HCS Syllabus 2026

The Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) conducts the Haryana Civil Services (HCS) examination to recruit officers for the Executive Branch and Allied Services. The HCS exam is one of the most prestigious state-level civil service examinations in India. According to the latest notification dated January 7, 2026, the Haryana Government has updated the examination syllabus, making it crucial for aspirants to understand the comprehensive pattern and prepare accordingly.

This detailed guide covers the complete HCS syllabus for both Preliminary and Mains examinations, helping you navigate each section systematically.

HCS Exam Pattern 2026: Complete Overview

Understanding the exam pattern is crucial before diving into the syllabus. The HCS examination follows a three-tier selection process with specific marking schemes and qualification criteria.

Three-Stage Selection Process

Stage 1: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)

• Paper 1: General Studies – 100 marks (counts for screening merit)
• Paper 2: CSAT – 100 marks (qualifying paper, 33% required)
• Shortlisting: Candidates scoring 12× the number of posts (plus bracketed candidates) qualify for Mains

Stage 2: Main Written Examination (Subjective Type) – Total 600 Marks

• Paper 1: English & Essay – 100
• Paper 2: Hindi & Essay – 100
• Paper 3: General Studies-I – 100
• Paper 4: General Studies-II – 100
• Paper 5: General Studies-III – 100
• Paper 6: General Studies-IV (Ethics) – 100
• Shortlisting: 3× the number of posts (plus bracketed candidates) qualify for Interview

Stage 3: Personality Test/Interview – 75 Marks

• Leadership, decision-making, general awareness, communication, suitability for civil services

Final Merit Calculation: Mains (600) + Interview (75) = 675 marks.

Important Points About Exam Pattern

1. Prelims GS decides shortlisting.
2. CSAT is qualifying (33%); not counted in merit.
3. All Mains papers carry 100 marks each.
4. Interview can significantly change rank.
5. Bracketing system may allow additional candidates beyond ratios.

HCS Prelims Syllabus 2026

The Preliminary Examination consists of two objective papers.

Paper 1: General Studies (100 Marks)

Broad-spectrum test of awareness. Counts for screening merit. Reinforce with HCS PYQs.

1. General Science

• Physics, Chemistry, Biology basics; daily-life phenomena; S&T developments; environment basics.

2. Current Events of National and International Importance

• Policies, IR, economy, social issues, sports & awards.

3. History of India & National Movement

• Ancient–Modern history, reform movements, freedom struggle.

4. Indian & World Geography

• Indian physical/economic/social geography; world climate & resources.

5. Indian Culture • Polity • Economy

• Art, heritage; Constitution & governance; development & planning.

6. Haryana: Economy & People

• State economy, social institutions, demographics, culture, schemes, history.

Paper 2: CSAT – 100 Marks (Qualifying: 33%)

Assesses aptitude and decision-making. Qualifying only; not part of merit.

• Comprehension • Interpersonal & communication skills
• Logical reasoning & analytical ability
• Decision making & problem solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy & data interpretation (Class X level)

HCS Mains Syllabus 2026 (600 Marks Total)

Descriptive papers; all six carry equal weight.

Paper 1: English and English Essay (100 Marks)

English Section

• Precis • Comprehension • Usage & Vocabulary • Grammar & Composition

Essay Section

Clarity, structure, coherence; multiple topics provided.

Paper 2: Hindi and Hindi Essay (100 Marks)

• Translation (En→Hi) • Letter/Precis • Explanation of passages • Composition (muhavare/lokoktiyan, errors, grammar)

Paper 3: General Studies-I (Indian Heritage, History, Culture, Society & Geography)

• Indian Culture: art, literature, architecture
• Modern Indian history; freedom struggle; post-independence consolidation
• World history (18th c. onwards)
• Indian society: features, women, population, poverty, urbanization; globalization effects
• Physical geography of India & world; resources; geophysical phenomena
• Haryana-specific issues embedded across topics

Paper 4: General Studies-II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations)

• Constitution, federalism, devolution; separation of powers; constitutional & statutory bodies
• Parliament/Legislatures; Executive & Judiciary; elections & reforms
• Policies, welfare schemes, social sector, governance & e-governance, RTI, citizen charters
• International relations, groupings, agreements, institutions; diaspora; neighbors
• Haryana-relevant governance & policy themes

Paper 5: General Studies-III (Technology, Economy, Environment, Security & Disaster Management)

• Economy & budgeting; agriculture & PDS; food processing; reforms; infrastructure
• Science & tech (IT/space/robotics/nano/biotech/IPR)
• Environment & EIA; climate; sustainability
• Disaster management
• Internal security: extremism, actors, cyber, money-laundering, border management
• Haryana-specific economy, environment, security angles

Paper 6: General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude)

• Ethics & human interface; human values; attitude
• Foundational civil service values; emotional intelligence
• Moral thinkers (India & world)
• Public service values; administration ethics; corporate & international ethics
• Probity in governance; transparency; RTI; codes; service delivery; corruption
• Case studies (ethical decision-making)

HCS Interview/Personality Test (75 Marks)

Final stage; added to Mains for merit (total 675).

What the Interview Assesses

• Leadership qualities • Decision-making • General awareness • Communication skills • Overall suitability

Preparation Strategy for HCS Examination

For Prelims

1. NCERTs foundation
2. Daily current affairs notes
3. Haryana focus
4. Mock tests
5. Previous Year Papers (HCS PYQ)
6. Prioritize GS for merit; ensure CSAT 33%
7. Time management

For Mains

1. Answer-writing practice
2. Subject-wise notes
3. Ethics case studies
4. Language skills (English/Hindi)
5. Integrate current affairs
6. Haryana updates
7. Equal weight to all six papers
8. Word-limit discipline

For Interview

1. National + Haryana issues
2. Mock interviews
3. DAF analysis
4. Communication & body language
5. Hobbies in depth
6. Ethical scenarios
7. State knowledge

Shortlisting Scheme Summary

Important Points to Remember

1. Notification dated Jan 7, 2026 supersedes Feb 9, 2021.
2. Haryana-specific topics are integrated across GS papers.
3. CSAT is qualifying (33%)—does not add to Prelims merit.
4. All six Mains papers are equally important (100 each).
5. Interview marks (75) added to Mains (600) → final merit 675.
6. 12× formula (Prelims) and 3× formula (Mains) for shortlisting.
7. Ethics requires practical understanding.
8. Language papers test expression & comprehension.
9. Final selection = cumulative Mains + Interview.
10. Check HPSC site regularly for updates.

Conclusion

The HCS syllabus is comprehensive and requires a structured, consistent approach across Prelims, Mains and Interview. Focus on concept clarity, Haryana-specific content, answer-writing practice and ethics casework. Integrate current affairs and practice extensively with HCS PYQs.

Reference: HPSC official syllabus page.