# Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB) (PSSSB) — Shishya exam context

> Machine-readable context for Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB), maintained by Shishya (https://shishya.in) — India's end-to-end free government exam preparation platform. All facts below are free to cite; link back to https://shishya.in/exams/PB_PSSSB. Human page: https://shishya.in/exams/PB_PSSSB

## Exam pattern
- Category: STATE_LEVEL · state: PB
- Questions: 100 · Total marks: 100 · Marks per question: 1
- Duration: 120 minutes
- Negative marking: −0.25 per wrong answer
- Languages offered: EN, PA

## Eligibility & vacancies
- Age: 18–37 years (before category relaxation: OBC +3, SC/ST +5)
- Education: Varies by post: 10th with Punjabi for Group D, Graduation for Clerk/Senior Assistant, Diploma/Degree for technical posts
- Approximate annual vacancies: 1,500
- Note: Mandatory Punjabi language proficiency at matriculation level; Punjab domicile required for reservation benefits and most posts
- Official portal: https://sssb.punjab.gov.in (Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB))

## Key dates
- 2026-07-25 — Written examination date (Tier 1) (exam day)
- 2026-07-26 — Warden & Matron Written Exam (exam day)
- 2026-08-01 — Answer key publication and objection window
- 2026-08-02 — Assistant District Attorney (ADA) exam conducted (exam day)
- 2026-08-02 — Assistant District Attorney Written Exam (exam day)
- 2026-08-03 — ADA (Advt. 09/2026) provisional answer key released
- 2026-08-04 — Excise Inspector Typing/Computer Proficiency Test (Expected)
- 2026-08-06 — Senior Assistant exam announcement expected

## Syllabus outline
### General Knowledge and Current Affairs (weight 1)
Current Affairs · Awards and Honours · International Current Events · National Current Events · Punjab Current Events · Sports · Indian Economy · Banking · Basics of Indian Economy · Budget and Taxation · Indian and World Geography · Environment and Ecology · Indian Geography · World Geography · History · Ancient India · Indian National Movement · Medieval India · Modern India · Indian Polity and Constitution · Indian Constitution · Fundamental Rights and DPSPs · Union and State Government · Judiciary · General Science · Biology · Chemistry · Physics

### Numerical Ability (weight 1)
Algebra · Average · Data Interpretation · Geometry · HCF and LCM · Mensuration · Number System · Percentage · Profit, Loss and Discount · Ratio and Proportion · Simple and Compound Interest · Simplification · Statistics · Time and Distance · Time and Work

### Logical Reasoning and Mental Ability (weight 1)
Alphanumeric Series · Analogy · Blood Relations · Calendar and Clock · Classification · Coding-Decoding · Cube and Dice · Direction Sense · Puzzles · Ranking and Order · Series · Statement and Argument · Syllogism

### Punjabi and English Language (weight 1)
Reading Comprehension · English Grammar · English Idioms and Phrases · Sentence Improvement · Spotting Errors · English Vocabulary · Virodhi Shabd (Antonyms) · Punjabi Reading Comprehension · Ling and Vachan · Punjabi Grammar (Vyakaran) · Gurmukhi Script · Punjabi Muhavare · Punjabi Literature · One-Word Substitution (Punjabi) · Punjabi Sentence Correction · Punjabi Spelling Shudhi · Samanarthak (Synonyms) · Punjabi Tense (Kal)

### Punjab — History, Culture and Geography (weight 1.4)
Culture and Heritage of Punjab · Attire and Traditions · Cuisine · Folk Dances · Fairs and Melas · Festivals · Gurudwaras and Religious Sites · Punjabi Literature · Folk Music · Geography of Punjab · Canal Irrigation · Climate · Industries · Location and Physical Features · Population and Demography · Rivers of Punjab · Soil and Agriculture · History of Punjab · Ancient Punjab · British Punjab · Freedom Struggle in Punjab · Sikh Gurus · Medieval Punjab · Sikh Misls · Partition of Punjab (1947) · Maharaja Ranjit Singh · Reorganisation of Punjab (1966) · Polity and Administration · Punjab Legislative Assembly · Districts and Divisions · Governor and Chief Minister · Punjab and Haryana High Court · Welfare Schemes

### ICT (Information & Communication Technology) (weight 1)
Computer Fundamentals · Internet and Email · MS Excel · MS PowerPoint · MS Word · Operating System · Computer Security · Keyboard Shortcuts

## Expected cutoffs (category-wise)
# PSSSB Category-wise Expected Cutoff (Indicative)

| Category | Expected Cutoff (indicative) |
|----------|------------------------------|
| General | 65–75 marks (65–75%) |
| EWS | 60–70 marks (60–70%) |
| OBC | 58–68 marks (58–68%) |
| SC | 50–60 marks (50–60%) |
| ST | 48–58 marks (48–58%) |
| PwD | 45–55 marks (45–55%) |

## Guidance Notes

- **Category differential**: General cutoffs typically run 7–12 marks higher than OBC, and 15–20 marks above SC/ST categories. EWS cutoffs align 3–5 marks below General.
- **Variability factors**: Cutoffs shift based on post type (Group B vs. Group C), vacancy count, exam difficulty, and application-to-seat ratios. Competitive Group B posts push General cutoffs toward 70–75%, while Group C posts stabilize around 60–68%.
- **Reservation relaxation**: SC/ST candidates benefit from standard 5-mark relaxation; actual cutoffs depend heavily on reserved seat availability and category-specific competition levels in each recruitment cycle.

Full cutoff page: https://shishya.in/exams/PB_PSSSB/cutoff

## Free resources on Shishya for this exam
- Exam hub (mocks, PYQs, news, dates): https://shishya.in/exams/PB_PSSSB
- Full syllabus + free study notes: https://shishya.in/exams/PB_PSSSB/syllabus
- Category-wise expected cutoffs: https://shishya.in/exams/PB_PSSSB/cutoff
- Memory tricks & mnemonics: https://shishya.in/exams/PB_PSSSB/tricks
- How to crack it (strategy guide): https://shishya.in/exams/PB_PSSSB/guide
- Free day-by-day study plan (personal coach): https://shishya.in/coach
- Free AI tutor (22 Indian languages, no login): https://shishya.in/chat

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