Hindi typing tests are an integral part of many central and state government job examinations in India (like Allahabad High Court, UPSSSC, RSMSSB, SSC, and state police exams). You can practice Hindi typing on all popular layouts (Remington Gail, Inscript, Krutidev) for free.

However, Hindi typing is highly complex because of multiple layouts, font choices, and keyboard styles. In this post, we explain the key layouts and which one you should choose.

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1. Font Types: Unicode vs Legacy

In Hindi typing, fonts are divided into two main categories:

• Unicode Fonts (e.g., Mangal, Kokila, Utsaah): These fonts are universally accepted. They render identically on all systems, search engines, and modern databases. Almost all modern central government exams (SSC, Railways) use Mangal Unicode.
• Legacy Fonts (e.g., Krutidev 010, Devlys 010): These are non-Unicode font layouts. They were widely used on standard typewriters and are still used in specific state government exams (like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan state tests).

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2. Keyboard Layouts Comparison

For Unicode typing (Mangal font), candidates generally select between two main keyboard layouts:

A. Remington Gail Layout

• Design: This layout is derived from the legacy typewriter layout (similar to Krutidev). If you already know Krutidev typing, you can transition to Remington Gail in a few days.
• Special Characters: Uses ALT key codes for half-letters and conjunct characters (like crucial symbols, numbers).
• Adoption: Extremely popular in state-level exams because of typewriter layout familiarity.

B. Inscript Layout

• Design: Standardized by the Government of India. It has all Hindi vowels on the left side of the keyboard and consonants on the right side.
• Benefits: Highly optimized for typing. Once mastered, speed increases significantly with fewer errors, and it does not rely on complex ALT codes.
• Adoption: Used extensively in government departments, ISRO, and SSC.

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3. Which Layout Should You Choose?

Scenario	Recommended Font / Layout
Preparing for SSC CHSL & RRB NTPC Exams	Mangal Font (Remington Gail / Inscript)
Already know Krutidev/Typewriter	Mangal (Remington Gail)
Starting Hindi Typing from Scratch	Mangal (Inscript) (faster to learn and optimize)
Preparing for UP Police / Court Exams	Check the official notice, but usually Krutidev or Mangal Remington

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4. Key Tips for Practicing Hindi Typing

1. Enable Hindi Input Method Editor (IME): In Windows, go to Settings -> Time & Language -> Language -> Add Hindi, and choose Hindi Inscript or Indic Input 3 (Remington Gail).
2. Master the Shift Key: In Hindi, many characters require pressing the Shift key. Perfect your hold-and-type technique.
3. Practice Matras (Vowels): Incorrect positioning of matras is the most common reason for errors. Practice combinations regularly on a typing platform with layout support to build muscle memory.