The HPSC HCS exam is the Haryana Civil Services (Executive Branch) and Allied Services examination conducted by the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC). It recruits officers such as HCS (Executive) / SDM, DSP, Excise and Taxation Officers, BDPOs and Tehsildars. From the 2026 cycle, the Mains follows a new UPSC-style pattern of six descriptive papers (600 marks), introduced by the Haryana Civil Service (Executive Branch) Amendment Rules notified on 29 December 2025.
Quick Answer
Conducted by: Haryana Public Service Commission (hpsc.gov.in). Stages: Prelims (screening), Mains (descriptive), Interview. Prelims: General Studies (100 marks) decides Mains shortlisting; CSAT (100 marks) is qualifying at 33%. Mains (new, 600 marks): English, Hindi, GS I, GS II, GS III, GS IV (Ethics), 100 marks each, 3 hours each. Interview: 75 marks. Final merit: Mains + Interview = 675 marks. Mains qualifying: 45% aggregate, and 33% each in English and Hindi. 2026 cycle: 102 posts; Prelims 26 April 2026, Mains 27–29 June 2026.
HPSC HCS Exam Pattern
Preliminary Examination
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies | 100 | Counted for Mains shortlisting |
| Paper II | Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) | 100 | Qualifying; minimum 33% |
Candidates up to about 12 times the number of vacancies are called for the Mains. Prelims marks are not counted in the final merit.
Main Examination (new pattern from 2026)
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | English (including essay) | 100 | 3 hours |
| II | Hindi (including essay, Devanagari script) | 100 | 3 hours |
| III | General Studies I | 100 | 3 hours |
| IV | General Studies II | 100 | 3 hours |
| V | General Studies III | 100 | 3 hours |
| VI | General Studies IV (Ethics) | 100 | 3 hours |
| Total | 600 |
- The English paper must be written in English and the Hindi paper in Hindi; each GS paper may be written in either Hindi or English.
- To be called for the interview, a candidate needs 45% aggregate in the written papers and at least 33% each in English and Hindi.
Interview
The Personality Test carries 75 marks. Up to about 3 times the vacancies are called. Ties are broken first by higher Mains marks and then in favour of the older candidate.
What Changed in 2026
| Point | Old pattern | New pattern (2026 onward) |
|---|---|---|
| Mains papers | English, Hindi, GS and one optional subject | Six compulsory papers; no optional |
| Ethics | Not a separate paper | GS IV (Ethics) added |
| Interview | 75 marks | 75 marks |
The change brings the HCS much closer to the UPSC Civil Services pattern, so a combined UPSC–HCS strategy is now easier.
Haryana-Specific Preparation
- History and culture of Haryana: Kurukshetra, Panipat battles, Harappan sites such as Rakhigarhi and Banawali, the 1857 revolt in Haryana, and the formation of the state in 1966.
- Geography: rivers (Ghaggar, Yamuna, Markanda), the Aravallis, agro-climatic zones and water sharing (SYL canal).
- Economy and schemes: agriculture, MSMEs, Haryana government schemes and the state budget.
- Polity: Haryana’s legislature, panchayats and local bodies, and the Lokayukta.
Preparation Strategy
- Prelims: cover the UPSC GS base (polity, history, geography, economy, environment, science) plus Haryana GK; practise CSAT enough to clear 33% safely.
- Mains: start answer writing early for GS I–IV; prepare essays in both English and Hindi, since both language papers include an essay.
- Ethics: use UPSC GS-IV material, and practise case studies set in district administration.
- Interview: prepare your DAF, Haryana’s current issues and the role of an SDM. See How to Become an SDM and PCS Full Form.
