Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC), Agriculture Development Officer (ADO) Recruitment - 2026 (23 Vacancies) (Backlog Vacancies)

• Essential : B.Sc. (Agr.) under four year degrees programme and M.Sc. (Agri) 2nd Class from a College/University recognized by the State/Central Government/ICAR.
• Desirable Qualification :  M.Sc (Agri.) 1st Class or above. Knowledge of customs, manners & dialects of Himachal Pradesh & suitability for appointment in the peculiar conditions prevailing in the Pradesh.

Category Wise Vacancy Details

OBC of HP (Ward of Ex-SM)

How to Apply?

• Step 1 : Visit Official Website - Go to the official H P Public Service Commission (HPPSC) website at http://www.hppsc.hp.gov.in/hppsc.

• Step 2 : Access Apply Online Link — Click on the "Apply Online" link on the home page, then select "One Time Registration (OTR) for Examinations".

• Step 3 : Register or Login — Create a new profile by clicking "New Registration" if not already registered, or log in to your existing account.

• Step 4 : Select Post and Apply — From your dashboard displaying live advertisements, choose the Agriculture Development Officer (ADO) post and click to apply.

• Step 5 : Upload Required Documents — Upload all mandatory documents (scanned photograph, signature, matriculation certificate, degree/mark sheets, category/bonafide certificates).

• Step 6 : Review and Undertake — Check the application preview thoroughly, ensure all documents are legible, and give the required declaration/undertaking.

• Step 7 : Pay Examination Fee — Pay the uniform fee of Rs. 600/- securely online via Debit Card, Credit Card, UPI, or other available digital modes before the closing date.

• Step 8 : Final Submission — Submit the online recruitment application and save a copy/printout of the final confirmation page for your records.

Selection Process

Stage 1 : Written Examination / Screening Test

Both Paper-I and Paper-II are conducted on the same day in morning and evening sessions at test centers across Himachal Pradesh.   

• Step 1 : Paper-I (Screening Test - Objective Type)

  • Format & Duration : A 1-hour Computer Based Test (CBT) or Offline Screening Test consisting of 100 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).

  • Syllabus : General Knowledge of Himachal Pradesh (30 marks), National and International Affairs (30 marks), Knowledge of Hindi language (20 marks), and Knowledge of English language (20 marks).

  • Negative Marking : 0.25 marks (one-fourth of the assigned marks) are deducted for incorrect answers, unattempted/blank questions, or multiple answers, unless option 'E' (chosen to avoid negative marking) is selected.

  • Qualifying Rule : Candidates securing zero or negative marks in Paper-I are disqualified from the merit list.

• Step 2 : Shortlisting for Paper-II

  • Based on the merit of Paper-I, answer sheets of Paper-II are evaluated for a limited zone of consideration.

  • For advertisements with up to 25 vacancies (such as this 23-vacancy post), answer sheets are evaluated for 20 times the number of vacancies advertised. (Note: If the total number of eligible applicants is below 20, candidates directly appear for Paper-II without Paper-I).

• Step 3 : Paper-II (Descriptive Subject Aptitude Test - SAT)

  • Format & Duration : A 3-hour descriptive written test worth 120 marks based on the specified agricultural subject syllabus.

  • Qualifying Marks : Candidates must score a minimum of 45% (General category) or 40% (Reserved categories) to qualify for the next stage.

Stage 2 : Document Verification & Scrutiny

• Step 4 : Category-Wise Zone Shortlisting

  • Shortlisted candidates from Paper-II undergo a category-wise zone of consideration (in a 1:5 ratio for posts numbering 11 and above) for document scrutiny.

  • Candidates must upload and present original certificates (educational qualifications, category certificates, matriculation age proof, bonafide Himachali certificates, etc.). Provisional rejections allow a 10-day window for submitting representations with valid documents. Regular government employees must produce a No Objection Certificate (NOC) at this stage.

Stage 3 : Personality Test & Final Selection

• Step 5 : Personality Test

  • Format : Conducted at the Commission's office in Shimla, carrying a total of 30 marks.

  • Shortlisting Ratio : Normally, 4 eligible candidates for a single post and 3 eligible candidates for every subsequent post are called for the interview.

  • Qualifying Marks : Minimum pass marks are 40% (12 marks) for General category candidates and 30% (9 marks) for reserved category candidates.

• Step 6 : Final Merit & Recommendation

  • Final ranking and selection are determined exclusively by combining the marks obtained in Paper-II (120 marks) and the Personality Test (30 marks).