Punjab PCS Mains Exam Date 2026 Announced: Check Schedule & Official Notice

The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) is conducting the recruitment drive to fill 322 state service vacancies. Selection for these prestigious roles follows a rigorous process comprising Prelims, Mains, and Interview stages. According to the official update issued on January 10, 2026, at https://ppsc.gov.in/, the Punjab PCS Mains Exam schedule has been finalized. The mains examination is scheduled to be held from April 1st to April 10th, 2026. 

Punjab PCS 2025 Exam

The PPSC oversees the Punjab Civil Service Combined Competitive Exam to recruit for high-level administrative positions. After a four-year hiatus, the official notification for 322 vacancies was released, covering roles such as Executive Branch, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Tehsildar, Excise & Taxation Officer (ETO), Food and Civil Supply Officer, and various other district-level positions. The selection process maintains the standard three-tier format: Prelims, Mains, and Interview.

Punjab PCS 2025 Notification

The official Punjab PCS Notification PDF (Advt. No. 20251) is available for download at https://ppsc.gov.in/ for aspiring candidates. We encourage all candidates to review the document thoroughly, as it contains essential instructions and eligibility criteria for the Punjab PCS 2025-26 recruitment cycle.

Download Official Punjab PCS 2025 Notification PDF

Punjab PCS 2025- Exam Summary

Eligible candidates were invited to apply for 322 diverse state service vacancies. Full details regarding the application process and job descriptions are outlined in the Punjab PCS Notification 2025, summarized in the overview table below.

Punjab PCS Mains Exam Date 2026 Out

Following the successful completion of the Preliminary stage, the PPSC has announced the Punjab PCS Mains Exam Date 2026 via a circular issued on January 18, 2026. The main examination is scheduled for April 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 10, 2026. Exams will be held in a single shift daily. The official notice can be verified at https://ppsc.gov.in/.

Check Punjab PCS Result 2025 - Official Link

Punjab PCS 2025- Important Dates

The complete timeline for the recruitment process was released alongside the official notification. The Punjab PCS Mains Exam 2026 will take place from April 1st to April 10th, 2026. Please refer to the table below for all critical upcoming dates.

Punjab PCS 2025 Vacancies

The Punjab PCS 2025 notification covers 322 openings across various administrative roles, including the Executive Branch, DSP, Tehsildar, Food and Supply Officer, and Excise & Taxation Officer (ETO). Notably, a significant portion of the vacancies has been allocated to the Excise & Taxation Officer (ETO) cadre.

Punjab PCS Notification 2025 Application Fee

Candidates are required to pay the specified application and examination fees during the submission of their online forms. Please refer to the table below for a detailed breakdown of fees based on candidate categories.

How to Apply for Punjab PCS 2025 Exam?

To prevent application rejection, candidates must ensure that all personal and academic details provided are accurate and verified before finalizing their submissions.

1. Go to the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) official website: www.ppsc.gov.in
2. Find the Punjab PCS Examination notification.
3. Read the notification carefully for important dates, eligibility criteria, syllabus, and application procedure.
4. Click on the “Apply Online” link for the Punjab PCS Exam.
5. Complete the One Time Registration (OTR) process: Provide basic details like name, email ID, mobile number, etc.
6. Generate a login ID and password.
7. Log in using your credentials to fill out the Application Form
8. Fill in all the required details: Personal information, Educational qualifications, Category (if applicable)
9. Now upload scanned copies of the required documents: Photograph, Signature, Certificates (educational and caste/category certificates if applicable) as per the permissible size and dimensions.
10. Pay the required applicant fee online (via debit card, credit card, or net banking).
11. After completing all steps, submit the application form.
12. Download and print a copy of the submitted application for future reference.

Number of Attempts for Punjab PCS

The official notification specifies the maximum number of attempts allowed for candidates based on their respective categories.

1. General Category- Six
2. Backward Classes- Nine
3. Scheduled Castes- Unlimited

Punjab PCS 2025 Eligibility

Only candidates who strictly meet the required educational qualifications and age parameters are eligible to proceed with the Punjab PCS Exam 2025 selection process.

Education Qualification

• Candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university or institution.
• Candidates studying for the qualifying degree will also be permitted to take a preliminary examination. However, the candidate shall be required to produce proof of passing the degree course while appearing in the Main Competitive Examination.
• Mandatory- Punjabi as one of the compulsory or elective subjects, or any other equivalent examination in the Punjabi language

Age Limit (as on 1/1/2025)

The candidate must be at least 21 years old and not exceed 37 years of age as of January 1, 2025, to qualify for the examination.

Age Relaxation – Upper age relaxation for reserved categories is granted according to Punjab Government guidelines. Please note that age relaxation is not applicable to positions within the Punjab Police Service or Punjab Prisons Service.

Special Physical Requirements: Specific eligibility criteria apply to candidates aspiring for the roles of Deputy Superintendent of Police and Deputy Superintendent of Jails (Grade-II)/ District Probation Officer.

Punjab PCS Selection Process 2025

Selection involves a three-stage process: Preliminary, Mains, and Interview. Candidates must qualify in the Prelims to be eligible for the Mains. Ultimately, only those who clear the Mains examination will be invited to the Interview stage. Final selection is merit-based, determined by the aggregate scores obtained in the Mains and the Interview.

Punjab PCS 2025 Selection Process

Stage 1: Preliminary Examination

Stage 2: Mains Examination

Stage 3: Personality Test (Interview)

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Punjab PCS 2025 Exam Pattern

The Punjab PCS Prelims consist of two papers held on the same day: Paper I (General Studies, 100 questions) and Paper II (CSAT, 80 questions).

• There shall be no negative marking in the Punjab PCS Prelims Exam.
• CSAT Exam shall be qualifying, and candidates need to score a minimum of 40% marks
• Marks obtained in the prelims exam will not be counted in the final merit list.

The Mains examination is a descriptive-type test comprising four General Studies papers, two language papers, and one essay writing paper. All papers are mandatory for candidates to complete.

Download Punjab PCS Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2025

Download Punjab PCS Previous Year Question Papers

Punjab PCS 2025 Cut Off

Cut-off marks for both Prelims and Mains will be announced following the publication of the final results. These vary by category. For reference, the previous examination conducted in 2020 has its category-wise cut-off data listed in the table below.