Mega DSC vs Group-I: Andhra Pradesh Assembly Braces for High-Stakes Political Showdown
YSRCP plans to intensify its attack over alleged Mega DSC-2025 irregularities, while the ruling TDP is preparing to counter with allegations arising from the previous regime's APPSC Group-I recruitment.
AMARAVATI, AUGUST 16, 2026: The Mega DSC-2025 recruitment controversy is set to become a major flashpoint in the Andhra Pradesh Legislature, with the Opposition YSRCP preparing to target the government over alleged irregularities while the ruling TDP is expected to raise the findings of an SIT investigation into the previous regime's APPSC Group-I recruitment.
The political confrontation is expected to be particularly intense in the Legislative Council, where the YSRCP plans to make the DSC issue a central part of its campaign against the government.
WHAT HAPPENED
YSRCP president Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has directed party legislators to raise the Mega DSC issue prominently.
The party has demanded the resignation of HRD Minister Nara Lokesh and a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in the recruitment process.
The controversy concerns recruitment for 16,347 teacher posts under Mega DSC-2025.
Among the issues raised by the YSRCP is the selection of Purama Naveen, described by the party as an outsourced SCERT employee, among the top-ranked candidates in multiple categories.
The Opposition has also questioned the decision to place both question-paper preparation and examination conduct under SCERT.
YSRCP'S ALLEGATIONS
The party has raised concerns over the implementation of the 3% horizontal reservation for meritorious sportspersons, alleging that altered or forged sports certificates were accepted in favour of ineligible candidates.
The YSRCP says it has conducted protests over the issue for more than two months, including relay hunger strikes.
The allegations have also reached the courts. The High Court recently declined to entertain a PIL seeking a CBI investigation, noting that hundreds of affected candidates had already approached the judiciary individually. The court reportedly referred to 335 petitions filed by candidates while questioning the maintainability of the outsider's PIL.
GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE
HRD Minister Nara Lokesh has rejected the allegations as politically motivated and maintained that the recruitment process was legally valid.
Lokesh has also challenged former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and the YSRCP to a public debate over the previous government's record on recruitment.
TDP'S COUNTER: APPSC GROUP-I
As the DSC controversy remains active, the ruling TDP is expected to put the spotlight on alleged irregularities in the APPSC Group-I recruitment process conducted during the previous regime.
According to the SIT findings cited in the report, the Group-I notification was issued on December 31, 2018. The preliminary examination was conducted in May 2019, followed by the mains examination from December 14 to 20, 2020.
Of the 6,807 candidates who completed all seven papers, 326 were shortlisted and 165 were eventually selected.
SIT FINDINGS
The SIT report alleges several irregularities in the examination and evaluation process.
According to the findings cited:
Then APPSC secretary P. S. R. Anjaneyulu allegedly took control of aspects of the examination process without the chairman's approval.
Digital evaluation was allegedly authorised through TrueGrader EduServices Pvt. Ltd.
The company was reportedly paid ₹1.38 crore.
The SIT alleged that 25 people outside the approved panel participated in evaluation.
Answer sheets were allegedly moved to Haailand Resorts, where they remained for 84 days after the digital-evaluation process was challenged.
Another private company, Com-Sign Media, was reportedly paid ₹1.14 crore.
The SIT alleged that 66 data-entry operators were used instead of the 452 subject experts identified by APPSC.
Allegations were also made concerning OMR processing and the purported forging of signatures.
The SIT reportedly examined dossiers relating to 736 candidates through seven Central Forensic Science Laboratories and questioned 173 witnesses.
The report allegedly found alterations in 718 OMR sheets, including 160 belonging to the 165 candidates who were selected. It also reported discrepancies involving signatures, handwriting and ink, while whitener was reportedly detected on 169 OMR sheets.
YSRCP'S RESPONSE TO GROUP-I ALLEGATIONS
The YSRCP has rejected the government's interpretation of the SIT findings.
Party spokesperson Puththa Siva Shankar argued that the investigation did not establish the alleged manipulation of the digital evaluation process and accused the government of using the Group-I controversy to divert attention from the Mega DSC issue.
THE POLITICAL BATTLE
The two major parties are therefore preparing contrasting lines of attack:
YSRCP TDP
Mega DSC-2025 alleged irregularities APPSC Group-I alleged irregularities
Demands Lokesh's resignation Highlights SIT findings
Seeks CBI probe Questions previous government's recruitment process
Raises issue in Legislative Council Uses Group-I as counter to DSC allegations
WHY IT MATTERS
Behind the political confrontation are thousands of job aspirants whose careers depend on the credibility and transparency of government recruitment examinations.
The competing allegations over Mega DSC and Group-I are therefore likely to make recruitment transparency a major issue during the upcoming legislative proceedings.
WHAT'S NEXT
The YSRCP is expected to press the Mega DSC allegations in the Legislative Council, while the TDP is likely to use the APPSC Group-I SIT findings to challenge the Opposition.
The Assembly and Council debates could determine whether the two controversies lead to further investigations, administrative action or additional legal proceedings.
