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HPPSC Scientific Officier Syllabus 2026 - Download Unit-Wise Topics and Exam Pattern at hppsc.hp.gov.in

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  • Updated October 03, 2026 01:36 PM
  • by Isaivani Manimaran
  • The Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC) has released the syllabus for the Descriptive Subject Aptitude Test (SAT) for the post of Scientific Officer (Digital Forensic), Group-B, in the Directorate of Forensic Services, Home Department, Himachal Pradesh. The paper is of 120 marks and 3 hours, and it covers 12 units split across two parts. This page explains the full HPPSC Scientific Officer syllabus, the exam pattern, the topics that are excluded and the details that the syllabus document does not mention.
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HPPSC Scientific Officer Syllabus 2026 - Quick Overview

ParticularsDetails
OrganisationHimachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC)
Post NameScientific Officer (Digital Forensic), Group-B
DepartmentDirectorate of Forensic Services, Home Department, Himachal Pradesh
Test NameDescriptive Subject Aptitude Test (SAT)
Duration3 Hours
Maximum Marks120
Number of Parts2 (Part-I and Part-II)
Marks in Each Part60 marks each
Total Units12 (Unit I to Unit XII)
Official Websitehppsc.hp.gov.in

HPPSC Scientific Officer Digital Forensic Exam Pattern

PartMarksUnits CoveredBroad Area
Part-I60Unit I to Unit VIForensic foundations, digital evidence law, quality and lab administration, acquisition, operating systems and memory, mobile, IoT and video systems
Part-II60Unit VII to Unit XIINetwork and web, cloud and database, malware and incident response, multimedia and AI, cryptography and blockchain, tools and expert reporting
Total12012 UnitsDuration: 3 Hours
  • The syllabus describes the test as a descriptive paper. The pattern given in the document is below.

Unit-Wise Syllabus for HPPSC Scientific Officer (Digital Forensic)

UnitTitlePart
Unit IFoundations of Forensic Science and EvidencePart-I
Unit IILaw Relating to Digital EvidencePart-I
Unit IIIQuality Assurance, Ethics, Reporting and Lab AdministrationPart-I
Unit IVDigital Evidence Foundations: Acquisition and PreservationPart-I
Unit VOperating Systems, File Systems and Memory ForensicsPart-I
Unit VIMobile, IoT, Embedded and Video-System ForensicsPart-I
Unit VIINetwork, Web and Communication ForensicsPart-II
Unit VIIICloud, Virtualisation and Database ForensicsPart-II
Unit IXMalware, Cyber Threats and Incident ResponsePart-II
Unit XMultimedia, Artificial Intelligence and Synthetic Media ForensicsPart-II
Unit XICryptography, Blockchain and Cryptocurrency ForensicsPart-II
Unit XIIForensic Analysis Tools, Case Management and Expert ReportingPart-II

Topics Excluded from the HPPSC Scientific Officer Syllabus

UnitExcluded Topics
Unit IDetailed bloodstain-pattern analysis, accident reconstruction, glass, soil, paint, ballistics and instrumental chemical analysis
Unit IIIDetailed citation indices and impact factors
Unit IVDetailed CD/DVD writing architecture and application-specific internal buffers
Unit VIDetailed Boolean algebra, K-maps and circuit-design exercises
  • The syllabus names the following topics as excluded.

Important Points to Note in the Syllabus

  • The test is descriptive, so answers need to be explained, not just recalled.
  • Law questions mainly come from central legislation and nationally applicable rules. Himachal Pradesh-specific rules matter only where they directly govern the State Forensic Science Lab or handling of digital evidence in the State.
  • MD5 and SHA-1 are to be treated as legacy hash algorithms. SHA-256 (SHA-2), SHA-3 and HMAC are the main hashing topics.
  • The new criminal laws (BSA 2023, BNSS 2023 and BNS 2023) are listed by name, so study the digital-evidence provisions under these laws.
  • Several units use limiting phrases such as "overview level", "introductory level" and "only to the extent necessary". Study these topics for understanding, not for deep technical depth.
  • AI-assisted triage cannot replace examiner verification or validated forensic procedure.

How to Prepare for the HPPSC Scientific Officer Digital Forensic Exam

  • The syllabus does not give a preparation plan. The following approach is based only on its structure.
  • Divide your time by the two parts: Part-I (Units I to VI) and Part-II (Units VII to XII) carry 60 marks each.
  • Start with Unit II and Unit IV, as legal provisions, hash values and chain of custody connect to many other units.
  • Practise writing structured answers, since the paper is descriptive and has a 3-hour limit.
  • Learn the named standards properly: ISO/IEC 17025:2017, ISO 21043, ISO/IEC 27037, 27041, 27042 and 27043.
  • Revise artefact lists (Windows, mobile, browser, email, cloud) in tabular notes, as they are repeated across units.
  • Skip the excluded topics so that time is not wasted.

HPPSC Scientific Officier Syllabus 2026 - Important Links

  • Direct Link to Check HPPSC Scientific Officier Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026
  • HPPSC Official website
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Q1. What is the exam pattern for HPPSC Scientific Officer (Digital Forensic)?

  • The Descriptive Subject Aptitude Test (SAT) is a 3-hour paper of 120 marks. It has two parts of 60 marks each: Part-I covers Units I to VI and Part-II covers Units VII to XII.

Q2. How many units are there in the HPPSC Scientific Officer syllabus?

  • There are 12 units, from Unit I (Foundations of Forensic Science and Evidence) to Unit XII (Forensic Analysis Tools, Case Management and Expert Reporting).

Q4. Which laws are included in the syllabus?

  • Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, the Information Technology Act 2000, the IT Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules 2021, CERT-In directions under section 70B and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 are listed.

Q5. Is AI and deepfake detection included in the syllabus?

  • Yes. Unit X covers AI and machine learning concepts, model evaluation (accuracy, precision, recall and F1-score), deepfakes, synthetic media and their detection limitations.
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