The Haryana Government has introduced significant modifications to the rules governing the Haryana Civil Services (HCS) examination. The changes, approved by the state cabinet, have been officially notified through a gazette. This revision directly impacts the structure of the main written examination, a crucial stage for lakhs of aspirants.
Revised Structure of the HCS Mains Examination
The most notable change is the increase in the number of papers in the main written examination. Previously consisting of four papers, the mains will now have a total of six compulsory papers, carrying a combined weightage of 600 marks. The new structure is designed to provide a more comprehensive assessment of candidates.
The six papers are divided into two categories. First, there are two language papers: one in English and one in Hindi. Each language paper is worth 100 marks and will include an essay component. The remaining four papers are all on General Studies, labelled as General Studies-I, II, III, and IV. Each of these GS papers also carries 100 marks.
Examination Medium, Format, and Selection Criteria
According to the amended rules, the question papers will be bilingual. Question Paper One (English) will be set in English, and Question Paper Two (Hindi) will be in Hindi. The four General Studies papers will be available in both languages. Importantly, all papers in the mains will be of the conventional essay type, moving away from any objective format.
The rules also clearly define the number of candidates shortlisted at each stage. For the mains, candidates numbering twelve times the number of advertised vacancies will be selected, including those with tied scores. Subsequently, for the personality test or interview, candidates three times the number of vacancies will be called.
A key point for ex-servicemen and their dependents is that they must appear for all papers of the main written examination without any exemption.
Qualifying Marks and Final Merit Calculation
To be eligible for the interview stage, candidates must meet specific minimum marks. They need to secure at least 45 percent of the total marks in all written papers combined. Additionally, they must obtain a minimum of 33 percent marks separately in both the English and Hindi papers.
The Haryana State Public Service Commission (HPSC) has the discretion to relax the overall qualifying mark from 45% to 35% if a sufficient number of candidates with benchmark disabilities are not available.
The final merit list for the HCS will be prepared based on the marks obtained in the main written examination and the personality test, out of a total of 675 marks. The service preferences exercised by the candidates will also be factored in during the final allocation.
These amendments provide a clearer and more detailed framework for HCS aspirants, allowing them to tailor their preparation strategy well in advance for the revised examination pattern.
