HCS (Ex. Br.) & Other Allied Services Examination will consist of 3 successive stages.

Preliminary Examination (for screening only)

It shall comprise of two papers:                             :     Total 200 Marks (Objective type / Multiple Choices)

Note 1:

1. Both the Question papers shall be of objective type (multiple choices) questions and each paper shall be of two hours duration.
2. Both the Question papers shall be set bilingual i.e. in English and Hindi.
3. For each wrong answer, one fourth (0.25) mark shall be deducted.
4. The Paper – II i.e. Civil Services Aptitude Test shall be a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.
5. The result of preliminary examination shall be based on the marks obtained in Paper – I only, provided that the candidate has scored 33% marks in Civil Services Aptitude Test (Paper - II).

Note 2:

• The Preliminary Examination is only for short listing of category wise candidates on the basis of marks obtained by them in the subject of General Studies (Paper - I) only, provided that the candidate has scored 33% marks in Civil Services Aptitude Test (Paper - II).The marks obtained in Preliminary Examination will not be counted towards final selection.

Note 3:

• Based on the Preliminary Examination result, candidates twelve (12) times the number of advertised posts including bracketed candidates, if any, in order of merit, will be admitted to the Main Examination.

Note 4:

• The candidates who are declared by the Commission to have qualified for admission to the Main Examination will have to submit scanned documents/certificates in support of date of birth, category {viz. SC/ BCA/ BCB /EWS/ ESM / DESM / DFF /ESP/ PwBD} and educational qualification online after the declaration of the result of Preliminary Examination.

Note 5:

The syllabus for the Preliminary Examination is available on the website http://hpsc.gov.in/en-us/

HCS Main Written Examination

It shall comprise of four papers:                           Total   600 Marks

List of optional subjects for the HCS Main Written Examination is given below.

Note 1.The candidates are directed to opt/ select only one optional subject out of the above 29 optional subjects, in which they want to appear in the Main at the time of filling the application form.

Note 2. It should be noted that no change in the optional subject so opted will be allowed at any stage.

C)            List of Compulsory Subjects with their codes for the Main Written Examination is given below.

Name of the Subject                                                            Code No.

English (including English Essay)                                                30

Hindi (including Hindi Essay) in Devnagri script                        31

General Studies                                                                               32

Note 1.The Main Written examination shall comprise of four papers of conventional/ essay type which shall be of three hours duration each.

Note 2. The candidates shall write their answers in Hindi or English except in language or literature papers. The papers in General Knowledge and optional subjects unless otherwise directed, shall be answered either in Hindi language or in English language depending upon the option exercised by a candidate but no candidate shall be permitted to answer any one paper partly in Hindi or partly in English. The candidates shall not be allowed the option to answer these papers in any other medium.

Note 3. Candidates must write the papers in their own hand. In no circumstances, they will be allowed the help of a scribe to write answers for them. However, Visually Handicapped candidates will be allowed to write the examination with the help of a scribe. The prior permission of the Commission is required for the same. The eligibility conditions in this regard have been given at Sr. No. 18. Permission of the scribe inside the examination hall and the manner in which and the extent to which he / she can help the candidate in writing the examination shall be decided by the Commission only.

Note 4. No candidate shall be called for the Viva-voce / Personality Test unless he

/ she obtains at least forty five percent (45%) marks in the aggregate of all written papers and a score of minimum thirty three percent (33%) marks each in Hindi (including Hindi Essay) in Devnagri script and English (including English essay) papers (compulsory papers).

Note 5. Candidates are not permitted to bring and use calculator in Examination Hall for Main Written Examination.

Note 7. Marks will not be allotted for mere superficial knowledge. Credit will be given for orderly, effective and exact expression combined with due economy of words in all subjects of the examination.

Note 8. The syllabus for the Main Examination is available on the website of the Commission i.e. http://hpsc.gov.in/en-us/

Personality Test / Viva-voce - 75 Marks

1. Candidates thrice (three times) the number of advertised posts including bracketed candidates, if any, in order of merit in the main written examination will be called for Personality Test (Viva-voce).
2. The candidate will be interviewed by a Board. He/She will be asked questions on matters of general interest. The object of the interview is to assess the suitability of the candidate for a career in public service, by a board of competent and unbiased observers. The test is intended to judge the mental caliber of a candidate. In broad terms, this is really an assessment of not only his intellectual qualities but also social traits and his interest in current affairs. Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance or judgment, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity.
3. The technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross-examination but of a natural though directed and purposive conversation which is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate.
4. The interview test is not intended to be a test either of the specialized or general knowledge of the candidates which has been already tested through their written papers. Candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in their special subjects of academic study but also in the events which are happening around them, both within and outside their own State or country, as well as in modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well educated youth.

The final selection shall be based on the merit list to be prepared on the basis of the total marks obtained by the candidates in the Main Written Examination and Viva-voce/ Personality Test i.e. out of 675 marks, and keeping in view the preference of services/ posts exercised by the candidates.