HPPSC Shimla Class III Exam Pattern

Paper-I :- HPPSC Shimla Class III Exam New Pattern

A.Computer Based Test (CBT) or Offline Screening Test of one hour duration having 100 marks consisting of objective type Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) with negative marking for incorrect/ wrong answers as follows:

I. General knowledge of Himachal Pradesh = 30 Marks

II. General knowledge of National and International Affairs= 30 Marks

III. Knowledge of Hindi language = 20 Marks

IV. Knowledge of English language = 20 Marks

Paper-II :- HPPSC Shimla Class III Exam New Pattern

A descriptive Subject Aptitude Test (SAT) of three hours duration having 120 marks as per the syllabus to be decided by the Commission from time to time. Provided that test shall be conducted in a single slot with same question paper and in different slots with different sets of question papers depending upon the total number of candidates who have to take the test and the number of computer terminals available to the Commission at the particular date for Computer Based Screening Test. Also both the Papers will be conducted on the same day in morning and evening sessions at any place in Himachal Pradesh as per decision of the Commission. Based on the merit of Paper –I, the answer sheets of Paper –II of the candidates, 20 times of the total number of the vacancies to be filled up, shall be evaluated. No candidate securing zero or negative marks in Paper –I shall form part of the merit list.
Both in the Computer Based Test (CBT) and offline Test (objective type) each question will be followed by four (A, B, C, D) answer options and one option „E‟ in case candidate does not want to answer the question. There shall be negative marking in all the objective type screening tests / examinations (CBT or Offline Test). The candidate will have to click or encircle / blacken with blue / black ball pen on the circle adjacent to the option he / she thinks is correct in the computer or in OMR answer sheet as the case may be. No answer will be left blank. In case the candidate does not want to answer a question to avoid negative marking he/she shall have to encircle / blacken the option „E‟. If any answer is left blank and none of the option is clicked / encircled then it will also result in negative marking. The answer key of CBT (objective type) shall be uploaded online on the „MY EXAMINATION MY ONLINE REVIEW‟ in the User IDs of all appeared candidates while that of offline test, shall be uploaded on the website of the Commission immediately after the conduct of test and depositing of the answer sheets in the Commission, for inviting objection(s) from the appeared candidates. A time period of 05 (five) days excluding the day of publishing of answer key shall be given to them to submit their objection(s) with supporting documents / references. A non – refundable fee of Rs 100/- per objected question subject to maximum of Rs 500/- will be charged from the candidates. The objections have to be filed in online mode only through the HPPSC website by uploading the supporting documents. No other mode shall be entertained and no objection shall be entertained / considered without depositing the requisite fees.
The received objection(s), if any, will be got verified from the Subject Expert / Paper Setter. Based on the opinion / decision of the Subject Expert / Paper Setter to the objection(s) raised by the candidates, the revised answer key shall be prepared and finalized. In respect of the scrapped question(s) no credit to appeared candidates shall be given and passing marks will accordingly be proportionally reduced. The final answer key alongwith question paper shall be uploaded on the website of the Commission after the declaration of the result. No objection(s) / representation(s) shall be entertained against the final answer key
In case of SAT, if there is any discrepancy in the question paper due to typographical / printing error or question being out of syllabus and the same is noticed by the Commission after the conduct of examination or pointed out by the candidates within 05 (five) days of examination, the same shall be got verified from the Subject Expert / Paper Setter. Based on the opinion of the Subject Expert / Paper Setter to the objection(s), final decision shall be taken.
In case of bilingual papers, if there is any difference in English and Hindi version of the question and answer option, the English version shall be treated as correct and final.

Note: There shall be negative marking in all the objective type screening tests / examinations (Computer Based Test or Offline Test) including those conducted under the notified rules where there is no specific mention about it in the rules as detailed below:-

For each question for which a wrong answer has been given by the candidate, one fourth (0.25) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty.
If a candidate gives more than one answer, it will be treated as a wrong answer even if one of the given answers happens to be correct and there will be same penalty as above for that question also i.e. one fourth (0.25) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty..
If a question is left blank i.e. no circle is clicked or encircled / blackened by the candidate, there will be same penalty as above for that question also i.e. one fourth (0.25) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty.
Where there are two correct answers instead of one correct answer out of four options of a question, all those candidates who will click or encircle / blacken any one of these two correct answers will be awarded marks allotted to that question.
Minimum pass marks in the Subject Aptitude Test (SAT) to qualify for the Personality Test shall be 35% for the candidates of General category and 30% for the candidates of reserved categories. Those securing less than the prescribed marks will be disqualified and will not be considered for the remaining selection process.
After finalization of answer key the candidate responses of CBT of each candidate in case of Computer Based Test will be evaluated and in case of offline Test the OMR answer sheets of the candidates shall be scanned in the OMR Scanner and evaluated by using the final answer key and prepare a list of candidates whose Paper-II shall be evaluated to prepare category-wise zone of consideration on the basis of performance of the candidates in Paper-II as per following:

Number of Posts advertised :-1 to 10
Ratio for category wise zone of consideration for scrutiny of documents by the branch concerned.:-1:6+3

Number of Posts advertised :-11 and above
Ratio for category wise zone of consideration for scrutiny of documents by the branch concerned.:-1:5

The details will then be provided by the Secrecy Cell to the Branch responsible for making direct recruitment in order to check their eligibility on the basis of documents uploaded by them on the OTR portal at the time of filling up of ORA. The concerned branch shall examine each application and determine the eligibility or otherwise of the applicants in accordance with the rules applicable and the terms and conditions of the advertisement inviting the application. The result of the scrutiny in the tabulated format shall be prepared for each application individually and signed by all the concerned.
In case the number of candidate(s) to be declared qualified for Personality Test / document verification fall(s) below the prescribed ratio then to meet this shortfall an additional zone of consideration (category wise) as per requirement shall be prepared and provided by the Secrecy Cell from the qualified candidates to the concerned branch.
The application forms alongwith the scrutiny sheet(s) shall be put up to the Secretary or the Controller of Examination, as the case may be, for perusal and determination of eligibility.
After scrutinizing the online recruitment applications category - wise / post-wise properly, the candidates fulfilling the prescribed eligibility criteria shall be admitted and the candidates not fulfilling the prescribed eligibility criteria shall be rejected provisionally with the approval of the Secretary.
The list of rejected candidates shall also be uploaded on the official website of the Commission as well as individually against their USER ID by the Computer Cell. SMS alert / e-mail shall also be sent to such candidates. The provisionally rejected candidate(s) will be allowed the time of 10 (ten) days including Sunday and holidays to submit their representations, along with requisite documents, either through e - mail or in person only. The same shall then be scrutinized by the concerned branch and all record concerning scrutiny will be put up before the Commission for approval and the decision of the Commission in this regard shall be final. No objection(s) / representation(s) shall be entertained against the final rejection.
After decision of the Commission on such representations, the list of finally rejected candidates shall be uploaded on the official website of the Commission as well as individually against their USER ID by the Computer Cell. No separate correspondence shall be made with any candidate by any official of the Commission unless he / she is specially permitted to do so. Examination fee will not be refunded to the candidate whose applications stand rejected by the Commission for any reason(s).
The original documents of the candidates admitted provisionally to appear in the Personality Test / document verification shall be checked / scrutinized on the day of Personality Test / document verification. (xvi) Written test shall be followed by a Personality Test. The Personality Test shall be of 30 marks and be held only in the Commission‟s office at Shimla. Minimum pass marks in Personality Test shall be 40% i.e. 12 marks for the candidates of general category and 30% i.e. 09 marks for the candidates of reserved categories.
Normally four eligible candidates for a single post and three eligible candidates for every subsequent post will be declared qualified for appearing in the Personality Test on the basis of Computer Based Test / Offline Test (objective or descriptive). If, the number of qualified candidates in a particular category is fewer, then all of them will be called for Personality Test. In case there is a tie between or amongst the candidates on account of having obtained equal minimum cut off marks in the test all such candidates shall be called for the Personality Test. Marks obtained by the candidates in the SAT (120 marks) plus marks in the Personality Test (30 marks) would determine their final ranking / selection. Provided that in exceptional case(s) the method of selection to the advertised post(s) shall be decided by the Commission as it may deem fit.

Personality Test: :- HPPSC Shimla Class III Exam New Pattern

The applicants found eligible will be called for Personality Test either on the basis of written test or scrutiny of documents shall be informed by publication of a notice about the date, time and place on which the Personality Test is proposed to be conducted. The schedule of the Personality Test shall be notified through print / electronic media and shall also be uploaded / displayed on the official website / notice board of the Commission. A notice of ten days shall ordinarily be given to the candidates to appear before the Commission for Personality Test and schedule for the same shall be fixed keeping in view the duration of the notice. No change in the dates of Personality Test will be allowed except on genuine request of a candidate duly supported by relevant documents. If due to unforeseen circumstances a candidate fails to appear in the Personality Test on the scheduled date he / she may be allowed to appear on subsequent date with the approval of Chairman provided the Personality Test is not over.
While the Commission will make every effort to ensure wide publicity for screening test / written examination / Personality Test / document verification etc. well in advance, it shall not entertain any claim for non - receipt / failure to down load the e-call letters by the candidates for whatsoever reasons after such test / examination / Personality Test / document verification etc. is over.
Personality Test will be conducted by a board to be chaired either by the Chairman or a Member to be nominated by the Chairman. Single - Member or Multiple - Members Board shall be constituted taking into consideration the grades, status and importance of the posts in respect of which the selection is to be made. Multiple Members Board shall be presided over by the senior most Member except in the cases where the Chairman, himself is present along with one or more Members. Chairman may evolve/adopt any method as he deems fit to maintain the secrecy of the Board from the prospective candidates and viceversa.
A single Board shall be constituted by the Chairman for selection to a particular post or post(s). However where the number of candidates is relatively large, the Chairman may constitute Multiple Boards (more than one Board) for the purpose. Provided also that if a Member of single Board is unable to attend the Personality Test fixed for him / her, any other Member may be nominated by the Chairman to hold the Personality Test in his / her place and this fact shall not invalidate the proceedings of such selection. Provided further that if a Member of a Multiple Members Board to be presided over by the senior most Member is unable to attend, or has to leave the Board during the course of its sitting and an alternative arrangement cannot be made, the other remaining Member or Members, as the case may be, may hold or continue to hold the Personality Test and the proceedings of the Board shall not be vitiated only on the ground that Member was absent from the sitting of the Board. In case of a single Member Board, if a Member chairing the Board is unable to do so in subsequent days due to unforeseen circumstances, the Chairman will assign the Board to other Member for chairing the remaining part of the test on subsequent days.
The Personality Test Board(s) will, in addition to the Chairman or Member shall have atleast a Subject Expert and a Departmental Representative and may comprise of as many of these as may be deemed fit in view of the Class of the post / service for which the Personality Test(s) is / are being conducted. The Expert Member shall be as far as possible an Expert in the field related to the post / field for which the Personality Test is being conducted and his / her role shall be to assist the Chairman of the Personality Test Board in assessing the subject knowledge of the candidate whereas the role of the Departmental Representative shall be to assist the Chairman of the Personality Test Board to judge the candidate‟s suitability for appointment in the Department. In order to ensure uniformity in the principles and methods for assessment, the Chairman or his nominee shall brief the experts about the system in vogue in the Commission for adherence during the Personality Test. Expert and Departmental Representative shall be changed in cases where Personality Test has to continue for many days ensuring that same Board conducts the test for a particular category except in unavoidable circumstances when it is not possible to engage / find another Expert. Same Expert shall not be repeated for atleast three years.
The copies of a bio-data performa devised by the Commission duly filled by the candidate shall be placed before the Personality Test Board along with the Personality Test Form and Personality Test Sheet(s) and the individual Member score sheet. No other details of the candidates shall be shared with the Board.
In the Personality Test, the candidates will be asked, in addition to the demonstration of domain knowledge / skills / teaching skills, questions on matters of general interest, knowledge of languages, culture, art and customs etc. in relation to Himachal Pradesh in particular and the country in general, current national as well as international affairs and matters related to the post for which he is being interviewed. The object of the Personality Test is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service. Some of the qualities to be judged are candidate‟s intelligence, presence of mind, clarity of expression, ability to interact with people, reasoning ability, grasp of narrative or argument, balance of judgment, awareness and concern for socio - economic problems, variety and depth of interest, leadership skills, intellectual and moral integrity etc. (viii) At the end of the Personality Test of each candidate the Chairman and Members of the Personality Test Board will discuss his / her overall performance and grade him / her in five categories viz. Outstanding, Very Good, Good, Average, below Average. The marks to be awarded to the candidate(s) on the basis of his / her performance before the Personality Test Board shall be recorded in words and figures by the Chairman of the Personality Test Board in ink as per the consensus / average reached by the Board and all Members participating in the Personality Test shall put their signatures on each page of the Personality Test Sheet and Personality Test Form in ink.
The deliberations of the Commission at the Personality Test of candidates including award of marks to the candidates shall be kept secret and this rule shall be binding on the Departmental Representative(s) and Expert(s) who are present at the Personality Test.
The Personality Test Form and Personality Test Sheet(s) duly signed by all the Members comprising the Personality Test Board shall be sealed daily immediately after the conclusion of day‟s proceedings by the Board, with the help of the Private Secretary / Personal Assistant of the Chairman / Member of the Commission in the presence of the Chairman and Members of the Board and shall be handed over to the Secretary to be kept in the safe custody to be acted upon and used as and when required. The Presiding officer and Members of the Board shall not retain or maintain any record whatsoever thereof with him / her. Further processing of the results shall be done by the Secretary.