1. Introduction about the exam 🧭

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) is a Maharatna Central PSU in India operating in the refining, distribution, and marketing of petroleum products. For 2026, HPCL is expected to conduct recruitment drives for positions such as Engineers/Officers through valid GATE 2026 scores, as well as Junior Executives, Junior Operators, and other technical and non-technical posts via HPCL’s direct selection process.

2. Selection Process ✅

The selection process varies by post category:

Engineers/Officers through GATE 2026: Valid GATE 2026 score in relevant discipline → online application on HPCL site → shortlisting → GD/Interview (if applicable) → medical & final appointment.
Junior Executive / Diploma/Technical posts: Online Application → Computer Based Test (CBT) covering general aptitude + technical knowledge → Skill/Proficiency Test (if applicable) / GD/Interview → medical & final appointment.

3. Exam Pattern with tables 📘

For Engineers/Officer Posts (2025/expected 2026)

Stage	Mode	Details
CBT / Written	Online	Two parts: General Aptitude + Technical/Professional Knowledge.
GD/Interview	Offline/Online	As per position, sometimes required.
Medical	Physical fitness	According to HPCL norms.

Example Pattern

Section	No. of Questions	Marks	Duration
General Aptitude (Quant, English, Reasoning)	~85	~85	150 minutes
Technical / Professional Knowledge	~85	~85	Same duration
Total	~170	~170	150 minutes

For Junior Executive / Technical Posts

Section	No. of Questions	Marks	Duration
General Aptitude & Reasoning	See notification	See notification	Typically ~120-150 min
Technical / Professional Knowledge	See notification	—	—

Negative Marking: For many posts there is a deduction of 0.25 marks for wrong answers.

4. Detailed Section-wise Syllabus 🎯

General Aptitude / Common Section

Quantitative Aptitude: Number system, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion, Data Interpretation.
English Language & Comprehension: Reading passages, Vocabulary, Grammar.
Logical & Analytical Reasoning: Series, Analogies, Classification, Data Analysis.
General Awareness & Current Affairs (for some posts): Basic Science, Energy Sector, Current events.

Technical / Professional Knowledge (for Engineering/Technical posts)

Depending on your branch (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Chemical, Instrumentation, etc.), topics include:

Mechanical: Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, Machine Design, Power Plant Engineering.
Electrical: Circuit Theory, Electrical Machines, Power Systems, Control Systems.
Chemical: Process Calculations, Chemical Reaction Engineering, Plant Design.
Civil: Structural Engineering, RCC/Steel Design, Environmental Engineering.
Instrumentation/Electronics: Analog/Digital, Measurement Systems, Control Systems.
Trade/Engineering Diploma posts: Core trade subjects + general engineering knowledge.

5. Final Selection Process with Marks Weightage 🧮

For Engineers/Officer posts:

Merit primarily based on GATE score + application credentials + possibly GD/Interview.
For technical/Junior Executive posts:
CBT marks form the major component. Skill tests/GD/Interview may be qualifying or add limited weight.
Example from HPCL’s official notification: Qualifying marks in CBT → 60% for UR/EWS, 54% for SC/ST/OBCNC/PwBD. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.

6. Practical Preparation Tips 📝

Start with core technical subjects aligned to your discipline. Make sure fundamentals are clear.
Solve previous year papers and mocks under timed conditions — that helps speed & accuracy.
Work on general aptitude sections (Quant, Reasoning, English) as they are common across posts.
Pay attention to negative marking rules— avoid blind guesses if penalty applies.
Keep yourself updated with the energy/petroleum sector trends, especially for HPCL‐specific context.
Ensure all your eligibility documents (qualifications, % marks, category certificate, GATE score if applicable) are ready.
Plan a revision schedule: use short notes for formulae, important topics, and quick facts.
Maintain health & mindset: Balanced study schedule, breaks, good sleep, and stress management matter.
Always refer to the official HPCL recruitment notification for valid information on pattern, syllabus, and process.

7. Useful Resource links 🔗

Official HPCL careers notification PDF: https://www.hindustanpetroleum.com/documents/pdf/Recruitment_of_Officers_2025-26_English-01062025.pdf Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.
Official scheme of paper & duration PDF: https://www.hindustanpetroleum.com/documents/pdf/Scheme_of_Paper_and_Duration_of_Examination_30082022.pdf Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.

Hindustan Petroleum - Wikipedia

🛢️ Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) Recruitment 2026