HPSC HCS Exam Pattern and Syllabus

The HCS exam is conducted by the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) in three stages: 

• Preliminary Examination
• Mains Written Examination
• Personality Test/Viva-Voce.

Stage I: Preliminary Examination (Total: 200 Marks)

Two objective-type (MCQ) papers, bilingual (English & Hindi), 2 hours each, with 0.25 negative marking per wrong answer.

Paper	Subject	Marks
Paper I	General Studies	100
Paper II	CSAT (qualifying)	100

Only Paper I marks count for shortlisting. Minimum 33% required in CSAT to qualify. Candidates equal to 12 times the number of vacancies are shortlisted for Mains.

Important Note: Each question has 5 options (A–E). Candidates must darken E if not attempting a question. Leaving more than 10% of questions without darkening any circle leads to disqualification.

Paper I: General Studies Syllabus

General Science – Everyday scientific understanding expected of a generally educated person, without requiring specialised knowledge.

Current Affairs – Significant national and international events of importance.

History of India & National Movement – Broad understanding of India’s social, economic, and political history; nature of 19th-century resurgence; growth of nationalism and attainment of independence.

Indian & World Geography – Physical, social, and economic geography of India; key features of Indian agriculture and natural resources; broader world geography.

Indian Culture, Polity & Economy – India’s political system and Constitution; Panchayati Raj; social systems; economic developments in India.

General Mental Ability – Reasoning and analytical thinking.

Haryana – Economy & People : Social, economic, and cultural institutions, and languages of Haryana.

Paper II: CSAT Syllabus (Qualifying – 33% required)

Comprehension, interpersonal and communication skills, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision-making, problem-solving, general mental ability, basic numeracy (Class X level), and data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables – Class X level).

Stage II: Mains Written Examination (Total: 600 Marks)

The HCS Mains has been revamped to mirror the UPSC Civil Services pattern. The optional subject has been removed and four separate General Studies papers introduced, including a new Ethics paper.

Paper	Subject	Marks	Duration
Paper I	English & English Essay	100	3 hours
Paper II	Hindi & Hindi Essay (Devanagari)	100	3 hours
Paper III	General Studies – I	100	3 hours
Paper IV	General Studies – II	100	3 hours
Paper V	General Studies – III	100	3 hours
Paper VI	General Studies – IV	100	3 hours

Answers may be written in Hindi or English (except language papers). Minimum 45% overall and 33% each in Hindi and English papers required to qualify for the Personality Test.

Paper I: English & English Essay

Tests reading comprehension, précis writing, essay composition, vocabulary, and general grammar. Essays must stay on topic, be logically structured, and demonstrate precise expression.

Paper II: Hindi & Hindi Essay (Devanagari Script)

Covers translation of English passages into Hindi, letter and précis writing, explanation of Hindi prose and poetry passages, composition (idioms and corrections), and essay writing on a given topic.

Paper III: General Studies – I

Indian Heritage, History & Geography

• Indian art, literature, and architecture from ancient to modern times
• Modern Indian history from the mid-18th century — key events and personalities
• Freedom struggle: stages and contributions from across the country
• Post-independence consolidation and reorganisation of states
• World history from the 18th century: industrial revolution, world wars, colonisation, decolonisation, and major political ideologies
• Indian society: diversity, women’s roles, population issues, poverty, urbanisation, and globalisation’s effects
• Social empowerment: communalism, regionalism, and secularism
• World physical geography; natural resource distribution; industrial location factors
• Geophysical events: earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, cyclones; changes in water bodies, ice caps, flora, and fauna
• Haryana-specific issues

Paper IV: General Studies – II

Governance, Constitution, Polity & International Relations

• Indian Constitution: evolution, core features, amendments, and basic structure
• Federalism: Union-State responsibilities, devolution of power and finances
• Separation of powers; dispute resolution mechanisms
• Comparison of India’s Constitution with other countries
• Parliament and State Legislatures: structure, powers, and functioning
• Executive and Judiciary: organisation and role; ministries; pressure groups
• Representation of People’s Act; constitutional posts and bodies
• Statutory and quasi-judicial bodies; government development policies
• Role of NGOs, SHGs, and civil society in development
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections; social sector issues (health, education, human resources)
• Poverty and hunger; governance transparency, e-governance, and citizen charters
• Role of civil services in a democracy
• India’s neighbourhood relations; bilateral, regional, and global agreements
• Impact of global politics on India; key international institutions
• Haryana-specific issues

Paper V: General Studies – III

Technology, Economy, Environment & Security

• Indian economy: planning, resource mobilisation, growth, and employment
• Inclusive growth; government budgeting
• Agriculture: crop patterns, irrigation, storage, transport, subsidies, MSP, food security
• Food processing industries and supply chain management
• Land reforms; effects of liberalisation on industry
• Infrastructure: energy, ports, roads, airports, railways
• Science and technology in everyday life; Indian achievements in S&T; indigenous technology
• IT, space, computers, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, intellectual property rights
• Environmental conservation, pollution, degradation, and impact assessment
• Disaster management
• Internal security: extremism, role of media, social networks, cyber security, money laundering
• Border management; organised crime and terrorism linkages
• Security forces and their mandates
• Haryana-specific issues

Paper VI: General Studies – IV

Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude

• Ethics in human life: its dimensions, consequences, and role in public and private relationships; lessons from great leaders and reformers; role of family and educational institutions in value formation
• Attitude: its formation, influence on behaviour, and social dimensions
• Civil service values: integrity, impartiality, objectivity, empathy, and compassion toward weaker sections
• Emotional intelligence and its use in governance
• Contributions of moral thinkers from India and the world
• Public service ethics: dilemmas, accountability, RTI, codes of conduct, citizen charters, work culture, anti-corruption measures
• Probity in governance: transparency, proper use of public funds, ethical governance
• Case studies on all the above themes

Stage III: Personality Test / Viva-Voce (75 Marks)

Assesses mental alertness, analytical thinking, depth of interest, leadership qualities, social traits, and intellectual and moral integrity.

Final Selection

The merit list is prepared out of a grand total of 675 marks (600 Mains + 75 Interview). In case of a tie, the older candidate is ranked higher.