HCS Exam Notification 2026 – Eligibility, Syllabus, Age Limit
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HCS Notification 2026 – Exam Dates, Vacancies, Eligibility, Syllabus & Pattern (HPSC)
The Haryana Civil Services (HCS) exam is conducted by the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) to recruit for roles like SDM, DSP, Tehsildar and other allied services. This guide compiles the key points you search for—vacancies, how to apply, fees, eligibility, age relaxation, exam pattern, syllabus and cut-offs—in a fast, mobile-friendly format.
HCS 2026 Highlights (at a glance)
Exam Authority
Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC)
Vacancies (expected)
90–100 (exact to be notified by HPSC)
Mode
Offline (Pen & Paper)
Official Website
HCS 2026 Eligibility & Age Limit
You must be a Citizen of India; or a subject of Nepal/Bhutan; or a Tibetan Refugee who came to India before 1-Jan-1962 for permanent settlement; or a Person of Indian Origin migrating for permanent settlement from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire or Ethiopia.
If you are not an Indian citizen, a Certificate of Eligibility by Govt. of India is mandatory for appointment (you may sit the exam/interview earlier). Exception: Subjects of Nepal/Bhutan and Tibetan Refugees are not eligible for IFS (Indian Foreign Service).
Educational Qualification
Graduate degree (any discipline) from a UGC-recognized university. Final-year students may apply if the result date precedes the application closing date.
Foreign degree? Obtain AIU Equivalence Certificate. Send attested degree & transcripts (via Indian High Commission), 10th/12th photocopies and fee (~₹5,000 / USD 100) to AIU, New Delhi. Typical timeline: ~2 days (in-person) or ~1 week (post).
Age limit for HCS
General posts: 21–42 years.
DSP: 18–27 years.
Relaxations (Haryana):
- SC/ST, BC-A/BC-B, Unmarried/Widow/Judicially separated women, Wives of disabled military personnel: +5 yrs (max 47)
- PwD (Haryana): +10 yrs (up to 50); PwD + SC/BC/EWS: +15 yrs (up to 55)
- Haryana Govt. employees (Regular): up to 45 (4+ yrs service; 3 chances after 42)
- Haryana Govt. employees (Ad-hoc/Contract): Age = Actual − Years of Service (max 52), one-time
- Ex-Servicemen (ESM): Age = Actual − (Service + 3 yrs break), within limits
DSP – Age & Physical Standards
- Minimum age: 18; Base max age: 27; Relaxation +5 years only for SC/ST/BC/EWS (max 32)
- Male: Height 5’7” (170.18 cm); Chest 33” (unexpanded), 34.5” (expanded)
- Female: Height 5’2” (157.50 cm)
HCS Exam Pattern 2026 (Prelims • Mains • Interview)
Prelims (Objective)
- GS – 100 marks (counts for screening merit)
- CSAT – 100 marks (qualifying, 33%)
- Shortlisting: 12× posts (+ bracketed) to Mains
Mains (Subjective • 600)
- English & Essay – 100
- Hindi & Essay – 100
- GS-I – 100 • GS-II – 100 • GS-III – 100 • GS-IV – 100
- Shortlisting to Interview: 3× posts (+ bracketed)
Interview (Personality Test)
- 75 marks: leadership, decision-making, awareness, communication
- Final Merit = 600 (Mains) + 75 (Interview)
Important Guidelines for HCS Mains
Scribe Assistance
Candidates must write answers themselves. Only Visually Handicapped or Locomotor Disability candidates with severely affected writing ability can use a scribe with prior Commission permission. The Commission decides how and to what extent the scribe can assist.
Viva-Voce Eligibility
Candidates need minimum 45% aggregate marks in all written papers, plus at least 33% each in Hindi (Devnagri script) and English compulsory papers to qualify for interview. Final selection is based on combined marks from Main Written Exam and Personality Test (total 675 marks).
Answer Writing Standards
Superficial knowledge gets no marks. Credit is given for clear, organized, precise answers written concisely.
Language for Answers
Candidates must write answers in Hindi or English only (except for language papers). For General Studies papers, choose either Hindi or English - mixing both languages in one paper is not allowed. No other language is permitted.
HCS Syllabus 2026 – Overview
Prelims – GS (100)
- General Science, current events (India & world)
- History of India & National Movement
- Indian & World Geography
- Polity & Economy (Constitution, PRIs, development)
- Haryana GK – society, economy, culture, languages
Prelims – CSAT (100)
- General Mental Ability, reasoning & analytical ability
- Qualifying with 33%
Mains – Language Papers (each 100)
- English: Precis, comprehension, vocabulary/usage, grammar, essay
- Hindi: Translation (EN→HI), letter/precis, prose/poetry explanation, grammar, essay
Mains – General Studies (4×100)
- GS-I: History, Heritage, Culture, Geography, Society
- GS-II: Polity, Governance, Constitution, IR
- GS-III: Economy, Environment, Sci-Tech, Internal Security
- GS-IV: Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude
HCS Cut Off (Prelims, Mains & Final Merit): Past Years
Use the historical HCS cut off data below to plan safe targets. Figures are reproduced from past notifications and results. Tables scale on mobile (swipe ↔).
HCS Prelims Cut Off (2017 • 2021 • 2022 • 2023)
Note: 2017 was out of 200; 2021/2022/2023 were out of 100.
| Category | 2017 (200) | 2021 (100) | 2022 (100) | 2023 (100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 130.31 | 68.50 | Tentative | Tentative |
| BC-A | 115.16 | 66.50 | Tentative | Tentative |
| BC-B | 129.34 | 58.75 | Tentative | Tentative |
| SC | 105.15 | 54.50 | Tentative | Tentative |
| EWS | — | 60.25 | Tentative | Tentative |
HCS Mains Cut Off (2017 • 2021 • 2022 • 2023)
Note: 2017/2021/2022 were out of 600; 2023 was out of 675.
| Category | 2017 (600) | 2021 (600) | 2022 (600) | 2023 (675) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 328 | 369.3 | 370 | 359.50 |
| BC-A | 308 | 341.35 | 355 | 341.50 |
| BC-B | 328 | 357.2 | 360 | 359.50 |
| SC | 307 | 323.7 | 330 | 315.50 |
| EWS | — | 358.5 | 365 | 349.50 |
HCS Final Merit Cut Off (2017 • 2021 • 2022 • 2023)
Note: 2017/2021/2023 were out of 675; 2022 was out of 600.
| Category | 2017 (675) | 2021 (675) | 2022 (600) | 2023 (675) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 370 | 360.8 | 430 | 350.0 |
| BC-A | 350 | 339.1 | 420 | 327.5 |
| BC-B | 366.5 | 342.5 | 430 | 330.0 |
| SC | 351 | 318.2 | 390 | 317.5 |
| EWS | — | 319 | 425 | 318.5 |
Want to beat the next HCS cut off with margin? Try our mentor-led answer-writing program. Download HCS PYQs and practice against real standards.
HCS Previous Year Questions (PYQ) – Download & Practice
If you want a score jump, start with HCS Previous Year Questions (PYQs). Practicing HCS previous year questions helps you spot question patterns, GS weightage, and the exact difficulty expected by HPSC. Use our curated, year-wise HCS question papers PDF with quick topic tags to build exam-ready answers faster.
- Prelims & Mains PYQ with trend highlights
- Topic clustering to align with new HCS syllabus
- Perfect companion to your answer-writing practice
How to Apply for HCS Notification 2026
Applications are submitted online only at hpsc.gov.in. Follow the on-screen instructions for registration, form fill, upload and fee payment. No other mode is accepted.
Application Fee (as per category)
- Male (General, incl. DESM) & Male (other states): ₹1000
- All Female candidates: ₹250
- SC/BC-A/BC-B/ESM/EWS (Haryana only): ₹250
- PwD (Haryana only): NIL
Exact dates (last date, prelims) will be notified by HPSC.
Key Posts (Executive & Allied)
HCS (Ex. Br.)
DSP
Tehsildar (A-Class)
Naib Tehsildar
AETO / ETO
BDPO
DFSC / DFSO
ARCS / AEO / TM*
*Traffic Manager / Tehsildar as per year’s notification.
Admit Card – Download
Admit cards will be released on the HPSC portal. Login with your registration details to download and verify particulars.
FAQs on HCS Notification 2026
Is there age relaxation for DSP?
Yes, +5 years for SC/ST/BC/EWS only (max 32 years).
Exam medium?
The HCS exam is conducted in Hindi and English.
Can I give the interview in Hindi?
Yes. The interview evaluates personality, awareness, decision-making and communication; language choice is not a barrier.
Can working professionals prepare?
Absolutely. O2 IAS Academy also offers night batches designed for professionals.
Get a Plan for the New Pattern
Need clarity on books, timetable and test practice for HCS 2026? Talk to a mentor and get a personalized study plan. Explore our 1:1 Mentorship or see HPAS/HCS syllabus references.
Summary – Why Read the HCS Notification 2026 Carefully
The official HPSC notice will finalize dates, vacancies and instructions. Meanwhile, your best move is to align prep with the confirmed pattern, syllabus and eligibility, track age/relaxation rules and keep documents ready (AIU for foreign degrees). When HCS Notification 2026 publishes, you can apply on day one and focus fully on performance.
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