The Himachal Pradesh Polytechnic Admission Test (HP PAT 2026) is a state-level entrance exam conducted annually by the Himachal Pradesh Takniki Shiksha Board (HPTSB), Dharamshala, for admission to diploma programs in polytechnic institutes across Himachal Pradesh. It serves as the gateway for Class 10 graduates seeking three-year diplomas in Engineering & Technology, Pharmacy, Architecture Assistantship, and Hotel Management & Catering Technology (HMCT). Approximately 20 government and private polytechnics participate, offering around 5,000 seats, with reservations for SC/ST/OBC/PWD and HP domiciles.
Eligibility requires passing Class 10 (or equivalent) from a recognized board with 35% aggregate marks, including Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics (or Biology for Pharmacy), and English. Appearing candidates qualify provisionally. Indian nationals, preferably HP residents for quota benefits, can apply; no upper age limit applies.
The application process is online-only via hptechboard.com, tentatively opening in the first week of April 2026 (last date: fourth week April). Steps include registration, form filling, document upload (photo/signature/marksheet), and fee payment (?650 General, ?400 reserved). Admit cards release in mid-May, with the offline (OMR-based) exam in the third week of May. Results and counseling follow in early June.
For more details related to HP PAT 2026 students must go through the complete article given here.
Name of Exam
Himachal Pradesh Polytechnic Admission Test (HP PAT)
Exam Level
State Level
Exam Frequency
Once a Year
Courses offered
Diploma in Engineering, Pharmacy, Architecture Assistantship, Hotel Management & Catering Technology
Registration Mode
Online
Application Mode
Online only (hptechboard.com)
Conducting Authority
Himachal Pradesh Takniki Shiksha Board (HPTSB), Dharamshala
Exam Mode
Offline (Pen-Paper/OMR-based)
Event
Tentative Dates
Application Form Release
1st week of April 2026
Last date to apply
4th week of April 2026
Admit Card Release
2nd week of May2026
Exam Date
3rd week of May 2026
Answer key release
4th week of May 2026
Result Declaration
1st week of June 2026
Counseling Start
2nd week of June 2026
The HP PAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Diploma Engineering/Pharmacy courses are listed below:
Educational Requirement: Candidates must have completed their tenth grade education at an accredited board or university, or its equivalents as specified by the AICTE/COA.
Minimum Scores: The qualifying exam must receive at least 35% of the possible points.
Mandatory Subjects- Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology (for the Diploma in Pharmacy), and English are required topics for candidates.
Appearing Candidates: Applicants may also be those who are presently taking their qualifying level exam.
To apply for HP PAT 2026, follow these steps:
Step 1: Go to hptechboard.com, the HPTSB website.
Step 2: Enter basic information under the "New Registration" option.
Step 3: After logging in, click the "Application Form" link.
Step 4: Enter all necessary information, including personal and qualifying information.
Step 5: Upload your signature and passport-sized photo in the required format.
Step 6: Choose the payment method after clicking the "Save and Proceed" button.
Step 7: Finally, pay the necessary amount and print the confirmation document for further use.
HP PAT 2026 admit card will be released online on the official website hptechboard.com, tentatively by the second week of May 2026, a few days prior to the exam date in the third week of May.
English: Grammar and language mechanics, including verb tenses, active and passive voice, comparisons, conditionals, connectors, modals, nominalization, avoiding repetition, countable and uncountable nouns, non-finites, sentence structure, future time references, error correction etc.
Physics: Light reflection and refraction, the human eye, electricity, the magnetic effect of electric current, and sources of energy and the environment.
Chemistry: Atomic structure, metals and non-metals, chemical reactions and equations, acids, bases and salts, carbon and its compounds and the periodic table.
Mathematics: Coordinate geometry, constructions, probability, quadratic equations, arithmetic progressions, statistics, trigonometry, real numbers, areas related to circles, surface areas, volumes, and polynomials.
Learn the entire HP PAT Exam Pattern 2026 from the section below:
The results of the HP PAT 2026 are expected to be released in the first week of June 2026. Each applicant will need to get their results online from the board's website rather than receive them via mail.The board will also create a merit list based on applicants' PAT exam scores. The elder applicant will be given a better merit ranking if their overall scores are equal.
Cutoff scores for each category will be posted online by the board on their website. For admission to different polytechnic programs, candidates must meet the minimum qualifying scores.
The HP PAT cutoff 2026 will be announced during the first week of June 2026. The cutoff will be determined by a number of factors, such as the number of test-takers, the cut-off marks from the previous year, the exam's difficulty level, etc.
The online counseling process is scheduled for the second week of June 2026. In order to be eligible to take part in the several rounds of the HP PAT counseling process in 2026, candidates must complete the online application form and indicate at least one or more preferred courses and institutions.
Once the deadline has passed, the applicant's choices will be frozen and cannot be altered. The candidate's selections, merit, and the availability of seats in the desired institutions will all be taken into consideration when allocating seats. Applicants must get their selection letter from the board's website right away if they are given a seat. Candidates must physically show up at the designated institution on the designated date and time, present both original and photocopies of the necessary documents, and pay the needed costs.
To help you do well on the test, consider these HP PAT Preparation Tips 2026:
To ensure a smooth and fair examination process. All candidates must follow these instructions carefully:
Q1. What is the exam mode and duration?
Ans. Offline (pen-paper/OMR-based) for 3 hours with 150 MCQs across Maths (50), Physics (50), Chemistry (30), English (20).
Q2. What is the marking scheme?
Ans. +4 marks for correct answer, -1 for wrong, 0 for unanswered. Total 600 marks; no multiple marking allowed.
Q3. Is the question paper bilingual?
Ans. Yes, English and Hindi (except English section in English only). Questions at Class 10 HPBOSE level.
Q4. What to carry to the exam center?
Ans. Printed admit card, photo ID (Aadhaar/Passport), black/blue pen. No gadgets/calculators allowed.
Q5. When and where is the exam held?
Ans. Tentatively 3rd week of May 2026 at centers in Himachal Pradesh (Shimla, Dharamshala, etc.). Admit card specifies venue.
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