The Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC) has released Advertisement No. 63/9-2026 for recruitment to 23 Agriculture Development Officer (ADO) Group-A (Job Trainee) posts in the Department of Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh.
The vacancies are specifically identified as backlog posts for Wards of Ex-Servicemen (Ex-SM) of Himachal Pradesh. The vacancy breakup is 19 UR (Ward of Ex-SM), 3 SC of HP (Ward of Ex-SM), and 1 OBC of HP (Ward of Ex-SM).
Candidates must have a four-year B.Sc. (Agriculture) degree and M.Sc. (Agriculture) with 2nd Class from a college/university recognized by the State Government, Central Government or ICAR. The desirable qualification is M.Sc. (Agriculture) with 1st Class or above.
The online application window is 25 September 2026 to 22 October 2026 up to 11:59 PM, with the examination fee also payable by the same deadline. Current recruitment information also corroborates these dates.
Important: This is not a general open-category recruitment for all states. The notification’s 23 vacancies are Ward of Ex-Servicemen backlog posts, and the reservation provisions specifically concern eligible Himachal Pradesh candidates. Candidates should check the Ward of Ex-Servicemen conditions before applying.
HPPSC Agriculture Development Officer Recruitment 2026 – Quick Overview
| Recruiting Organization | Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC) |
|---|---|
| Department | Department of Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh |
| Post Name | Agriculture Development Officer (ADO) |
| Post Classification | Group-A (Job Trainee) |
| Advertisement No. | 63/9-2026 |
| Notification Date | 25 September 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 23 |
| Nature of Vacancies | Backlog – Ward of Ex-Servicemen of Himachal Pradesh |
| Application Mode | Online (ORA) |
| Application Start Date | 25 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 22 October 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 22 October 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Minimum Age | 18 Years |
| Maximum Age | 45 Years |
| Monthly Emoluments | ₹29,500 |
| Examination Fee | ₹600 |
| Selection Process | Screening Test → Subject Aptitude Test → Personality Test |
| Official Website | hppsc.hp.gov.in |
The vacancy, qualification, age, emoluments, fee and application details above are taken from the uploaded notification.
HPPSC ADO Vacancy 2026
HPPSC has notified 23 Agriculture Development Officer vacancies.
All 23 posts are shown as backlog vacancies for Wards of Ex-Servicemen of Himachal Pradesh.
| Category | Number of Posts | Nature |
|---|---|---|
| UR – Ward of Ex-Servicemen | 19 | Backlog |
| SC of HP – Ward of Ex-Servicemen | 3 | Backlog |
| OBC of HP – Ward of Ex-Servicemen | 1 | Backlog |
| Total | 23 | Backlog |
The notification explicitly describes the vacancies as UR (Ward of Ex-SM), SC of HP (Ward of Ex-SM), and OBC of HP (Ward of Ex-SM) backlog posts.
Who is a Ward of Ex-Serviceman?
The notification’s category provisions describe Wards of Ex-Servicemen of Himachal Pradesh as dependent sons, daughters and wives of Ex-Servicemen of Himachal Pradesh. Candidates claiming this category have to provide the prescribed dependent certificate and other required documents.
This is one of the most important eligibility checks in this recruitment.
HPPSC ADO Eligibility Criteria 2026
Educational Qualification
Candidates must possess:
- B.Sc. (Agriculture) under a four-year degree programme, and
- M.Sc. (Agriculture) 2nd Class
The degree must be from a college/university recognized by the State Government, Central Government or ICAR.
Desirable Qualification
The notification lists:
- M.Sc. (Agriculture) 1st Class or above
- Knowledge of the customs, manners and dialects of Himachal Pradesh and suitability for appointment under the conditions prevailing in the state.
The desirable qualification is additional to the essential qualification; candidates should not treat it as a replacement for the prescribed B.Sc. + M.Sc. requirement.
Is B.Sc Agriculture Enough for HPPSC ADO Recruitment?
No.
The notification requires both:
B.Sc. (Agriculture) under a four-year degree programme + M.Sc. (Agriculture) 2nd Class.
Therefore, a candidate having only B.Sc. Agriculture does not meet the complete educational qualification stated in this advertisement.
HPPSC ADO Age Limit 2026
The prescribed age is 18 to 45 years.
The age is calculated as on 01 January 2026.
| Age Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 18 Years |
| Maximum Age | 45 Years |
| Age Calculation Date | 01 January 2026 |
Age Relaxation
The notification provides:
- 5 years upper-age relaxation for Bonafide SC of H.P., ST of H.P., OBC of H.P., WFF of H.P. and Persons with Disabilities of Himachal Pradesh.
- For H.P. Government employees and Ex-Servicemen of H.P., age relaxation is as per applicable Government instructions.
- The relaxation for the listed reserved categories is available only where there is a post reserved for those categories.
Because these vacancies are specifically tied to the Ward of Ex-Servicemen backlog categories, candidates should verify the category-specific conditions before claiming relaxation.
HPPSC ADO Salary / Emoluments 2026
The post is advertised as Agriculture Development Officer Group-A (Job Trainee).
The fixed emoluments mentioned in the notification are:
₹29,500 per month.
The recruitment and engagement are governed by the State Government’s scheme for engagement of job trainees on a fixed amount, issued through the Department of Personnel notification dated 19 July 2025, along with subsequent orders/guidelines.
HPPSC ADO Important Dates 2026
| Event | Date / Time |
|---|---|
| Advertisement Date | 25 September 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 25 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Submit ORA | 22 October 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 22 October 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Screening Test Date | Not specified in the provided notification. |
| Subject Aptitude Test Date | Not specified in the provided notification. |
| Personality Test Date | Not specified in the provided notification. |
The application closing date and fee deadline are explicitly given as 22/10/2026 at 11:59 PM. Current recruitment listings also corroborate the application period.
HPPSC ADO Application Fee 2026
A uniform examination fee of ₹600 is applicable to all candidates, irrespective of category or gender.
| Candidate Category | Examination Fee |
|---|---|
| All Candidates | ₹600 |
The fee has to be paid online through the prescribed digital payment methods. The notification states that the fee once paid is non-refundable and cannot be kept in reserve for another examination or selection.
HPPSC ADO Selection Process 2026
The recruitment process consists of:
Screening Test → Subject Aptitude Test (SAT) → Personality Test
The advertisement gives the selection stages as an objective-type screening test/descriptive subject aptitude test followed by a Personality Test.
However, the notification also contains a special provision: where there are very few posts and the ratio between eligible candidates and advertised posts is six or below, all eligible candidates may be directly called for the Personality Test.
Therefore, candidates should not assume that every applicant will necessarily follow exactly the same written-test route; the Commission’s prescribed selection scheme will apply according to the number of eligible candidates.
HPPSC ADO Exam Pattern 2026
Paper-I – Screening Test
Paper-I is a Computer Based Test (CBT) or Offline Screening Test.
- Duration: 1 hour
- Total Marks: 100
- Type: Objective MCQs
- Negative marking: 1/4 mark of the question’s assigned marks for a wrong answer
Subject-wise Marks
| Subject | Marks |
|---|---|
| General Knowledge of Himachal Pradesh | 30 |
| General Knowledge of National & International Affairs | 30 |
| Knowledge of Hindi Language | 20 |
| Knowledge of English Language | 20 |
| Total | 100 |
These four sections and their marks are specified on page 6 of the notification.
Negative Marking in HPPSC ADO Exam
The notification has a specific rule regarding unanswered questions.
Each objective question has four answer options, A–D, plus an Option E for candidates who do not want to answer.
If a candidate does not want to attempt a question, selecting Option E avoids the negative-marking penalty.
If a question is left completely blank without selecting any option, it is also subject to the negative-marking rule.
For a wrong answer, 0.25 of the marks assigned to that question is deducted.
This is an important practical point candidates should understand before the screening test.
Paper-II – Subject Aptitude Test
Paper-II is a descriptive Subject Aptitude Test (SAT).
- Duration: 3 hours
- Maximum Marks: 120
- Nature: Descriptive
- Syllabus: Subject-specific syllabus decided/published by the Commission
The notification states that the detailed syllabus of Paper-II has already been uploaded on the Commission’s official website.
SAT Qualifying Marks
| Category | Minimum SAT Marks |
|---|---|
| General | 45% |
| Reserved Categories | 40% |
Candidates scoring below the prescribed SAT qualifying percentage are disqualified from the remaining selection process.
Personality Test
Candidates who qualify through the applicable written-test process are called for the Personality Test.
The Personality Test carries 30 marks and is held at the HPPSC office in Shimla.
Minimum qualifying marks are:
- General category: 40% = 12 marks
- Reserved categories: 30% = 9 marks
The notification further states that SAT marks (120) + Personality Test marks (30) determine the final ranking/selection, subject to the Commission’s stated conditions.
How Many Candidates Will Be Called for Personality Test?
Normally, the Commission states that:
- Four eligible candidates for a single post, and
- Three eligible candidates for every subsequent post
will be declared qualified for the Personality Test based on the applicable screening/written-test process.
If fewer candidates qualify in a particular category, all of them may be called. In case of a tie at the minimum qualifying marks, all tied candidates are called.
HPPSC ADO Syllabus 2026
Paper-I
The notification specifies the following areas:
- General Knowledge of Himachal Pradesh
- General Knowledge of National and International Affairs
- Hindi Language
- English Language
The total is 100 marks and the test duration is one hour.
Paper-II
The Paper-II syllabus is the descriptive Subject Aptitude Test syllabus. The notification states that the detailed syllabus has already been uploaded on the official HPPSC website.
For this article, subject-wise Paper-II topics beyond what is stated in the uploaded notification are Not specified in the provided notification.
HPPSC ADO Exam Centre
The advertisement lists:
Shimla
as the examination station/city.
However, the Commission reserves the right to change examination centres according to circumstances and availability. For CBT examinations, the centre may be allotted at the Commission’s discretion anywhere in Himachal Pradesh depending on computer-lab availability.
HPPSC ADO Admit Card
No admit card will be sent by post.
Provisionally admitted candidates have to download their e-Admit Card from the official HPPSC website using their OTR login credentials.
The notification also states that candidates must paste a passport-size photograph on the downloaded admit card as instructed; failure to do so can prevent them from appearing in the written examination.
Documents Required for HPPSC ADO Recruitment
Candidates have to upload supporting documents on the OTRS portal.
Important documents include:
- Matriculation certificate for age proof
- Degree certificate
- Marksheets of all years / consolidated marksheet
- Experience certificate, wherever required
- Valid category certificate, wherever applicable
- Bonafide Himachali Certificate for reserved-category claims
- EWS/BPL certificate, where applicable
- Ex-Serviceman discharge certificate/service book, where applicable
- Ward of Ex-Serviceman dependent certificate, where applicable
- Other prescribed category documents
Important for Ward of Ex-Servicemen Candidates
Candidates applying under Ward of Ex-Servicemen category need to carefully follow the prescribed documentation requirements. The notification specifically requires a Dependent Certificate and a latest affidavit in the circumstances described in the advertisement.
HPPSC ADO Application Process 2026
Candidates have to apply online through the official HPPSC website/ORA system.
Step 1 – Visit HPPSC Website
Go to the official HPPSC website and access the Apply Online section.
Step 2 – Complete OTR Registration
Candidates who are not already registered have to use the One Time Registration (OTR) facility and create their profile.
Step 3 – Login
After registration, log into the OTR account.
Step 4 – Select Advertisement
The live advertisements will appear on the candidate dashboard. Select Advertisement No. 63/9-2026.
Step 5 – Upload Documents
Upload the required certificates and documents according to the advertisement.
Step 6 – Check Uploaded Documents
The candidate must verify that the uploaded documents are legible, readable and correct.
Step 7 – Pay Fee
Pay the prescribed ₹600 examination fee through the available online payment methods.
Step 8 – Submit Application
Review every field carefully before final submission.
The notification clearly states that after submission, corrections/modifications are generally not allowed, so candidates should carefully check the application before submitting it.
Live Photograph & Face Authentication
There is an additional requirement that candidates should not overlook.
The HPPSC notification states that candidates must ensure their own photograph is captured at the time of submitting the online application through the OTR portal. This live-captured photograph will be matched with the candidate’s face at examination entry through Face Authentication.
If the submitted photograph does not match the person appearing for the examination, the candidate may not be permitted to appear.
Who Can Claim Reservation?
Reservation benefits are available only to eligible Bonafide Himachal Pradesh residents for the specified reserved categories.
The notification states that reserved-category candidates belonging to other states will be treated as General Category candidates and will not receive Himachal Pradesh reservation benefits.
For this particular recruitment, candidates should pay special attention to the Ward of Ex-Servicemen of Himachal Pradesh condition because all 23 advertised posts are under that backlog classification.
Who Meets the Key Conditions to Apply?
A candidate should first verify all of the following:
- You have a four-year B.Sc. Agriculture degree.
- You have M.Sc. Agriculture with 2nd Class.
- Your degree is from a recognized institution as specified in the notification.
- Your age is within the prescribed limit as on 01 January 2026, after applying any valid relaxation.
- You satisfy the applicable Ward of Ex-Servicemen of Himachal Pradesh condition for these vacancies.
- You have the required category/dependent certificates.
- You can upload clear and valid documents on the OTR portal.
- You can pay the ₹600 examination fee by the closing date.
- You can complete the ORA application by 22 October 2026, 11:59 PM.
Meeting the educational criteria alone does not establish eligibility for these particular backlog vacancies because the category conditions must also be satisfied.
Who Should Avoid Applying Without Further Eligibility Verification?
Candidates should carefully verify their eligibility before submitting an application if:
- They have only B.Sc. Agriculture and no qualifying M.Sc. Agriculture.
- Their M.Sc. Agriculture does not meet the required 2nd Class condition.
- Their degree is not from an institution recognized under the notification.
- They are from another state and are assuming that Himachal Pradesh reservation benefits will apply.
- They do not satisfy the Ward of Ex-Servicemen category requirement.
- They cannot provide the required dependent/category certificates.
- Their age exceeds the prescribed limit without applicable relaxation.
- Their uploaded documents are unclear or incomplete.
Important Mistakes Candidates Should Avoid
1. Treating This as a General Agriculture Recruitment
The 23 vacancies are specifically shown as Ward of Ex-Servicemen backlog vacancies.
2. Applying With Only B.Sc Agriculture
The essential qualification requires both B.Sc. Agriculture and M.Sc. Agriculture 2nd Class.
3. Uploading Blurry Documents
The Commission requires candidates to confirm that uploaded documents are legible and readable. Poor-quality scans can lead to rejection.
4. Forgetting the Live Photograph
The OTR submission includes a live-captured photograph used for face authentication at the examination entrance.
5. Leaving Objective Questions Completely Blank
The notification says that an unanswered question can attract the same negative-marking penalty unless the candidate selects the prescribed Option E.
6. Assuming the Examination Date
The uploaded advertisement does not provide a specific Screening Test/SAT date.
Exam Date: Not specified in the provided notification.
HPPSC ADO Recruitment – Important Rules
The Commission states that:
- Applications through modes other than the prescribed online system will not be accepted.
- The application cannot normally be modified after submission.
- Examination fee is non-refundable.
- Original documents will be checked at the Personality Test/Document Verification stage.
- Admission to examination stages is provisional until eligibility is verified.
- False information or fabricated documents can lead to disqualification.
- Re-checking/re-evaluation of written examinations is not allowed.
- Vacancy numbers may increase or decrease.
- Merely being called for the Personality Test does not guarantee selection.
Frequently Asked Questions – HPPSC ADO Recruitment 2026
Q1. What is HPPSC ADO Recruitment 2026?
Ans: It is a recruitment conducted by the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission for Agriculture Development Officer Group-A (Job Trainee) posts in the Department of Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh.
Q2. How many ADO vacancies are available?
Ans: There are 23 vacancies.
Q3. What is the advertisement number?
Ans: Advertisement No. 63/9-2026.
Q4. When was the notification released?
Ans: The notification is dated 25 September 2026.
Q5. What is the post name?
Ans: Agriculture Development Officer (ADO), Group-A (Job Trainee).
Q6. Are all 23 vacancies regular open vacancies?
Ans: No. The notification identifies all 23 vacancies as backlog posts for Wards of Ex-Servicemen of Himachal Pradesh.
Q7. What is the qualification for HPPSC ADO Recruitment 2026?
Ans: Candidates need a four-year B.Sc. Agriculture degree and M.Sc. Agriculture with 2nd Class from a recognized college/university as specified in the notification.
Q8. Is B.Sc Agriculture alone sufficient?
Ans: No. The notification requires both B.Sc. Agriculture and M.Sc. Agriculture 2nd Class.
Q9. What is the desirable qualification?
Ans: M.Sc. Agriculture 1st Class or above is listed as desirable.
Q10. What is the age limit?
Ans: The prescribed age is 18 to 45 years as on 01 January 2026.
Q11. What is the age relaxation for eligible HP reserved categories?
Ans: Five years upper-age relaxation is specified for eligible Bonafide SC, ST, OBC, WFF and Persons with Disabilities of Himachal Pradesh, subject to the conditions in the notification.
Q12. What is the salary for HPPSC ADO Job Trainee?
Ans: The fixed monthly emoluments are ₹29,500.
Q13. What is the application fee?
Ans: The examination fee is ₹600 for all candidates irrespective of category or gender.
Q14. What is the last date to apply?
Ans: The last date is 22 October 2026 up to 11:59 PM.
Q15. What is the last date for fee payment?
Ans: The fee must also be paid by 22 October 2026 up to 11:59 PM.
Q16. What is the application mode?
Ans: The application mode is online through the HPPSC Online Recruitment Application/OTR system.
Q17. What is the selection process?
Ans: The applicable selection process consists of Screening Test, Subject Aptitude Test and Personality Test, subject to the special provision for cases where the eligible-candidate-to-post ratio is six or below.
Q18. What is the Paper-I duration?
Ans: Paper-I is one hour.
Q19. How many marks is Paper-I?
Ans: Paper-I carries 100 marks.
Q20. What subjects are included in Paper-I?
Ans: Himachal Pradesh General Knowledge, National and International Affairs, Hindi and English.
Q21. Is there negative marking?
Ans: Yes. One-fourth of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for a wrong answer in objective-type screening tests.
Q22. What is the purpose of Option E?
Ans: Option E allows a candidate who does not want to answer a question to avoid the negative-marking penalty associated with leaving the question blank.
Q23. How many marks does Paper-II carry?
Ans: The Subject Aptitude Test carries 120 marks.
Q24. What is the duration of Paper-II?
Ans: Paper-II is three hours long.
Q25. What are the qualifying marks in the SAT?
Ans: General category candidates need 45%, while reserved-category candidates need 40% in the SAT.
Q26. How many marks does the Personality Test carry?
Ans: The Personality Test carries 30 marks.
Q27. Where is the Personality Test conducted?
Ans: The Personality Test is held at the Commission’s office in Shimla.
Q28. What are the minimum Personality Test marks?
Ans: General category candidates need 40% or 12 marks, while reserved-category candidates need 30% or 9 marks.
Q29. When is the HPPSC ADO exam?
Ans: Not specified in the provided notification.
Q30. Where will the examination be held?
Ans: Shimla is listed as the examination station/city, although the Commission can change or allot centres according to the conditions mentioned in the notification.
Q31. Are admit cards sent by post?
Ans: No. Candidates have to download their e-Admit Cards from the official HPPSC website.
Q32. What documents are required?
Ans: Documents include the Matriculation certificate, degree certificates, marksheets, applicable category certificates, Bonafide Himachali Certificate for relevant reserved-category claims and other prescribed documents.
Q33. Is a Bonafide Himachali Certificate required for everyone?
Ans: The notification specifically requires it for reserved-category candidates claiming the applicable Himachal Pradesh reservation benefit.
Q34. Can candidates from other states claim HP reservation?
Ans: No. Reserved-category candidates belonging to other states are treated as General Category candidates for this purpose.
Q35. Who are considered Wards of Ex-Servicemen?
Ans: The notification describes them as dependent sons, daughters and wives of Ex-Servicemen of Himachal Pradesh, subject to the prescribed documentation and conditions.
Q36. Is the application fee refundable?
Ans: No. The notification states that the examination fee is non-refundable.
Q37. Can the application be corrected after submission?
Ans: The notification states that once submitted, the application cannot normally be corrected or modified, so candidates should check all details before final submission.
Q38. Is the Paper-II syllabus available?
Ans: Yes. The notification states that the detailed Paper-II descriptive Subject Aptitude Test syllabus has already been uploaded on the Commission’s website.
Q39. Does appearing in the Personality Test guarantee selection?
Ans: No. The notification specifically states that being summoned for the Personality Test does not assure selection or recommendation.
Q40. Where should candidates check future updates?
Ans: Candidates should regularly check the official HPPSC website for recruitment updates.
Final Words
HPPSC Advertisement No. 63/9-2026 is for 23 Agriculture Development Officer Group-A (Job Trainee) posts in the Department of Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh. The most important eligibility point is that the advertised vacancies are Ward of Ex-Servicemen backlog posts, with 19 UR-Ward of Ex-SM, 3 SC of HP-Ward of Ex-SM and 1 OBC of HP-Ward of Ex-SM vacancy.
For educational eligibility, candidates need a four-year B.Sc. Agriculture degree plus M.Sc. Agriculture with 2nd Class from an institution recognized by the State Government, Central Government or ICAR. The fixed Job Trainee emoluments are ₹29,500 per month.
The online application deadline is 22 October 2026 at 11:59 PM, and the examination fee is ₹600 for all candidates. Candidates should carefully verify their Ward of Ex-Servicemen status, Himachal Pradesh category documentation and uploaded certificates before submitting the ORA.
Important Links
HPPSC ADO Recruitment 2026 – Important Links
Candidates should verify Advertisement No. 63/9-2026, the detailed instructions, syllabus, application status and subsequent updates on the official HPPSC website before applying.
The official HPPSC website lists Advertisement No. 63/9-2026: Agriculture Development Officer Group-A (Job-Trainee) dated 25 September 2026.
