The official syllabus for Patna High Court Computer Operator-cum-Typist 2026 (PHC/02/2026) is spread across two annexures of the notification — Annexure I covers the Written Test and typing tests, Annexure II covers the Preliminary Test. Most candidates skim the notification PDF and miss the detail in these annexures. This article maps the complete syllabus so you know exactly what to prepare and what to skip.
The short version: Part A is 50 marks of MCQ across four sections. The typing tests are 200 marks. If you're spending more time on MCQ prep than typing practice, flip that ratio immediately.
- Part A has no negative marking — attempt every question regardless of confidence level
- Hindi typing uses Remington Gail keyboard layout + Mangal font — not Inscript, not Krutidev
- Preliminary Test (if held) shortlists 480 candidates — its marks are NOT added to final merit
Also Read — PHC/02/2026 Cluster:
Complete Exam Pattern — PHC/02/2026
| Stage | Component | Marks | Duration | Qualifying Bar |
|---|
| Written Test | Part A — MCQ (4 sections) | 50 | 30 min | 20/50 (40%) |
| Written Test | Part B — English Computer Typing | 100 | 10 min | 90% accuracy |
| Written Test | Part C — Hindi Computer Typing | 100 | 10 min | 85% accuracy |
| Final Stage | Interview (Viva Voce) | 10 | — | 3/10 (30%) |
| Total | 260 | 50 min (written) | All parts compulsory |
Source: PHC/02/2026 notification, Annexure I. No negative marking in Part A. [PDF:Official]
Part A Syllabus — Section by Section
Part A is 50 marks in 30 minutes. The notification (Annexure I) defines four sections with specific mark allocations. [PDF:Official]
Computer Awareness — 15 Marks
This is your highest-yield section — 15 marks in roughly 8 minutes. Computer Awareness questions for High Court clerk-grade exams follow a narrow band of topics that has been consistent across AHC, DHC, and PHC papers. Focus here first.
| Topic Area | What to Prepare |
|---|
| MS Office — Word | Shortcuts (Ctrl+B/I/U/S/Z/Y), paragraph formatting, page layout, mail merge, track changes, headers/footers, Find & Replace |
| MS Office — Excel | Cell formatting, basic formulas (SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, IF), sorting/filtering, charts, freeze panes |
| MS Office — PowerPoint | Slide layouts, transitions, animations, presentation views, saving formats |
| Operating System | Windows folder/file management, Control Panel, Task Manager, desktop shortcuts, Windows versions, types of OS |
| Internet & Email | Browser types, URL/HTTP/HTTPS, search engines, email protocols (POP3/SMTP/IMAP), CC/BCC, attachments |
| Hardware & Storage | Input/output devices, storage types (HDD/SSD/USB/CD), RAM vs ROM, motherboard components, ports (USB/HDMI/VGA) |
| Networking Basics | LAN, WAN, MAN, IP address, router vs switch, modem, bandwidth, internet vs intranet |
| Computer Fundamentals | Generations of computers, types (Analog/Digital/Hybrid), number systems (Binary/Decimal/Hexadecimal), computer arithmetic |
Preparation tip: Don't study theory. Study from the test's perspective — every question is "what does Ctrl+X do" or "which file extension is for Excel." Use flashcards for shortcuts (there are about 30 critical ones) and practice on an actual computer, not just reading notes.
English Language & Grammar — 15 Marks
English is the other 15-mark section. High Court exam English sits between SSC CHSL and SSC CGL in difficulty — harder than banking prelims, easier than UPSC. The focus is grammar and vocabulary, not reading comprehension speed.
| Topic | Subtopics |
|---|
| Grammar | Tenses (all 12), articles (a/an/the), prepositions, conjunctions, active/passive voice, direct/indirect speech |
| Vocabulary | Synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution, idioms and phrases, homophones |
| Error Spotting | Grammatically incorrect sentences — identify the error clause |
| Fill in the Blanks | Choose the correct word/phrase to complete a sentence — tests grammar + vocabulary simultaneously |
| Sentence Correction | Rearrange/improve sentences for grammatical correctness |
Hindi Language & Grammar — 10 Marks
This section tests standard Hindi grammar — the same topics that appear in BPSC prelims and state-level exams. Bihar candidates who went through Hindi-medium schooling typically find this section manageable with light revision.
| Topic | What to Prepare |
|---|
| संधि (Sandhi) | Swar sandhi, Vyanjan sandhi, Visarg sandhi — rules and examples |
| समास (Samas) | Tatpurusha, Dvandva, Bahuvrihi, Avyayibhav, Karmadharaya, Dvigu — identify the type |
| उपसर्ग / प्रत्यय (Upasarg/Pratyay) | Prefix and suffix identification, word formation |
| शुद्ध वर्तनी (Shuddh Vartani) | Correct spelling — anusvar, chandrabindu, nukta, half-letters; common misspellings |
| मुहावरे / लोकोक्तियाँ | Idioms and proverbs — meaning and usage |
| पर्यायवाची / विलोम (Synonyms/Antonyms) | Hindi vocabulary — 300-word list from standard sources sufficient |
Reasoning & Quantitative Aptitude — 10 Marks
This section is smaller but time-variable. Some reasoning questions resolve in 20 seconds; others can trap you for 3 minutes. Leave tough ones and come back — this section is best done last.
| Type | Topics |
|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | Analogy, classification, series completion, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction-distance |
| Non-Verbal Reasoning | Pattern completion, figure series, mirror/water image (may or may not appear) |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Percentage, ratio & proportion, average, simple interest, number series, HCF/LCM |
Part B — English Typing Test (100 Marks)
Part B is 100 marks — twice the weight of the entire MCQ section. The specifications from the official notification: [PDF:Official]
- Speed requirement: 40 Words Per Minute (WPM)
- Passage length: 400 words
- Duration: 10 minutes
- Qualifying threshold: 90% accuracy
- Medium: Computer-based typing (not typewriter)
What 90% accuracy means in practice: in a 400-word passage, you can have at most 40 characters wrong — including extra spaces, wrong capitalisation, and missed punctuation. High Court typing passages use formal, legal-style English with longer words and technical terms. This is not casual typing practice material.
How to train: Use passages from actual court judgments or legal documents. Set a 10-minute timer. Count errors manually or use a typing test tool set to 90% accuracy minimum. Do this daily — not three times a week. Speed builds in weeks; accuracy requires months of consistent practice.
Part C — Hindi Typing Test (100 Marks)
Part C is also 100 marks. The specifications: [PDF:Official, Annexure I]
- Speed requirement: 30 Words Per Minute (WPM)
- Passage length: 300 words
- Duration: 10 minutes
- Qualifying threshold: 85% accuracy
- Font: Mangal
- Keyboard layout: Remington Gail
The keyboard layout specification is the single most important detail in this entire notification for anyone already practising Hindi typing. If you have been practising on Inscript layout (the default on most free Hindi typing sites), your muscle memory is wrong for this exam. You must switch to Remington Gail now — not the week before the exam.
Remington Gail is a phonetic layout that maps Hindi characters to QWERTY key positions in a way that mirrors older typewriter layouts. It is widely used in government typing tests across Bihar, UP, and MP. The Mangal font is Unicode-based and is the standard Hindi font for government documents.
How to set it up: In Windows, go to Settings → Time & Language → Language → Hindi → Options → Add a keyboard → Hindi Traditional (Remington GAIL). Then open Notepad, select Mangal font, and begin typing. Most free online Hindi typing tools (like hinditypingtest.com) let you select layout and font — ensure both are correct before every session.
Preliminary Test — Annexure II Details
The Preliminary Test is described in Annexure II of the notification. [PDF:Official, Annexure II] Key facts:
- When it happens: Only "if the number of applicants is on the higher side" — no fixed threshold stated
- Format: MCQ Objective Type
- Purpose: Screening — shortlists candidates for the Written Test
- Shortlist size: 10 × vacancies = 10 × 48 = 480 candidates called for Written Test
- Marks in final merit: Zero — Prelim marks are completely discarded; only Written Test + Interview marks form the final merit
The syllabus for the Preliminary Test is general aptitude — similar to Part A of the Written Test, but likely simpler. Since the marks don't count, your strategy for the Prelim should be: secure the 40% qualifying bar confidently, then stop overthinking it. The Written Test is where merit is decided.
What No Other Site Will Tell You About This Syllabus
1. "Computer Awareness" in the notification is narrower than it sounds. The official syllabus says "Computer Awareness" without a detailed breakdown. But cross-referencing with the 2022 paper (image-based PDF) and AHC Computer Operator papers, the topic concentration is consistently: MS Office (40-50% of Computer questions), OS and internet basics (30%), and hardware/fundamentals (20%). Don't spend three days on database concepts or programming — they rarely appear. [Source: paper pattern analysis, Serper]
2. The 30-minute MCQ time is generous if you know your Computer topics cold. Computer Awareness and English Grammar together are 30 marks, and most graduates can do these in under 15 minutes. That leaves 15 minutes for Hindi (10 marks) and Reasoning (10 marks) — easily enough. The pressure only comes if you get stuck on Computer questions. Mastering shortcuts and MS Office features is essentially buying yourself extra time in the exam. [INFERRED from timing analysis]
3. Typing errors in legal text are different from typing errors in casual text. Legal passages contain long compound words, proper nouns, Roman numerals, and specific punctuation patterns. A candidate who types at 95% accuracy on casual text may drop to 87% on legal text — below the qualifying bar. Practice specifically on legal text. Bihar judiciary typing test passages often include phrases from court orders and judgments. [INFERRED from HC typing test pattern]
4. There is no syllabus specification for the Interview beyond "Viva Voce." The notification says Interview is for 10 marks and tests personality and suitability for the post. [PDF:Official] For a Computer Operator post, expect questions on: why you want to work in the High Court, basic computer operations, current Bihar judiciary news, and communication skills. Preparation: read about Patna High Court history and structure; review your application form.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the complete syllabus for Patna HC Computer Operator-cum-Typist Part A?
Four sections: Computer Awareness (15 marks), English Language & Grammar (15 marks), Hindi Language & Grammar (10 marks), Reasoning & Quantitative Aptitude (10 marks). Total: 50 marks, 30 minutes, no negative marking. [PDF:Official, Annexure I]
Is there negative marking in the Written Test?
No. The PHC/02/2026 notification explicitly states no negative marking in Part A. [PDF:Official, Annexure I] Attempt every question — blank answers guarantee zero marks.
What keyboard layout is used for Hindi typing?
Remington Gail layout, Mangal font — explicitly stated in the official notification. [PDF:Official, Annexure I] Not Inscript. If you are practising on Inscript or any other layout, switch immediately.
What is the minimum typing accuracy required?
Part B (English): 90% accuracy at 40 WPM over 400 words in 10 minutes. Part C (Hindi): 85% accuracy at 30 WPM over 300 words in 10 minutes. Both are qualifying — fail either one and your MCQ score doesn't matter. [PDF:Official, Annexure I]
Does the Preliminary Test score count toward final selection?
No. The Prelim is purely eliminative. If held, it shortlists 480 candidates (10 × 48) for the Written Test, but Prelim marks are not added to the final merit list. [PDF:Official, Annexure II]
How many candidates are called for interview?
3 × 48 = 144 candidates, ranked by Written Test marks (Part A + B + C), are called for the final Interview. [PDF:Official, Annexure I]
Which is the most important section to prepare first?
Typing. Part B + Part C = 200 marks and have strict accuracy thresholds that eliminate most candidates. Computer Awareness (15 marks) within Part A is the second priority — it's the highest-yield MCQ section and fast for well-prepared candidates.
📌 Patna HC Computer Operator 2026 — Full Cluster:
Start with typing practice today, not next week. Set up Remington Gail on your system right now, open Notepad with Mangal font, and type for 10 minutes. That baseline tells you exactly how far you are from the 90%/85% accuracy bar. Then map your MCQ prep by section weight: Computer (15) → English (15) → Hindi (10) → Reasoning (10). The syllabus is narrow and predictable — the preparation is a matter of consistent daily practice, not volume studying.
