP recruitment process.

If there are many applicants, UPSC can hold a CBI APP Recruitment Test (RT). The test is held to shortlist the applicants for the following stage. Test marks and interview marks are added together in a predetermined ratio, typically 75:25, to create the CBI APP merit list.

The shortlisted candidates are subsequently invited for the CBI APP interview. The interview is worth 100 marks and is an integral component of the CBI APP recruitment process. Candidates need to achieve minimum marks: UR/EWS – 50, OBC – 45, SC/ST/PwBD – 40.

At the time of CBI APP interview, the panel assesses the candidate's law knowledge, criminal procedure, handling of cases, and fitness for the job. The communication ability, awareness about the law, and pressure-handling capacity are also key components of the CBI APP evaluation.

Lastly, the scores of both the Recruitment Test (if conducted) and the interview are combined to prepare the final list of selection for CBI Assistant Public Prosecutor. The candidates who secure the cut-off marks are advised for appointment as CBI APP.

CBI APP Interview 2025

CBI Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) interview is a critical phase of the CBI APP recruitment process.

Only the shortlisted candidates following the screening and the test of recruitment are called to attend the CBI APP interview phase. This phase is of 100 marks, and the candidates need to secure the minimum qualifying marks fixed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

The qualifying score for general and EWS is 50 marks, for OBC is 45 marks, and for SC, ST, and PwBD is 40 marks. In the CBI APP interview, the board examines the candidate's knowledge of law, exposure to criminal law, prosecution handling ability, and general fitness for the job.

In addition to subject know-how, communication skills, clear thinking, and sensitivity to recent legal trends also count. The interview for the post of CBI Assistant Public Prosecutor is thus not merely a knowledge test but a test of personality and professional acumen as well.

The scores achieved in the CBI APP recruitment test (if held) and the interview for CBI APP are added together in the 75:25 ratio to prepare the final merit list. The performance in the CBI APP interview round therefore becomes vital for the employment of the candidate.

CBI PP Recruitment Process

The recruitment process for CBI Public Prosecutor (PP) is held by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) under the official CBI PP recruitment 2025. Aspirants intending to apply for this position should meet all requirements at every step of the CBI PP examination to qualify for final selection.

The initial step is application screening, wherein UPSC screens each form that has been submitted to ensure that the candidates have all CBI PP eligibility requirements such as age, a law degree, and requisite bar practice experience.

Only candidates who satisfy these conditions are permitted to carry on in the CBI Public Prosecutor recruitment.

In case of high number of applications, UPSC can conduct a CBI PP Recruitment Test (RT). The test is a written test that is taken to shortlist the candidates for the interview process. Marks scored in the test and the interview are then merged in a predetermined ratio, 75:25 is common, to create the CBI PP merit list.

Shortlisted candidates are called for the CBI PP interview that is of 100 marks. Candidates must secure minimum qualifying marks to pass this level: 50 marks for UR/EWS, 45 marks for OBC, and 40 marks for SC, ST, and PwBD categories.

During CBI Public Prosecutor interviews, the panel tests a candidate's knowledge in criminal law, practice in the court, and ability to tackle intricate prosecutions.

Skills like communication with clarity, sensitivity towards contemporary legal concerns, and professional judgment during stress are also examined.

Lastly, the aggregate marks obtained in the CBI PP Recruitment Test (if held) and the CBI PP interview are utilized to finalize the final selection list. Candidates securing the stipulated cut-off are referred for appointment as CBI Public Prosecutor.

CBI PP Exam Pattern 2025

CBI Public Prosecutor (PP) exam pattern 2025 has been designed to examine the legal knowledge as well as the practical ability of the candidates. The exam is organized offline using pen and paper.

The question paper contains objective-type multiple-choice questions that measure the candidate's understanding of criminal law, procedure, and associated subjects.

CBI PP recruitment test lasts for two hours and has a total of 300 marks.

There will be 120 questions with equal weightage, having marks allocated in such a manner that there is credit for each correct response as well as penalty for incorrect responses.

The CBI PP test is based on a negative marking system where one-third of the mark of a question is cut for each wrong answer. There is no penalty if a candidate does not answer a question.

The language of the CBI Public Prosecutor exam is purely English, which makes it uniform for all applicants. Knowing the CBI PP exam pattern is immensely crucial for applicants as it enables them to chalk out time and precision strategies well ahead of time.

As the total marks are high and each question is of equal weightage, applicants must maintain the pace and precision while attempting the CBI PP recruitment test.

CBI PP Syllabus 2025

The CBI Public Prosecutor (PP) syllabus 2025 comprises a broad spectrum of legislation that the candidates need to learn extensively in order to pass the CBI PP exam.

The topics covered are representative of the daily activities of a Public Prosecutor, aiming for criminal law, procedural codes, constitutional law, financial offenses, and anti-corruption legislation.

The CBI PP syllabus comprises key legislations like the Indian Penal Code, the Indian Evidence Act, the Indian Contract Act, and the Constitution of India.

It further consists of the Negotiable Instruments Act, the Transfer of Property Act, and the Registration Act, which are all important in order to study civil and money-related disputes.

Procedural statutes such as the Code of Civil Procedure and the Code of Criminal Procedure are also a significant component of the syllabus of the CBI PP exam, as they direct the course of trials and investigations.

Furthermore, the CBI PP recruitment syllabus emphasizes financial and corporate legislations such as the Banking Regulation Act, the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the Companies Act, and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.

These Acts are of importance since they are often used in cases dealt with by the CBI. Additionally, the CBI PP law syllabus consists of special acts like the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, the Information Technology Act, and the Central Vigilance Commission Act.

These are indications of the prosecutorial work of a CBI PP in the fight against corruption, fraud, and cybercrime.

CBI PP Interview 2025

The CBI Public Prosecutor (PP) interview is the last phase of the CBI PP recruitment 2025. Shortlisting is done through application screening and, if needed, a recruitment test, after which candidates are invited to the CBI PP personal interview.

This phase also has 100 marks, with category-wise qualifying marks. General and EWS candidates have to achieve at least 50 marks, OBC candidates have to achieve 45 marks, and SC, ST, and PwBD candidates have to achieve 40 marks.

The CBI PP interview is aimed at assessing the candidate's level of understanding in criminal law, evidence, and procedure. Given that seven years of experience in criminal cases is needed for the position, the interview panel checks for hands-on experience, trial-handling capability, case analysis, and court practice.

The CBI Public Prosecutor interview also examines decision-making capability, problem-solving capacity, and high-stakes legal proceeding handling capability.

For the purpose of final selection, scores from the CBI PP recruitment test (if conducted) and the CBI PP interview are combined in the 75:25 proportion. This means both written performance and oral evaluation contribute towards final merit.

Good performance in the CBI PP interview 2025 is thus crucial for being appointed to this senior legal role in the Central Bureau of Investigation.