HPRCA Pharmacist Syllabus 2026 — CBT Subject-wise Syllabus for Pharmacy Officer (Part 1 A to J and Part 2 General Awareness)

HPRCA Pharmacist Syllabus 2026 — CBT Subject-wise Syllabus for Pharmacy Officer (Part 1 A–J & Part 2 General Awareness)

About HPRCA and the Pharmacist (Pharmacy Officer) Recruitment

• The Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog (HPRCA), Hamirpur, is the state recruitment body of Himachal Pradesh.
• HPRCA has released the detailed syllabus for the Computer Based Test (CBT) for the post of Pharmacist (Pharmacy Officer).
• The syllabus below is based strictly on the official syllabus document released by HPRCA.
• Official website: https://hprca.hp.gov.in/
• The official syllabus document is available in the notifications / syllabus section of the HPRCA website; download it for reference before preparation.
• Candidates must read the official HPRCA notification for eligibility, vacancies, exam pattern, dates and all other binding conditions.

HPRCA Pharmacist Syllabus 2026 — Quick Overview

• The recruitment examination for Pharmacist (Pharmacy Officer) is conducted as a Computer Based Test (CBT).
• The syllabus has two broad parts — subject areas as per the essential qualification (Part 1) and General Awareness (Part 2).
• The exam pattern, marks distribution and exam date are not part of the syllabus document; refer to the official HPRCA notification for these details.

HPRCA Pharmacist CBT Syllabus — Structure

• Part 1 covers the ten core pharmacy subject areas (A to J) of the essential qualification.
• Part 2 covers General Awareness including General Knowledge of Himachal Pradesh, current affairs and 10th-standard-level areas.

Part 1 — Subjects as per Essential Qualification (A to J)

• The ten subject areas below follow the official HPRCA Pharmacist syllabus document.
• Each area is summarised under its prescribed topic coverage.

A. Pharmaceutical Chemistry

• Errors and types of errors, accuracy, precision and significant figures.
• Pharmacopoeias (IP, BP, USP, NF).
• Impurities and limit tests: chloride, sulphate, iron, arsenic, lead and heavy metals.
• Acid-base titrations and indicators; non-aqueous titrations.
• Precipitation titrations: Mohr's, Volhard's, Modified Volhard's and Fajans methods.
• Complexometric titrations, gravimetry and redox titrations.
• Pharmaceutical formulations: dental products, haematinics, gastrointestinal agents, topical agents, medicinal gases.
• Heterocyclic chemistry.
• Classification, nomenclature, mechanism of action and medicinal uses of major drug classes — anaesthetics, sedatives, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, adrenergic and cholinergic agents, antihypertensives, antidiabetics, analgesics, antibiotics, antivirals, antineoplastics and more.

B. Biochemistry

• Cell structure and organization.
• Biological oxidation: electron transport chain, oxidative phosphorylation and inhibitors.
• Carbohydrates: structure, classification, glycolysis, citric acid cycle.
• Lipids: structure, metabolism, beta-oxidation, ketogenesis.
• Proteins and amino acid metabolism: transamination, deamination, urea cycle.
• Metabolic disorders: phenylketonuria, albinism, alkaptonuria, jaundice.
• Enzymes: classification, inhibitors, therapeutic and diagnostic applications.
• Nucleic acids: DNA and RNA structure and function.
• Vitamins: classification, coenzymes, deficiency diseases.
• Qualitative tests for carbohydrates, lipids and proteins.

C. Pharmacotherapeutics and Pathophysiology

• General introduction to pharmacotherapeutics.
• Essential Medicines List and Standard Treatment Guidelines.
• Etiopathogenesis, clinical manifestations and management of cardiovascular conditions — hypertension, angina, myocardial infarction, hyperlipidaemia, congestive heart failure.
• Respiratory diseases — asthma and COPD.
• Endocrine and metabolic disorders — diabetes and thyroid disorders.
• Neurological conditions — epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, migraine.
• Gastrointestinal and hepatic conditions — GERD, peptic ulcer disease, liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease.
• Haematological conditions — anaemias.
• Infectious diseases — tuberculosis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases, malaria, viral infections, HIV.
• Musculoskeletal, skin and other conditions — rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriasis, eczema.
• Psychiatric conditions — depression, anxiety, psychosis.
• Ophthalmic and women's-health conditions — glaucoma, PCOS, dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

D. Human Anatomy and Physiology

• Basic terminologies.
• Cellular and tissue-level organization.
• Gross anatomy and physiology of the osseous system.
• Haemopoietic and lymphatic systems.
• Cardiovascular system.
• Respiratory system.
• Digestive system.
• Skeletal muscle.
• Nervous system.
• Sensory system.
• Urinary system.
• Endocrine system.
• Reproductive system.
• Haematological diseases.

E. Pharmacology

• General pharmacology: routes of drug administration, ADME, bioavailability, biotransformation, pharmacodynamics.
• Drugs acting on the peripheral nervous system.
• Drugs acting on the central nervous system.
• Drugs acting on the cardiovascular system.
• Drugs acting on the kidney.
• Drugs acting on the gastrointestinal tract.
• Drugs acting on the blood.
• Drugs acting on the respiratory tract.
• Chemotherapeutic agents: penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, tetracyclines, sulphonamides.
• Antitubercular, antifungal, antiviral and antimalarial drugs.
• Antineoplastic drugs.
• Autocoids.
• Hormones and hormone antagonists.

F. Pharmaceutics

• Dosage forms.
• Prescriptions and prescription errors.
• Packaging materials.
• Pharmaceutical aids and preservatives.
• Unit operations: size reduction, size separation, mixing, filtration, evaporation, drying, extraction, distillation, centrifugation.
• Manufacturing of tablets, capsules and liquid dosage forms.
• Topical, nasal and ear preparations.
• Powders, granules and sterile formulations.
• Quality assurance and quality control.
• GLP, cGMP, pilot plant and scale-up techniques.
• Calibration and validation.
• Regulatory requirements for drug approval.

G. Pharmacognosy

• Definition, history and scope of pharmacognosy.
• Classification and adulteration of natural drugs.
• Evaluation methods.
• Phytoconstituents: alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, volatile oils, tannins, resins.
• Crude drugs used as laxatives, cardiotonics, antihypertensives, antitussives, antirheumatics, antidiabetics, diuretics, antiseptics and antimalarials.
• Plant fibres used as surgical dressings.
• Pharmacognosy in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy systems.
• Herbal formulations and herb-drug interactions.
• Herbal cosmetics and nutraceuticals.

H. Social Pharmacy

• Role of pharmacists in public health.
• Concept of health and disease.
• Nutrition: macro and micronutrients, malnutrition, dietary supplements.
• Epidemiology: epidemic, pandemic, endemic, morbidity, mortality.
• Communicable diseases and the role of pharmacists in public education.
• National health programmes: HIV/AIDS control, tuberculosis control, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), National Leprosy Control Programme, National Mental Health Programme, Universal Immunization Programme and Pulse Polio Programme.

I. Dispensing, Hospital and Clinical/Community Pharmacy

• Hospital pharmacy organization.
• Hospital committees.
• Compounding.
• Drug distribution systems.
• Inventory management.
• Radiopharmaceuticals.
• Clinical pharmacy functions.
• OTC sales and clinical laboratory tests.
• Poisoning and antidotes.
• Pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reactions.
• Medication errors, LASA drugs and Tallman lettering.
• Community pharmacy practice: patient counselling and medication adherence.

J. Pharmacy Law and Ethics

• Pharmacy Act, 1948.
• Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and rules.
• Medicinal and Toilet Preparation Act, 1955.
• Poisons Act, 1919.
• Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
• Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.
• NDPS Act, 1985.
• Code of Pharmaceutical Ethics.
• MTP Act and RTI Act.
• Intellectual Property Rights and Patent Law.
• CDSCO and IPC.
• BCS classification.
• Clinical trial basics: ANDA, NDA; New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019.
• Brand versus generic drugs.
• Clinical Establishment Act.
• Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016.
• Bioethics and the Consumer Protection Act.

Part 2 — General Awareness

• Part 2 covers seven General Awareness areas as per the official syllabus.
• General Knowledge includes General Knowledge of Himachal Pradesh.
• Social Science, General English and General Hindi are prescribed at the 10th standard level.

How to Download the HPRCA Pharmacist Syllabus 2026

• Visit the official HPRCA website: hprca.hp.gov.in
• Go to the Notifications or Syllabus section.
• Look for the Pharmacist (Pharmacy Officer) CBT syllabus link.
• Download and save the PDF for reference.

Important Instructions

• The syllabus is common for candidates meeting the essential qualification for the Pharmacist (Pharmacy Officer) post.
• Candidates should refer to the official HPRCA notification for exam pattern, marks distribution and exam date, as these are not part of the syllabus document.
• Keep checking the official HPRCA website for updates related to this recruitment.

How to Prepare for the HPRCA Pharmacist CBT (Indicative)

• Divide preparation across the ten Part-1 areas first — they carry the subject depth required for a Pharmacy Officer role.
• Build strong notes for Pharmacology, Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, the largest practical cores of the current pharmacy curriculum.
• List the named Acts and Rules (Pharmacy Act 1948, Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940, NDPS Act 1985, etc.) in tabular form for Pharmacy Law and Ethics revision.
• Revise national health programmes and epidemiology basics for Social Pharmacy.
• Keep a daily current-affairs routine and revise Himachal Pradesh General Knowledge separately.
• Set aside regular slots for General English and General Hindi at 10th-standard level.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What is the HPRCA Pharmacist syllabus 2026? The CBT syllabus covers ten core pharmacy subject areas (A to J) — Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacotherapeutics, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacognosy, Social Pharmacy, Dispensing/Hospital/Clinical/Community Pharmacy, and Pharmacy Law and Ethics — along with a General Awareness section.
• Does the syllabus include General Awareness? Yes — General Knowledge (including HP GK), Current Affairs, Everyday Science, Logical Reasoning, Social Science, General English and General Hindi at 10th standard level.
• What are the main subjects in the syllabus? The ten subject areas A to J listed above.
• Is Pharmacology part of the syllabus? Yes — Section E covers general pharmacology, ADME, pharmacodynamics and drug categories acting on the nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal and other body systems, as well as chemotherapeutic agents and hormones.
• Does the syllabus include Pharmacy Law and Ethics? Yes — Section J covers the Pharmacy Act 1948, Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940, NDPS Act 1985, Code of Pharmaceutical Ethics, Consumer Protection Act and related regulatory bodies such as CDSCO and IPC.

Important Links — Official Only

• HPRCA Official Website: hprca.hp.gov.in (Official Website)
• The official Pharmacist (Pharmacy Officer) CBT syllabus PDF is published in the notifications / syllabus section of the official HPRCA website only.
• No third-party links are used on this page.

Disclaimer

• This page is an informational summary of the HPRCA Pharmacist (Pharmacy Officer) CBT syllabus based on the official syllabus document released by the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog.
• It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog.
• Exam pattern, marks distribution and exam date are not part of the syllabus document; the official HPRCA notification is the binding and final source for all such details.
• Always verify details at https://hprca.hp.gov.in/.