The “Mega” DSC-2025 recruitment for 16,347 teaching posts in Andhra Pradesh has come under scrutiny, with the Opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and a section of candidates raising questions over the conduct of the examination, merit lists, certificate verification, horizontal reservation and the Sports Quota.

Also read | DSC-2025 conducted with transparency and fairness, says Education Secretary

The controversy has led to 335 cases being filed in courts, including 69 related to the Sports Quota, three cases in the Supreme Court and three PILs concerning various aspects of the recruitment process. YSRCP has stepped up its protests, demanding a CBI probe and the resignation of Human Resource Development Minister Nara Lokesh.

The School Education Department, however, has rejected the allegations of irregularities, maintaining that the recruitment was conducted through a technology-driven and rule-based process. Officials have attributed several of the complaints to individual grievances and differences in the interpretation of the revised horizontal reservation methodology.

How have the roles been merged?

YSRCP has questioned the departure from the earlier practice of entrusting question-paper preparation to the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and examination conduct to the DSC Convenor. YSRCP MLC Parvathareddy Chandrasekhar Reddy, who filed a PIL in the High Court seeking a CBI probe, alleged that assigning both functions to SCERT compromised the transparency of the recruitment process.

The Government, however, said the decision was taken to improve coordination and avoid delays. It explained that the Joint Director (Teacher Eligibility Test and Teacher Recruitment Test) oversees the administrative aspects of recruitment, including schedules, vacancies, G.Os., notifications, applications, examinations, answer keys, certificate verification, selection lists and results. The Director, SCERT, on the other hand, handles the confidential academic work, including subject expert committees, question banks, mock tests, answer keys and objections.

According to the Government, combining the two responsibilities under one officer facilitated quicker decision-making and coordination, helping complete the recruitment process in a record 148 days, within the prescribed timelines.

What is the controversy over Purama Naveen’s candidature?

Questions over the recruitment process intensified after the name of Purama Naveen, an outsourced employee of SCERT, figured in the initial merit lists. This led to allegations that persons associated with the examination system could have had access to question banks or other confidential information.

The School Education Department has rejected the allegations, stating that the examination was conducted entirely in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode, with encrypted systems, restricted access, randomised question-paper allocation and multiple sessions. It said different question papers were used across sessions and that no evidence-backed official complaint of question-paper leakage had been received.

Mr. Naveen had initially figured at Rank 1 in the Krishna district School Assistant-Social Studies merit list and Rank 6 in the Zone-II TGT-Telugu list, but his name was subsequently removed from the revised merit list. His candidate login was reportedly blocked and he was not issued a certificate-verification call letter, following which he approached the High Court.

Officials said Mr. Naveen had been provisionally called for certificate verification based on his merit position but did not attend. They cited Rule 20(vi) of the recruitment notification, under which failure to attend certificate verification results in cancellation of candidature and consideration of the next eligible candidate in the order of merit.

What is the Sports DSC-2025?

The Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) issued the Sports DSC-2025 notification on May 1, 2025, based on a proposal from the School Education Department, to fill 421 posts under the 3% horizontal reservation for Meritorious Sportspersons (MSP).

A total of 3,600 candidates applied through an online portal, submitting 5,328 post preferences for the 421 vacancies. SAAP constituted a six-member Screening Committee to scrutinise the candidates’ sports qualifications and certificates.

Physical verification of sports certificates was conducted at IGMC Stadium, Vijayawada, on August 2 and 3, 2025. The authenticity of the certificates was subsequently verified with the respective recognised National Sports Federations, State Sports Associations, universities and other competent issuing authorities.

Why is the sports quota under scrutiny?

The Sports Quota has emerged as a major point of contention, with questions being raised over changes to the reservation structure and the decision to exempt eligible sportspersons from the written DSC examination.

According to the allegations, G.O. Nos. 4 and 47 increased the reservation for Meritorious Sportspersons (MSPs) from 2% to 3% and exempted them from the written examination. The Government subsequently issued G.O. Nos. 23, 25 and 56, restoring the examination requirement after the recruitment process had been completed. The sequence of these policy changes has prompted questions over their timing and rationale.

The Government maintains that MSP selections were made in accordance with G.O.Ms.No.47, which provides for 3% horizontal reservation in direct recruitment without a written competitive examination.

Officials of SAAP said the selection process involved scrutiny and verification of sports credentials, publication of merit lists, inviting objections and approval by a State-level committee. They maintained that no ineligible candidate was selected under the MSP category.

How is horizontal reservation in the final selection?

The Government said horizontal reservation in Mega DSC-2025 was implemented in accordance with G.O.Ms.No.77, dated August 2, 2023. Under the revised system, fixed roster points previously earmarked for categories such as women, Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) and ex-servicemen were discontinued. Eligible candidates under horizontal reservation were instead accommodated against the roster points of their respective vertical community categories.

As a result, some candidates who attended certificate verification but could not be accommodated against the applicable horizontal reservation requirements within their respective community roster points were not included in the final selection list, the Government said.

The recruitment followed both vertical and horizontal reservation. Vertical reservation applies to social categories such as OC, SC, ST, BC and EWS, while horizontal reservation covers women, PwBD candidates, ex-servicemen and Meritorious Sportspersons (MSPs). Horizontal reservation does not create an additional pool of vacancies; candidates selected under these categories are adjusted against the roster points of their respective vertical categories. This can result in changes to the selection of other candidates.

Which factors determine final selection?

Final selection was based on several parameters, including merit — comprising 80% DSC and 20% TET marks wherever applicable — eligibility, vertical and horizontal reservation, local reservation, roster points, management-wise vacancies, candidates’ post preferences, certificate verification and, where applicable, medical examination.

The recruitment also implemented the sub-classification of SCs into Groups I, II and III, with reservation of 1%, 6.5% and 7.5%, respectively.

Meanwhile, the School Education Department has announced that the AP DSC-2026 notification is expected to be released in October 2026, with the examination scheduled to be conducted in December 2026.

Published - August 15, 2026 09:43 am IST