HPPSC ADO 2026 Notification: Eligibility, Salary, Exam Pattern and How to Apply
The Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC) has released Advertisement No. 63/9-2026 for 23 posts of Agriculture Development Officer (ADO) Group-A (Job Trainee) in the Department of Agriculture, H.P. As a job trainee you will get ₹29,500 per month. There is one big condition, though: all 23 posts are backlog posts reserved for Wards of Ex-Servicemen of Himachal Pradesh. If you are the dependent son, daughter or wife of an HP ex-serviceman and you hold an agriculture master’s degree, read this carefully. More Himachal Pradesh government jobs are listed on our site too.
The online application is open now and closes on 22 October 2026 at 11:59 PM, and the fee must be paid by the same time. This post is for agriculture postgraduates who meet the Ward of Ex-Servicemen condition. Below you will find the seat split, qualification, age limit, exam pattern, the conditions that can end your candidature, and the exact steps to apply. Please read the full article before you pay the fee. We at GovtJobsAlert.in have checked every detail against the official notification.
Key Highlights of HPPSC ADO Recruitment 2026
The HPPSC conducts recruitment for Himachal Pradesh government departments. This advertisement fills Agriculture Development Officer posts on a job-trainee basis. Engagement follows the State’s scheme for job trainees on a fixed amount, issued by the Department of Personnel on 19 July 2025.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC) |
| Department | Department of Agriculture, H.P. |
| Advertisement No. | 63/9-2026, dated 25 September 2026 |
| Post | Agriculture Development Officer (ADO) Group-A (Job Trainee) |
| Total Vacancies | 23 (all Ward of Ex-Servicemen, backlog) |
| Emoluments | ₹29,500 per month (job trainee) |
| Age Limit | 18 to 45 years as on 01-01-2026 |
| Application Fee | ₹600 for all candidates |
| Last Date | 22 October 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Examination Station | Shimla |
| Job Location | Himachal Pradesh |
How Many Vacancies Are There in HPPSC ADO Recruitment 2026?
Every one of these seats sits inside the Ward of Ex-Servicemen quota. Check your category against this table first.
| Post | Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture Development Officer | UR (Ward of Ex-Servicemen) (Backlog) | 19 |
| Agriculture Development Officer | SC of HP (Ward of Ex-Servicemen) (Backlog) | 3 |
| Agriculture Development Officer | OBC of HP (Ward of Ex-Servicemen) (Backlog) | 1 |
| Total | 23 |
No seat is reserved for ST, EWS, WFF, PwBD or Ex-Servicemen themselves in this advertisement. The notification also says the number of vacancies may increase or decrease.
A Ward of Ex-Servicemen means the dependent son, daughter or wife of an Ex-Serviceman of H.P. Wards must choose their own category code, not the Ex-Servicemen code. The Commission warns that wards who pick the Ex-Servicemen code often get their candidature rejected.
Ward of Ex-Servicemen is a horizontal reservation. The notification says such candidates who score at par with general candidates shall not be selected against unreserved posts; they are adjusted against the post reserved for their own category. In simple words, for this advertisement your Ward status is the door, and your marks decide your rank inside it. Reservation benefits are given only to bonafide residents of Himachal Pradesh, and on a parental basis.
What is the Eligibility for HPPSC ADO Recruitment 2026?
Educational Qualification
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Essential | B.Sc. (Agr.) under a four-year degree programme and M.Sc. (Agri) 2nd Class |
| Recognition | College or University recognised by the State Government, Central Government or ICAR |
| Desirable | M.Sc. (Agri.) 1st Class or above |
| Also required | Knowledge of customs, manners and dialects of Himachal Pradesh, and suitability for appointment in the peculiar conditions of the Pradesh |
You need both degrees, and the B.Sc. must be from a four-year programme. A first class in M.Sc. is only desirable, so a second class is enough to apply. Your qualification is checked as on the closing date, 22 October 2026. If your result comes later, you are not eligible. The date printed on your degree or certificate is taken as the date you acquired it. See more post graduate government jobs if this one does not fit you.
Age Limit
| Category | Age Rule |
|---|---|
| All candidates | 18 to 45 years as on 01-01-2026 |
| Bonafide SC, ST, OBC, WFF and Persons with disabilities of H.P. | 5 years relaxation in upper age limit, only if a post is reserved for that category |
| H.P. Govt. employees and Ex-Servicemen of H.P. | As per Government instructions |
| Reserved category candidates of other States | No relaxation (treated as General) |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and instantly check your eligibility — including any age relaxation you qualify for. →
Your date of birth is taken only from your Matriculation certificate. Once you enter it, no change is allowed later, so type it carefully.
What is the Salary of HPPSC Agriculture Development Officer 2026?
The advertisement fixes the emoluments for the job-trainee period at ₹29,500 per month. The engagement is governed by the Himachal Pradesh scheme for job trainees on a fixed amount, notified by the Department of Personnel on 19 July 2025, and later orders under it.
Monthly emoluments as a Job Trainee: ₹29,500 (fixed amount, as stated in the notification).
This advertisement lists only the job-trainee emoluments. Check the scheme and later orders for what follows the trainee period.
For a fresh agriculture postgraduate, a Group-A post in the State’s own Agriculture Department is a strong start. The Commission also asks for knowledge of the customs, manners and dialects of Himachal Pradesh.
What is the Selection Process and Exam Pattern for HPPSC ADO 2026?
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Objective Type Screening Test (Paper-I) and Descriptive Subject Aptitude Test (Paper-II) |
| Stage 2 | Personality Test (30 marks) at the Commission’s office in Shimla |
| Document verification | Originals checked on the day of the Personality Test |
| Final merit | SAT marks (120) + Personality Test marks (30) |
| Paper | Pattern | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-I (CBT or Offline, 1 hour, MCQ) | General knowledge of Himachal Pradesh | 30 |
| Paper-I | General knowledge of National and International Affairs | 30 |
| Paper-I | Knowledge of Hindi language | 20 |
| Paper-I | Knowledge of English language | 20 |
| Paper-II (Descriptive SAT, 3 hours) | Subject Aptitude Test | 120 |
| Personality Test | Held at Shimla | 30 |
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Negative marking | One-fourth (0.25) of the marks is cut for a wrong answer, for more than one answer, and for a blank answer. Choose option ‘E’ to skip a question |
| Paper-I cut | Zero or negative marks in Paper-I means you are not in the merit list |
| Paper-II evaluation | Answer sheets checked for 20 times the number of posts, on Paper-I merit |
| SAT qualifying marks | 45% for General, 40% for reserved categories |
| Personality Test qualifying marks | 40% (12 marks) for General, 30% (9 marks) for reserved categories |
| Zone of consideration | 1:5 for 11 or more posts |
| Few candidates | If eligible candidates are six times the posts or fewer, all go directly to the Personality Test. If below 20 times, only Paper-II and the Personality Test |
| Answer key | 5 days to object, ₹100 per objected question, non-refundable |
Both papers are held on the same day in morning and evening sessions. The Paper-II syllabus is on the Commission’s website, and you can also browse our syllabus section. In exceptional cases the Commission may decide the selection method as it deems fit.
Which Conditions Can Cost You the HPPSC ADO 2026 Job?
These lines are easy to skip, and each one can end your candidature.
| Condition | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Mode of applying | Applications through any other mode will be rejected straightaway |
| Fee | Applications without the prescribed fee or mode are summarily rejected; fee is not refunded |
| Photo and signature | An application without scanned photograph or signature is rejected |
| Changes after submission | No change after submitting, except category change under Rule 5(iv) |
| Category change later | Inform the Commission in writing within 15 days after the screening test (provided the result has not been declared), failing which the request is not entertained |
| Other States | Reserved category candidates of other States are treated as General and get no reservation |
| e-Admit card | Paste a passport size photograph, self-attested or attested by a Gazetted Officer, on the downloaded e-admit card, failing which you will not be allowed to appear in the written examination |
| Wrong centre | Appearing at a centre other than the allotted one means rejection |
| Photo mismatch | A different photograph, or face not matching, means your candidature is cancelled or you are not permitted to appear |
| Venue entry | Entry closes 30 minutes before the exam starts |
| Government employees | Regular employees need an NOC for document verification and the Personality Test. If the employer withholds permission, candidature is liable to be cancelled |
| Original certificates | Failing to produce your original category certificate means candidature is rejected |
| Ward certificate | Dependent Certificate and an affidavit that no family member was rehabilitated against Ex-Servicemen posts |
| Daughters of Ex-Servicemen | Undertaking of being unmarried and dependent on the father; married daughters are admitted provisionally with a provisional Ward certificate |
| False information | Leads to disqualification; service can be terminated if found later |
| Unfair means | You may be debarred from appearing in any written examination, document verification or Personality Test for up to 15 years, or your candidature cancelled. Being debarred earlier by UPSC or any State PSC on these grounds also counts. The H.P. Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2025 applies |
| Disqualifications for admission to the examination | Dismissed from Govt./Semi Govt. service, convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude, permanently debarred or disqualified from any examination, influencing the selection process, or an un-discharged insolvent |
| SAT minimum marks | Those below the prescribed SAT marks are disqualified and will not be considered for the remaining selection process |
| Re-evaluation | Re-checking or re-evaluation is not allowed in any case |
| Final answer key | No objection is entertained against it; the English version is final for bilingual papers |
A candidate with 40% or more disability who needs a scribe must apply in writing at least seven days before the screening test.
Several of these checks happen at the document stage, long after you have paid. So before you apply, sit with your Dependent Certificate, affidavit, Bonafide Himachali certificate and category certificate, and check that each one is valid and on the prescribed Himachal Pradesh format.
How to Apply Online for HPPSC ADO Recruitment 2026?
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Visit the official HPPSC application portal (link in Essential Links below) and open “Apply Online” |
| 2 | Click “One Time Registration (OTR) for Examinations”. Use “New Registration” with a valid mobile number and email, or log in if already registered |
| 3 | On the dashboard, pick Advertisement 63/9-2026 for Agriculture Development Officer from the live advertisements |
| 4 | Fill the form, choose the correct Ward of Ex-Servicemen category code, and upload the documents the notification asks for |
| 5 | Give the undertaking that your uploaded documents are legible, then pay ₹600 by Debit Card, Credit Card, UPI or other online mode |
| 6 | Submit before 22 October 2026, 11:59 PM, and download and keep the confirmation page |
Keep your Matriculation certificate, B.Sc. and M.Sc. mark sheets, Bonafide Himachali certificate, and the Dependent Certificate with affidavit ready. Failing to produce an original category certificate means rejection.
What are the Important Dates for HPPSC ADO 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement date | 25 September 2026 |
| Last date to apply online | 22 October 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Last date for fee payment | 22 October 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Age reckoned on | 01 January 2026 |
| Qualification reckoned on | 22 October 2026 |
| Screening test date | To be announced |
What is the Application Fee for HPPSC ADO 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All candidates (irrespective of category or gender) | ₹600 |
Pay online by Debit Card, Credit Card, UPI or any other online digital mode. The fee is never refunded and cannot be kept for another exam.
HPPSC ADO Recruitment 2026 Essential Links
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Apply Online for HPPSC Agriculture Development Officer (ADO) Recruitment 2026
- Visit HPPSC Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Himachal Pradesh Govt Jobs Telegram Channel
If you are a Ward of an Ex-Serviceman of Himachal Pradesh with B.Sc. (Agr.) and M.Sc. (Agri), this is a Group-A opening made for you. Do not wait for the last evening. Apply before 22 October 2026 so a slow portal or failed payment does not cost you. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in and our state PSC and other govt jobs page for more updates.