Preparing for the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) – Haryana Civil Services (HCS) Exam 2025 can be a daunting task without the right resources. With the competition increasing every year, aspirants need structured and strategic preparation. This article offers you a one-stop solution for the best HPSC HCS Study Material—whether you’re preparing for Prelims, Mains, or both.
HPSC HCS Study Material Overview
The HPSC HCS Study Material is a meticulously curated resource designed to aid aspirants in preparing for the Haryana Civil Services (HCS) Examination, conducted by the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC). This all-in-one toolkit provides candidates with a structured and comprehensive approach to cover the complete syllabus for both Prelims and Mains stages of the exam.
- General Studies (History, Polity, Geography, Economy, Science & Tech, Environment)
- Haryana-Specific Content (Culture, Economy, Polity, Geography of Haryana)
- CSAT (Logical Reasoning, Mental Ability, Comprehension)
- Mains-Specific Topics (Essay, Ethics, Governance, Agriculture, Internal Security)
- Current Affairs (Daily Newspapers, Monthly Magazines, Government Schemes)
HPSC HCS Study Material for Prelims
The HPSC HCS Prelims Exam 2025 is the first stage of the Haryana Civil Services selection process. It comprises two objective-type papers:
- Paper I: General Studies (GS) – 100 Questions (100 Marks)
- Paper II: Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) – 100 Questions (100 Marks)
General Studies Paper I – HCS Prelims
This paper is qualifying and serves as a screening test for the Mains. It includes subjects from History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, Science, Current Affairs, and Haryana GK.
Indian Polity
- Recommended Book: Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
- Alternative: LaunchPad IAS Polity Notes
- Purpose: Provides conceptual clarity and detailed explanation of the Constitution, fundamental rights, duties, Parliament, and the structure of Indian governance.
Indian Economy
- Recommended Book: Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
- Additional Reading: NCERT Economics Class XI (Indian Economic Development) and Class XII (Macroeconomics)
- Purpose: Covers economic concepts, current government schemes, budget, and key reforms.
History
- Ancient and Medieval: Old NCERT History textbooks (Class 6–10)
- Modern India: Spectrum’s “A Brief History of Modern India”
- Purpose: Helps cover India’s socio-political developments, cultural history, and freedom movement comprehensively.
Also Read: HCS Syllabus
Geography
- Books: NCERT Class 11 and 12 Geography textbooks
- Atlas: Oxford School Atlas
- Purpose: Covers physical geography, Indian and world geography, resources, and map-based questions.
Science and Technology
- Books: NCERT Science textbooks from Class 6 to 10
- Purpose: Basic understanding of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as relevant to the Prelims exam.
Environment and Ecology
- Book: Environment Book
- Purpose: Deals with biodiversity, climate change, environmental governance, and related current developments.
Haryana General Knowledge (GK)
- Book: “Know Your State – Haryana”
- Purpose: Covers state-specific geography, history, economy, polity, art and culture, and current affairs.
Current Affairs
- Newspapers: The Hindu or Indian Express
- Magazines: Monthly Current Affairs Magazine
- Purpose: Keeps candidates updated on national and international news, government schemes, and policy changes.
CSAT (Paper II) – HCS Prelims
Though qualifying in nature (33% qualifying marks), the CSAT paper is essential for clearing the cutoff. It assesses analytical ability, comprehension skills, logical reasoning, and basic numeracy.
Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning
- Book: RS Aggarwal’s “Quantitative Aptitude” and “Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning”
- Purpose: Strengthens problem-solving skills in arithmetic, algebra, logical puzzles, number series, and data interpretation.
Comprehension and Decision-Making
- Books:
- Previous Year CSAT Papers for practice
- Tata McGraw Hill CSAT Manual
Also Read: How to Prepare HPSC HCS Exam
HPSC HCS Study Material for Mains
The HPSC HCS Mains Exam 2025 evaluates a candidate’s comprehensive understanding of various issues, clarity of thought, and analytical writing skills. It consists of four main papers: Essay, General Studies Paper I, General Studies Paper II, and General Studies Paper III. Each paper tests different areas of knowledge and requires in-depth preparation to articulate ideas and present well-structured answers effectively.
Essay
The essay paper evaluates a candidate’s ability to express ideas logically and coherently. Topics are often drawn from contemporary issues, abstract themes, social challenges, and polity.
Study Material
- Previous Years’ Essay Topics: Analyze and write essays from previous HCS/UPSC exams to understand structure and expectations.
- Editorial Reading:
- The Hindu and The Indian Express editorials for language tone and structure.
- Focus on opinion pieces, lead editorials, and columns.
- Essay Writing Practice:
- Develop outlines and full-length essays regularly.
- Practice brainstorming, structuring introductions, and writing balanced conclusions.
- Books (Optional):
- “151 Essays”
- “Essays for Civil Services” by Pulkit Khare (for UPSC-style practice)
Also Read: How To Prepare HPSC HCS Exam
General Studies Paper I
This paper broadly covers Modern History, Indian Society, Post-Independence India, and Culture (with an emphasis on Haryana).
Modern Indian History
- Book: Spectrum’s “A Brief History of Modern India”
- Supplement: Old NCERTs (Class 8–12)
- Focus Areas: Revolt of 1857, freedom movements, Gandhian phase, reforms, and constitutional development.
Post-Independence India
- Book: India Since Independence by Bipan Chandra (selected chapters)
- NCERTs: Class 12 – Politics in India Since Independence
- Important Topics: Political reorganization, economic reforms, social policies post-1947.
Indian Society
- Book: Social Problems in India by Ram Ahuja
- NCERTs: Class 11–12 Sociology
- Topics: Caste system, poverty, gender issues, regionalism, secularism, social change.
Haryana GK & Culture
- Sources:
- HPSC’s official publications
- LaunchPad IAS Haryana Notes (PDF/Online)
- “Know Your State – Haryana” by Arihant (selectively for culture, festivals, local governance)
- Topics: Folk music and dance, historical monuments, society and tribes of Haryana, freedom struggle, administrative setup.
General Studies Paper II
This paper includes topics from Polity, Governance, International Relations, and Welfare Schemes.
Indian Constitution & Governance
- Book: Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
- NCERTs: Class 11 Political Science (Indian Constitution at Work)
- Key Areas: Constitutional provisions, governance institutions, devolution, federalism, accountability mechanisms.
International Relations
- Sources:
- NCERTs Class 12 (Contemporary World Politics)
- Current Affairs – India’s relations with neighbors, major global groupings (BRICS, QUAD)
- Daily News Analysis from platforms like Vision IAS, Insights on India, or Drishti IAS.
- Focus: India’s foreign policy, bilateral and multilateral relations, global issues with India’s interest.
Social Justice & Welfare Schemes
- Sources:
- Government Websites (Ministries of Social Justice, Women and Child Development, Rural Development)
- PIB (Press Information Bureau)
- PRS India (Policy Reviews and Bills)
- Yojana and Kurukshetra Magazines (selected issues)
Also Read: HCS Mains Subject List
- Topics: Rights-based legislations, inclusive policies, flagship schemes like PMAY, MGNREGA, Ayushman Bharat.
General Studies Paper III
This paper is focused on Economy, Agriculture, Security, Disaster Management, and related issues.
Indian Economy
- Book: Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
- NCERTs: Class 11 & 12 Economics (for concepts)
- Focus Areas: Growth, development, inflation, fiscal policy, inclusive growth, budget, banking, and taxation.
Agriculture (with Haryana Context)
- Sources:
- State Agriculture Department updates and schemes
- Kurukshetra Magazine (agriculture-specific editions)
- NCERTs (Basic agricultural economy from Geography/Economics)
- Key Topics: MSP, irrigation techniques, Kisan Credit Cards, organic farming, rural infrastructure, Haryana-specific agricultural programs.
Security Issues
- Sources:
- ARC Reports (2nd ARC – Public Order, Capacity Building)
- Ministry of Home Affairs Reports
- Newspapers for internal security challenges (terrorism, insurgency, cyber threats)
- Topics: Border management, insurgency in NE India, terrorism, cybercrime, role of agencies.
Disaster Management
- Sources:
- NDMA Guidelines
- 2nd ARC Report on Crisis Management
- NCERT Geography & Environment books
Also Read: HCS Exam Pattern 2025
HCS Exam 2025 Best Books
For effective preparation of the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) Haryana Civil Services (HCS) Exam 2025, having the right study materials is crucial. Below is a carefully curated list of the best books to help aspirants cover the entire syllabus with confidence.
- For Polity, the highly recommended book is Indian Polity by M. Laxmikant, which offers comprehensive coverage of the Indian political system, constitutional provisions, and governance topics. Alongside this, Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh is essential for understanding the economic concepts, policies, and current economic affairs relevant to the exam.
- In History preparation, Spectrum Modern History provides a detailed and easy-to-understand narrative of India’s freedom struggle and modern history. Additionally, the old NCERT textbooks serve as a reliable foundation for basic historical facts and concepts.
- For Geography, the combination of NCERT textbooks and the Oxford Atlas is preferred. NCERTs cover physical, human, and economic geography, while the Oxford Atlas helps visualize important geographical features and locations.
- To prepare for Haryana-specific General Knowledge, Arihant’s Know Your State: Haryana is the go-to resource, offering detailed insights into the state’s history, culture, polity, economy, and geography.
- For Environment and Ecology, Shankar IAS Environment book is widely recommended as it comprehensively covers environmental issues, biodiversity, climate change, and related policies, which are frequently asked in the exam.
- Lastly, for the CSAT paper, aspirants can rely on RS Aggarwal’s books for quantitative aptitude and TMH CSAT Manual, which together provide thorough practice material for reasoning, comprehension, and problem-solving skills.
HCS Exam 2025 Best Newspaper for Preparation
To succeed in the HPSC HCS Exam 2025, staying updated with current affairs, government schemes, editorials, and analytical viewpoints is essential—especially for the General Studies Paper and Essay writing.
- The Hindu: Known for its in-depth editorial analysis, constitutional discussions, and national issues coverage. It’s particularly helpful for developing a strong foundation in polity, governance, and socio-political topics.
- The Indian Express: This newspaper is especially beneficial for understanding government policies, international relations, science & tech updates, and in-depth governance analysis. The “Explained” section is highly useful for breaking down complex issues into simple explanations, which is valuable for both prelims and mains.
- PIB (Press Information Bureau): An official government source that provides authentic information on cabinet decisions, government schemes, Yojanas, and developmental initiatives. It is crucial for factual content, especially for Mains and Interview.
HPSC HCS Study Material 2025 FAQs
Is the HPSC HCS Study Material 2025 the same for both Prelims and Mains?
While there is some overlap, the HPSC HCS Study Material 2025 for Prelims focuses on objective-type preparation, whereas Mains requires analytical resources for essay writing, ethics, governance, and in-depth GS Papers. Tailoring material for each stage is crucial.
Where can I download free HPSC HCS Study Material 2025 PDFs?
Several coaching platforms giving free PDFs aligned with the HPSC HCS Study Material 2025 syllabus. Additionally, NCERT books and Haryana government reports are available on official portals.
How helpful is monthly current affairs in HPSC HCS Study Material 2025 preparation?
Monthly current affairs compilations are a key component of HPSC HCS Study Material 2025, especially for Prelims and Mains GS Paper II & III. Magazines like Vision IAS or Insights IAS provide concise and relevant updates on national and state-level events.
Can I clear the exam by relying only on HPSC HCS Study Material 2025 from coaching institutes?
While coaching material is structured, relying solely on it is not recommended. A balanced approach using standard books, NCERTs, current affairs, and self-made notes ensures a complete and effective preparation with HPSC HCS Study Material 2025.
