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All States APO/ADPO Study Material 2026 by Judiciary Gold
October 29, 2026
APO/ADPO study material is a set of subject-wise PDF notes for the Assistant Prosecution Officer and Assistant District Prosecution Officer exams held by state public service commissions.
Judiciary Gold's free notes cover the three new criminal laws, special Acts, the Constitution and case summaries, and candidates can use them for the written exam and the interview.
- Criminal law is the core of every APO paper. Notes follow the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), which replaced the IPC, CrPC and Indian Evidence Act on 1 July 2024.
- Each state adds its own Acts. UP tests the U.P. Police Act and Regulations, Rajasthan tests the Rajasthan Excise Act, and Madhya Pradesh lists close to 30 central and state Acts.
Table of Contents
- Criminal Laws Judiciary Notes to Follow in 2026?
- Subject-wise APO & ADPO Notes PDF Download
- Does One Set of Notes Work for Every States's APO Exam?
- How to Use These APO & ADPO Notes Effectively
Which Criminal Law Notes Should APO/ADPO Aspirants Follow in 2026?
APO and ADPO notes in 2026 should follow the BNS, BNSS and BSA, all three enacted in 2023 and in force from 1 July 2024.
| Old law | New law (in force 1 July 2024) | Download |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Penal Code, 1860 | Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 | |
| Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 | Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 | |
| Indian Evidence Act, 1872 | Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023 |
Subject-wise APO/ADPO Study Materials with PDF Download Links
The tables below are ordered by how much each subject counts in APO exams, criminal law first. Check your state's syllabus in the next section before you download, so you only collect notes your paper will test.
Civil Law Notes and Other Study Materials
These notes help if you are preparing for the Civil Judge exam alongside APO, or if your state's syllabus lists them; Bihar APO, for example, includes the CPC and other civil laws.
| Topic | Download |
|---|---|
| Transfer of Property Act – Notes | |
| Transfer of Property Act – Practice Questions | |
| Transfer of Property Act – Bare Act | |
| Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) – Notes | |
| CPC – Important Questions | |
| CPC – Order 8 & Order 9 Notes | |
| Limitation Act – Notes | |
| Limitation Act – Practice Paper |
Criminal Law Notes and Other Study Materials
When appearing for Prosecution exams, candidates must have a strong hold on various Criminal Law acts and provisions. This section covers comprehensive notes, important concepts, case laws, and exam-focused resources for major criminal law subjects.
| Topic | Download |
|---|---|
| POCSO Act – Notes | |
| POCSO Act – Punishments | |
| POCSO Act – MCQ Questions | |
| Juvenile Justice Act – Notes | |
| IT Act & POCSO Act – MCQs | |
| Common Intention & Common Object – Notes |
Contract, Commercial & Banking Law Notes PDF
Most APO syllabi do not test civil, contract or personal law. These notes help if you are preparing for the Civil Judge exam alongside APO, or if your state's syllabus lists them.
| Topic | Download |
|---|---|
| Indian Contract Act – Notes | |
| Sale of Goods Act – Notes | |
| Indian Partnership Act – Notes | |
| Arbitration & Conciliation Act – Notes | |
| Arbitration Act – Short Notes | |
| SARFAESI Act – Notes | |
| Prevention of Money Laundering Act |
Constitutional Law Notes, Personal & Other Laws
Constitution notes for APO exams should focus on fundamental rights linked to criminal process: Article 20 (protection against double jeopardy and self-incrimination), Article 21 (life and personal liberty) and Article 22 (rights on arrest). UP Prelims gives the Constitution 10 questions.
| Topic | Download |
|---|---|
| Constitution of India – Overview Notes | |
| Union & Its Territory – Notes | |
| Independence of Judiciary – Notes | |
| Hindu Law – Notes | |
| Muslim Law – Notes | |
| Law of Torts – Notes |
Important Contract Law Case Notes
The landmark criminal law cases for APO exams include Lalita Kumari v. Government of Uttar Pradesh (2013) on compulsory FIR registration, Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar (2014) on arrest, and D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal (1996) on arrest safeguards.
Each of these sets a rule that police and prosecutors apply in ordinary cases, so they are worth knowing for both the written paper and the interview.
| Case Name | Download Notes |
|---|---|
| Mohori Bibee vs Dharmodas Ghose | |
| Chinnaya vs Ramayya | |
| Lalman Shukla vs Gauri Dutt | |
| Kedarnath Bhattacharji vs Gorie Mahomed | |
| Carlill vs Carbolic Smoke Ball Co. | |
| Balfour vs Balfour | |
| Nash vs Inman |
Preparation Strategies and Note-making Tips
The APO & ADPO Preparation strategy helps candidates to make their preparations in the most effective manner. So below are months wise APO & ADPO Preparation Strategy to ease your preparations.
| Topic | Download |
|---|---|
| 6 Months Preparation Strategy | |
| 1 Year Preparation Strategy | |
| How Toppers Make Notes | |
| Smart Study Plan |
Does One Set of Notes Work for Every State's APO Exam?
Yes for the core, no for the rest. BNS, BNSS, BSA and the Constitution notes serve every state, and in the UP APO Prelims they account for 85 of the 100 law questions. Each state then adds its own special and local Acts, and those must come from your state's syllabus.
The format also changes what notes you need. MP ADPO is a single objective paper, so short notes and MCQs work well.
Rajasthan's 300-mark law paper is descriptive, and UP's Mains has three 100-mark law papers, so you need answer-ready notes with sections, provisos and at least one case for each major topic.
How to Use These APO/ADPO Notes
Read the bare act first, use the notes to revise, test yourself with MCQs and PYQs, then revise every week. Notes sit on top of the bare act; they do not replace it.
- Download your state's syllabus and mark which tables on this page apply to you.
- Read the BNS, BNSS and BSA bare acts section by section, starting with BNSS: arrest, bail and charge carry the most procedure questions.
- Use the matching notes to revise provisos, exceptions and illustrations.
- Solve that subject's previous year questions and write the section number beside every question you get wrong.
- For descriptive Mains (UP, Rajasthan), write two answers a week from PYQs; Rajasthan candidates should add charge-framing practice.
If you want a structured guidance, take a free demo online class or talk to a Judiciary Gold counsellor about the Judiciary APO Coaching 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are these APO/ADPO notes free to download?
What is the difference between APO and ADPO?
Should I study IPC or BNS for the APO exam in 2026?
Which subject carries the most marks in APO exams?
Are notes enough without reading bare acts?
Can I use the judiciary notes for APO preparation?
Nancy Mahavir Sharma
Legal Writer
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