HPPSC Scientific Officer Syllabus 2026 OUT Check Exam Pattern at hppsc.hp.gov.in
Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC) has released the detailed syllabus for the Subject Aptitude Test (SAT) for the recruitment of Scientific Officer (NDPS), Group-B under the Directorate of Forensic Services, Home Department, H.P. Candidates preparing for this descriptive examination can check the detailed exam pattern, mark distribution, and unit-wise syllabus covering forensic science, chemistry, narcotics, and pharmacology below.
Exam Overview
| Exam Name | HPPSC Subject Aptitude Test (SAT) |
|---|---|
| Post Name | Scientific Officer (NDPS), Group-B |
| Department | Directorate of Forensic Services, HP |
| Question Type | Descriptive |
SAT Exam Pattern 2026
| Total Marks | 120 Marks |
|---|---|
| Time Duration | 3 Hours |
| Number of Parts | 2 (Part-I and Part-II) |
| Marks per Part | 60 Marks Each |
HPPSC Scientific Officer SAT: Parts & Marks Distribution
| Part | Marks | Broad Coverage (Descriptive) |
|---|---|---|
| Part-I | 60 | Units I to VI: Forensic Science Fundamentals, Crime Scene Management, Dactylography, Instrumental Methods, Chemometrics & Quality Management, Research Methodology & Ethics. |
| Part-II | 60 | Units VII to XII: Chemistry Basics, Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances, Forensic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Sample Preparation & Separation Techniques, Forensic Pharmacology. |
| Total Marks | 120 Marks (Duration: 3 Hours) | |
HPPSC Scientific Officer Detailed Syllabus (Part-I: 60 Marks)
| Unit I - Forensic Science Fundamentals | Definition, scope, history of forensic science. Forensic organizations (CFSLs, FSLs, DFSS, NCRB, FBI, INTERPOL). Principles (Locard’s Exchange, natural variation, comparison, probability, individualization, continuous change, Sydney declaration). Frye’s and Daubert Standards. Types of evidence, SOPs for evidence. Applications of AI and ML in forensic science. |
|---|---|
| Unit II - Crime Scene Management | Systematic investigation, securing the scene, evidence collection/packaging, chain of custody. Photography, videography, sketching. Crime scene reconstruction, expert testimony. Blood stain pattern analysis. Reconstruction of road accidents. Glass, soil, paint, and impact analysis. |
| Unit III - Fundamentals of Dactylography (Fingerprints) | Ridge formation, pattern types, principles/classification (Henry system, Battley’s single digit). Recording/developing fingerprints. Photography and digital transmission. NAFIS. Biometrics (face recognition, iris, retina, hand geometry). |
| Unit IV - Instrumental Methods | Microscopy (simple, compound, comparison, SEM, TEM, AFM, Confocal, VSC). Atomic Spectroscopy (AAS, AES, ICP-MS). X-Ray Techniques (XRD, XRF, ESCA). Molecular Spectroscopy (UV-Vis, IR, FTIR, Raman). Electrophoresis. Chromatography (TLC, HPTLC, HPLC, paper, column). Layered Voice Analysis (LVA), BEOS, polygraph, brain mapping, IBIS. |
| Unit V - Chemometrics, Quality Management & Report Writing | Mean, mode, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, multivariate analysis. QMS (ISO/IEC 17025:2017, ISO 21043, ISO 9001), accreditation, calibration, LOD, LOQ. LIMS. Report writing. Related laws (BNS, BNSS, BSA 2023, IT Act 2000, POCSO Act, NDPS Act, MVA Act). |
| Unit VI - Research Methodology & Ethics | Research design, hypothesis formulation, sampling, data collection techniques, statistical interpretation, literature review. Plagiarism detection tools. Citation index, impact factor, ethics in forensic science. |
HPPSC Scientific Officer Detailed Syllabus (Part-II: 60 Marks)
| Unit VII - Basics of Physical, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry: Properties of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, amines. Stereochemistry (R/S, P/M nomenclature, asymmetric synthesis). Proteins, carbohydrates, fats, lipids. Alkaloids (classification, isolation, identification). | |
| Unit VIII - Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances | Definition, types, designer drugs, pharmacological action. Narcotic plants (Papaver somniferum, Cannabis sativa, Coca plant). Controlled Substances Act, precursor chemicals, clandestine labs. New Psychotropic Substances (NPS). Extraction/identification of alkaloids (Morphine, Codeine, Cocaine, Heroin, etc.). Drugs Act, Excise Act, NDPS Act. |
|---|---|
| Unit IX - Forensic Chemistry | Identification methods, volumetric/titrimetric analysis. Phenolphthalein in bribe trap cases. Corrosive chemicals (acid/alkali throwing). Arson (chemistry of fire, investigation, flammable residue). Petroleum products (testing, adulteration, chemical fingerprinting). Alcohol (intoxication, methanol poisoning, breath-alcohol instrumentation). |
| Unit X - Analytical Chemistry | Classical/instrumental methods, volumetric, gravimetric techniques. Accuracy, precision, sample preparation, reagent safety. GLP, SOPs, method validation. Biological/biochemical analysis (pH, buffers, centrifugation techniques). |
| Unit XI - Sample Preparation & Separation Techniques | Liquid-liquid extraction, solid phase extraction. Separation techniques (partition, adsorption, ion exchange, size exclusion chromatography). Emerging techniques (GC, GC-MS, LC-MS-MS, capillary chromatography). Extraction of drugs/poison from biological samples (Stas-Otto, acid digestion). |
| Unit XII - Forensic Pharmacology | Pharmacokinetics (absorption, metabolism, bioavailability, distribution, elimination, half-life). Drug metabolism (Phase-1 & Phase-2). Pharmacodynamics. Drug development (preclinical studies, LD50, ED50, Irwin profile test, Lipinski’s rule). |
Preparation Tips for HPPSC Scientific Officer (NDPS) 2026
| Analyze the Units | Start with the official syllabus and map each of the 12 units against your existing knowledge to identify weak areas. |
|---|---|
| Block Study Strategy | Treat Part-I (Forensic Science heavy) and Part-II (Chemistry/Pharmacology heavy) as separate blocks to maintain continuity in related concepts. |
| Focus on Core Instruments | For instrumental and analytical methods (Unit IV, X, XI), focus deeply on the principle, instrumentation, and application, as they overlap across multiple units. |
| Descriptive Practice | As the SAT is a 3-hour descriptive paper (not multiple-choice), practice writing long-form answers within strict time limits. |
| Legal Awareness | Continually revise the referenced laws (BNS, BNSS, BSA, NDPS Act, POCSO Act, IT Act) alongside technical topics, as they are crucial for forensic report writing. |
| Chemical Extraction Mappings | Keep a running note of standard drug/alkaloid names and their specific extraction methods, as they are intricate and easy to mix up. |
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