HCS Exam Syllabus – Mains | 27 Jan 2025

The Haryana Civil Services (HCS) Mains Examination is structured to comprehensively evaluate a candidate’s intellectual depth, analytical skills, and written expression across a diverse range of subjects. This stage tests not only academic knowledge but also the ability to present ideas clearly, concisely, and effectively, making it a crucial determinant of success in the civil services examination.

The detailed syllabus of the exam is provided below.

• The first three papers, covering English (including English Essay), Hindi (including Hindi Essay), and General Studies, are compulsory. The fourth paper is of an optional subject which a candidate can choose from a list of 29 subjects. 

English and English Essay  

• The aim of the paper is to test the candidate‘s ability to read and understand serious discursive prose, and to express his ideas: clearly and correctly in English. The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows:  
  • English: 
    • Precis Writing  
    • Comprehension of given passages  
    • Essay  
    • Usage and Vocabulary  
    • General Grammar/Composition  
  • Essay: 
    • Candidates will be required to write an essay on a specific topic.  
    • The choice of subjects will be given.  
    • They will be expected to keep close to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in an orderly fashion and to write concisely.  
    • Credit will be given for effective, and exact expression.  

Hindi and Hindi Essay (in Devanagari script)  

• Translation of an English passage into Hindi.  
• Letter/Precis writing.  
• Explanation of Hindi passage (prose and poetry) in the same language.  
• Composition (idioms, correction etc.).  
• Essay on a specific topic. The choice of subjects will be given.

General Studies

• The nature and standard questions in these papers will be such that a well-educated person will be able to answer them without any specialized study.  

Part-I  

• History of Modern India and Indian Culture  
  • The History of Modern India will cover the history of the country from about the middle of the nineteenth century and will also include questions on important personalities who shaped the freedom movement and social reforms.  
  • The part relating to ‘Indian Culture‘ will cover all aspects of Indian culture from ancient to modern times.  
• Geography of India  
  • In this part, questions will be on the physical, economic and social geography of India.  
• Indian Polity  
  • This part will include questions on the Constitution of India, the Political system and related matters.  
• Current National Issues and Topics of Social Relevance 
  • This part is intended to test the candidate‘s awareness of current national issues and topics of social relevance in present-day India, such as the following:  
    • Demography and Human Resources and related issues.  
    • Behavioural and social issues and social welfare problems, such as child labour, gender equality, adult literacy, rehabilitation of the handicapped and other deprived segments of society, drug abuse, public health etc.  
    • Law enforcement issues, human rights, corruption in public life, communal harmony etc.  
    • Internal Security and related issues.  
    • Environmental issues, ecological preservation, conservation of natural resources and national heritage.  
    • The role of national institutions, their relevance and the need for change.  

Part-II  

• India and the World  
  • This part is intended to test the candidate‘s awareness of India‘s relationship with the world in various spheres, such as the following:- Foreign Affairs External Security and related matters. Nuclear Policy. Indian abroad.  
• Indian Economy  
  • In this part, questions will be on the planning and economic development in India, economic and trade issues foreign trade, the role and functions of IMF World Bank, WTO etc.  
• International Affairs and Institutions.  
  • This part will include question on important events in world affairs and on international institutions.  
• Developments in the field of science and technology, communications and space. 
  • In this part, questions will test the candidate‘s awareness of the developments in the field of science and technology, communications and space and also basic ideas about computers.  
• Statistical analysis, graphs and diagrams  
  • This part will include exercises to test the candidate‘s ability to draw common sense conclusions from information presented in statistical, graphical or diagrammatical from and to point out deficiencies, limitations or inconsistencies therein.  

Optional Subject 

• The candidate has to select one optional subject from a list of 29 subjects provided below:

• For the detailed syllabus of all the 29 optional subjects, refer to the official website of HPSC.