PPSC Notification 2024: The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) will soon release the PPSC Notification 2024 on the official website of www.ppsc.gov.in. The PPSC Punjab Civil Services Notification 2024 will be out for various administrative positions across different departments. The PPSC Selection process consists of a written exam followed by physical tests. Applicants can expect the PPSC recruitment release of the PPSC Exam 2024 notice soon.
The exam will have three selection stages: preliminary, main, and interview. The PPSC Notification 2024 will specify the application deadline. Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply online within the given timeframe. It is important to note that applications will not be considered after the submission deadline.
PPSC 2024 Vacancies
The commission will soon release its PPSC vacancies for different posts. The total vacancies within PPSC are subject to potential changes, either an increase or decrease, by the government before the selection process. Any alterations in PPSC vacancies won’t be pre-announced to candidates.
PPSC 2024 Application Fee
The PPSC 2024 Application Fee for the Punjab Civil Services Exam is based on different categories. The PPSC 2024 Application Fee is expected to remain unchanged from the previous year, and any updates will be made available here. Candidates should note that the PPSC Application fee is non-refundable. Payments must be made at any State Bank of Patiala branch.
The fee for the general category is generally more than reserved categories. Here is the list of fees from past years.
PPSC Educational Qualification
- Candidates need a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized institution or university.
- Aspirants are allowed to appear for the Punjab State Civil Services Preliminary examination while pursuing their degree.
- However, candidates must submit proof of having passed their Bachelor’s degree course to be eligible for the Punjab State Civil Services Final examination during that year.
- Candidates must note that they will be permitted to appear for the preliminary examination only if they have cleared their matriculation (Class 10) examination with Punjabi as one of the compulsory or elective subjects or any other equivalent examination of the Punjabi language.
- For eligibility for PPSC civil services, the expression “recognized university” or “institution” shall have the same meaning, as assigned to it in the Punjab Civil Services (General and Common Conditions of Service) Rules, 1994.
PPSC Age Limit:
- As mandated by Punjab State Civil Services (Appointment by Combined Competitive Examination) Rules, 2009 read with Punjab Civil Services (Executive Branch) Rules 1976, and Govt. 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 years on the first day of January 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 1st January 2020
- 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 Govt. and its Board/Corporation/Commission and Authorities employees, all States/ Central Government employees. However, No age relaxation is permissible for Punjab Police Service.
- Ex-servicemen of Punjab Domicile shall be allowed to deduct the period of their service in the Armed Forces of Union from their 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 of women. However, no age relaxation is permissible for women in the case of the Punjab Police Service and Punjab Prisons Service
- The upper age limit may be relaxed up to 47 years for the Physically Handicapped of Punjab only. However, no age relaxation is permissible in the case of Punjab Police Service and Punjab Prisons Service.
- In the case of the post of Deputy Superintendent Police and Deputy Superintendent Jails/District Probation Officer (Grade-II) in Punjab Police Service and Punjab Prisons Service, a candidate should have attained the minimum age of 21 years and should not have attained the age of 28 years on the first day of the year, as referred to above.
- The Upper age limit may be relaxed up to 33 years for Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes of Punjab only in the case of the Punjab Police Service and Punjab Prisons Service.
PPSC EXAM OVERVIEW
Procedure and scheme for the Punjab PCS Preliminary Examination: The preliminary competitive examination will consist of two papers of 200 marks each and shall comprise objective-type (multiple choice) questions. The details are as follows:
Note:
- Both the papers will be of objective type multiple choice questions.
- The duration of each paper for the preliminary examination will be two hours. However, Persons with disability candidates will be given an additional 40 minutes.
- There will be no negative marking in the written preliminary examination test, however, there may be a negative marking for any objections to the Answer Key found false/frivolous/not supported by authentic evidence.
- The question paper shall be bilingual and printed in English (Roman script) and Punjabi (Gurumukhi script) except for questions where candidates’ proficiency in language is to be tested.
PPSC PRELIMS SYLLABUS:
Punjab Civil Services Exam Syllabus 2024 – Prelims Paper 1 (General Studies)
The PPSC Prelims exams consist of 2 papers of 200 marks each- Paper I(General Studies) and Paper II (Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT). The PPSC Preliminary Syllabus 2024 has been given below:
Punjab Civil Service Science Syllabus:
- States of matter, the structure of atoms, versatile nature of carbon.
- Acids, bases, salts, corrosion in metals, and the action of soaps.
- Life on Earth – evolution, marine & terrestrial life.
- The human body and life processes, nutrition, disease – its causes & prevention, infectious diseases, lifestyle diseases.
- Public health initiatives, mother and child health, immunization & vaccination, HIV AIDS, TB, polio etc.
- Force-laws of motion & gravitation, Archimedes principle.
- Energy – kinetic & potential. Light – reflection & refraction – concepts and applications. Sound – propagation & reflection- concepts and applications.
- Electric current – concepts and applications. Computers and telecommunication – concepts and applications.
Punjab Civil Service Syllabus for Environmental Studies:
- Composition and structure of the atmosphere.
- Solar system – heat balance & temperature. Atmospheric circulation & weather system, water cycle.
- Climate change – fossil fuels, greenhouse gases, renewable energy, clean development mechanism, carbon credits.
- Water – oceans, rivers, glaciers, lakes, groundwater, etc.
- Biodiversity & conservation.
- Soil – types, crops, food chain, etc.
- Pollution and toxicity etc.
Punjab Civil Service Political Theory & International Order Syllabus
- The basic concepts of freedom, equality, social justice, rights & duties, citizenship, nationalism, secularism, etc.
- United Nations and its organs/agencies, other international organizations like the World Bank, IMF, WTO, EU, G20, BRICS, etc., and their role in World peace, trade & development.
Punjab PCS Indian Polity Syllabus
- Basic features, provisions, schedules of the Indian Constitution, key amendments.
- Panchayati Raj.
- Elections – People’s Representation Act, electoral reforms.
- Rise of regionalism and coalition politics.
- Armed challenges to the Indian state since independence
History of India Syllabus
- The Indus Valley civilization.
- The Aryan and the Vedic age.
- Jainism and Buddhism.
- The Maurya Gupta period.
- The advent of Islam and the Sultanate period (political, social & cultural).
- The Bhakti Movement.
- The Mughals (political, social & cultural till Aurangzeb).
- The coming of the European Powers and the advent of British rule.
- The Mutiny of 1857.
- The British rule and the Indian National Movement (1857-1947)
- World History: The Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution in Europe.
- The American Revolution 1776.
- The French Revolution 1789.
- The Russian Revolution 1917.
- World Wars I & II.
Punjab Civil Service Syllabus for Indian Economy:
- Indian economic development (1950-1991) – key economic policies, public sector dominance, bank nationalization, etc.
- Five-year plans – key goals and main achievements.
- Liberalization, privatization, and globalization era since 1991 – key policies, decisions, and results.
- Performance of Indian economy since 1991 – Growth, fiscal & revenue deficits, trade, commerce & balance of payments, inflation, growth of service sector.
- Key challenges and responses – agriculture and food security, industrialization, poverty alleviation & employment, rural & urban infrastructure, social sector – health, education, etc.
Punjab Civil Service Geography Syllabus
- Population – distribution, density, growth, and comparison. Migration – types, causes, and consequences.
- Human development.
- Human settlements
- Land resources and agriculture.
- Water resources.
- Mineral and energy resources.
- Manufacturing industries.
- Planning and sustainable development in India.
- Transport and communication.
- International trade.
- Geographical perspective on selected issues and problems.
Current Events of National and International Importance.
Related to the State of Punjab
- Geography: Geographical and Agro-climatic regions, rivers, water resources, sharing of waters, demographics, human development indices.
- People, Society, and Culture: Major personalities in the history of Punjab, religious movements, major religions & spiritual personalities, Punjabi literature, folklore, performing arts, fine arts and crafts
- History: Sufis, saints and gurus, Lodhis and Mughals, Sikh rulers, the British period, nationalist movement in Punjab, Punjab in independent India.
- Economy: Agriculture, animal husbandry, industrial & service sectors, major occupations, development & economic growth, public finance (including central-state fiscal issues), public sector institutions, cooperatives, etc.
Punjab Civil Service Exam Syllabus 2024 – Prelims Paper 2 (Civil Services Aptitude Test)
- Reading comprehension; Punjabi and English language comprehension, antonyms and synonyms, grammar and sentence formation.
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills
- Logical reasoning, analytical, and mental ability
- Basic numerical skills; numbers, magnitudes, percentages, numerical relation appreciation
- Data analysis; Graphic presentations, charts, tables, spreadsheets.
Note: The topics listed in the syllabus are only indicative of the general guidance of the candidates and cannot be deemed as a final list.
The PPSC civil service MAINS EXAM will be descriptive in nature. The PPSC Main Exam consists of 7 papers- English, Essay, Punjabi, General Studies I, General Studies II, General Studies III, and General Studies IV.
All the paper marks make up to a total of 1350 marks. The PPSC Syllabus for Mains has been given below:
Paper 1: General English language
- Vocabulary and grammar
- Verbs, idioms, and tenses
- Phrase corrections
- Sentence completion
- Paragraph writing
- Precis writing
- Translation
- Comprehension
Paper 2: General Punjabi language
- Essay writing
- Letter writing
- Grammatical concepts
- Language quotes and explanations
- Descriptive writing
- Paragraph and precis writing
Paper 3: General Essay
The General Essay Section will be for a total of 150 marks. Candidates will be required to write three short essays in English or Punjabi on specified topics. The choice of subjects will be given. They will be expected to keep close to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in an orderly fashion and to write concisely. Credit will be given for content value, effective and exact expression.
General Studies 1
Section 1: History
- History of the world: Events from the 18th century; industrial revolution, world wars, redrawing of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like Communism, Capitalism, Socialism, etc. -their forms and effects on society.
- Indian culture- Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature, and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
- Modern Indian history from the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, and issues.
- Socio-religious reform movements with special reference to Punjab.
- The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country with special reference to Punjab.
- Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country. 1.7 History of Punjab:
- Ranjit Singh’s rise to power, civil and military administration, and relations with the British. The annexation of Punjab with special reference to the causes and consequences of the Anglo-Sikh wars.
Section 2: Geography
- Physical Geography: Salient features of the world’s physical geography. Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)
- Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, tsunamis, Volcanic activity, cyclones, etc., geographical features and their location changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and icecaps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
Geography of Punjab:
- Physiographic details of Punjab; Geomorphic features of Punjab, Punjab’s strategic location with reference to International Border;
- Crops of Punjab; Modern concepts of Farming; Problems faced by agriculturists/ Issues in Agriculture: Depletion of groundwater, etc:
Section 3: Society
- Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
- Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies
- Effects of globalization on Indian society
- Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism
- Ethics and Society: Essence, determinants, and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships.
- Human Values – Role of family, society, and educational institutions in inculcating values; lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders and reformers- Gautam Buddha, Mahavira, Kabir, Guru Nanak; Swami Vivekananda, Jyotibha Phule, Ishwar Chandra Vidya Sagar, and Mahatma Gandhi.
- Vulnerable sections of the population – Welfare schemes by the Centre and State of Punjab and their performance; Mechanisms, laws, institutions, and Bodies constituted for their protection and betterment.
- Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector- Health, Education, Human Resources; Issues relating to Poverty and Malnutrition.
General Studies-II
Indian Constitution & Polity, Governance, and International Relations
Section 1: Indian Constitution & Polity
- Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions, and basic structure.
- Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels, and challenges therein.
- Separation of powers between various organs; Dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
- Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
- Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, the conduct of business, powers & privileges, and issues arising out of these.
- Structure, organization, and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary; Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
- Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
- Appointment to various Constitutional posts; Powers, functions, and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies
- District Administration – Evolution of District Administration; Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies.
Section 2: Governance
- Statutory, regulatory, and various quasi-judicial bodies
- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation; Development processes and the development organizations- the role of NGOs, SHGs, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
- Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability, and institutional and other measures; Role of civil services in a democracy; Changing trends in Governance
- Values and Ethics in Governance- Ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations, and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding.
- Probity in Governance: Concept of Governance; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; corporate governance; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilisation of public funds, challenges of corruption.
Section 3: International Relations
- India and its neighborhood- relations;
- Bilateral, regional, and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests;
- Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora
- Important International institutions, agencies, and fora- their structure and mandate.
- Note: The candidates are expected to be aware of the current developments related to the topics mentioned above.
General Studies-III
Economy, Statistics & Security Issues
Section-1: Indian Economy
- Issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development, and employment; sustainable development; Inclusive growth and issues arising from it; Government Budgeting;
- Major crops, cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems; storage, transport, and marketing of agricultural produce- issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers; Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Technology missions; economics of animal rearing.
- Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security;
- Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management
- Land reforms in India; Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
- Infrastructure- Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc; Investment models
- Human Resource Development:
- Importance of Human capital in economic development
- Nature, types, and problems of unemployment in India, Trends of Employment in India, Skill Development and demographic dividend
Punjab Economy: Planning- various aspects of developmental planning; Industry; Infrastructure.
Section 2: Statistical analysis, graphs, and diagrams
This part will test the candidate’s ability to draw conclusions from information presented in statistical, graphical, or diagrammatic form and to interpret the same.
Section 3: Issues Related to Security
- Linkages between development and spread of extremism;
- Role of external, State, and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security; Challenges to internal security through communication networks; the role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges,
- Basics of cybersecurity; money-laundering and its prevention;
- Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
- Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate
Note: The candidates are expected to be aware of the current developments related to the abovementioned topics.
General Studies-IV:
Science & Technology, Environment, Problem-solving & Decision Making
Section-1: Science and Technology
- Developments and applications of science and technology and their effects on everyday life
- Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and development of new technology.
- Recent developments in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nanotechnology, etc.
- Issues relating to intellectual property rights.
- Modern Trends in Life Sciences
- Progress of Agricultural Science and its Impact– Introduction to Biotechnology and its Applications; Veterinary and Animal Sciences- latest developments.
- Introduction to and Applications of Genetic Engineering & Stem Cell Research
- Human Diseases and Microbial infections; Common infections and preventive measures; preventive measures during outbreaks; Immunity and vaccination
Section-2: Environment
- Conservation, environmental pollution, and degradation, Issues related to environmental, Climate change impact assessment
- Water management- Issues in India; Present scenario, Methods and importance of water conservation
- Definition, nature, types, and classification of disasters
- Natural Hazards: Floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, etc., Risk reduction and mitigation measures
Section-3: Situations in Civil Service -Problem Solving and Decision Making
- Tackling situations of Natural disasters/ Major Accidents/ Law and order, Controlling riots, Handling public protests and dharnas, Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation, Designing Projects, Implementation of National Flagship Schemes/ Programmes,
- Public-Private Partnership ineffective service delivery, Managing and financing Municipal services e.g. Solid waste management, Conservation of natural resources- water, forests, etc,
- Pollution control, Reviving a loss-making PSU, Planning, and target achievement,
- Gender sensitization and women empowerment, Empowerment of vulnerable sections of the society, Improving Education and Enhancing Skill development,
- Urban settlement-Slums and Housing issues
- Managing Issues related to Urban/ Rural drinking water supply, sanitation, etc.
Note: A duly structured situation will be presented to the candidates and they will be asked to analyse and suggest their own solution to the problem arising out of the situation
Punjab Civil Services Exam 2024 – Interview Round
- Candidates will be presented with questions on various topics related to their level of understanding based on their previous experience.
- Personality tests and tests to assess one’s suitability and understanding for higher managerial roles.
- Only Candidates who have qualified for the written examination and fulfill the eligibility criteria will be called for an interview. The interview will contain 150 as maximum marks. The marks obtained in the interview together with the marks obtained in the written exam will be considered for the final merit list.
- The candidates not more than three times the number of vacancies advertised in each category shall be called for the interview, provided they have appeared and qualified for the Main Written Examination.
- The names of the qualified candidates shall be arranged in order of merit. These arrangements will be made according to the aggregate marks obtained from the Main Examination and Interview.
Note: No candidate shall be eligible to appear in the interview unless he/she obtains 45% marks in the aggregate of all the papers (read 40 % for the candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) including at least 25% marks in each paper.
