The Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) conducts the Haryana Civil Services (HCS) Examination for recruitment to various prestigious posts like Executive Branch, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), and other allied services. To succeed in this challenging three-stage exam, a thorough understanding of the comprehensive syllabus and the latest exam pattern for the Preliminary, Main, and Interview stages is the first and most crucial step.
This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of the HPSC HCS syllabus and the detailed exam structure for all stages to help you create a winning preparation strategy for 2025.
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HPSC HCS 2025: Exam Overview & Pattern
The HCS selection process is a three-stage journey. The final merit list is prepared based on the total marks obtained in the Main (Written) Exam and the Interview.
Preliminary Exam Pattern (Qualifying)
| Paper | Subject | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies | 100 | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Paper II | Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) | 100 | 100 | 2 Hours |
Key Points for Prelims:
- Nature of Papers: Paper I (General Studies) is the merit-deciding paper for shortlisting for Mains. Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying in nature (minimum 33% marks required).
- Negative Marking: Yes, there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks (1/4th) for each incorrect answer.
- Nature of Exam: Objective type (MCQs).
Main Exam Pattern (Merit Deciding)
The Main Exam consists of four compulsory descriptive papers.
| Paper | Subject | Max Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | English (including English Essay) | 100 | 3 Hours |
| Paper II | Hindi (including Hindi Essay, in Devanagari script) | 100 | 3 Hours |
| Paper III | General Studies | 200 | 3 Hours |
| Paper IV | One Optional Subject | 200 | 3 Hours |
| Total Marks (Mains) | 600 | ||
Interview Stage (Personality Test)
Candidates who qualify the Main exam are called for the final stage, the Personal Interview. The interview carries 75 marks.
Final Merit List: The final selection will be based on the total marks obtained in the Main Examination (600 Marks) + Interview (75 Marks), for a total of 675 marks.
HPSC HCS Syllabus 2025: In-Depth Topic Breakdown
The syllabus for the HCS exam is extensive and requires comprehensive coverage, with a strong emphasis on Haryana-specific knowledge.
Detailed Topic-wise Syllabus
| Subject / Exam Stage | In-Depth Topics & Chapters |
|---|---|
| Prelims: General Studies - I |
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| Prelims: CSAT - Paper II (Qualifying) |
|
| Mains: Paper I (English) & Paper II (Hindi) |
These descriptive papers test language proficiency and expression.
|
| Mains: Paper III (General Studies) |
This paper has two parts and covers a vast syllabus. Part 1: History of Modern India and Indian Culture, Geography of India, Indian Polity, Current National issues and topics of social relevance. Part 2: India and the World, Indian Economy, International Affairs and Institutions, Developments in the field of science and technology, communications and space, Statistical analysis, graphs and diagrams. |
| Mains: Paper IV (Optional Subject) |
Candidates must choose one optional subject from a list of 29 subjects. The syllabus for each is comprehensive and at an honors graduate level. The list includes subjects like:
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(Candidates are advised to download the official syllabus PDF for complete details on optional subjects. Link to HPSC Official Website for latest updates.)
FAQs: HPSC HCS Syllabus 2025
Q1: Is there negative marking in the HPSC HCS Preliminary exam?
Ans: Yes, there is a penalty of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer in both Paper I (GS) and Paper II (CSAT) of the Preliminary examination.
Q2: What is the role of the Prelims GS Paper II (CSAT)?
Ans: The CSAT paper is qualifying in nature. A candidate must score a minimum of 33% in this paper. Its marks are not counted for the Prelims cut-off, which is based solely on the score of GS Paper I.
Q3: How important is the knowledge of Haryana for this exam?
Ans: It is very important. There is a dedicated section on Haryana GK in the Prelims GS Paper I. For the Mains exam, while not explicitly mentioned as a separate subject, a good understanding of the state's issues is beneficial for the GS and Essay papers.
Q4: What is the nature of the Mains exam papers?
Ans: All four papers of the HPSC HCS Main Examination are subjective and descriptive in nature, requiring candidates to write detailed, essay-type answers.
Q5: What is the weightage of the Interview in the final selection?
Ans: The final merit list is prepared out of a total of 675 marks (600 for Mains + 75 for Interview). The interview carries a weightage of 75 marks, making it a crucial stage for securing a high rank.