Hindi typing guide: learn the Inscript layout

Inscript (Indian Script) is the standard Devanagari keyboard layout on Windows, Android, macOS and Linux. It is also the layout used in many government exams, so learning it once serves you everywhere.

How the layout is organised

• Left side: vowels and vowel signs (matras) - A ो, S े, D ्, F ि, G ु.
• Right side: consonants - H प, J र, K क, L त.
• Shift: gives the related letter - क → ख, प → फ, ि → इ.

Conjuncts (संयुक्ताक्षर)

The halant key D joins consonants. Type क + ् + ष to make क्ष. Dedicated shift-number keys also give क्ष, त्र, ज्ञ and श्र.

Built-in Inscript on this site

You do not need to install anything: choose हिन्दी in the Hindi typing test and the on-screen keyboard shows every Devanagari key.

A 3-week plan

1. Week 1: home row and matras (Hindi lessons 1-5).
2. Week 2: full keyboard, marks and shift keys (lessons 6-10).
3. Week 3: conjuncts, words and paragraphs (lessons 11-14), then daily 5-minute tests.

Exam tips

• Practise with backspace disabled in Exam Mode.
• Accuracy matters: a single wrong character makes the whole word an error in most exam scoring.
• Take 10-15 minute tests at the end of your practice week to build stamina.