What are the minimum qualifying marks for HPSC HCS CSAT Paper?

Candidates need to score minimum 33% marks to get qualified.

What's Next After HPSC HCS Prelims 2026?

Candidates who clear the Preliminary Examination will be shortlisted for the Mains Written Examination, which is scheduled from 27 June to 29 June 2026.

HPSC HCS Question Paper 2026 Out (GS & CSAT), Download Prelims Question Paper PDF

Haryana HCS (Executive Branch) & Other Allied Services Preliminary Examination 2026 was held on 26th April 2026 for thousands of candidates who had successfully registered for the examination. As the exam has been over here, we have provided the HPSC HCS Question Paper 2026 so that candidates can know the level of examination conducted by HPSC.

HPSC HCS Question Paper 2026 Out

The HPSC Prelims 2026 exam consists of two objective-type papers: General Studies and CSAT, with each paper conducted for 2 hours, testing candidates on a wide range of analytical and conceptual skills. While the General Studies paper is considered for merit, the CSAT paper is qualifying in nature.

Candidates who appeared in todays’ exam reviwed that General Studies and CSAT paper was of easy to moderate level.

Particular	Details
Conducting Body	Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC)
Exam Name	HCS (Ex. Br.) & Other Allied Services Examination 2025–26
Total Vacancies	102
Prelims Exam Date	26th April 2026 (Sunday)
Shift Timings	Paper I (General Studies)- 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon Paper II (CSAT)- 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Mode of Exam	Offline (OMR-based Objective Type)

HPSC HCS Question Paper 2026 PDF (GS Paper 1)

The general studies paper of 26th April 2026, conducted from 10 am to 12 noon, has been shared below. Candidates can download the question paper pdf and check which questions were asked in the GS Paper 1.

Subject	English PDF	Hindi PDF
General Studies	Question Paper PDF	Question Paper PDF

HPSC HCS Question Paper 2026 PDF (CSAT Paper 2)

Since CSAT is a qualifying paper, candidates only need to secure at least 33% (i.e., 33 marks out of 100) to be eligible for the merit list prepared based on Paper I. Candidates can download the question paper pdf by clicking on the below link to check which questions were asked in HPSC HCS Paper of 26 April.

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HPSC HCS Prelims 26 April Exam Analysis 2026

Based on candidate feedback from the exam centres, here is a brief analysis of the paper:

Papers	Difficulty Level	Analysis
General Studies (Paper I)	Easy to Moderate	The paper was reported to be of moderate difficulty, consistent with previous years. Questions on Haryana GK and Current Affairs carried significant weightage. Topics from History, Polity, and Economy had a strong presence. A few questions on Science and Environment were also included.
Paper 2	Easy to Moderate	Most candidates found the reading comprehension and reasoning sections manageable. Arithmetic-based questions required careful calculation. With a qualifying benchmark of just 33%, most serious candidates were expected to clear this paper.

HPSC HCS General Studies Review

The General Studies paper in the HPSC HCS Prelims 2026 covers a broad range of topics, including:

General Science — Basic concepts of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology
Current Events — National and International importance
History of India and the Indian National Movement
Indian and World Geography — Physical, Social, Economic
Indian Culture and Heritage
Indian Polity and Governance — Constitution, political system, panchayati raj
Indian Economy — Planning, economic development, agriculture
Haryana General Knowledge (GK) — History, culture, geography, and current affairs of Haryana

HPSC HCS CSAT Review

The CSAT paper tests candidates on:

Comprehension — Reading and understanding passages
Interpersonal Skills — Communication and decision-making
Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability
General Mental Ability
Basic Numeracy — Numbers, arithmetic, data interpretation
English Language Comprehension Skills

HPSC HCS 2026 Prelims Question Paper Structure

The HPSC HCS Preliminary Examination 2026 consists of two objective-type papers:

Paper I — General Studies

Total Questions: 100 MCQs
Total Marks: 100
Duration: 2 Hours (10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon)
Nature: Merit-based (considered for shortlisting)
Medium: Bilingual (English and Hindi)

Paper II — CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test)

Total Questions: 100 MCQs
Total Marks: 100
Duration: 2 Hours (03:00 PM to 05:00 PM)
Nature: Qualifying (minimum 33% required)
Medium: Bilingual (English and Hindi)

Benefits of Solving HPSC HCS Question Paper 2026

If you are preparing for the HPSC HCS Prelims, Previous Year Questions (PYQs) are not optional — they are your most powerful preparation tool. Every serious aspirant who has cleared the exam agrees on this: PYQs reveal the true exam pattern, priority topics, and question trends. Here is why PYQs matter — especially now, after the 26 April exam:

For Those Who Appeared Today:

Cross-check your answers against available unofficial keys to estimate your score.
Identify which sections were easier or harder than past papers.
Use the paper as a benchmark to understand where you stand.

For Future Aspirants:

Many topics are repeated, directly or indirectly, every year in the HCS Prelims, especially in Polity, History, Geography, and Haryana GK. Career Power
Understanding today’s paper will give next year’s aspirants an edge in prioritising their preparation.