Kharidar Syllabus Explained: What Changed, and How the 3-Stage Exam Actually Works

If you're preparing for Kharidar and still studying from an old syllabus PDF, you might be wasting time on a subject that's no longer tested. Here's a clear breakdown of the current Kharidar exam structure — what's in it, what's been removed, and how the three stages actually work.

Quick Answer

The Kharidar exam (Rajapatra Anankit Dwitiya Shreni — Non-Gazetted Second Class) is conducted in three stages: a preliminary MCQ screening exam, a written exam (two papers), and a final computer skill test plus interview. A genuinely important update many aspirants miss: Science was removed entirely from the Kharidar syllabus in an earlier revision, and the passing mark for the first paper was raised from 40 to 45 starting with the 2081/82 vacancy cycle. If you're studying from an old PDF or an outdated coaching note that still includes Science, you're spending time on something that's no longer tested.

The Three Stages of the Kharidar Exam

Stage 1: Preliminary Exam (Screening)

This is a compulsory MCQ screening test for all candidates, regardless of which specific service or group you're applying under.

• Format: 50 questions, 2 marks each, 100 total marks
• Time: 45 minutes
• Content: General Knowledge and Basic Office Skills Test (essentially a reasoning/aptitude component)
• Passing mark: 45 out of 100 (raised from the earlier 40, starting with the 2081/82 vacancy cycle)
• Important: your score here does not carry forward into your final result — this stage exists purely to filter candidates down before the real written exam.

Stage 2: Written Exam (Second and Third Papers)

Only candidates who clear the preliminary exam move on to this stage, which has two separate papers:

• Second Paper — Office Management: This paper is common to all service groups regardless of which specific post you're applying for. It covers general topics like office management, the Constitution, and general mathematics.
• Third Paper — Job/Service-Related Knowledge: This paper is specific to your service group (for example, Administration, Accounts, or Revenue), and covers content directly relevant to that particular role.

Both papers carry 100 marks each, with a 40-mark pass requirement per paper.

Stage 3: Computer Skill Test and Interview

The final stage combines a practical computer skill test with a personal interview, totaling 40 marks:

• Computer Skill Test: 10 marks
• Interview: 30 marks

Only candidates who clear both written papers move forward to this final stage.

What Actually Changed: Science Is Gone

Here's the update that trips up a surprising number of aspirants: earlier versions of the Kharidar Second Paper included Science and Mathematics as a subject area. In a subsequent syllabus revision, Science was removed completely — the paper now focuses on office management, constitutional knowledge, and general mathematics, without a dedicated science component.

Why this matters practically: if you're using an older study guide, a secondhand book, or a coaching note that hasn't been updated, you may still be studying Science content that simply isn't tested anymore. That's wasted preparation time you could be spending on the subjects that actually appear on your exam.

What Else Changed: The Higher Passing Mark

Separately from the Science removal, PSC also raised the standard for candidates to even reach the written exam stage. Previously, the preliminary exam required just 40 marks out of 100 to pass. Starting from the 2081/82 vacancy cycle, this was raised to 45 out of 100 — and this same change applies not just to Kharidar, but also to Nayab Subba and Section Officer preliminary exams, as part of a broader PSC effort described by its own spokesperson as making the selection process "more organized and competitive."

We covered this passing-mark change in more depth in our earlier PSC passing marks article, worth reading alongside this piece since both changes affect the same set of exams.

Why This Matters for Your Preparation

1. Always confirm you're using the current syllabus. Kharidar syllabus PDFs get re-shared across many websites and social media groups, and outdated versions (including ones still listing Science) continue to circulate years after being replaced. Cross-check against a syllabus dated for your specific upcoming vacancy cycle before committing serious study time to any subject area.
2. Don't treat 40 marks as your target anymore. With the passing mark now at 45, aim meaningfully higher in your own practice tests — a comfortable margin above 45, not just barely clearing it, protects you against exam-day nerves or unfamiliar question phrasing.
3. Understand the Second Paper is shared across all groups, but the Third Paper is not. If you're weighing which service group to apply under, remember your Third Paper preparation needs to be group-specific — a generic "Kharidar syllabus" covers only part of what you'll actually be tested on.

What This Means If You're Preparing for Loksewa

1. Verify your syllabus source. Download directly from PSC's official site (https://psc.gov.np) for your specific vacancy notice, rather than relying on an old shared PDF.
2. Redirect any remaining Science study time toward strengthening office management, constitutional knowledge, and general mathematics instead — these are the subjects actually tested now.
3. Practice under the new 45-mark standard, not the old 40-mark one, when running your own mock tests.
4. Know your specific Third Paper content for your service group, since this is where real differentiation between candidates in different groups happens.
5. Use active recall for the exam structure itself — the three-stage sequence, mark distribution, and pass requirements are easy to blur together with other Loksewa exam formats. Loksewa AI's Smart Flashcards can help these details stay sharp.
6. Ask for clarification if you're unsure which version of the syllabus applies to your specific vacancy. The Loksewa Guru AI chatbot can help you check.
7. Build a structured plan around the actual current syllabus — Loksewa AI's study planner can help you allocate time correctly across the Second and Third Papers based on your specific service group.

Final Thought

A surprising amount of wasted preparation time in Loksewa exams comes not from studying too little, but from studying the wrong version of a syllabus. If you've been preparing Science content for Kharidar, or still aiming for a 40-mark pass on the preliminary exam, it's worth pausing to confirm you're working from the current, correct requirements — a five-minute check that could save you weeks of misdirected study.

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