The Haryana government has undertaken a significant overhaul of the examination syllabus for the Haryana Civil Service (Executive Branch) and Allied Services. The changes, officially notified through an Extraordinary Gazette, are spearheaded by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi and aim to streamline the recruitment process for the state's key administrative posts.
New Structure for Preliminary and Mains Examination
The revised examination pattern introduces a clear two-stage process. The preliminary examination will consist of two objective-type papers carrying a total of 400 marks.
Paper I on General Studies will cover a wide spectrum including general science, current national and international events, Indian history, Indian and world geography, Indian polity, economy, culture, and mental ability through reasoning. Crucially, elements specific to Haryana—such as its economy, people, social institutions, culture, and language—will be integrated throughout this paper.
Paper II, the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT), will evaluate comprehension, interpersonal and communication skills, logical reasoning, decision-making, problem-solving, general mental ability, basic numeracy up to Class X level, and data interpretation skills using charts, graphs, tables, and data sufficiency questions.
Major Overhaul in Mains (Written) Examination
The most substantial revisions are in the mains examination. The written test now features six descriptive papers, increased from the earlier four. Each paper will be of three hours' duration and carry 100 marks, making the total for the mains 600 marks.
A pivotal change is the elimination of optional subjects. In their place, the HPSC has introduced four dedicated General Studies papers, as confirmed in recent updates.
- Paper I (English and Essay): This paper will assess candidates' ability to read serious prose, express ideas precisely through precis writing, comprehend passages, and demonstrate command over usage, vocabulary, and grammar. It also includes composition and an essay on a chosen topic, emphasizing orderly presentation of ideas and conciseness.
- Paper II (Hindi and Hindi Essay in Devnagri script): This paper tests skills in English-to-Hindi translation, letter and precis writing, explanation of prose and poetry, knowledge of idioms, sentence correction, composition, and a topic-based essay.
Detailed Breakdown of General Studies Papers
General Studies-I delves into Indian heritage and culture, exploring art forms, literature, and architecture from ancient to modern times. It covers modern Indian history from the 18th century, including the freedom struggle and post-independence consolidation. World history topics include the industrial revolution, world wars, colonisation, and political philosophies like communism and socialism. The paper also examines Indian society's diversity, women's roles, population issues, poverty, urbanisation, and the effects of globalisation and social empowerment. It addresses challenges like communalism, regionalism, and secularism. The geography section covers world physical geography, resource distribution, industrial locations, and geophysical phenomena, with relevant linkages to Haryana.
General Studies-II focuses on governance, constitution, and social justice. It covers the Indian Constitution's evolution, features, amendments, and federal structure. Topics include the separation of powers, dispute resolution mechanisms, and comparisons with other nations. It analyses the functioning of Parliament and state legislatures, the structure of the executive and judiciary, and the role of pressure groups. The paper also encompasses the Representation of People's Act, constitutional and statutory bodies, development policies, and the role of NGOs and Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections, health, education, poverty, and hunger are included. Governance aspects like e-governance, transparency, and the civil services' role are examined, along with India's foreign policy, international groupings, and issues specific to Haryana.
General Studies-III is dedicated to technology, economic development, and security. It addresses Indian economic planning, resource mobilisation, growth, employment, inclusive growth, and budgeting. A significant portion is devoted to agriculture, covering crops, irrigation, subsidies, Minimum Support Price (MSP), the Public Distribution System (PDS), food security, animal rearing, and food processing. Other areas include land reforms, effects of liberalisation, industrial policy, and infrastructure like energy, ports, and transport. The paper also tests knowledge of science and technology applications, IT, space, biotechnology, and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). Environment conservation, disaster management, linkages of extremism, and internal security challenges—including cyber threats, media's role, organised crime, border issues, and security forces—are covered, with relevance to Haryana's context.
General Studies-IV on ethics, integrity, and aptitude employs case studies to probe attitudes. It covers the essence of ethics in public and private life, human values from great leaders, factors influencing attitude, and foundational civil service values like integrity, impartiality, and empathy. The syllabus includes emotional intelligence, the teachings of moral thinkers, and philosophers. It delves into public service ethics, ethical dilemmas, and accountability mechanisms. Governance probity topics include the Right to Information (RTI), codes of conduct, citizen's charters, and challenges of corruption.
Implications for Aspirants and Recruitment
This comprehensive revision by the Haryana government signifies a strategic shift towards a more standardised and holistic assessment of candidates. The removal of optional subjects levels the playing field, while the enhanced focus on General Studies, ethics, and state-specific knowledge ensures selected officers possess a broad administrative perspective and a deep understanding of Haryana's unique socio-economic landscape. Aspirants must now align their preparation strategy with this new, detailed syllabus to succeed in the competitive examinations.
