The HPPSC ADA mock test on SarkariExam.Center replicates the exact Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission Assistant District Attorney screening test pattern: 100 MCQs in 120 minutes with 0.25 negative marking per wrong answer, covering Civil Law, Criminal Law, and HP General Knowledge. Qualifying marks are 25 out of 100. Start free now, no login required.
HPPSC ADA Screening Test Exam Pattern
The Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission conducts the ADA screening test as a Computer-Based Test with 100 objective-type questions in 120 minutes. Every mock test on SarkariExam.Center uses this exact structure.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Questions | 100 MCQs |
| Total Marks | 100 marks (1 mark per question) |
| Duration | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer |
| Qualifying Marks | 25 out of 100 (25%) |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Language | English and Hindi (bilingual) |
| Conducted By | Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC), Shimla |
| Post | Assistant District Attorney, HP Government |
HPPSC shortlists candidates at 4 times the number of advertised vacancies for the next stage after the screening test. A competitive qualifying score is 65 marks or above, not just the minimum 25% threshold.
Subject-Wise Question Distribution in HPPSC ADA Exam
The HPPSC ADA screening test divides 100 questions across 3 broad subject areas with law subjects carrying the heaviest weightage. Use this breakdown to plan your daily preparation time correctly.
| Subject Area | Approx. Questions | Marks | Key Acts and Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Law | 35 to 40 | 35 to 40 | CPC, Evidence Act, Contract Act, Sale of Goods Act, Hindu Law, Mohammedan Law, Partnership Act |
| Criminal Law | 35 to 40 | 35 to 40 | IPC, CrPC, Evidence Act (criminal applications), special criminal laws |
| HP General Knowledge and Current Affairs | 20 to 30 | 20 to 30 | HP history, geography, culture, economy, polity, national and HP current affairs |
Civil Law Topics in HPPSC ADA Mock Test
Civil Law carries approximately 35 to 40 questions in the HPPSC ADA screening test, making it the largest single subject block. Preparation must cover both procedural law and substantive law under the topics below.
Code of Civil Procedure (CPC)
CPC questions test jurisdiction principles, pleadings, written statements, interim orders, execution of decrees, and appeals. Frequently tested sections include Order 7 (plaint), Order 8 (written statement), Order 39 (temporary injunctions), Section 9 (jurisdiction of civil courts), Section 96 (first appeal), and Section 115 (revision). Case-law questions from Supreme Court judgments on CPC provisions also appear regularly.
Indian Evidence Act
Evidence Act questions focus on admissibility rules, types of evidence, burden of proof, and witness examination procedures. Key sections include Section 3 (definitions), Section 17 to 31 (admissions and confessions), Section 45 (expert opinion), Section 65 (secondary evidence), and Section 101 to 111 (burden of proof). Questions often present factual scenarios and ask which evidence rule applies.
Indian Contract Act and Sale of Goods Act
Contract Act questions test offer and acceptance, valid contract elements, voidable and void agreements, breach, and remedies. Sale of Goods Act questions cover conditions and warranties, passing of property, and rights of an unpaid seller. Combined scenario questions testing both acts in a single transaction appear frequently.
Hindu Law and Mohammedan Law
Hindu Law questions test the Hindu Succession Act, Hindu Marriage Act, Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, and Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act. Mohammedan Law questions cover marriage, dower, divorce, and inheritance under Muslim personal law. HP has a significant population governed by both personal law systems, making these topics high-priority for the ADA role.
Partnership Act and Transfer of Property Act
Partnership Act questions test types of partners, partner authority, dissolution of firms, and liability provisions. Transfer of Property Act questions cover sale, mortgage, lease, exchange, and gift of immovable property. Sections 54 (sale), 58 (mortgage types), 105 (lease), and 122 (gift) carry the most questions from this Act.
Criminal Law Topics in HPPSC ADA Mock Test
Criminal Law carries approximately 35 to 40 questions and tests your ability to apply IPC, CrPC, and Evidence Act provisions to real prosecution scenarios.
Indian Penal Code (IPC)
IPC questions test offence definitions, punishment provisions, and general exceptions across all chapters. High-frequency sections include:
- General exceptions: Sections 76 to 106 covering mistake of fact, insanity, intoxication, and private defence
- Offences against the body: Sections 299 to 304 (culpable homicide and murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 319 to 338 (hurt and grievous hurt)
- Sexual offences: Sections 375 to 376 and amendments under the Criminal Law Amendment Act
- Property offences: Sections 378 to 462 covering theft, extortion, robbery, dacoity, and criminal misappropriation
- Common intention and common object: Sections 34 and 149 applied to group crime scenarios
- Conspiracy and abetment: Sections 107 to 120B
Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)
CrPC questions test arrest powers, bail provisions, FIR rules, chargesheet procedures, trial stages, and appeal mechanisms. Key provisions include:
- Cognisable vs non-cognisable offences: First Schedule classification and police powers under Section 154 to 157
- Bail: Sections 436 (bailable offences), 437 (non-bailable offences), 439 (sessions court bail powers)
- Magistrate powers: Sections 190, 193, and 197 on taking cognisance
- Trial procedures: Warrant trial, summons trial, and summary trial distinctions
- Appeals and revisions: Sections 372 to 401
HP General Knowledge and Current Affairs Topics
HP GK carries 20 to 30 questions and tests Himachal Pradesh-specific knowledge that national GK sources do not cover.
Himachal Pradesh History and Political System
- HP state formation on January 25, 1971 under the HP State Act 1970
- Role of Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar, the first Chief Minister of HP
- Merger of hill states and integration into HP
- HP Legislative Assembly structure: 68 constituencies, Governor, CM, and Cabinet
- HP High Court at Shimla: jurisdiction, Chief Justice, and notable judgments
HP Geography and Economy
- Major rivers: Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, and Yamuna; their origin and tributaries
- 12 administrative districts and their headquarters
- Key economic sectors: horticulture (apple belt in Shimla and Kullu), hydropower projects, tourism
- Wildlife sanctuaries and national parks like Great Himalayan National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Tribal areas: Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, and Pangi valley
Current Affairs (National and HP-Specific)
- Recent HP government schemes and social welfare programmes
- Important HP High Court judgments in the last 12 months
- National legislation amendments relevant to criminal and civil law practitioners
- Union Budget provisions affecting legal aid and judiciary
- Supreme Court constitutional bench decisions on fundamental rights and criminal law
HPPSC ADA Selection Process: After the Screening Test
The HPPSC ADA selection runs across 3 stages; clearing the screening test with a competitive score gets you to Stage 2.
- Stage 1: Screening Test (CBT): 100 MCQs, 120 minutes, 0.25 negative marking; HPPSC shortlists 4 times the vacancy count for Stage 2
- Stage 2: Subject Aptitude Test (SAT) or Mains: Descriptive law paper testing deeper legal knowledge and analytical writing; marks from this stage carry the highest merit weightage
- Stage 3: Viva Voce (Interview): Personality assessment, legal reasoning, and suitability for district prosecution work; conducted by HPPSC board in Shimla
Negative Marking Rule: How to Score Above 65 in HPPSC ADA Screening Test
4 wrong answers cancel exactly 1 correct answer under the HPPSC ADA 0.25 rule. Use this accuracy decision guide in every mock test session.
- Confident in the correct answer: Attempt without hesitation
- Can eliminate 2 of 4 options: Attempt; the expected score from a 50% guess on 2 remaining options is still positive
- Cannot eliminate any option: Skip; random guessing from 4 equal options produces a net loss of 0.0625 marks per attempt
- Target attempt rate: Attempt 80 to 85 questions with 80% accuracy to score above 63 marks net
Time Allocation Per Subject in 120 Minutes
- Civil Law: 45 minutes (35 to 40 questions)
- Criminal Law: 45 minutes (35 to 40 questions)
- HP GK and Current Affairs: 20 minutes (20 to 30 questions)
- Review buffer: 10 minutes for marked questions and final verification
5 Mistakes That Drop HPPSC ADA Screening Test Scores
These specific errors account for most candidates failing to reach the HPPSC shortlist despite adequate law knowledge.
- Treating the 25% qualifying mark as the target: HPPSC shortlists only the top performers at 4 times vacancy count; scoring 30 marks qualifies on paper but eliminates you from the shortlist in competitive recruitment cycles; target 65 marks minimum
- Skipping HP GK preparation: HP GK carries 20 to 30 marks that most LLB graduates ignore because it falls outside their law curriculum; these marks are among the easiest to gain with 15 to 20 days of focused HP-specific preparation
- Applying general legal knowledge without HP High Court context: HPPSC ADA questions test law as applied in HP courts; HP High Court judgments and state-specific legal amendments appear regularly and catch candidates who only studied central law commentaries
- Spending more than 90 seconds on a single question: With 100 questions in 120 minutes, each question gets 72 seconds on average; a 3-minute question takes time from 2 other questions you would have answered correctly
- Not reviewing wrong answers from mock tests: Attempting 15 mock tests without analysing errors builds the same wrong application of legal principles repeatedly; 30 minutes of post-test review per attempt improves accuracy faster than reading bare acts alone
21-Day HPPSC ADA Mock Test Practice Plan
This plan builds law subject accuracy in Week 1, criminal law speed in Week 2, and full screening test simulation in Week 3.
Week 1: Civil Law Foundation (Days 1 to 7)
- Days 1 to 2: CPC section-wise tests (20 questions); focus on jurisdiction, pleadings, and execution; target 65% accuracy
- Days 3 to 4: Evidence Act tests on admissibility, burden of proof, and confession; target 70% accuracy
- Days 5 to 6: Contract Act, Hindu Law, and Transfer of Property Act chapter tests
- Day 7: Full Civil Law sectional test (35 questions in 45 minutes); record score and section errors
Week 2: Criminal Law Mastery (Days 8 to 14)
- Days 8 to 9: IPC section tests on offences against body, property crimes, and general exceptions; target 70% accuracy
- Days 10 to 11: CrPC tests on arrest, bail, FIR procedures, and trial stages
- Days 12 to 13: HP GK tests on history, geography, economy, and HP High Court; target 75% accuracy
- Day 14: First full 100-question HPPSC ADA mock test under strict 120-minute timer; record net score and subject-wise accuracy
Week 3: Full Test Simulation (Days 15 to 21)
- Attempt 1 full HPPSC ADA mock test every alternate day under exam conditions
- After each test: review every wrong answer, identify which legal provision you misapplied, and revise that specific provision the next day
- Target by Day 21: Consistent net score above 65 marks with attempt rate above 80 questions
HPPSC ADA Mock Test: Frequently Asked Questions
The HPPSC ADA screening test has 100 MCQs worth 100 marks to be completed in 120 minutes. Questions cover Civil Law, Criminal Law, and HP General Knowledge. Negative marking of 0.25 marks applies per wrong answer. The official qualifying mark is 25 out of 100, but competitive shortlisting requires 60 to 70 marks depending on the number of vacancies and candidates in that recruitment cycle.
Civil Law and Criminal Law each carry approximately 35 to 40 questions, together accounting for 70 to 80 marks of the 100-mark paper. Within Civil Law, CPC and Evidence Act carry the highest individual question count. Within Criminal Law, IPC and CrPC together form 80% of criminal law questions. HP GK and Current Affairs account for the remaining 20 to 30 questions.
The HPPSC ADA selection runs across 3 stages: Screening Test CBT, Subject Aptitude Test or Mains, and Viva Voce Interview. HPPSC shortlists candidates at 4 times the number of vacancies after the screening test. Clearing the screening test with a score in the top quartile of all candidates is the most competitive hurdle in the full selection process.
Yes, HP-specific legal knowledge including HP High Court judgments, state amendments to central laws, and HP municipal and panchayat regulations appears in the screening test. Standard national law textbooks do not cover these topics. Use HP Rajpatra (state gazette) notifications, HP High Court annual reports, and HP government official portal at himachal.nic.in for state-specific legal updates alongside standard bare acts.
Attempt at least 15 full-length HPPSC ADA mock tests before your actual screening test date. Start with subject-wise section tests for the first 7 days to build accuracy per law subject, then shift to full 100-question tests from Day 8 onward. Space full tests 2 to 3 days apart and use the gap days to review wrong answers and revise the specific legal provisions you misapplied in each attempt.
