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Himachal Administrative Services (HAS)

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Himachal Administrative Services (HAS)

Updated: Feb 23, 2024

HAS or HPAS exam, which stands for Himachal Pradesh Administrative Services was conducted on 13th December 2023 and ended on 19th December 2023. It means that the exam for 2023 has just ended, therefore it will take a little bit more time for the 2024 notice to be released. 

However, certain things remain the same as 2023. Though the dates are not confirmed yet, the expected dates and the preparation strategy for HAS 2024 are here. Before you jump into the preparation and shuffle between tests and books, you need to understand this examination first. 


What is HAS?


The Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC) conducts the HAS or HPAS test, which is a civil service examination. This constitutional body is required to report to the UPSC, which you are all familiar with.

HPPSC, like the UPSC, is a constitutional organization for the entire country, although it only serves the state of Himachal Pradesh. Candidates passing the HAS examination will work for Himachal's law, order, and welfare.

As the 2023 exam has recently concluded, it has disclosed plenty of information regarding the syllabus and question structure that will be useful for the 2024 exam. The estimated date for HAS 2024 is provided below:

HAS 2024 Eligibility Criteria to Be Fulfilled

The HAS 2024 eligibility criteria remain the same as 2023. Things that candidates need to focus on are the age limit, national identity, educational qualification, and physical fitness for some specific posts.

Age Limit:

The candidates must fall under the age group of 21-35 years which means those who are younger than 21 and older than 35 will not be able to appear for this examination. However, candidates from OBC, SC/ST, PWD categories, and those who belong to the daily freedom fighters of Himachal Pradesh get an age relaxation of 5 years.

Educational Qualification Required:

Any graduate or last-year students of graduation can apply for the HAS examination.

Nationality Accepted:

Only Indian candidates can appear for this examination. It also includes people who came to India from Burma, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Malawi, Zaire, Zambia, Ethiopia, and Tanzania to settle down before 1962 permanently. 

Number of Attempts:

Generals can appear three times while others 6 times.

Stages of HAS 2024 Application Process

The steps of a successful application submission are as follows:





Sign Up

Applicants need to visit the official site of HPPSC which is http://www.hppsc.hp.gov.in/. After that, they need to click on the Apply Online tab to unlock the process.

Then, they need to create their profile with their email, phone number, 2 security questions, and one password. After entering the security key and clicking on the register button, they will be registered candidates.

Application Form Fill-Up

The application form will appear and applicants need to fill that up with all the asked details.

Document Upload

Then, documents like mark sheets, ID proofs, photographs, and signature copies need to be uploaded.

Fee Payment

The last stage is to pay the fees allocated to different categories of students.

Admit Card 

Candidates are required to collect their respective admit cards from the official website by logging in to their account.

HAS Application Fees Allocated:

General candidates of HP need to pay 400. Other state candidates regardless of their cast need to pay the same amount as the general candidates of HP.


Other casts of HP need to pay 100. However, ex-servicemen, female, and Visually impaired candidates of HP do not have to pay any fees.

HAS 2024 Exam Process Dates

The first notification regarding the 2024 HAS examination has not been out yet. However, the expected dates of the notification and exams are mentioned in the table that you can see below:

Events

Expected Dates

Application Form Start

18th May 2024

Last Date to apply online

14th June 2024

Prelims admit card

August 2024

Prelims exam

1st October 2024

Prelims answer key

4th October 2024

Prelims results

21st October 2024

Mains application process start

26th October 2024

Last date to apply

14th November 2024

Mains exam

13th-19th December 2024

HPAS Exam Pattern (2024)

HPAS examination is conducted in three stages. The first stage is prelims, those who qualify will be eligible for the mains and the main qualifying candidates will be called for the interview round. After that, the final merit list will be released with the names of the selected candidates. 

Prelims:

Number of Papers: 2

Paper Names: General Studies and Aptitude Test

Marks: 100 per paper. Total 200

Question Numbers: 100 per paper

Markings: 2 marks for every right answer and a deduction of ⅓ marks for every wrong answer.

Mode: MCQ

Mains:

Number of Papers: 8

Paper Names: English & Hindi (Compulsory), Essay, General Studies - I, II, III, and Optional Subjects - I, II

Marks: Total 900. (Essay - 100, General Studies I, II, III - 100 each, Optional Subjects I, II - 100 each)

Mode: Descriptive


Note: The marks in English and Hindi will not be counted for the merit list. However, passing these two is compulsory.

Viva Voice:

It is the final interview round. There is no specific syllabus for this round. Your entire preparation journey is what you need to utilize to answer the questions. This round consists of 150 marks.

HAS Exam Centers

The center will cover Himachal Pradesh and the surrounding areas. Candidates need to choose from the options given.

HAS 2024 Syllabus

Remember, always obtain the syllabus from HPPSC's official website. The syllabus published on other websites may be incorrect or contain missing information at times.


The syllabus available on the official website is original and elaborate. It covers all of the sections and analyses. This way, you will have no uncertainties about how many questions each section will have and which chapters you should prioritize. The goal is to reduce your workload and make your preparation approach more about learning and strategic studying, rather than obsessing over the exam.

HAS 2023 Cut-Off

General: 102-107

SC:  92-97

Wards of Freedom Fighters: 85-91

OBC: 100-105

Ex-Servicemen: 79-84

ST: 81-86

How Many Students Appeared for HAS 2023?

As per the stats, 450 students appeared for the HAS mains examination.

HAS 2024 Response Sheet

Students can download the response sheet from the official website to check their answers and count their marks before getting the final results.

HAS 2024 Answer Key Challenge

If you are unsatisfied with the results and think that your marks could have been increased, you can challenge the answer key by following these steps: 


  • Log in to the official website and find the answer key

  • Challenge the answer key after which the questions and answers will appear 

  • Then, you need to choose your answer and provide documents that justify the same

  • Pay the fees and it is done.

HAS 2024 Vacancies

In 2023 there were 11 vacancies. However, how many there will be in 2024 still needs to be updated.

HAS Officer Salary Range:

It depends on the post and the experience. However, if we talk about 2023, HPPSC had declared the salary range to be INR 15600-39100 (+6000GP)

HAS 2023 Toppers List

Praveen Kumar has topped the HAS Exam 2023.

Best Way to Prepare for HAS 2024

The best way to prepare for HAS is the way you like it. Throughout your journey, you will see candidates who are studying 8 hours, some with a 6-hour study plan, or some with no plan at all. They just do it as per their mood. 


No matter how students study, it does not tell anything about their success rate. If you study 8 hours a day but do not learn anything, you might not crack HAS. Civil service examination is also about personality building along with knowledge building. 


If you are completely new in this sector, it might take a little bit more time than someone who has been already preparing for this examination for more than 1 year. 


As candidates have 3-6 attempts only, the preparation needs to be very strategic and each day should be productive. These tips below will be effective for you.

Keep the Syllabus Copy with You Always:

The syllabus is huge and you won’t be able to remember it. So, it is very important to have a copy with you and mark the chapters once you complete it. This way you won’t have any doubts about completing the syllabus. 

Mark Unprepared Chapters:

Mark the unprepared chapters first and start preparing. NCERT books are enough to clear the concepts. 

Don’t Miss the Easy Chapters:

While you prepare the tough chapters, the easy ones can be forgotten so keep them in the loop as well. 

Practice Each Subject Daily:

Try to practice each subject daily so that you build a strong grip on all the subjects. Moreover, this way you can keep all the things in your mind for a longer time. You don’t need to do a whole chapter in one day for all subjects, you can start by little. These small sections add a lot to your syllabus completion speed. 

Solve Previous Year Question Paper:

A lot of students start by solving the previous years’ question papers to check how much they know and how much they have to prepare to rank well in this examination. This self-judgment technique helps candidates to navigate their preparation in the right direction. You can find the same from http://www.hppsc.hp.gov.in/hppsc/Content/Index?qlid=8212&Ls_is=28754&lngid=1. 

Take Mock Tests:

Taking regular mock tests is very important after you are done with your syllabus. You can find the same through any study app or you can get it from the official website as well. Mock tests give applicants access to a wide range of questions and train them to manage their speed. 

Learn Descriptive Writing:

Although the prelims only have MCQ questions, the mains are all about descriptive writing. The majority of the marks will depend on how you present a particular data. Therefore, keep practicing your writing. Answer keys of previous years’ papers might give an idea. 

Read or watch Current Affairs:

You need to be aware of what’s happening around the globe even the day before you appear for the interview. Your thoughts on the current surroundings and actions will be asked and you need to give an achievable and valid answer. Therefore, building your thoughts on current affairs is very important. You can start by taking lectures online. 

HAS Coaching Institutes in India

It is better to prepare for HAS from Tricity as being in the place and learning from the tutors will help you get a hold of the surroundings and the materials more efficiently. The best institutes are in Panchkula and Chandigarh.


Studying at a coaching institute will give you access to premium quality materials, mock tests, better guidance, and a clear vision of how to move forward with your preparation. Moreover, teachers can clarify concepts that are not possible through self-study, and being in a routine will give you the motivation to stick to your preparation.

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