HPSC AE (Civil) Exam Pattern & Syllabus 2026: Complete Overview

HPSC AE Recruitment 2026 Overview

To understand the structural framework of the examination, candidates should review the core highlights outlined in the summary table below:

Orgainzation	Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC)
Post	Assistant Engineer (Civil)
Vacancy	50
Exam Name	HPSC AE Exam 2026
Type of Questions	Screening Test: Objective Subject Knowledge Test: Descriptive
Number of Questions	Screening Test: 100
Total Marks	Screening Test: 100 Subject Knowledge Test: 150
Duration	Screening Test: 2 Hours Subject Knowledge Test: 3 Hours
Selection Process	Screening Test Subject Knowledge Test Interview

HPSC AE Selection Process 2026

The selection roadmap comprises three distinct phases designed to thoroughly gauge an applicant's potential. Candidates must clear each phase sequentially to advance to the next level of evaluation.

1. Screening Test

The preliminary stage filters candidates through an objective-format test. It features a minimum qualifying threshold of 25%, alongside negative marking where 1/4 mark is deducted for every incorrect response.

Exam Format	Details
Number of Questions	100
Total Marks	100
Duration	2 Hours
Type of Questions	Objective

2. Subject Knowledge Test

The second phase focuses entirely on core civil engineering disciplines through written, descriptive-type prompts.

Exam Format	Details
Number of Questions	Not Specified
Total Marks	150
Duration	3 Hours
Type of Questions	Descriptive

3. Personal Interview

The final stage involves a face-to-face interview to assess personality traits, communication skills, and overall suitability for the role of Assistant Engineer.

HPSC AE Screening Test Syllabus Topics

For the screening test, candidates need to study a blend of general aptitude and preliminary engineering topics. Focus on the following key subject areas:

• General Ability / General Studies
• General English
• Current Affairs
• General Knowledge / Haryana GK
• Basic Reasoning & Quantitative Aptitude
• Elementary Engineering Aptitude: Fundamental concepts in Civil Engineering domains

Comprehensive Subject Knowledge Test Syllabus (Civil Engineering)

The detailed syllabus breakdown for the descriptive core engineering sections is structured as follows:

Topics	Sub-topics
Structural Engineering	Engineering Mechanics: System of forces, free-body diagrams, equilibrium equations; Internal forces in structures: Frictions and its applications; Centre of mass; Free Vibrations of undamped SDOF system. Solid Mechanics: Bending moment and shear force in statically determinate beams, Simple stress and strain relationships; Simple bending theory, flexural and shear stresses, shear centre. Uniform torsion, Transformation of stress; buckling of column, combined and direct bending stresses. Structural Analysis: Statically determinate and indeterminate structures by force/energy methods. Method of superposition; Analysis of trusses, arches, beams, cables and frames, Displacement methods: Slope deflection and moment distribution methods; Influence lines. Stiffness and flexibility methods of structural analysis. Construction Materials and Management: Construction Materials: Structural Steel Composition, material properties and behaviour, Concrete Constituents, mix design. short-term and long-term properties. Construction Management Types of construction projects. Project planning and network analysis PERT and CPM; Cost estimation. Concrete Structures: Working stress and Limit state design concepts: Design of beams, slabs, columns, Bond and development length; Prestressed concrete beams. Steel Structures: Working stress and Limit state design concepts: Design of tension and compression members, beams and beam-columns, column bases, Connections - simple and eccentric, beam-column connections, plate girders and trusses; Concept of plastic analysis beams and frames.
Geotechnical Engineering	Soil Mechanics: Three-phase system and phase relationships, index properties, Unified and Indian standard soil classification system; Permeability one-dimensional flow, Seepage through soils two-dimensional flow, flow nets, uplift pressure, piping, capillarity, seepage force: Principle of effective stress and quicksand condition. Compaction of soils: One-dimensional consolidation, time rate of consolidation, Shear Strength, Mohr's circle, effective and total shear strength parameters, Stress-Strain characteristics of clays and sand: Stress paths.
Water Resources Engineering	Fluid Mechanics: Properties of fluids, fluid statics, Continuity, momentum and energy equations and their applications; Potential flow, Laminar and turbulent flow: Flow in pipes, pipe networks, Concept of boundary layer and its growth; Concept of lift and drag. Hydraulics: Forces on immersed bodies; Flow measurement in channels and pipes; Water Resources Engineering Dimensional analysis and hydraulic similitude, Channel Hydraulics Energy-depth relationships, specific energy, critical flow, hydraulic jump, uniform flow, gradually varied flow and water surface profiles. Hydrology: Hydrologic cycle, precipitation, evaporation, evapo-transpiration, watershed, infiltration, unit hydrographs, hydrograph analysis, reservoir capacity, flood estimation and routing, surface run-off models, ground water hydrology steady state well hydraulics and aquifers: Application of Darcy's law. Irrigation: Types of irrigation systems and methods; Crop water requirements - Duty, delta, evapo-transpiration; Gravity Dams and Spillways; Lined and unlined canals, Design of weirs on permeable foundation; cross drainage structures.
Environmental Engineering	Water and Waste Water Quality and Treatment: Basics of water quality standards - Physical, chemical and biological parameters; Water quality index: Unit processes and operations. Water requirement. Water distribution system; Drinking water treatment. Sewerage system design: Quantity of domestic wastewater, primary and secondary treatment. Effluent discharge standards; Sludge disposal, Reuse of treated sewage for different applications. Pollution: Types of pollutants, their sources and impacts, air pollution control. air quality Air quality Index and limits. Municipal Solid Wastes: Characteristics, generation, collection and transportation of solid wastes, engineered systems for solid waste management (reuse/recycle, energy recovery, treatment and disposal).
Transportation Engineering	Transportation Infrastructure: Geometric design of highways cross-sectional elements, sight distances, horizontal and vertical alignments. Geometric design of railway Track: Speed and Cant. Concept of airport runway length: Calculations and corrections, taxiway and exit taxiway design. Highway Pavements: Highway materials desirable properties and tests; Desirable properties of bituminous paving mixes: Design factors for flexible and rigid pavements. Design of flexible and rigid pavement using IRC codes. Traffic Engineering: Traffic studies on flow and speed, peak hour factor, accident study, statistical analysis of traffic data; Microscopic and macroscopic parameters of traffic flow, fundamental relationships; Traffic signs; Signal design by Webster's method; Types of intersections: Highway capacity.
Geomatics Engineering	Principles of surveying: Errors and their adjustment; Maps scale, coordinate system: Distance and angle measurement - Levelling and trigonometric levelling: Traversing and triangulation survey, Total station: Horizontal and vertical curves. Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing: Scale, flying height; Basics of remote sensing and GIS.

Next Steps for Candidates

Once you have reviewed the syllabus and exam pattern requirements, ensure you keep track of upcoming admit card announcements, organize your revision timelines according to the weightage of structural and geotechnical engineering, and plan your travel arrangements ahead of test dates.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many stages are there in the HPSC AE exam?

The HPSC AE Selection Process 2026 comprises three distinct stages: a preliminary screening test, a subject knowledge test, and a final personal interview.

Is there any negative marking in the HPSC AE Exam 2026?

Yes, the HPSC AE Screening Test 2026 features a negative marking scheme, where 1/4 mark is deducted for every incorrect response.

What is the total number of vacancies announced for HPSC Assistant Engineer Civil 2026?

The Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) is recruiting for a total of 50 Assistant Engineer (Civil) vacancies.

What are the qualifying marks for the HPSC AE Screening Test?

The qualifying marks requirement for the Screening Test is a minimum of 25%.