Exam Pattern Salary Eligibility Syllabus and Selection Process of Punjab Civil Services Combined Competitive Exam
The Punjab Civil Services Combined Competitive Exam (PCS Exam) is conducted by the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) to recruit candidates for various administrative positions in the state government of Punjab. Here is the detailed information about the PCS Exam pattern, eligibility criteria, syllabus, selection process, and salary.
Exam Pattern:
The PCS Exam consists of three stages:
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Preliminary Exam: It is an objective type exam that tests the candidate’s knowledge of current affairs, reasoning, and basic general knowledge. The preliminary exam consists of two papers, each with 100 multiple-choice questions. Each paper is of 2 hours duration, and candidates have to score a minimum of 33% marks in each paper to qualify for the next round.
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Main Exam: The main exam consists of a written exam and a personal interview. The written exam consists of seven papers, including four compulsory papers and three optional papers. The compulsory papers are Punjabi (Compulsory), English (Compulsory), Essay, and General Studies-I. The optional papers are selected by the candidates based on their preferences. Each paper is of 3 hours duration, and candidates who qualify the written exam are called for the personal interview.
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Personal Interview: The personal interview is conducted to test the candidate’s personality, communication skills, and knowledge of the subject. It carries 150 marks, and candidates have to score a minimum of 45% marks to qualify for the final selection.
Salary:
The salary for PCS officers varies depending on the position and the level of the officer. The starting salary for a PCS officer is around Rs. 50,000 per month, and it can go up to Rs. 1 lakh per month or more for higher positions.
Eligibility Criteria:
The eligibility criteria for the PCS Exam are as follows:
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Nationality: The candidate must be an Indian citizen.
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Age Limit: The candidate must be between 21 to 37 years of age as of January 1st of the year of the exam. There is relaxation in the age limit for candidates belonging to certain categories.
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Educational Qualification: The candidate must have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or institution.
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Language Proficiency: The candidate must have studied Punjabi as a subject up to the Matriculation level or must have passed the Punjabi Language Proficiency Test.
Syllabus:
The syllabus for the PCS Exam is as follows:
Preliminary Exam:
- General Studies
- Current Affairs
- Reasoning
- Basic General Knowledge
Main Exam:
- Compulsory Papers:
- Punjabi (Compulsory)
- English (Compulsory)
- Essay
- General Studies-I
- Optional Papers:
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
- Anthropology
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Commerce and Accountancy
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- Geography
- Geology
- History
- Law
- Management
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medical Science
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science and International Relations
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Sociology
- Statistics
- Zoology
Selection Process:
The selection process for the PCS Exam consists of three stages: Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and Personal Interview. Candidates who qualify for the Preliminary Exam are called for the Main Exam. Candidates who qualify the Main Exam are called for the Personal Interview. The final selection is based on the marks obtained in the Main Exam and the Personal Interview.
