The Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) has officially announced the ADO Syllabus and Exam Pattern for the 2026 recruitment drive. Aiming to fill a massive total of 1,481 vacancies for the Agriculture Development Officer post, candidates need a thorough understanding of the selection roadmap, exam structures, and syllabus checkpoints to secure a spot.
HPSC ADO Exam Overview
To clear the Agriculture Development Officer recruitment process, aspirants must navigate through multiple stages: a Screening Test, a Subject Knowledge Test, and a final Interview. Here is a quick snapshot of the recruitment structure:
| Conducting Body | Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) |
| Post Name | Agriculture Development Officer |
| Vacancy | 1,481 |
| Total Questions | Screening Test: 100 |
| Total Marks | Screening Test: 100 Subject Knowlege Test: 150 |
| Duration | Screening Test: 2 hour Subject Knowlege Test: 3 hour |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks |
| Selection Process | Screening Test, Subject Knowledge Test and Interview |
| Official website | www.hpsc.gov.in. |
HPSC ADO Exam Pattern: Screening Test & Subject Knowledge Test
The first phase is a Screening Test consisting of 100 objective-type questions (MCQs) for 100 marks with a duration of 2 hours. Each question provides 5 options.
| Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science Current Affairs History Indian and World Geography Indian Culture Polity and Economy Reasoning Haryana GK |
100 | 100 | 2 hours |
Marking Scheme & Penalties
- Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer.
- Blank Question Penalty: 0.25 mark subtracted if a question is left blank without choosing the 5th option.
- Disqualification Rule: If a candidate leaves more than 10% of questions blank without marking the 5th option, they will be disqualified.
- Screening Test Qualifying Mark: Candidates must score at least 25% to be shortlisted for the next stage.
- Subject Knowledge Test: Carries 150 marks for a 3-hour duration with subjective-type questions. Candidates must score at least 35% to qualify for the interview.
- Interview Shortlisting: 2 times the number of vacancies (plus any tied candidates) will be called for the interview.
- Final Result Weightage: Subject Knowledge Test carries 87.5% weightage, and the interview carries 12.5% weightage.
Detailed HPSC ADO Syllabus
Review the comprehensive breakdown of both the Screening Test and the extensive Subject Knowledge Test syllabi below.
HPSC ADO Syllabus For Screening Test
- General Science
- Current Events of National and International Importance
- History of India
- Indian and World geography
- Indian Culture, Indian Polity, and Indian Economy
- General Mental Ability (Reasoning and Analytical Abilities)
- Basic Numeracy (Numbers and Their relations, Order of Magnitude, etc- Class X level), Data Interpretation (Charts, Graphs, Tables, Data Sufficiency etc.- Class X Level)
- Haryana GK- History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Culture
HPSC Agriculture Development Officer Syllabus for Subject Knowledge Test - 1. Ecology & Environment
- Human and ecological relationship, natural resource conservation
- Environmental factors affecting crops and livestock
- Agro-ecology, cropping patterns, environmental pollution
- Climate change, greenhouse effect, global warming
- Use of Remote Sensing (RS) and GIS in agriculture
HPSC Agriculture Development Officer Syllabus for Subject Knowledge Test - 2. Cropping Systems & Farming
- Cropping patterns in different agro-climatic zones
- Impact of high-yielding varieties on farming
- Concepts of cropping and farming systems: organic & precision farming
- Crop production practices (cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fibre, sugar, fodder crops)
HPSC Agriculture Development Officer Syllabus for Subject Knowledge Test - 3. Forestry
- Types: social forestry, agroforestry, natural forests
- Forest plant propagation, forest products and conservation
- Agroforestry and its economic value
HPSC Agriculture Development Officer Syllabus for Subject Knowledge Test - 4. Weed Management
- Characteristics, spread, and impact of weeds
- Cultural, biological & chemical weed control methods
HPSC Agriculture Development Officer Syllabus for Subject Knowledge Test - 5. Soil Science
- Soil properties (physical, chemical, biological)
- Soil formation, Indian soil types, soil nutrients
- Soil fertility, testing, integrated nutrient management
- Biofertilizers, nitrogen efficiency, soil reclamation
- Soil's role in greenhouse gas emissions
HPSC Agriculture Development Officer Syllabus for Subject Knowledge Test - 6. Water Management
- Water-use efficiency, irrigation scheduling
- Rainwater harvesting, drip & sprinkler irrigation
- Drainage of waterlogged soils, irrigation water quality
- Major irrigation projects in India
HPSC Agriculture Development Officer Syllabus for Subject Knowledge Test - 7. Farm Management & Agricultural Economics
- Farm planning, resource use, budgeting
- Marketing strategies, price fluctuations, crop insurance
- Role of co-operatives and pricing policy in agriculture
HPSC Agriculture Development Officer Syllabus for Subject Knowledge Test - 8. Agricultural Extension & Rural Development
- Extension methods, programme evaluation
- Socio-economic surveys of farmers & landless labourers
- Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), NGOs, SHGs
HPSC Agriculture Development Officer Syllabus for Subject Knowledge Test - 9. Genetics & Plant Breeding
- Cell structure, genetics, inheritance patterns
- Mutation, polyploidy, cytoplasmic inheritance
- Breeding methods, heterosis, GM crops
- Role of biotechnology in crop improvement
HPSC Agriculture Development Officer Syllabus for Subject Knowledge Test - 10. Seed Technology & IPR
- Seed production, processing, certification, storage
- DNA fingerprinting, seed registration
- Role of public & private sector
- Intellectual Property Rights, WTO issues
HPSC Agriculture Development Officer Syllabus for Subject Knowledge Test - 11. Plant Physiology
- Nutrient uptake & metabolism
- Photosynthesis (C3, C4, CAM), respiration
- Growth & development, plant hormones, seed dormancy
- Stress physiology (drought, salt, water stress)
HPSC Agriculture Development Officer Syllabus for Subject Knowledge Test - 12. Horticulture
- Fruits, vegetables, spices, flowers, and plantation crops
- High-tech and protected cultivation
- Post-harvest technology, landscaping, medicinal plants
- Role of horticulture in nutrition
HPSC Agriculture Development Officer Syllabus for Subject Knowledge Test - 13. Plant Protection
- Pest/disease identification in crops
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
- Storage pest management, biological control
- Plant quarantine, pesticide use
HPSC Agriculture Development Officer Syllabus for Subject Knowledge Test - 14. Food Security & Policy
- Food production and consumption trends
- National/international food policy, surplus & distribution
- Public Distribution System (PDS), malnutrition, micro-nutrient deficiency
- Link between food production, poverty, and human health
Resources & Downloads
Candidates can access official guides and preparation resources through the links provided below:
- HPSC ADO Syllabus and Exam Pattern- Click to Download
- HPSC ADO Previous Year Question Papers- Click to Check
- HPSC ADO Syllabus and Exam Pattern PDF
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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