Candidates who haven’t passed Punjabi in Class 10 can apply for state Civil Service exam, but with rider, clarifies PPSC

The notice further said the eligibility of all such candidates will, however, be subject to their passing of matriculation with Punjabi or its equivalent examination by the due date, that is one day before the date of PCS preliminary examination.

The passing of Punjabi exam in matriculation or equivalent examination is a mandatory condition for government jobs in Punjab and this often comes as a major hurdle for non-Punjabis appearing in competitive examinations in the state.

The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) earlier this month issued the long-awaited notification for the Punjab State Civil Services Combined Competitive Examination-2025 (PSCSCCE-2025) for 322 posts.

The last PCS exam was held in Punjab in 2020. As per the notification issued on January 2, the preliminary PCS 2025 exam is tentatively scheduled to be held in April.

The PSCSCCE-2025 is being conducted to recruit officers for the Punjab Civil Service (executive branch) and as deputy superintendent of police, tahsildar, food and civil supply officer, block development and panchayat Officer, assistant registrar cooperative societies, labour-cum-conciliation officer, employment generation, skill development and training officer, excise and taxation officer and deputy superintendent of jails (Grade-II)/district probation officer.

As per the notification, there are 48 posts for PCS executive branch, 17 for DSP, 27 for tehsildar, 121 posts for excise and taxation officer, 13 for food and supplies officer, 49 posts for block development and panchayat officer, 21 for assistant registrar cooperative societies, three for labour-cum-conciliation officer, 12 posts for employment generation, skill development and training officer and 13 posts for deputy superintendent jails (Grade-II)/district probation officer.

As mandated by the Punjab State Civil Services (Appointment by Combined Competitive Examination) Rules, 2009, read with Punjab Civil Services (Executive Branch) Rules 1976, and government instructions issued from time to time, the candidate should have attained the minimum age of 21 years and should not have attained the age of 37 as on January 1 of the year in which the last day for submission of application to the commission falls.

In other words, the candidate should have attained the age of 21 years but should not be older than 37 years on January 1, 2025.

The upper age limit may be relaxed up to 42 years for Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes of Punjab only in case of other services except Punjab Police Service and Punjab Prisons Service. The upper age limit may be relaxed up to 45 years for Punjab government employees, staff from its boards/corporations/commissions and authorities, and all state and central government employees. However, no age relaxation is permissible for Punjab Police Service.

Ex-servicemen of Punjab domicile will be allowed to deduct the period of service in the Armed Forces of Union from his actual age and if the resultant age does not exceed the maximum age limit prescribed for direct appointment to such a vacancy in the Service Rules concerned by more than three years, he shall be deemed to satisfy the condition regarding age limit.

The upper age limit may be relaxed up to 42 years for widows, divorced women and certain other categories for women. However, no age relaxation is permissible for women in Punjab Police Service and Punjab Prisons Service.

The upper age limit may be relaxed up to 47 years for physically handicapped people from Punjab. However, no age relaxation is permissible in case of Punjab Police Service and Punjab Prisons Service.

The last date for online submission of forms and depositing fees is January 31, 2025.