Punjab PCS Mains Exam Date 2026 Announced: Check Official Schedule

The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) is set to fill 322 state service vacancies. Candidates will be selected for various prestigious roles through the Punjab Civil Service Combined Competitive Exam 2025, which encompasses preliminary, mains, and interview stages. According to the official notification published on January 10, 2026, at https://ppsc.gov.in/, the Punjab PCS Mains Exam will be conducted from April 1st to April 10th, 2026. 

Punjab PCS 2025 Exam

The PPSC manages the Punjab Civil Service Combined Competitive Exam to recruit for high-level government officer positions. After a four-year hiatus, the 2025 recruitment drive covers 322 vacancies, including roles such as Executive Branch officers, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Tehsildar, Food and Civil Supply Officer, Excise & Taxation Officer (ETO), and more. The selection follows a standard three-tier civil service format: Prelims, Mains, and Interview.

Punjab PCS 2025 Notification

The official Punjab PCS Notification (Advt. No. 20251) is available on the PPSC website at https://ppsc.gov.in/ for interested aspirants. We encourage all candidates to review the detailed instructions and eligibility criteria before applying for the Punjab PCS 2025 examination.

Download Punjab PCS 2025 Official Notification PDF

Punjab PCS 2025- Exam Summary

Eligible candidates are invited to apply for the 322 open state service positions. A comprehensive breakdown of the recruitment process is provided in the official Punjab PCS Notification 2025, and a summarized overview is included in the table below for quick reference.

Punjab PCS Mains Exam Date 2026 Out

The PPSC will conduct the Punjab PCS Mains Exam for all candidates who successfully cleared the Preliminary examination. Official confirmation regarding the exam dates was released on January 18, 2026. The mains examination is scheduled for April 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th, and 10th, 2026, with a single exam shift per day. The official notice is available at https://ppsc.gov.in/.

Check Punjab PCS Prelims Result 2025 Here

Punjab PCS 2025- Important Dates

The complete application timeline for the Punjab PCS 2025 cycle was detailed within the official notification. Please note that the Punjab PCS Mains Exam 2026 will take place from April 1st to April 10th, 2026. Key dates are outlined in the table below.

Punjab PCS 2025 Vacancies

The Punjab PCS 2025 recruitment encompasses 322 officer-level vacancies, including roles such as Executive Branch, DSP, Tehsildar, Food & Civil Supply Officer, Block Development & Panchayat Officer, and Excise & Taxation Officer (ETO). The ETO position accounts for the highest number of available vacancies this year.

Punjab PCS Notification 2025 Application Fee

Candidates are required to pay the specified application and examination fees to successfully submit their candidacy. Please refer to the table below for a detailed breakdown of fees based on candidate categories.

How to Apply for Punjab PCS 2025 Exam?

When completing the Punjab PCS application, ensure all personal and academic details are accurate to avoid potential rejection during the verification process.

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

Candidates belonging to specific categories may be eligible for a defined number of attempts to participate in the Punjab PCS exam, as outlined in the official notification.

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

Punjab PCS 2025 Eligibility

Only candidates meeting the prescribed educational qualifications and age requirements are eligible to compete in the Punjab PCS Exam 2025.

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)

To be eligible, candidates must be at least 21 years of age and no older than 37 years as of January 1, 2025.

Age Relaxation – Reserved category candidates are entitled to age relaxation as per Punjab Government guidelines. Please note that no age relaxation is permitted for the Punjab Police Service or Punjab Prisons Service roles.

Special Instructions for Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and Deputy Superintendent of Jails (Grade-II)/ District Probation Officer candidates.

Punjab PCS Selection Process 2025

The selection process follows a three-stage structure: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Only candidates who pass the Preliminary stage are eligible to sit for the Mains. Final merit is determined based on the combined performance in the Mains and the Interview rounds.

Selection Criteria for Punjab PCS 2025:

Stage 1: Preliminary Examination

Stage 2: Mains Examination

Stage 3: Interview/Personality Test

Punjab PCS 2025 Exam Pattern

The Punjab PCS Prelims comprises two papers held on the same day: Paper 1 (General Studies, 100 questions) and Paper 2 (Civil Services Aptitude Test/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 exam consists of four General Studies papers, two language papers, and one essay paper, all of which are mandatory and descriptive in nature.

View Detailed Punjab PCS Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2025

Download Punjab PCS Previous Year Question Papers PDF

Punjab PCS 2025 Cut Off

Cut-off marks for both Prelims and Mains will be published following the result declaration. The cut-off is calculated category-wise. For reference, the last examination conducted in 2020 provides a historical baseline; the previous cut-off marks are listed in the table below.