HPPSC Scientific Officer (NDPS) Recruitment 2026 - Syllabus & Exam Pattern

Recruitment Overview

The Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC) is conducting the recruitment process for Scientific Officer (NDPS), Group-B for the Directorate of Forensic Services, Home Department, H.P. The primary selection stage is the Subject Aptitude Test (SAT).

Exam Pattern: Subject Aptitude Test (SAT)

• Question Type: Descriptive
• Total Marks: 120
• Duration: 3 Hours
• Structure: Divided into two parts (Part-I and Part-II), each carrying 60 marks.

Detailed Syllabus

Part-I: Forensic Science Fundamentals (60 Marks)

• Forensic Basics: History, scope, Locard's Principle, and AI/ML applications.
• Crime Scene Management: Evidence collection, 3D recording, blood stain analysis, and road accident reconstruction.
• Dactylography: Fingerprint classification, Henry system, and NAFIS.
• Instrumental Methods: Microscopy (SEM, TEM), Spectroscopy (AAS, ICP-MS), and Chromatography (HPLC, TLC).
• Quality & Law: ISO/IEC 17025:2017, BNS, BNSS, BSA 2023, and the NDPS Act.
• Research: Methodology, ethics, and plagiarism detection.

Part-II: Chemistry & Pharmacology (60 Marks)

• Chemistry Basics: Organic, Inorganic, and Physical chemistry, Stereochemistry, and Proteins/Lipids.
• NDPS Specialization: Narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and active constituents of Papaver somniferum and Cannabis sativa.
• Forensic Chemistry: Arson investigation, petroleum products, and alcohol analysis.
• Analytical Chemistry: Volumetric/gravimetric techniques and GLP.
• Separation Techniques: GC-MS, LC-MS, and drug extraction methods (Stas-Otto).
• Forensic Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism, and toxicological studies.

Key Preparation Strategies

• Segmented Study: Treat Part-I (Forensics) and Part-II (Chemistry/Pharmacology) as separate study blocks.
• Focus on Instruments: Deep dive into the principles and applications of spectroscopy and chromatography.
• Descriptive Practice: Since the exam is descriptive, practice long-form answer writing within the 3-hour time limit.
• Legal Review: Thoroughly study the BNS, BNSS, BSA 2023, and NDPS Act.