HP Police Constable (New Recruitment) Eligibility Criteria 2026

The HP Police Constable recruitment has clearly defined educational requirements that candidates must satisfy to be eligible for the application. The primary requirement is that the candidate must have passed both Matriculation (10th) and 10+2 examinations from a recognized board of education.

Regarding the location of these qualifications, candidates are generally expected to have obtained their 10th and 12th-grade certificates from institutions situated within Himachal Pradesh. This is a critical requirement designed to prioritize local residents. However, this condition regarding the location of schooling is not applicable to candidates who are Bonafide residents of Himachal Pradesh. Candidates who are not Bonafide residents of the state must have their 10th and 12th qualifications from schools located within the state. This distinction ensures that the recruitment policy aligns with the state's goal of supporting its local population while maintaining standardized educational requirements for the police force. During the document verification phase, candidates will be required to submit their original mark sheets and certificates to authenticate their academic background. Failure to meet these criteria will result in the immediate disqualification of the candidate, regardless of their performance in the physical or written stages.

Age eligibility is a critical criterion for this recruitment process. The Himachal Pradesh Police has established specific age ranges for different categories to ensure equity. The reference date for age calculation is typically stipulated in the official notification.

• General/EWS/Ward of Ex-Servicemen: The minimum age required is 18 years, and the maximum age limit is 25 years.
• SC/ST/OBC Categories: These candidates are provided relaxation, with an age range of 18 to 27 years.
• Home Guards: Applicants belonging to the Home Guard category are eligible to apply between the age of 20 and 28 years.

Candidates must ensure they fall strictly within these age brackets. Proof of age, such as a birth certificate or a 10th-grade mark sheet, will be verified during the document verification stage. Applicants exceeding the age limits specified for their respective categories will not be considered for the recruitment process.

Selection Stages

The recruitment process for the HP Police Constable is a comprehensive evaluation comprising five main stages:

1. Physical Standard Test (PST): Initial screening based on physical measurements like height and chest.
2. Physical Efficiency Test (PET): Assessing speed and endurance.
3. Written Examination: An objective test evaluating subject knowledge.
4. Document Verification: Authenticatin of all submitted documents.
5. Medical Examination: Final health assessment.

Physical Efficiency Test (PET) Requirements

Final Merit Distribution

The Himachal Pradesh Police recruitment provides specific age relaxation for candidates belonging to different reserved categories and segments, ensuring that these groups have fair access to government employment opportunities. These relaxations are applied to the upper age limit.

• General/EWS Categories: These candidates must adhere to the standard age bracket of 18–25 years.
• SC/ST/OBC Candidates: This group is granted an upper age limit relaxation, allowing them to apply up to the age of 27 years.
• Home Guards: Recognizing their specific service context, the age bracket for Home Guard candidates is extended to 20–28 years.
• Ex-Servicemen: Wards of Ex-Servicemen are considered within the general age criteria unless specific government orders provide further concessions.

These relaxations ensure that candidates from all backgrounds, particularly those from disadvantaged sections, are given an equal opportunity to compete in the recruitment process. It is mandatory for candidates to produce valid caste and category certificates issued by the competent authority to avail of these relaxations during the document verification stage.