The UPSC examination  is expected to draw many students from the state this year. About 22,000 candidates from the state are expected to appear for this national-level examination being conducted for 1,037 posts. Last year, around 15,600 students had appeared for the UPSC from the state.

With the state government announcing the dates for APPSC-Group I exam this year, students are expected to get a one-time opportunity of appearing for both civil and state service examinations in the same year.

Experts observed that the number of takers from the state has increased even for other government service examinations. As per UPSC records, a total of 2.8 lakh students had appeared for UPSC in 2010 and the figure is expected to increase this year. UPSC experts said that shrinking opportunities in private sector could be one of the reasons for more number of candidates opting for public sector jobs.

"In the last one year we have seen a 25 per cent increase in the number of candidates joining civil service exam coaching in our institution," said Raji Reddy from R CReddy Coaching centre.