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Punjab Civil Services Exam (PCS)

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Punjab Civil Services Exam (PCS)

Updated: Feb 27, 2024

The Punjab Public Service Commission will issue crucial updates for several positions in the coming year. While there is no official updated test timetable for 2023-24, the Punjab PCS Notification 2024 is expected to be released shortly. Candidates preparing for the same should stick to their tight schedules and improve their preparation tactics.


What is PCS?


PCS/Punjab Civil Services Examination is a PPSC-conducted examination for the recruitment of candidates to various government entities.


The PPSC is currently conducting hiring exams for additional positions. Candidates who wish to apply can do so by going to https://ppsc.gov.in/ and clicking on the notification page to see the open positions and eligibility requirements. It is vital to remember that the eligibility requirements for those positions will differ from the PCS exam.


The posts are as follows: 

  1. Tehsildar

  2. Block Development and Panchayat Officer

  3. Principal (Department of School Education)

  4. Sub-divisional engineer

  5. Municipal engineer

  6. Judicial Service

  7. Audit Inspector

  8. Employment Generation and Training Officer

  9. Labor and Conciliation Officer

  10. Food Supply and Consumer Affairs Officer, etc.


There are other openings as well. To get a detailed view, please go through the website. However, the openings for PCS have not been uploaded by the PPSC. But, it is estimated that they might not differ much from the 2021-22 year. 

Before you start your preparation, have a look at the estimated dates for the important events regarding PCS 2024.


PCS 2024 Eligibility Criteria

Although the dates have not yet been announced, the eligibility criteria remain unchanged. Candidates must consider age, educational background, nationality, as well as certain physical and medical conditions. 

Age:

The candidate applying for PCS 2024 should not be younger than 21 years and older than 37 years. For the post of Deputy Superintendent Police and Deputy Superintendent Jail/ District Probation Officer (grade II) in Punjab Prison, the maximum age limit is 28. For some exceptional candidates, age relaxation will be given which is as follows: 


  • Government of India Employees - Age relaxation of 45 years of age

  • ST/OBC Punjab Police Candidates - Can only apply till 33 years of age

  • SC/OBC candidates in other services - Age relaxation of 47 years of age

  • Female candidates - Age relaxation of 42 years of age

  • Physically Handicapped Candidates - Age relaxation of 47 years of age

Educational Qualification:

It is very evident from the age that a candidate can only appear for the examination if he/she is a graduate in any specialization. If they are in the last year of their graduation course, they can apply.

Criteria for Physically Disabled People:

Candidates with visual sharpness exceeding 6/60 or 20/200 (Stellen) in the better eye, cerebral palsy, or locomotor disability can get a scribe. The scribe must be a 12th pass. An extra 20 minutes will be added to the examination time for them. 

Nationality:

Nationals of India, Nepal, Bhutan, or refugees from Pakistan, Burma, Vietnam, and South African countries who settled down in India before 1962 can appear for this examination.

Marital Status:

Irrespective of the marital status, candidates can apply for the examination.

Number of Attempts:

Candidates can appear for the examination as many times as they want as long as they fall under the eligibility criteria. 

PCS 2024 Dates

PCS Events

Dates 2024

First Notification Release

After PCS 2023 Ends

Registration Process Begins

On the same day, the notification is out

Registration Process Ends

To be updated

Fee Payment Date

Not mentioned

Deadline to Make Corrections

No data found

Admit Card Release

½ weeks before the examination

Prelims Date

End of 2024 or starting of 2025

Answer Key Out

No updates 

Results

No updates

Mains Date

Yet to be updated

Answer Key Out

No updates

Results

Yet to be disclosed

How to Complete PCS 2024 Application?

Just like any other civil services exam UPSC, HCS, WBCS, and PCS, etc. have the same application process mentioned below.


Registration

Applicants need to visit the official site right after the notification regarding the exam is released and click on the link given on the website for registration. You can find it here.

After that, they need to provide their email, phone number, or other details to create an account. After that, they will be considered registered.

Filling Application Form

After that, applicants need to fill out the application form with all the mentioned details and also upload the documents in a PDF file.

Fee Payment

As the last step, they are required to pay the fee as per their category.

Admit Card Collect

1 or 2 weeks before the exam date the PCS 2024 admit card will be out and they can collect the same. For that, logging into the account is needed.

PCS 2024 Fee Structure

  • SC.ST candidates must pay the application fee worth rs 500 + the examination fee worth rs 625.

  • Other Candidates must pay the application fee worth rs 500 + the examination fee worth rs 2500.

  • Physically handicapped candidates need to pay the application fee worth rs 500 and the examination fee worth rs 1250.

  • Ex-servicemen only have to pay the application fee which is Rs 500.

PPSC Vacancy List 2024

The below-mentioned list consisting of the vacancies are expected numbers, it might change in the upcoming time.


Post Names

Number of Vacancies

Deputy Superintendent Jails / District Probation Officer (Grade I)

10

Deputy Superintendent Jails / District Probation Officer (Grade II)

4

Deputy Superintendent of Police

26

Tehsildar

5

Punjab Civil Service (Executive Branch)

20

Employment Generation and Training Officer

7

Block Development & Panchayat Officer

2

Food Supply and Consumer Affairs Officer

2

Labor and Conciliation Officer

1


As you can see, there are only 20 vacancies for PCS 2024. Therefore, the competition is going to be tough. 

Salary for PCS Executives

The salary range is INR 1,92,000 - 4,80,000 per annum. It depends on which post the candidate can secure.

Exam Pattern (PCS 2024)

The PCS 2024 exam pattern will remain the same. There will be three stages, prelims, mains, and interviews before the candidate is finally selected. The pattern for the respective stages is.

Pattern for Prelims:

Mode: MCQ

Number of Papers: General Studies and Civil Service Aptitude Test

Number of Questions: 100 for General Studies and 180 for Civil Service Aptitude Test

Marks: 200 each paper

Negative Marking: No negative marking

Pattern for Mains:

Mode: Descriptive

Number of Papers: English, Punjabi (Gurmukhi Script), Essay (English/Punjabi), General Studies - I, II, III, IV.

Marks: 100 each (English & Punjabi), 150 Essay, 250 each General Studies Paper

Negative Marking: No negative marking

Interview Pattern:

No pattern has been specified for the interview round. However, this round has 150 marks. 

PCS Syllabus 2024

It almost includes everything that you have learned throughout your 21 years of school and college. The prelims focus on the basics of studies while the mains are about the advanced and complex parts of these studies. 

Prelims Syllabus:

Paper Number & Name

Sections

Chapters to Focus On 


















Paper 1 (General Studies)

Everyday Science

Matter, Force, Light, Public Health, Life on Earth, Computers and Telecommunication

Environmental Studies

Structure of Atmosphere, Solar System, Water, Climate Change, Soil

Political Science

Political theories and beliefs, various powerful bodies of the United Nations, and their contribution to world peace

Indian Polity

Indian Constitution, Panchayat Raj, Election, Armed Challenges faced by India after Independence

Indian History 

Various Civilizations including the British rule, Renaissance in the West, world wars, French and Russian revolution

Indian Economy

Development of the Indian economy, challenges, effects, initiatives, etc.

Current Affairs


Geography

Population, Human development, natural sources, International trade

About Punjab

Geography, history, political Affairs, economy of Punjab

Paper 2 (Civil Service Aptitude Test)

Data Analysis, Numerical skills, Interpersonal skills, grammar, Reading Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, etc.


Mains Syllabus:

Paper Name

Sections

Chapters to Focus on

English

Letter writing, unseen passage, grammar, translation, etc.


Punjabi

Same as Above


Essay

Essay Writing on Topics







General Studies I

History

Culture, Political beliefs, modern history, history of Punjab, Freedom movements

Geography

Physical Geography, Important phenomena of geography, Geography of Punjab

Society

History of Indian society, different beliefs, challenges, etc.






General Studies II

Indian Politics

Indian constitution, responsibility of states, judiciary, etc.

Governance

Values and ethics of governance, importance of the same, etc.

International Relations

Global groupings, policies, relationships with neighbors, important international institutions




General Studies III

Indian Economy

Corps, natural sources, human development, capital, infrastructure, etc.

Statistical Analysis


Issues Related to Security

Everything



General Studies IV

Science and Technology

Development in science and technologies, effects, diseases, issues, etc.

Environment

Conservation, water management, natural hazards, etc.

Civil Service

improvement of education, management of municipal services, natural disasters, etc.

PCS 2024 Exam Centers

The exam centers will cover Punjab and the surrounding areas. Candidates will have to choose any one of the exam centers given on the site at the time of registration.

PCS 2023 Cut-Off (Prelims)

Sportsperson Punjab - 782.33

General - 740.33

Ex-Servicemen - 627

SC7 - 12.67

BC - 721.00

PH (Hearing) - 623.37

PH (Ortho) - 661.83

PH (Visual) - 623.67

Freedom Fighter Punjab State - 776.33

How Many Students Appeared for Punjab PCS 2023?

According to 2023 data, the number of students who appeared for Punjab PCS 2023  is 6497.

PCS 2024 Response Sheet

The response sheet helps candidates calculate their marks before the final results are out. The response sheet has all the right answers and your answers.

PCS 2024 Answer Key Challenge

Students can challenge their answers which they think are marked wrong even though they are right. However, they need to provide supporting documents to prove their answers.

PCS 2024 Toppers List

Check the official website to get the merit list details of 2023 examination.

Tips to Crack any PPSC Exam

  • Always keep the syllabus with you so that you don’t miss out on anything. Keep marking the chapters that are done one by one.

  • Finish the tough chapters first, and clear the concepts if needed.

  • Give equal importance to each subject.

  • Solve previous years’ question papers to understand the pattern better.

  • Buy books by RS Agarwal, Rajesh Sharma, Wren & Martin, and others as per your choice. Buy books that clear out your doubts.

  • Take regular mock tests to enhance your speed.

  • Watch current affairs. You can take lectures too, it is more effective.

  • Practice descriptive writing. 

  • If you want to take coaching, go to coaching institutes situated in Chandigarh, Patiala, New Delhi, etc. Due to locational benefits, you will be connecting to the information more effectively.

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