HRRL Syllabus 2026 covers General Aptitude (30 marks) and post-specific Technical Knowledge (70 marks) across nine positions including Assistant Officer, Engineer, Junior Executive, and Account Officer roles. The Computer-Based Test (CBT) is held for 2 hours with 100 objective questions and carries no negative marking. This syllabus is based on the official syllabus released by Hindustan Refinery & Research Limited (HRRL).
HRRL conducts recruitment across multiple engineering, accounting, and IT disciplines. All posts follow the same General Aptitude framework, while the technical section varies by position. Candidates can access the complete syllabus from https://hrrl.in.
Understanding HRRL Recruitment Exam
The HRRL exam evaluates candidates on foundational aptitude skills and post-specific technical expertise required for roles in India’s petroleum refining and petrochemical operations. General Aptitude tests reasoning, quantitative ability, and English language proficiency at graduate level, ensuring all candidates meet baseline communication and analytical standards. The Technical Knowledge section is discipline-specific, assessing deep professional expertise in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, IT systems, accounting, instrumentation, and process operations. HRRL recruitment qualifies candidates for Group E positions ranging from entry-level (E0 â Junior Executive) to mid-level (E1 â Assistant roles) and senior technical (E2 â Engineer and Officer roles) across Hindustan Refinery facilities nationwide.
Exam Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Hindustan Refinery & Research Limited (HRRL) |
| Total Posts | 9 (Assistant Officer, Engineer, Junior Executive, Account Officer, and related positions) |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Total Questions | 100 (Objective, Multiple Choice) |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours |
| Marking Scheme | 1 mark per correct answer; no negative marking |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Official Website | Visit Website |
Selection Process
The HRRL recruitment follows a straightforward single-stage selection process:
- Computer-Based Test (CBT) 100 marks, 2 hours
- Merit list preparation based on CBT performance
- Document verification and final appointment
Exam Pattern Overview
All HRRL posts follow an identical exam structure with two sections. Part 1 is General Aptitude (30 marks), common across all nine positions. Part 2 is Technical/Professional Knowledge (70 marks), which varies by post. Each section consists of objective multiple-choice questions, and the entire exam is completed in 2 hours.
Exam Duration: 2 hours, Total Questions: 100, Total Marks: 100, Negative Marking: None
Exam Pattern – Part 1: General Aptitude (30 Marks)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Intellectual Potential Test | 8 | 8 |
| Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation | 8 | 8 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 8 | 8 |
| English Language | 6 | 6 |
Exam Pattern – Part 2: Technical/Professional Knowledge (70 Marks)
| Post | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| All Posts (Discipline-Specific) | 70 | 70 |
Note on Part 2: The number of questions in Part 2 may vary by discipline, but the total marks allocated are always 70. Each post carries a unique technical syllabus aligned to its role requirements.
Part 1: General Aptitude Syllabus (30 Marks)
The General Aptitude section is identical across all nine HRRL posts and tests core cognitive, analytical, and communication abilities at the graduate level. It is divided into four subsections.
Intellectual Potential Test
- Distance
- Syllogism
- Logical Operations
- Similarities and dissimilarities
- Verbal Comprehension
- Perpetual (Perceptual) Reasoning
- Working Memory
- Processing Speed
- Fluid Reasoning
Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation
- Seating arrangements and puzzles
- Series – verbal and number
- Relationships, coding-decoding
- Verbal and numerical analogy
- Binary logic
- Games and tournaments, team formations
- Order and ranking, arrangements
- Table and data caselets
- Column graphs, bar graphs, line charts
- Pie charts
- Routes and networks
Quantitative Aptitude
- Number systems, simplification, decimals, fractions
- LCM and HCF, square root, divisibility tests
- Ratio & proportion, percentage, average
- Profit & loss, discount
- Simple and compound interest
- Mensuration
- Time & work
- Time and distance
- Algebraic identities
- Problems with ages
- Tables & graphs
English Language
- Grammar: question tags, parts of speech (adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, verb) via sentence completion
- Indirect writing: syntax and structure (para jumbles), one-word substitution
- Reading comprehension: appropriate title, central theme, facts, inferences, passage structure, summary, tone, text-to-world connection
- Vocabulary: synonyms, antonyms, word meaning, idioms and phrases, proverbs
- Word-segment substitution
Part 2: Technical/Professional Knowledge Syllabus (70 Marks)
The technical section carries the majority of marks and is specific to each of the nine posts. Candidates prepare only for their applied position.
Assistant Officer – Information Systems (S/G E1)
- Digital Logic: Boolean algebra, combinational and sequential circuits, minimisation, number representation, computer arithmetic
- Computer Organisation & Architecture: machine instructions, addressing modes, ALU, data-path, control unit, pipelining, memory hierarchy, I/O interface
- Programming and Data Structures: modern programming concepts (basic Java)
- Algorithms: searching, sorting, hashing, asymptotic complexity, greedy algorithms, dynamic programming, divide-and-conquer, graph traversals, MST, shortest paths
- Theory of Computation: regular expressions, finite automata, context-free grammars, push-down automata, Turing machines, undecidability
- Operating Systems: system calls, processes, threads, IPC, concurrency, deadlock, scheduling, memory management, file systems, Windows/Linux basics
- Databases: ER-model, relational algebra, SQL, normal forms, indexing (B/B+ trees), transactions, concurrency control
- Computer Networks: OSI/TCP-IP layering, switching, data link layer, routing protocols, IP addressing/CIDR, ARP/DHCP/ICMP/NAT, TCP/UDP, DNS/SMTP/HTTP/FTP/Email
Engineer – Electrical (S/G E2)
- Electric Circuits: network elements, KCL/KVL, node/mesh analysis, transient and steady-state response, three-phase circuits, power factor
- Electromagnetic Fields: Coulomb’s law, Gauss’s law, capacitance, Ampere’s law, Faraday’s law, inductance, magnetic circuits
- Electrical Machines: transformers, DC machines, induction machines, synchronous machines, losses and efficiency
- Power Systems: generation, transmission, distribution, load flow, fault analysis, protection, circuit breakers, stability
- Electrical & Electronic Measurements: bridges, instrument transformers, digital meters, oscilloscopes, error analysis
- Power Electronics: thyristor, MOSFET, IGBT, DC-DC converters, rectifiers, inverters, PWM
Engineer – Instrumentation (S/G E2) and Assistant Engineer – Instrumentation (S/G E1)
- Electrical & Electronics Measurement, Analogue and Digital Electronics
- Transducers, sensors, actuators and industrial automation
- Automatic Control Systems and Feedback Control
- Process Loop Components and Hazardous Area Classification
- Microprocessors and Microcontrollers
- Power Electronics and Drives
- Industrial Automation, PLC, SCADA, and Distributed Control Systems
- Analytical Instrumentation and Instrumentation System Design
- Optimisation, Process Instrumentation and Control
- Programming, Engineering and Project Management (Engineer – Instrumentation only)
- Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0
- Soft Computing, AI and Machine Learning for Process Control
Junior Executive – Chemical (S/G E0)
- Hydrocarbons: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatic compounds, isomerism, benzene structure
- Flammability, explosivity and combustion
- Polymers: types, reactions and properties
- Heat Transfer Equipment: heat exchangers, evaporators, fired heaters
- Process Equipment Operation: pumps, compressors, distillation towers, reactors
- Process Instrumentation and Control Systems
- Process Safety: PSM, JSA, HAZOP, hazard identification and risk assessment
- Firefighting Equipment: fire pumps, gas detectors, extinguishers, foam systems, hoses, ladders
- Utility Systems: air, water, steam, nitrogen
- Chemical Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Heat & Mass Transfer
- Unit Conversion & Stoichiometry
Engineer – Mechanical (S/G E2)
- Engineering Mechanics and Mechanics of Materials
- Theory of Machines and Vibrations
- Machine Design
- Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer
- Thermodynamics and its industrial applications (IC engines, refrigeration, turbomachinery)
- Engineering Materials
- Casting, Forming and Joining Processes
- Machining, Metrology and Inspection
- Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Production Planning and Inventory Control
- Operations Research
- Power Plant Engineering and Renewable Energy Sources
- Manufacturing, Industrial and Maintenance Engineering
- Mechatronics and Robotics
Engineer – Chemical (Process) (S/G E2)
- Process Calculations and Thermodynamics
- Fluid Mechanics and Mechanical Operations
- Heat Transfer (including fired heaters and furnace operations)
- Mass Transfer (distillation, absorption, extraction, drying)
- Chemical Reaction Engineering
- Instrumentation and Process Control (DCS, PLC, PID tuning)
- Plant Design and Economics
- Chemical Technology (petroleum refining, petrochemicals, polymers)
- Net Zero Concepts: decarbonization, CCUS, renewable energy
- Process Safety: PSM, hazard identification, emergency response
- Introduction to Petrochemicals Process: cracking, olefins, aromatics (BTX) production
Account Officer (S/G E2)
- CA Foundation: Principles and Practices of Accounting, Business Laws, Business Mathematics, Logical Reasoning & Statistics, Business Economics
- CA Inter: Accounting, Corporate & Other Laws, Cost and Management Accounting, Taxation (Income Tax and GST), Advanced Accounting, Auditing and Assurance, Enterprise Information Systems and Strategic Management, Financial Management and Economics for Finance
- CA Final: Financial Reporting, Strategic Financial Management, Advanced Auditing and Professional Ethics, Corporate and Economic Laws, Strategic Cost Management, Risk Management, Financial Services and Capital Markets, International Taxation, Multidisciplinary Case Study, Direct and Indirect Tax Laws
Assistant Accounts Officer (S/G E1)
- Financial Accounting: accounting standards, depreciation, inventories, revenue recognition, share capital, bonus/rights shares, ESOPs, buy-back, company final accounts, amalgamation
- Cost Accounting: job costing, process costing, activity-based costing, budgeting, standard costing, variance analysis, responsibility accounting
- Taxation: Income Tax basics, computation of income, set-off and carry forward of losses, deductions, GST provisions
- Auditing: company audit, divisible profits, dividends, tax audit
- Company Law: formation, operation and dissolution of a company
High-Weightage Areas
| Subject / Section | Marks |
|---|---|
| Technical/Professional Knowledge | 70 |
| General Aptitude | 30 |
Technical knowledge accounts for 70% of total marks across all nine HRRL posts. While the General Aptitude section is identical for all candidates, the technical syllabus varies significantly by discipline. Candidates must prioritise preparation in their specific technical domain, as this section determines final merit ranking. The General Aptitude section, carrying 30 marks, remains common to all positions and requires balanced preparation across reasoning, quantitative skills, and English language proficiency.
Preparation Strategy for HRRL Syllabus 2026
The HRRL exam structure allocates 70 marks to post-specific technical knowledge, making it the dominant factor in your final score. Your preparation must begin with a deep dive into your discipline’s technical syllabus while maintaining solid coverage of the General Aptitude section. The 2-hour duration with 100 questions means you have approximately 72 seconds per question on average, placing time management at the centre of your exam strategy. Start by identifying which topics within your technical syllabus appear most frequently in previous year papers, then allocate preparation time proportionally to both frequency and your personal comfort level with each topic.
How to Use This Syllabus Effectively
- Download the official post-wise syllabus PDF from the link in the Important Links section and keep it as your reference guide. Use this page for quick topic lookup before each study session.
- Go through the High-Weightage Areas table above and identify that technical knowledge carries 70 marks; allocate 70% of your total preparation time to mastering your discipline-specific technical syllabus.
- Work through the Detailed Syllabus section by section (General Aptitude first, then your post-specific technical topics), marking each topic as “complete” as you finish it to prevent accidental gaps in coverage.
- Use previous year HRRL question papers alongside this syllabus to identify which topics within each subject appear most frequently, then prioritise those high-frequency topics in your final revision phase.
- Return to any unchecked topics in the final weeks before the exam and focus on high-mark technical subjects from your specific post, as these will have the greatest impact on your merit ranking.
Important Links
| Particulars | Link |
|---|---|
| Assistant Officer – Information Systems Syllabus | Download Syllabus |
| Official HRRL Website | Visit Website |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is the HRRL Syllabus 2026 the same for all nine posts?
Ans. The General Aptitude section (30 marks) is identical across all nine posts, covering reasoning, quantitative ability, and English language skills. However, the Technical/Professional Knowledge section (70 marks) is entirely post-specific. For example, Assistant Officer – Information Systems candidates study computer science topics, while Engineer – Electrical candidates study electrical engineering concepts. Each post has a distinct technical syllabus tailored to role requirements.
Q2. What is the weightage of General Aptitude vs. Technical Knowledge in the HRRL exam?
Ans. General Aptitude carries 30 marks (30% of total), while Technical/Professional Knowledge carries 70 marks (70% of total). This means your technical syllabus preparation is the primary determinant of your final score. Allocate the majority of your preparation time to mastering your discipline-specific technical topics, while maintaining baseline proficiency in General Aptitude.
Q3. How many months should I allocate to prepare for the HRRL Syllabus 2026?
Ans. Preparation duration depends on your educational background and familiarity with your post’s technical domain. Candidates with relevant engineering or professional qualifications typically require 2-3 months of focused preparation. Those without a relevant background or preparing for accounting/IT roles may benefit from 4-6 months to build conceptual clarity. Start by identifying your weakest technical topics and allocate extra time to those areas during your planning phase.
Q4. Are there any changes to the HRRL Syllabus 2026 compared to the previous year?
Ans. The core technical subjects remain consistent with previous years. However, the Chemical (Process) Engineering syllabus includes new topics on Net Zero Concepts (decarbonization, CCUS, renewable energy), and the Instrumentation syllabus now explicitly includes Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Machine Learning for Process Control. Candidates are advised to verify these topic additions with the official notification or the organisation’s website for any further updates.
Q5. Which subject in the HRRL Syllabus carries the highest marks for engineering posts?
Ans. The entire Technical/Professional Knowledge section carries 70 marks and is discipline-specific. Within that section, topics are weighted based on their relevance to refinery operations. For example, in Chemical (Process) Engineering, heat transfer, mass transfer, and process control carry significant depth. In Mechanical Engineering, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics are extensively tested. Review previous year papers for your specific post to identify the most frequently tested topics within your technical domain.
Q6. How should I prioritise topics when preparing from the HRRL Syllabus 2026?
Ans. Start with high-frequency topics identified from previous year papers. Topics that appear repeatedly carry higher weightage in the exam. Within your technical syllabus, focus first on foundational concepts (e.g., for Electrical Engineering: circuit theory, electromagnetic fields; for Chemical Engineering: thermodynamics, fluid mechanics). Allocate remaining time to specialised topics. Use the syllabus as a checklist and mark topics as you complete them to avoid gaps.
Q7. Is negative marking applied in the HRRL CBT exam?
Ans. No, there is no negative marking in the HRRL exam. You earn 1 mark for each correct answer, and no marks are deducted for wrong or unattempted questions. This marking scheme allows candidates to attempt questions they are confident about while skipping or revisiting uncertain questions without fear of penalty.
Q8. Can I access the official HRRL syllabus PDF in multiple languages?
Ans. The official HRRL syllabus PDFs are available in English on the HRRL website. Candidates are advised to check the official website (https://hrrl.in) or contact HRRL directly for information on syllabus availability in other languages or formats.
Your Next Step
Begin by downloading the official syllabus PDF for your specific post from the HRRL website using the link provided in the Important Links section, ensuring your preparation is based on the confirmed topic list released by the organisation. Allocate 70% of your total study time to mastering your post-specific technical knowledge and 30% to General Aptitude, since technical marks form the decisive factor in your final ranking. Start preparing immediately using previous year question papers to identify which topics appear most frequently, then structure your study plan around those high-frequency areas combined with the core fundamentals within your discipline.
