The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) conducts the Punjab Civil Services examination to recruit candidates for various administrative positions. The exam comprises two stages: Preliminary and Main. The Prelims exam assesses the candidate’s general knowledge and aptitude, while the Mains exam evaluates their in-depth knowledge of various subjects. The PPSC PCS Civil Services syllabus covers a wide range of topics, including History, Geography, Polity, Economy, and more.
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Punjab PCS Syllabus 2025
| General Studies – I | |
| Subject | Topics |
| Everyday Science | States of matter, atom structure, carbon’s versatility, Acids, bases, salts, corrosion, soap actions. Evolution, marine and terrestrial life, human body, diseases, nutrition, prevention, health initiatives, Forces, energy, laws of motion, Archimedes’ principle, light, sound, electric current, and computers. |
| World History | Renaissance, Industrial Revolution, American, French, and Russian Revolutions, and World Wars. |
| Environmental Studies | Atmosphere composition, solar system, weather, climate change, renewable energy, pollution, biodiversity. |
| Indian Polity | Indian Constitution, amendments, Panchayati Raj, elections, regionalism, challenges to the state. |
| History Of India | Indus Valley, Aryan & Vedic age, Jainism, Buddhism, Maurya Gupta periods, Islam’s arrival, Mughals, British rule, Indian National Movement. |
| Indian Economy | Economic development since 1950, Five Year Plans, liberalization, challenges like agriculture, poverty, employment, and social sectors. |
| Geography | Population, migration, human development, land and water resources, industries, sustainable development. |
| Punjab | Geography, rivers, demographics, history, economy, major occupations, and public finance. |
| Current Affair | National And international News. |
Punjab PSC Aptitude Test Syllabus
- 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.
Punjab PCS Mains Syllabus
| General Studies – I |
| History |
| History of the world: Events from the 18th century, industrial revolution, world wars, redrawing of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, and political philosophies like Communism, Capitalism, Socialism, etc. their forms and effect 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 and the present personalities and issues. Socio-reform movements with special reference to Punjab. The Freedom Struggle- Various Stages and Important Contributors Contributions from different parts of the country with reference to Punjab. Post-independence reorganization and consolidation within the country. Ranjit Singh’s Rise to Power, military and civil administration and Relations with the British Annexation of Punjab with special reference to the causes and consequences of the Anglo-Sikh Wars. |
| Geography |
| Physical Geography of the World Salient Features: The world has mountains (Himalayas), plains (Indo-Gangetic), plateaus (Tibetan Plateau), and deserts (Sahara). Natural Resources: Water, minerals, forests, and energy resources like coal and oil are found globally. South Asia has coal, oil, and fertile land for agriculture. Industry Locations Primary (agriculture, mining) is near natural resources. Secondary (manufacturing) is close to raw materials and markets. Tertiary (services) is in urban areas with good infrastructure. Geophysical Phenomena Earthquakes: Caused by tectonic movements; Japan and Nepal experience frequent earthquakes. Tsunamis: Ocean waves from underwater earthquakes, like the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Volcanic Activity: Eruptions release lava and ash, e.g., Mount Vesuvius in Italy. Cyclones: Strong storms with winds and rain, like those in the Bay of Bengal. Geographical Changes: Melting ice caps raise sea levels, and climate change impacts flora and fauna. Geography of Punjab: Physiography and Strategic Location Physiography: Punjab has fertile plains with rivers like Sutlej and Beas. Strategic Location: It is near the international borders with Pakistan and China, making it important for trade and defense. Geography of Punjab: Physiography and Strategic Location Physiography: Punjab has fertile plains with rivers like Sutlej and Beas. Strategic Location: It is near the international borders with Pakistan and China, making it important for trade and defense. Agriculture and Issues Crops: Major crops include wheat, rice, and sugarcane. Modern Farming: Uses machines, high-yield seeds, and irrigation. Agricultural Issues: Water depletion due to excessive groundwater use and pollution from fertilizers. |
| Society |
| Salient Features of Indian Society and Diversity India is diverse in culture, language, religion, and traditions. Role of Women and Key Issues Women face inequality; population growth, poverty, and urbanization pose challenges. Remedies include education, empowerment, and improved infrastructure. Effects of Globalization Globalization boosts the economy but affects traditional values and jobs. Social Empowerment, Communalism, Regionalism, Secularism Focus on empowering marginalized groups; combating religious and regional divisions; promoting secularism. Ethics and Society Ethics guide behavior and decisions, impacting private and public life. Human Values Family, society, and education teach values like respect and honesty. Leaders like Buddha, Gandhi, and Phule emphasized peace, non-violence, and equality. Vulnerable Sections and Welfare Schemes Vulnerable groups include women, children, and the poor; welfare schemes aim to uplift them. Social Sector Issues Challenges include poor health and education systems, and issues like poverty and malnutrition. |
| General Studies – II |
| Indian Constitution & Polity |
| Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions, and basic structure. Functions and Responsibilities of the States and Union issues devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. Separation of powers between various organs. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries. Parliament and State Legislatures: functioning, structure, the 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 associations and their role in the Polity. Salient Features of the Representation of People 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. |
| Governance |
| Statutory, quasi-judicial, and regulatory bodies Government Policies and Interventions for Development 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, Changing trends in Governance. Values and Ethics in Governance: Ethical Concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions, strengthening ethical and moral values in governance, laws, rules, regulations, and conscience as sources of ethical guidance, and 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, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption. |
| International Relations |
| India and its Neighbourhood- relations. Bilateral, regional, and global groupings and agreements involving India or affecting India’s interests. Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and developing countries on India’s Interests. Important International institutions, agencies, and fora- their structure and mandate. |
| General Studies – III |
| Indian Economy |
| Issues relating to planning, sustainable development, Inclusive growth, and issues arising from it Government Budgeting. Major crops, cropping patterns in various parts of the country, storage, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems, 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, the 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- location, scope and significance, 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, Skill Development and Demographic Dividend. Trends of Employment in India. Punjab Economy: Planning – Various aspects of developmental Planning, Infrastructure, and Industry. |
| Statistical Analysis, Diagrams, and Graphs |
| This part will test the candidate’s ability to draw conclusions from information presented in statistical, graphical, or diagrammatical form and interpret the same. |
| Issues Related to Security |
| Linkages between the 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 cyber security money laundering and prevention. Security challenges and their management linkages of organized crime with terrorism. |
| General Studies – IV |
| Science and Technology |
| 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 developing new technology. Recent developments in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, 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 Scienceslatest 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. |
| Environment |
| Conservation, environmental pollution, and Degradation, Issues related to Climate change; environmental 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, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc., Risk reduction and mitigation measures. |
| 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 in effective service delivery, Managing and financing Municipal services. Conservation of natural resources- water, forests, etc, Pollution control, Planning, and target, Reviving a loss-making PSU achievement, Empowerment of vulnerable sections of society, Gender sensitization and women empowerment, Improving Education and Enhancing Skill development, Urban settlement Slums and Housing issues, Managing Issues related to Urban/ Rural drinking water supply and sanitation, etc. |
