HPAS Combined Competitive Examination 2026 : Official Notification Out -Apply Online :The Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC) has released the notification for the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Service (HPAS) Combined Competitive Examination-2026. Through this examination, eligible candidates will be considered for recruitment to various posts in different departments of the Himachal Pradesh Government.
Table of Contents
Overview of HPAS Recruitment 2026
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Organisation | Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission |
| Examination | HPAS Combined Competitive Examination-2026 |
| Advertisement No. | 59/8-2026 |
| Notification Date | 26 August 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Last Date | 22 September 2026 |
| Application Fee | ₹600 |
| Selection Process | Preliminary Exam, Main Exam and Personality Test |
| Official Website | hppsc.hp.gov.in/hppsc |
Important Dates
- Notification Date: 26 August 2026
- Online Application Closing Date: 22 September 2026
- Fee Payment Closing Date: 22 September 2026
- Preliminary Examination: To be announced by HPPSC
- Main Examination: To be notified separately
- Personality Test: To be announced after the Main Examination
Candidates should regularly check the Commission’s website for subsequent examination schedules and updates.
Vacancy Details
The notification currently lists 22 posts across various departments:
| Department/Post | Vacancies |
| Himachal Pradesh Administrative Services (HPAS) | 4 |
| Block Development Officer | 10 |
| District Controller, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs | 1 |
| District Treasury Officer | 1 |
| Tehsildar | 6 |
| Total | 22 |
The vacancies include posts reserved for different categories such as Unreserved, SC, ST, OBC, EWS, Ex-Servicemen and persons with disabilities, as specified in the advertisement.
Pay Scale
The advertised posts carry different pay levels:
- HP Administrative Services: Pay Level 18 – ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500
- Block Development Officer: Pay Level 17 – ₹53,600 to ₹1,70,100
- District Controller: Pay Level 16 – ₹48,700 to ₹1,54,300
- District Treasury Officer: Pay Level 16 – ₹48,700 to ₹1,54,300
- Tehsildar: Pay Level 13 – ₹46,000 to ₹1,46,500
Educational Qualification
The basic educational requirement is a Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification from a recognised university.
Candidates who have appeared in a qualifying examination and are awaiting their result may also apply, subject to the conditions prescribed by HPPSC. Candidates appearing for their qualifying examination may also be provisionally admitted if the examination is completed before the commencement of the competitive examination and the required proof is subsequently produced within the prescribed period.
Candidates who claim an equivalent qualification must provide the appropriate order or letter establishing the equivalence; otherwise, their candidature may be rejected.
Desirable Qualification
Knowledge of the customs, manners and dialects of Himachal Pradesh, along with suitability for working under the conditions prevailing in the state, is mentioned as a desirable qualification.
Age Limit
As per the notification, candidates must:
- Have attained 21 years of age, and
- Not have attained 35 years of age as on 1 January 2026.
A relaxation of 5 years in the upper age limit is available to eligible SC, ST, OBC, Persons with Disabilities and Children/Grandchildren of Freedom Fighters of Himachal Pradesh, where the post is reserved for the respective category. Special provisions apply to Himachal Pradesh Government employees and Ex-Servicemen.
Candidates should use their date of birth as recorded in their Matriculation/Secondary Examination Certificate or equivalent certificate.
Selection Process
The recruitment process consists of three major stages:
Stage 1 – Preliminary Examination
Stage 2 – Main Examination
Stage 3 – Personality Test
The Preliminary Examination is a screening examination. Its marks are not included in the final merit list. Final ranking is determined from the Main Examination and Personality Test, subject to the conditions in the notification.
HPAS Exam Pattern
Preliminary Examination
The Preliminary Examination contains two objective-type papers:
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
| Paper-I | General Studies | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours |
| Paper-II | Aptitude Test | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours |
Paper-II is a qualifying paper, for which candidates must secure at least 33% marks. The merit for admission to the Main Examination is based on General Studies Paper-I, subject to the prescribed conditions. Candidates must appear in both papers.
Negative Marking
The Preliminary Examination carries negative marking. For every incorrect answer, one-third of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted.
If more than one option is marked for a question, it will also be treated as an incorrect answer. No penalty is imposed for a question left unanswered.
Preliminary Exam Syllabus
Paper-I – General Studies
The syllabus includes:
- History, Geography, Polity, Art and Culture of Himachal Pradesh
- Socio-economic development of Himachal Pradesh
- National and international current affairs
- History of India and Indian National Movement
- Physical, Social and Economic Geography of India and the World
- Indian Constitution, Political System and Governance
- Panchayati Raj
- Public Policy and Rights Issues
- Sustainable Development
- Poverty and Inclusion
- Demographics and Social Sector Initiatives
- Environmental Ecology
- Biodiversity and Climate Change
- General Science
Paper-II – Aptitude Test
The Aptitude paper covers:
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal and communication skills
- Logical reasoning
- Analytical ability
- Decision-making
- Problem-solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy up to Class X level
- Data interpretation
- English language comprehension up to Class X level
Main Examination Pattern
The Main Examination consists of six compulsory papers and two papers from one optional subject.
Compulsory Papers
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
| Paper-I | English | 100 |
| Paper-II | Hindi | 100 |
| Paper-III | Essay | 100 |
| Paper-IV | General Studies-I | 200 |
| Paper-V | General Studies-II | 200 |
| Paper-VI | General Studies-III | 200 |
Optional Subject
The candidate selects one optional subject, with two papers of 100 marks each.
The notification lists subjects including Indian History, Political Science and International Relations, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Commerce and Accountancy, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Philosophy, Law, Sociology, Public Administration, Management, Geography, Agriculture, Engineering subjects, Hindi, Sanskrit, Urdu, English Literature, Psychology, Geology, Physics, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Anthropology, Forestry, Horticulture and Medical Sciences.
Each Main Examination paper is of three hours duration.
Candidates must secure at least 40% in each compulsory Hindi and English paper and 45% aggregate in the other qualifying components as prescribed to qualify the written examination.
Personality Test
Candidates qualifying in the Main Examination are called for the Personality Test.
The interview assesses the candidate’s suitability for the services, including mental alertness, critical thinking, logical expression, balance of judgement, leadership qualities, social cohesion, intellectual and moral integrity and awareness of current affairs.
Knowledge of the customs, manners and dialects of Himachal Pradesh is also relevant to the Personality Test.
How to Apply for HPAS 2026
Eligible candidates should follow these steps:
- Visit the official HPPSC website.
- Select the Apply Online option.
- Open the One Time Registration (OTR) for Examinations section.
- Complete New Registration if you do not already have an OTR account.
- Log in to the OTR dashboard.
- Select the relevant HPAS Combined Competitive Examination-2026 advertisement.
- Fill in the required personal, educational and category details carefully.
- Upload the required certificates and documents in the prescribed format.
- Upload the required photograph and complete the live photograph process.
- Select the examination centre and optional subject as required.
- Preview the application and verify all details and uploaded documents.
- Pay the ₹600 examination fee through an approved online payment method.
- Submit the application and save/print the final application for future reference.
| Official Notification | Click here |
| Apply Online | Click here |
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