Exams · 7 min read

DBHPS Hindi exams: every level from Parichaya to Praveen

தட்சிண பாரத் இந்தி பிரச்சார சபா தேர்வுகள் — தொடக்கநிலை வழிகாட்டி

By the Karu AI team · Updated 28 Oct 2026

Quick answer

The Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha (DBHPS, Chennai) holds Hindi exams for learners in South India. The levels, in order, are Parichaya → Prathmic → Madhyama → Rashtrabhasha → Praveshika → Visharad (two parts) → Praveen (two parts).

Beginners start at Parichaya or Prathmic. Exams are usually held twice a year; check dates and fees on the official site, dbhpscentral.org.

What is the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha?

The Sabha was set up in 1918 at the initiative of Mahatma Gandhi to spread Hindi in South India. Its head office is in T. Nagar, Chennai, and it has held Hindi exams since the 1920s. In Tamil it is often called the இந்தி பிரச்சார சபா.

Its exams are popular with school students in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and with adults who want a Hindi qualification. Besides the main exams, the Sabha also runs Hindi typewriting and shorthand exams.

All DBHPS exam levels in order

DBHPS Hindi exam levels in order
#	Exam	In Hindi	Stage
1	Parichaya	परिचय	First level — for beginners
2	Prathmic	प्राथमिक	Second level — beginners
3	Madhyama	मध्यमा	Middle level
4	Rashtrabhasha	राष्ट्रभाषा	Middle level
5	Praveshika	प्रवेशिका	Higher level
6	Visharad Poorvardh	विशारद पूर्वार्ध	Degree level, part 1
7	Visharad Uttarardh	विशारद उत्तरार्ध	Degree level, part 2
8	Praveen Poorvardh	प्रवीण पूर्वार्ध	Highest level, part 1
9	Praveen Uttarardh	प्रवीण उत्तरार्ध	Highest level, part 2

You will see the names spelled in different ways — Parichay or Parichaya, Prathmic, Prathamic or Prathamik, Visharad or Visharadh, Praveen or Pravin. They are the same exams. Visharad and Praveen are each taken in two parts: Poorvardh (first half) and Uttarardh (second half).

Which exam should a beginner take first?

New to Hindi letters? Start with Parichaya, the first level.
Already reading letters and simple words? Ask your teacher whether you can begin at Prathmic.

The levels are taken one after another. Your Hindi teacher or exam centre knows the current rules for joining and can tell you which level fits you.

What is the DBHPS certificate recognised as?

The Central Hindi Directorate, Ministry of Education, says the Praveen exam of Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, Chennai is equal to Hindi level B.A. (Central Hindi Directorate FAQ). The same page adds that for government jobs, exams of voluntary Hindi organisations are generally not treated as equal to state board or university exams, unless a post asks for that Hindi qualification.

So if you need the certificate for a particular job, course or promotion, check with that employer or institution what it accepts.

When are the exams, and how do you apply?

The exams are usually held twice a year, around February and August. Students usually apply through their Hindi teacher, school or exam centre. Dates, fees, forms, hall tickets and results all change from session to session, so take them only from the Sabha's official website or your centre — not from social media posts.

How to prepare the basics for Parichaya and Prathmic

Whatever the syllabus of your session, the first levels test the same foundation. Students who are strong in these four things find the textbook much easier:

Every letter, quickly. You should read all 13 vowels and 33 consonants without stopping. Use the Hindi letters chart in Tamil.
Every matra. Read and write any consonant with any vowel sign — the barakhadi chart covers them all.
Reading aloud. Short words first, then sentences, with the correct sounds for ख घ थ ध. Try the reading practice page.
Neat writing and correct spelling. Draw the top line (शिरोरेखा) for every word, and practise dictation.

Karu AI is not affiliated with the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha or any exam board. For the syllabus, rules and results, the Sabha's official website is the only final source.

Questions learners ask

What are the DBHPS exams in order?

Parichaya, Prathmic (Prathamic), Madhyama, Rashtrabhasha, Praveshika, Visharad Poorvardh, Visharad Uttarardh, Praveen Poorvardh and Praveen Uttarardh. The Sabha also holds Hindi typewriting and shorthand exams.

Which DBHPS exam should a beginner take first?

Parichaya is the first level and Prathmic is the second; most school students start with one of these. Check the current rules on the official website, dbhpscentral.org, or with your Hindi teacher or exam centre.

What is the DBHPS Praveen exam equal to?

The Central Hindi Directorate, Government of India, says the Praveen exam of Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, Chennai is equal to Hindi level B.A. For a particular job or course, check what that employer or institution accepts.

When are DBHPS exams held?

The exams are usually held twice a year, around February and August. Dates, fees and hall tickets change, so always check dbhpscentral.org or your exam centre.

Written by the Karu AI team

Karu AI is a Hindi basics app made in Tamil Nadu. Designed by a Hindi teacher with 14+ years of experience who has taught thousands of students. The letters, words and meanings here are the same ones learners practise in the app. Last updated 28 Oct 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.