Introduction
The Haryana Assistant District Attorney (ADA) examination — conducted by the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) under Advt. No. 18/2025 — is one of the most coveted legal services exams in North India. Following the recent Punjab & Haryana High Court judgment, the Scheme/Pattern has been recalibrated in two important ways: Law is now part of the Screening Test, and 10 times the advertised vacancies (with bracketed candidates) are now called for the Subject Knowledge Test. This blog gives you the most accurate, copy-paste-ready guide to the updated syllabus and eligibility — curated by Sparsh Sir at JudiciaryPRO with 13 years of experience and proven success in judiciary courses across Gurugram and Delhi NCR.
About the Haryana ADA Exam
An Assistant District Attorney represents the State in criminal trials before Magistrate and Sessions Courts. The post offers Group-B Gazetted status, Pay Level-7 salary, and a strong career path to District Attorney. Selection is in three stages — Screening Test, Subject Knowledge Test, and Interview — with attendance in all three being mandatory.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) |
| Advertisement | No. 18/2025 (Scheme/Pattern dated 08.08.2025) |
| Post | Assistant District Attorney (ADA), Group-B |
| Selection Stages | Screening Test → Subject Knowledge Test → Interview |
| Final Merit Weightage | Subject Knowledge Test 87.5% + Interview 12.5% (Screening NOT counted) |
| Big Update (HC Judgment) | Law is now in Screening Test; 10× vacancies (with bracketed candidates) called for Subject Knowledge Test |
| Language | Bilingual (English + Hindi) |
| Official Website | hpsc.gov.in |
Eligibility Criteria
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian citizen |
| Education | Bachelor of Laws (LLB) — 3-year or 5-year integrated — from a Bar Council of India recognised university |
| Age Limit | 21–42 years (with category-wise relaxation as per Haryana Government rules) |
| Age Relaxation | SC/ST/BC of Haryana: +5 years | PwD: +10 years | Ex-servicemen & widows: as per state policy |
| Hindi | Matric-standard Hindi/Sanskrit; bilingual question papers |
| Domicile | Open to all Indian citizens; reservation benefits limited to Haryana residents |
| Bar Enrolment | Advisable; may be required at the time of joining |
Exam Pattern — 3 Stages
Stage 1 — Screening Test
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Total MCQs / Marks | 100 / 100 |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Options | 5 — 5th option indicates un-attempted |
| Negative Marking | ¼ mark deducted for wrong answer AND for un-darkened bubble |
| Language | English & Hindi |
| Minimum Qualifying | 25% |
| Cut for Subject Knowledge Test | 10× advertised vacancies + bracketed candidates (HC judgment-based) |
| Marks Counted in Final Merit? | No — only for shortlisting |
Stage 2 — Subject Knowledge Test (Mains)
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Subjective (descriptive) |
| Total Marks | 150 |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Language | English & Hindi |
| Minimum to Qualify for Interview | 35% |
| Candidates Called for Interview | 2× advertised vacancies + bracketed (subject to 35%) |
| Weightage in Final Merit | 87.5% |
Stage 3 — Interview
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode | Personality test / viva-voce by HPSC |
| Weightage in Final Merit | 12.5% |
| Final Merit Formula | Subject Knowledge Test (87.5%) + Interview (12.5%) |
| Attendance | Mandatory in all three stages |
Visual Snapshot — Final Merit Weightage
| Weightage in Final Selection (%) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject Knowledge Test |
| 87.5% | ||
| Interview |
| 12.5% | ||
| Screening Test |
| 0% (shortlisting only) | ||
Detailed Syllabus
Screening Test Syllabus (Topic-wise)
| Topic | Coverage |
|---|---|
| General Science | Class X-level science, recent developments |
| Current Events | National & International — last 12 months |
| History of India | Ancient, Medieval, Modern, freedom struggle |
| Indian & World Geography | Physical, social, economic |
| Indian Culture, Polity & Economy | Constitution basics, governance, schemes, budget |
| General Mental Ability | Reasoning and analytical abilities |
| Basic Numeracy & DI | Class X level — numbers, percentages, ratios, charts, tables, data sufficiency |
| Haryana GK | Haryana history, geography, polity, economy, culture |
| LAW (NEW — HC Judgment) | Same syllabus as Subject Knowledge Test (Civil Law + Criminal Law — see below) |
Subject Knowledge Test Syllabus (Official)
| Branch | Acts / Topics |
|---|---|
| (a) Civil Law | (i) Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 | (ii) Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 | (iii) Indian Contract Act | (iv) Indian Partnership Act | (v) Sale of Goods Act | (vi) Hindu Law | (vii) Mohammadan Law & Customary Law |
| (b) Criminal Law | (i) Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 | (ii) Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 | (iii) Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023 |
What Changed After the High Court Judgment 1. Screening Test now includes Law — drawn from the same syllabus as the Subject Knowledge Test. 2. The cut for the Subject Knowledge Test is now 10× advertised vacancies + bracketed candidates (earlier 4×). 3. 25% minimum still applies to clear Screening. 4. Screening marks remain a shortlisting filter only — not added to final merit. | |
Why JudiciaryPRO & Sparsh Sir
JudiciaryPRO, led by Sparsh Sir, is one of the most trusted names for judiciary courses in Gurugram and Delhi NCR. With 13 years of experience and proven success across Haryana ADA, Delhi APP, Punjab ADA, and various State Judicial Services, the programme combines bilingual delivery, mock-driven preparation, dedicated answer writing, and one-on-one mentorship to convert law graduates into selection-ready prosecutors.
- 13 years of experience and proven success — Sparsh Sir mentors every batch personally.
- Gurugram + Delhi NCR physical campuses + nationwide online access.
- Bilingual delivery for English- and Hindi-medium aspirants.
- Mock-driven preparation with weekly tests and personalised feedback.
FAQs
Q1. Are Screening Test marks counted in final merit?
No. The Screening Test is purely a shortlisting filter. The final merit is built on Subject Knowledge Test (87.5%) + Interview (12.5%). You must, however, score the 25% minimum to clear the Screening Test.
Q2. What does the High Court judgment change?
Two key changes: (a) Law is now part of the Screening Test syllabus with the same scope as the Subject Knowledge Test; and (b) the ratio of candidates called for the Subject Knowledge Test is now 10× advertised vacancies (with bracketed candidates) instead of 4×.
Q3. Is Hindi mandatory?
Question papers are bilingual. Working comfort in Hindi is essential for the subjective Subject Knowledge Test. JudiciaryPRO builds Hindi answer writing into the Haryana ADA programme from Week 1.
Final Word
The updated Haryana ADA exam decisively rewards law-strong, well-mentored candidates. With Law now in the Screening Test and 10× vacancies called for Mains, this is the moment to plug into a serious mentor. Sparsh Sir’s 13 years of experience and proven success at JudiciaryPRO — across Gurugram and Delhi NCR — are built for exactly this exam.