Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC), Shimla has released Advertisement Number 59/8-2026 dated 26.08.2026 inviting Online Recruitment Applications (ORA) for the H.P. Administrative Service Combined Competitive Examination-2026 (HPAS 2026). A total of 22 posts are to be filled across five departments — H.P. Administrative Service, Block Development Officer, District Controller, District Treasury Officer and Tehsildar. Graduates in any discipline can apply online through the HPPSC OTR portal up to 22.09.2026 (11:59 PM).
HPPSC HPAS Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Post Name | H.P. Administrative Service (HAS), Block Development Officer (BDO), District Controller, District Treasury Officer, Tehsildar |
| Organization | Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC), Nigam Vihar, Shimla |
| Notification / Advertisement No. | Advertisement Number 59/8-2026, dated 26.08.2026 |
| Location | Himachal Pradesh |
| Total Vacancies | 22 (HAS – 4, BDO – 10, District Controller – 1, District Treasury Officer – 1, Tehsildar – 6) |
| Qualification | Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a recognized University (any discipline) |
| Age Limit | 21 to 35 years as on 01.01.2026 (relaxation as per rules — see table below) |
| Selection Process | Preliminary Examination → Main Examination → Personality Test (Interview) |
| Pay Scale | Rs. 46,000 to Rs. 1,77,500 per month (Pay Band Level 13 to Level 18) |
| How to Apply | Online only, through the HPPSC OTR / ORA portal |
| Official Notification | Download Notification PDF |
| Official Website / Apply Online | hppsc.hp.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 26.08.2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 22.09.2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 22.09.2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Age Reckoning Date (“as on” date) | 01.01.2026 |
| Preliminary Examination Date | Not specified in notification |
| Main Examination Date | Not specified in notification |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All candidates — a uniform fee is charged irrespective of category | Rs. 600 |
| Mode of payment | Online only — Debit Card / Credit Card / UPI / other digital modes |
| Refund | Fee once paid is not refunded under any circumstance and cannot be held in reserve for another examination |
Vacancy Details (Post-wise & Category-wise)
| Department | Name of Post | Posts | Category-wise Break-up | Pay Scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel-IV | H.P. Administrative Service | 4 | Unreserved – 1; Unreserved (Hearing Impaired of HP) – 1 (Backlog); SC of HP (Ex-Servicemen of HP) – 1 (Backlog); ST of HP – 1 | Level 18 (Rs. 56,100 – 1,77,500) |
| Rural Development | Block Development Officer | 10 | Unreserved – 5; Unreserved (Ex-Servicemen of HP) – 1; ST of HP – 1; OBC of HP – 2; EWS of HP – 1 | Level 17 (Rs. 53,600 – 1,70,100) |
| Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs | District Controller | 1 | Unreserved (Visually Impaired of HP) – 1 (Backlog) | Level 16 (Rs. 48,700 – 1,54,300) |
| Treasuries, Accounts and Lotteries | District Treasury Officer | 1 | EWS of HP – 1 | Level 16 (Rs. 48,700 – 1,54,300) |
| Revenue-A | Tehsildar | 6 | Unreserved – 3; SC of HP – 1; ST of HP – 2 | Level 13 (Rs. 46,000 – 1,46,500) |
| Total | 22 |
Note: The Commission has stated that the number of vacancies and reservation of posts is liable to change, and any further vacancies received from the Government up to the closing date will be added to this examination.
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Detail |
|---|---|
| Nationality | A candidate must be a citizen of India |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a recognized University. Candidates who have appeared and are awaiting their result, or who intend to appear in the qualifying examination, may also apply — admission stays provisional and proof of passing must be produced within two months of the examination commencing. |
| MBBS Candidates | Candidates who have passed the final professional M.B.B.S. but not completed internship may apply provisionally, on submitting a certificate from the University/Institution |
| Age Limit | 21 years minimum and not more than 35 years as on 01.01.2026 |
| Desirable Qualification | Knowledge of the customs, manners and dialects of Himachal Pradesh and suitability for appointment in the conditions prevailing in the Pradesh |
| Reservation Restriction | Reservation benefit is admissible only to bonafide residents of Himachal Pradesh. Reserved-category candidates of other states are treated as General Category candidates. |
| In-Service Candidates | Government/PSU employees must apply through the online portal and inform their Head of Office/Department in writing; a No Objection Certificate (NOC) is required before the interview for regular-service candidates |
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation in Upper Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (SC) of H.P. | 5 years |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) of H.P. | 5 years |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) of H.P. | 5 years |
| Persons with Disabilities of H.P. | 5 years |
| Children / Grandchildren of Freedom Fighters (W.F.F.) of H.P. | 5 years |
| Ex-Servicemen of H.P. | As per the H.P. Ex-Servicemen reservation rules; for HPAS and H.P. Police Service an Ex-Serviceman may compete a maximum of three times |
| H.P. Govt. servants — HPAS, Tehsildar, BDO, Treasury Officer | Upper age limit 45 years |
| H.P. Govt. servants — H.P. Police Service | Upper age limit 42 years |
| H.P. Govt. servants — District Controller (Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs) | Upper age limit 42 years |
Note: The five-year relaxation is admissible only to bonafide SC / ST / OBC / W.F.F. / Persons with Disabilities / Ex-Servicemen of Himachal Pradesh, and only where a post is actually reserved for that category.
Selection Process
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 — Preliminary Examination (Screening) | Two objective (MCQ) papers: Paper-I General Studies — 200 marks, 100 questions; Paper-II Aptitude Test — 200 marks, 100 questions. Duration: 2 hours per paper. Negative marking: one-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for a wrong answer; no penalty for a blank answer; multiple answers count as wrong. Paper-II is only qualifying, with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33% — merit for the Mains is drawn exclusively from Paper-I. Appearing in both papers is mandatory, otherwise the candidate is disqualified. A candidate scoring zero or negative in Paper-I is not considered qualified. Prelims marks do not count towards final merit. About 20 times the number of vacancies are admitted to the Main Examination. |
| Stage 2 — Main Examination (Written) | Six compulsory papers — 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) — plus one optional subject carrying two papers of 100 marks each (Paper-VII and Paper-VIII). All papers are of 3 hours duration. To qualify, a candidate must score at least 40% in each of the compulsory Hindi and English papers and 45% in the aggregate (excluding the compulsory Hindi and English papers). Marks of the English and Hindi compulsory papers are not counted for overall ranking. Standards are of degree level, except English and Hindi which are of 10+2 level. |
| Stage 3 — Personality Test (Interview) | Candidates declared qualified in the Main Examination on merit are called for the Personality Test. The number called shall not exceed three times the number of notified vacancies (all candidates tied at the minimum qualifying mark are called). The test assesses mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, balance of judgment, social cohesion, leadership, moral integrity and interest in current affairs including the customs, manners and dialects of Himachal Pradesh. |
| Final Merit & Allotment | Final merit is determined by the marks of the Main Examination (written) plus the Personality Test. Prelims marks are excluded. Services/posts are allotted according to the candidate’s rank in the final merit and the preference expressed in the application. Tie-breaker order: higher Personality Test marks, then aggregate of compulsory subjects excluding English and Hindi, then Essay paper marks, then the elder candidate. Re-checking / re-evaluation is not permitted for either examination. |
Preliminary Examination Syllabus
| Paper | Syllabus |
|---|---|
| Paper-I — General Studies (Code No. 01) — 200 marks, 100 MCQs | History, Geography, Political, Art & Culture and Socio-Economic Development of Himachal Pradesh; current events of National and International importance; History of India and the Indian National Movement; Indian and World Geography (Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the world); Indian Polity and Governance — Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights issues; Economic and Social Development — Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives; General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change (no subject specialization required); General Science. |
| Paper-II — Aptitude Test (Code No. 02) — 200 marks, 100 MCQs | Comprehension; interpersonal skills including communication skills; logical reasoning and analytical ability; decision making and problem solving; general mental ability; basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude — Class X level); data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency — Class X level); English language comprehension skills (Class X level). |
Optional Subjects for the Main Examination (choose one)
| Group | Optional Subjects |
|---|---|
| Humanities & Social Sciences | Indian History; Political Science and International Relations; Economics; Philosophy; Sociology; Public Administration; Geography; Psychology; Anthropology |
| Languages & Literature | Hindi; Sanskrit; Urdu; English Literature |
| Commerce, Law & Management | Commerce and Accountancy; Law; Management |
| Mathematics & Statistics | Mathematics; Statistics |
| Pure Sciences | Chemistry; Botany; Zoology; Geology; Physics |
| Engineering | Mechanical Engineering; Electrical Engineering; Civil Engineering |
| Agriculture & Allied | Agriculture; Horticulture; Forestry; Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science |
| Medical | Medical Sciences |
The detailed syllabus for the HPAS Combined Competitive Main Examination is available on the official website of the Commission.
Salary and Benefits
| Post | Pay Scale |
|---|---|
| H.P. Administrative Service | Pay Band Level 18 — Rs. 56,100 to Rs. 1,77,500 |
| Block Development Officer | Pay Band Level 17 — Rs. 53,600 to Rs. 1,70,100 |
| District Controller | Pay Band Level 16 — Rs. 48,700 to Rs. 1,54,300 |
| District Treasury Officer | Pay Band Level 16 — Rs. 48,700 to Rs. 1,54,300 |
| Tehsildar | Pay Band Level 13 — Rs. 46,000 to Rs. 1,46,500 |
| Allowances and other benefits | Not specified in notification — admissible as per Himachal Pradesh Government rules |
How to Apply for HPPSC HPAS 2026
- Visit the official HPPSC website at hppsc.hp.gov.in and click the “Apply Online” link on the home page.
- Open “One Time Registration (OTR) for Examinations”. Click “New Registration” to create your profile if you are not registered already; existing candidates simply log in to their OTR account.
- From the dashboard, select the live advertisement for the HPAS Combined Competitive Examination-2026 (Advt. No. 59/8-2026) and fill in the Online Recruitment Application, including your choice of optional subject for the Main Examination and your preferred examination centre.
- Upload all requisite certificates and documents, upload your own recent photograph, and capture the live photograph when prompted — this is used to verify your identity at the examination hall. Accept the declaration confirming that the uploaded documents are legible and true.
- Pay the examination fee of Rs. 600 online (Debit Card / Credit Card / UPI) on or before 22.09.2026 11:59 PM, submit the application, and save a printout for your records.
Note: Applications received through any mode other than online will not be accepted and will be rejected straightaway. An application is treated as successfully submitted only after the fee has been credited to the Commission’s account.
Examination centres/cities: Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Dharamshala, Palampur, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Nahan, Solan, Una, Sundernagar and Rampur Bushahr. A centre where fewer than 100 candidates opt is closed and those candidates are shifted to their 2nd choice.
Documents Required
| Document | Format / Notes |
|---|---|
| Matriculation Certificate | Age proof — only the date of birth recorded on this certificate is accepted, and no change is allowed later |
| Bachelor’s Degree certificate with mark sheets of all years / consolidated mark sheet | Proof of educational qualification (graduation) |
| Category Certificate — SC / ST / OBC / EWS / Ex-Servicemen / Ward of Ex-Servicemen / W.F.F. / Persons with Disabilities | Must be on the proforma prescribed by the Government of H.P., along with an undertaking wherever required |
| Bonafide Himachali Certificate | Required in the case of reserved-category candidates |
| Valid EWS / BPL Certificate | EWS candidates must submit an Income & Asset Certificate, or a valid BPL Certificate countersigned by the B.D.O. along with a non-SC/ST/OBC certificate from the competent authority |
| Ex-Servicemen Discharge Certificate / Service Book | With P.P.O. No., Rank and NOC showing the date of retirement. Short Service Commissioned Officers released on or after 13.02.2020 must upload proof of having received gratuity. |
| Recent photograph and live photograph capture | The uploaded photograph must be the candidate’s own recent photograph; the live photo captured during the application is used for identity verification at the exam hall |
| Experience Certificate | Where required for the post applied for |
| NOC from the employer | For in-service (regular Government service) candidates — required before the interview |
Important Links
| Download Official Notification (PDF) | Click Here |
| Apply Online (HPPSC OTR Portal) | Click Here |
| Official Website | hppsc.hp.gov.in |
| Join Telegram Channel | Join Telegram Channel |
| Join WhatsApp Channel | Join WhatsApp Channel |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Do not apply through any mode other than the HPPSC OTR portal — offline or postal applications are rejected straightaway.
- Do not skip Paper-II of the Preliminary Examination just because it is only qualifying — appearing in both papers is mandatory, and a candidate who does not appear in both is disqualified.
- Do not submit more than one application with different examination centres — such applications are not accepted, and if more than one complete application is sent, only the last one submitted is considered.
- Do not assume the application can be corrected after submission — once submitted, no change is allowed except a change of category under Rule 5(iv) of the H.P.P.S.C. (Procedure and Transaction of Business) Rules, 2023.
- Do not claim reservation or age relaxation as an SC / ST / OBC / EWS candidate of another state — only bonafide Himachal Pradesh residents get the benefit; others must encode category code 01 and are treated as Unreserved.
- Do not forget to select your optional subject for the Main Examination while filling the form, and do not upload a photograph that is not your own — a mismatched or false live photograph leads to cancellation of candidature and possible debarment.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the last date to apply for HPPSC HPAS Recruitment 2026?
The last date to submit the Online Recruitment Application and to pay the fee is 22.09.2026 up to 11:59 PM.
2. How many vacancies are there in HPPSC HPAS 2026?
There are 22 posts in total — H.P. Administrative Service 4, Block Development Officer 10, District Controller 1, District Treasury Officer 1 and Tehsildar 6.
3. What qualification is required to apply?
A candidate must possess a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a recognized University, in any discipline.
4. What is the age limit for HPAS 2026?
Candidates must be at least 21 years old and must not have attained 35 years of age on or before 01.01.2026, with five years’ relaxation for bonafide SC / ST / OBC / Persons with Disabilities and Children or Grandchildren of Freedom Fighters of Himachal Pradesh.
5. What is the application fee?
A uniform fee of Rs. 600 is charged from all candidates irrespective of category, payable online, and it is non-refundable.
6. What is the selection process for HPPSC HPAS 2026?
Selection is made through three stages — Preliminary Examination (screening), Main Examination (written) and Personality Test (interview).
7. Is there negative marking in the Preliminary Examination?
Yes, one-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for every wrong answer, but there is no penalty for a question left blank.
8. Can candidates from other states apply for HPAS 2026?
Yes, but reserved-category candidates from states other than Himachal Pradesh are treated as General Category candidates and get no reservation or upper age relaxation.
Disclaimer: The information above has been compiled from the official notification for the convenience of job seekers. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official website before applying.
