PSSSB Labor Inspector Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Eligibility

One written exam, two parts

The exam is objective type, multiple choice throughout.

Where the Part A rule comes from

It's statutory. Rule 17 of the Punjab Civil Services (General and Common Conditions of Service) Rules, 1994 requires Punjabi at matriculation level for any direct appointment. Punjab Government notification GSR72/Const./Art.309/Amd.(22)/2022 of 28 October 2022 added the qualifying test:

"The test of Punjabi Language shall be a mandatory qualifying test and failure to secure a minimum of fifty per cent marks in Punjabi Language will disqualify the candidate for being considered in the final merit list of candidates to be selected irrespective of their scores or marks in other papers of the respective exam."

So 49% in Part A ends the attempt, and 100% adds nothing.

Question counts and marks

The advertisement doesn't give them. It says the syllabus and pattern are uploaded separately on the Board's website, so take them from sssb.punjab.gov.in for the cycle you sit. Figures on coaching sites don't come from the advertisement.

Ties

1. the older candidate ranks higher;
2. then the higher percentage in the educational qualification required for the post;
3. then the higher matriculation marks.

The Board's decision on a tie is final.

The Board publishes the syllabus separately on its website, not in the advertisement. What the advertisement does fix:

• Part A: Punjabi language at Class 10 standard. Qualifying, 50% minimum. Expect matriculation-level grammar, comprehension, usage and vocabulary.
• Part B: the subject paper, on which the whole merit list is built.

Find the syllabus and pattern notice against your advertisement number on the Board's advertisements and notices page. PSSSB advertises many posts a year and the Part B paper differs between them, so a syllabus from another post or an older cycle isn't the paper you'll sit.

Qualification: any graduate

For Labour Inspector Grade-1: "Should possess degree of Graduation from a recognized university or an institution." No discipline, no percentage and no experience is specified.

Punjabi, twice over

Apart from the Part A paper, Rule 17 of the Punjab Civil Services (General and Common Conditions of Service) Rules, 1994 says nobody can be appointed by direct appointment unless they passed matriculation with Punjabi as a compulsory or elective subject, or an equivalent exam in Punjabi specified by the Government. You need both the school subject and the qualifying test.

Age, as on 1 January 2024 in that advertisement

Ex-servicemen resident in Punjab fall under the Punjab Recruitment of Ex-Servicemen Rules, 1982: military service is deducted from age, and the remainder must not exceed the upper limit by more than three years.

Serving government employees must bring a No Objection Certificate from their department to counselling to claim the age relaxation.

After appointment

Every Labour Inspector Grade-I must qualify the Departmental Examination the Government specifies, unless already done.

1. Objective written exam in two parts: Part A (Punjabi, qualifying, 50%) and Part B (the subject paper).
2. Merit list on Part B marks alone, among candidates who cleared Part A.
3. Counselling, where every document is verified. The Board decides how many to call against the category-wise vacancies.
4. Recommendation to the department against the vacancies existing at that time.

Applying, sitting the paper, making the merit list or being called to counselling gives you no right to be recommended. Your name goes forward only once eligibility is proved in every respect; if it can't be, the candidature is cancelled.

The number of posts may be reduced or increased at any stage on the department's orders, and reservation can be changed by corrigendum. You're considered only in the category and post code you applied under.

Every notice (timing, centre, admit card, result, merit list) goes up on sssb.punjab.gov.in only. No individual communication is sent, and the Board takes no responsibility if you miss something.

Labour Inspector Grade-1 is the senior post here and holds 52 of the 59 vacancies.

These are starting basic pay in the Punjab pay matrix. Allowances follow Punjab Government rules and change with revisions, so there's no single gross figure.

Fee

Note the PwD fee: Rs 500, twice the SC, BC and EWS fee. Most central recruitments exempt PwD candidates or put them in the lowest band. Fees aren't refunded in any circumstance.

How to apply

Online only, through the "Online Applications" link on sssb.punjab.gov.in. In the last cycle the window ran from 16 February to 11 March 2024, 5:00 pm, later extended by corrigendum, with the fee deadline extended again in July and August 2024. Applications sent any other way are rejected.

Advertisement 02 of 2024 drew at least three corrigenda, all posted on the Board's advertisements and notices page.

Centres are notified on the Board's website with the admit card. The exam for Advertisement 02 of 2024 was held on 9 March 2025, combined with the exam for Advertisement 09 of 2024. Scribe arrangements were covered by a separate public notice on 21 February 2025.

There's no annual calendar for this post. An advertisement appears when the Labour Department sends a requisition, and the dates come with it. The last cycle, from the Board's own notices:

Thirteen months from advertisement to exam, then four more to counselling. The Board also merged this exam with the one for Advertisement 09 of 2024, which it does when schedules allow.

Admit cards are issued online on sssb.punjab.gov.in only, along with exam timing, centre, result and every later notice. Nothing comes by post, email or SMS, and the Board accepts no responsibility if you don't check.

The answer key, objection window, merit list and counselling schedule are published on sssb.punjab.gov.in and nowhere else.

For Advertisement 02 of 2024 the provisional answer key came out on 17 March 2025, about a week after the paper, and the counselling schedule on 9 April 2025, with further notices through July 2025 for absentees and the sports category. After counselling, candidates found eligible are recommended to the department.

Part A has a fixed floor of 50%, set by Punjab Government notification, the same for every candidate with no category relaxation.

Part B has no published cut-off. The Board draws it against the category-wise vacancies when it decides how many to call to counselling, so it moves with the vacancies and the field. Counselling lists appear on the Board's advertisements and notices page, which in the last cycle came about three weeks after the answer key.

1. Fix your Punjabi first. Part A needs 50% with no category relaxation, and failing it removes you from the merit list whatever you score in Part B.
2. Don't over-prepare Part A. Once you're clear of 50% its marks are worth nothing. Put the rest of your time into Part B.
3. Check you have matriculation Punjabi. It's a separate requirement from Part A and it's checked at counselling.
4. Take the syllabus from the Board. It's uploaded separately on sssb.punjab.gov.in. Question counts found elsewhere are guesses.
5. Expect a big field. Any graduate can apply, with no percentage or experience requirement.
6. Expect a long cycle. The last one ran thirteen months to the exam, with three corrigenda along the way. Keep checking the website.

Subordinate Services Selection Board, Punjab: sssb.punjab.gov.in

Advertisements, notices and circulars, where every notice for a live recruitment appears: advertisements and notices

Group B vacancies: sssb.punjab.gov.in/vacancy-group-b

Detailed advertisement (PDF, in Punjabi): Detailed Notice, Advertisement No. 02 of 2024

What qualification do I need?

A graduation degree from a recognised university or institution, in any discipline.

Is the Punjabi paper compulsory?

Yes. Part A is a Class 10 standard Punjabi paper needing at least 50%, under Punjab Government notification GSR72/2022. Fail it and you're off the final merit list.

Do Part A marks count towards selection?

No. The merit list is on Part B marks alone.

Is there a category relaxation in the Punjabi paper?

No. The 50% applies to everyone.

Do I also need Punjabi at school?

Yes. Rule 17 requires matriculation with Punjabi as a compulsory or elective subject, or an equivalent exam in Punjabi.

How many questions are there?

The advertisement doesn't say. The syllabus and pattern are uploaded on the Board's website.

What is the pay?

Level 6, starting pay Rs 35,400.

What is the age limit?

18 to 37 for general candidates, with relaxations up to 47. See Eligibility for the full table.

What is the fee?

Rs 1,000 general; Rs 500 PwD; Rs 250 SC, BC and EWS; Rs 200 ex-servicemen. Not refundable.

How many vacancies were there?

52 Labour Inspector Grade-1 posts in Advertisement 02 of 2024, out of 59 in total.

Is there an interview?

No. After the written exam there's counselling for document verification, then recommendation.

How are ties broken?

Older candidate first, then higher percentage in the required qualification, then higher matriculation marks.