Plan of Examination

Preliminary
Initially, a (Preliminary) objective type of examination consisting of 2 papers based on multiple choice questions, on the following pattern will be held at Shimla, Solan, Mandi, Dharamsala, Nahan and Una centres:-
Paper-I General Studies
(Objective type 150 questions consisting of 1 mark each question). Duration of the paper will be three hours.
Paper-II Optional Paper
(There shall be 150 questions of one mark each for a total of 150 marks. Optional Paper will be selected by the candidates out of 22 Optional Subjects given in the syllabus of Preliminary examination). The duration of the paper will be three hours. A candidate must specify in his application form the Optional Subject he desires to take. He may intimate change, if any, in this regard to the Commission's office but not later than the last date prescribed for receipt of applications. It may also be noted that there should not be any variation between the figures ofOptional Subject code in the boxes and encoding thereof done in the circles. In case of any variation, encoding done by the candidate shall be treated as final.
Mains
List of subjects/papers
COMPULSORY PAPERS
General Studies
Hindi.
English
Essay.

OPTIONAL PAPERS

1. Agriculture
2. Animal Husbandry & Vety. Science
3. Horticulture
4. Forestry .
5. Law
6. English Literature
7. Hindi Literature
8. Sanskrit Literature
9. Urdu
10. Anthropology
11. Physics
12. Political Science
13. Geography
14. Statistics
15. Geology
16. Public Admn.
17. Management
18. Economics
19. Chemistry
20. Psychology
21. History
22. Zoology
23. Commerce & Accountancy
24. Maths
25. Philosophy
26. Civil Engg.
27. Elect Engg
28. Mech Engg
29. Sociology
30. Botany

Important Information
The number of candidates to be called for viva-voce test after the (Main) written examination by the Commission shall be at its discretion on the basis of marks obtained by them in the (Main) examination only. As far as possible this number will be three times the total number of vacancies.

Marks obtained by the candidates in the (Prel.) examination will not be counted for the purpose of final order of merit. However, marks obtained in the (Main) examination as well as in the viva-voce test would determine their final merit to various posts/services to be filled in on the basis of aforesaidexamination . The option exercised by the candidates will be taken into consideration while determining their order of merit for selection to the various posts/services.

The candidates who are declared qualified in the (Preliminary) examination shall be required to apply for (Main) written examination.

The eligibility conditions of the candidates called for viva-voce test will also be determined on the day of interview on the basis of their original documents and rejection, if any, at that stage will not be the Commission's responsibility.

The allocation of examination centres for (Preliminary) examination will be made according to the option exercised by the candidates on the application form. This examination will also be conducted at Nahan and Una in case adequate number of candidates opts for these stations as examination centre. However, the Commission reserves the right to allot any centre of examination to candidates irrespective of the option exercised. The centre for the (Main) written examination will, however, be at Shimla only.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.

1. A candidate must possess a Bachelor's Degree or its equivalent from a recognised University.
2. A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 35 years on the first Januaryof the year ofexamination.
3. Knowledge of customs, manners and dialects of Himachal Pradesh and suitability for appointment in the peculiar conditions prevailing in the Pradesh is a desirable qualification.
4. A candidate must be a citizen of India.
5. Generally Wards of Ex-serviceman erroneously mention and encode the code of Ex-servicemen of H.P. in the relevant Column of the Computerisedapplication form. It is made clear that there is no reservation for the Wards of Ex-servicemen of H.P. in these services. Therefore, they shall write and encode the code of category(s) to which they belong. The Ex-Servicemen candidates of H.P. must go through the relevant Rules and instructions of the reservation notified / issued by the H.P. Govt. from time to time in order to ensure their eligibility for admission to the aforesaidexamination . Similarly other reserved categories candidates are also required to go through the relevant instructions in order to ensure that they are eligible under the particular category(s).

Note
The above eligibility conditions shall be subject to change, if any in the relevant Rules related to Himachal Pradesh Administrative Services and those of the concerned Allied Services, as are notified by the Himachal Pradesh Government.

A candidate who has appeared at an examination, the passing of which would render him eligible to appear at the examination but has not been informed of the result, may apply for admission to the examination. A candidate, who intends to appear in such qualifying examination, may also apply provided the qualifying examination is completed before the commencement of this examination. Such candidates will be admitted to the examination, if otherwise eligible, but the admission would be deemed to be provisional and subject to cancellation if they do not produce proof of having passed theexamination in any case not later than two months after the commencement of (Main) written examination, failing which their candidature shall automatically stand cancelled.

1. The upper age limit is relaxable by five years for candidates belonging to the Sch. Castes/ Sch. Tribes/ Other Backward Classes and Children/Grand Children of Freedom Fighters ofHimachal Pradesh as declared by the Govt. from time to time. Age relaxation is also available to Ex-servicemen candidates of H.P. as per provisions in Rules/ Instructions of H.P. Govt.
2. The upper age limit is also relaxable upto 42 years in case of those Govt. servants holding substantive/officiating appointment under the H.P. Govt. including the H.P. High Court or any Court subordinate thereto and the employees of Public Sector Undertakings/Corporations/Autonomous Bodies which are wholly or substantially owned or controlled by the H.P. Govt. provided such employees are in continuous service whether permanent or officiating under the H.P. Govt. as on 01-01-2006.