Preparation Strategy for the Haryana Civil Services Exam

Preparation strategy

Step 1 : Know the Selection process and exam pattern of HCS recruitment.

HPSC conducts the exam in three stages - Prelims, Mains, and Interview.

Step 2: Understand the syllabus and break it down for both Prelims and Mains, focusing on the weightage of each section.

Step 3: Strengthen the basics

Studying standard books like NCERTs can help cover the basics of General Studies subjects.

Step 4: Read the standard books of each subject to cover the syllabus comprehensively.

Step 5: Practice Previous Year Question Papers

Solving previous years’ question papers gives a clear idea of the type of questions asked.

Step 6: Attempt Mock Tests

Mock tests are critical for both Prelims and Mains as they help in time management and developing a better understanding of the questions.

Step 7: Regular revision

The above steps are crucial to be included in the broad preparation strategy for the exam. Though all three stages of the exam should be prepared simultaneously, each stage requires a specific approach to get through it.

HCS Prelims exam strategy

The HCS Prelims exam is the 1st stage of the exam and serves as a screening test. The Prelims consist of two papers: General Studies (Paper I) and Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT - Paper II).

Paper I strategy

S. No.	Subjects	Preparation tips	Sources to follow
1.	Current Affairs	Focus on state, national, and international events, especially those related to economy, polity, science and technology, and environment. Give special emphasis to Haryana-specific current events and recent schemes	Daily Newspaper - The Hindu or Indian Express for national and international news. Current affairs monthly magazine
2.	History	Focus on Modern Indian History, especially the freedom struggle, important leaders, and movements. Study the culture and history of Haryana, including its role in ancient and medieval periods.	NCERT History (6th to 12th) Rajasthan History by Laxminarayan Bhalla Spectrum’s Modern History Indian Art and Culture - Nitin Singhania India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra
3.	Geography	Focus on Indian Geography: rivers, mountains, climate, soils, and natural resources. Pay attention to map-based questions	NCERT Geography books (Class 6-12) GC Leong’s Physical Geography
4.	Polity	Focus on important constitutional articles, fundamental rights, duties, and governance systems. (Important Articles are generally asked in HCS Prelims) Pay attention to Panchayati Raj and local governance, especially in Haryana Study Political Structure of Haryana	M. Laxmikanth’s Indian Polity
5.	Economics	Focus on topics like budgeting, banking, agriculture, GDP, inflation, and Haryana’s economy Follow government schemes with a focus on Haryana government’s schemes	NCERT Economy books (Class 9-12) Ramesh Singh’s Indian Economy Latest Budget and Economic survey
6.	Environment and Ecology	Study the basics of ecosystem, biodiversity, and environmental concepts. Make a list of important national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and environmental protection laws. (Protected areas and their respective states have been asked many times) For Environment section, more focus to be given to Current affairs related to climate change, sustainable development, International summits etc.	12th class Biology NCERT’s last 4 chapters for basic concepts. Shankar IAS’s Environment Book Magazines like Down to Earth for recent environmental issues.
7.	Science and Technology	Be updated with major scientific discoveries and advancements in space research	NCERT Science books (Class 6-10) Lucent’s General Knowledge Current affairs
8.	Haryana-Specific GK	Focus on culture, folk traditions, festivals, famous personalities, and sports of Haryana. Study Haryana government schemes, Haryana’s role in Indian freedom struggle, and the state's administrative structure.	Lucent’s Haryana General Knowledge or Arihant’s Haryana GK. Latest Budget of Haryana government

Paper - II strategy

Revise basic mathematical and reasoning concepts as given in syllabus.
Practice Previous Year Question papers.
Practice CSAT mock tests to improve efficiency and time management.
Sources
- CSAT paper book by Tata McGraw-Hill or Arihant
- RS Aggarwal’s Quantitative Aptitude and Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning for practice.
- General Mental Ability - Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability: CSAT Paper by Sachchida Nand Jha.

HCS Mains Preparation strategy

The HCS (Haryana Civil Services) Mains is the second and crucial stage of the Haryana Civil Services exam. The Mains exam is descriptive in nature, and it requires an in-depth understanding of subjects, good writing skills, and time management. HCS Mains exam includes four subjective-type papers. Here’s a detailed paper-wise strategy to help you ace HCS Mains exam.

Here’s a comprehensive paper-wise strategy to help you prepare for HCS Mains 2024 effectively.

Paper - I: English and English Essay

The English paper is of 100 marks but it is a qualifying paper and its marks are not considered for merit.

Preparation tips :

Practice writing essays on current topics, both national and international.
Brush up on basic grammar rules.
Practice comprehension passages.
Practice from Past year Question papers.

Sources :

Book by Wren and Martin for grammar
Newspapers for collecting current affairs examples and data for essays.

Paper - II: Hindi and Hindi Essay

The Hindi paper is of 100 marks but it is a qualifying paper and its marks are not considered for merit.

Preparation tips :

Practice writing essays in Hindi on current events, social issues, and topics related to Haryana’s culture and society.
Practice translation between Hindi and English to improve vocabulary.
Focus on grammar rules specific to Hindi, including Samas, Sandhi, Vakya Shuddhi, and common Muhavare (idioms).

Sources :

151 Nibandh for IAS/PSC & other Competitive Exams BY Disha Experts

Paper - III: General Studies

General Studies paper is crucial for getting selected for the HCS exam as it is of 200 marks and its marks are considered for merit.
Mains General Studies Paper sources are the same as that for Prelims. After Prelims, you need to revise your Prelims notes and use the same resources to develop a comprehensive understanding of the concepts and their interconnections. The theoretical knowledge is to be applied to real-world situations, policies, or issues as the Mains papers demand more than factual recall; they test your ability to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information. For example: If a question asks about federalism in India, understand the constitutional provisions, challenges, and recent developments, and apply this understanding to analyze the issue critically.

Paper - IV: Optional subject

The optional paper will be objective-type and contains 200 marks.
It will be a qualifying paper whose marks will not be considered for merit.
Choose an optional subject you are comfortable with and have either studied during graduation or are interested in.
Strategy for the optional paper includes -
- Understand the syllabus thoroughly.
- Use subject-specific books to cover all topics of the syllabus comprehensively.
- Use mock tests for practice

Answer writing tips

Understand the question and identify the keywords in the question to ensure that your answer stays on-topic.
Structure the answer into an Introduction, Body, and a Conclusion or Way forward
Be concise and stick to the word limit.
Use simple, formal language to make your points clear.
Back up your points with relevant examples, data, or case studies.
Be optimistic while approaching the answer.
Relate your answer to recent developments, government policies, and international events.
Where applicable, include diagrams, flowcharts, or maps.
Practice answer writing regularly in a time-bound manner adhering to the word limit.
Attempt mock tests. It will help you manage time effectively during the exam.

Interview/ Personality test strategy

The Haryana Civil Services (HCS) interview is a crucial part of the selection process, and it requires a well-rounded strategy to perform successfully. It contains 75 marks.
Marks of Mains Paper III (200 marks), Paper IV (200 marks), and Interview (75 marks) are considered for final selection.
Here are the key areas to focus on while preparing for the Interview -

Be thoroughly familiar with what you've written in your Detailed application form (DAF)
Keep yourself updated on recent events at both national and international levels, especially concerning Rajasthan.
Revise your mains notes for the static part.
Prepare your graduation and optional subjects thoroughly.
Prepare Questions about Rajasthan’s problems (e.g., poverty, unemployment, agriculture) and possible solutions.
Take mock interviews to simulate the real interview environment. This helps in building confidence and improving communication skills.

By following this detailed strategy and maintaining a disciplined approach, you can prepare effectively for the HCS exam 2024 and improve your chances of securing a top rank. All the best!

Preparation strategy for the HCS Exam

Preparation strategy for the HCS Exam