Knowing H.P.A.S

H.P.A.S. stands for Himachal Pradesh Administrative Services. As we have Indian Administrative Services (IAS) at the Central level, similarly we have H.P.A.S at the state level (Himachal). Civil services have always been a favourite career option of the students. This aristocratic profession has always been attracting students and tempting them to burn the midnight oil to qualify the exam. The best thing about H.P.A.S. is that an applicant who has completed his bachelors whether engineering or MBBS or honours can apply for it.

For the ease of the students aspiring for Himachal Administrative Services, I would like to provide a detail about the exam pattern so that it will serve as a good help to them.

The H.P.A.S exam consists of three stages:

1. Preliminary Examination
2. Mains Examination
3. Interview

Preliminary Examination of H.P.A.S.:

The main motive of this initial test is to filter out the intellectuals who are capable enough to sit in the mains examination. It consists of two papers, each of which consists of multiple choice questions. One of the subjects is General Studies which is mandatory for all the students and other is among the optional of the applicant. Each of the paper is for 120 marks. These marks are not included in the net result of the exam.

General Studies (Paper I) for Preliminary Examination of H.P.A.S:

(a)History, Geography and socio-economic development of Himachal Pradesh.
(b)Knowledge of current events of National and International importance and of such matter of every day observation and experience in their scientific aspects as may be expected of an educated person who has not made a special study of any scientific subject.
(c)Paper will also include questions on Modern History (From 1857 onwards) of India, Indian culture, Indian polity, Indian economy, geography of India and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.

Optional Subject (Paper II) for Preliminary Examination of H.P.A.S:

Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce and Accountancy, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, Indian History, Law, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, General Sociology, Statistics, Zoology are the optional subject for the students. Any one of these in which the applicant expertise can choose as his optional subject for the preliminary examination.

Mains Examination of H.P.A.S.:

(a)
(i) The examination shall include compulsory and optional subjects and every candidate shall take all the compulsory subjects and two of the optional subjects.
(ii) A candidate must choose the optional subject according to interest, expertise and availability of the material. Thorough knowledge of the subject is required. One has to master in his optional in order to secure good marks.

(b) A candidate shall answer the papers:
(i) Urdu in Persian script.
(ii) Hindi and Sanskrit in Devanagri script.
(iii) English and English Literature in English.
(iv) Other subjects in English or Hindi, at the option of the candidates.

(c)No candidate shall be considered to have qualified the written examination unless he obtains at least 40% marks in Hindi and English (Compulsory Papers) and 45% marks in the aggregate. The marks obtained in English and Hindi (Compulsory Papers) will not be counted for the purpose of ranking though it would be necessary for the candidates to secure minimum 40% marks in each of these papers to qualify. Marks for mains papers are as follows:

Compulsory Subjects for Mains Examination of H.P.A.S:

English- 100 marks
Hindi- 100 marks
Essay- 100 marks
General Studies- 150 marks

Optional Subjects for Mains Examination of H.P.A.S:

First Subject (Paper-I and Paper-II)- 150+150=300 marks
Second Subject (Paper-I and Paper-II- 150+150=300 marks

Interview of H.P.A.S.:

Provided that the total number of candidates to be called for viva-voce or interview, on the basis of written examination, shall not exceed three times the number of vacancies notified for recruitment through that examination. Interview is basically organized to judge the confidence and originality of the candidate. The interview per candidate lasts for 30 to 60 minutes. Senior IAS and HAS officers constitutes the jury of this interview.

Check out for the General Studies Questions of HPAS Preliminary Exam, 2008:

HPAS (2008) Prelimnary GS Questions (1 to 20)
HPAS (2008) Prelimnary GS Questions (21 to 40)
HPAS (2008) Prelimnary GS Questions (41 to 60)
HPAS (2008) Prelimnary GS Questions (61 to 80)
HPAS (2008) Prelimnary GS Questions (81 to 100)
HPAS (2008) Prelimnary GS Questions (101 to 120)

Check out for the Public Administration Questions of HPAS Preliminary Exam, 2008:

HPAS (2008) Prelimnary Public Ad. Questions (1 to 20)
HPAS (2008) Prelimnary Public Ad. Questions (21 to 40)
HPAS (2008) Prelimnary Public Ad. Questions (41 to 60)
HPAS (2008) Prelimnary Public Ad. Questions (61 to 80)
HPAS (2008) Prelimnary Public Ad. Questions (81 to 100)
HPAS (2008) Prelimnary Public Ad. Questions (101 to 120)