PPSC CCE 2026 Apply Online in Punjab: 48 Posts, Age Limit 32, Last Date 30 November
PPSC CCE 2026 is open for 48 BS-17 posts in Punjab, 45 of them PMS. Age 21 to 32 on 1 January 2027, 4 attempts, 11 papers. Apply online by 30 November.
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PPSC CCE-2026 is open for 48 BS-17 posts in Punjab, including 45 Provincial Management Service (PMS) posts, and the last date to apply online is 30 November 2026. The upper age limit is 32 for general candidates, counted on 1 January 2027, and you need a second division bachelor's degree with a Punjab domicile. The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) published the notice as Advertisement No. 12/2026 on 8 November 2026.
CCE-2026 is the single exam for these three provincial cadres. It has 11 written papers worth 1,100 marks and a 300 mark interview. Below are the posts, who can apply, the papers, the pass marks and the steps to apply before the deadline.
PPSC CCE-2026 has 48 posts across three departments
Advertisement 12/2026 (Serial 191, Case No. 106-RC/2026) lists 45 PMS posts, one Excise and Taxation Officer post and two Assistant Director Local Fund Audit posts. All three are BS-17, open to men, women and transgender candidates with a Punjab domicile.
| Post (BS-17) | Department | Posts | Quota split |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provincial Management Service (PMS) | Services and General Administration | 45 | 41 open merit, 2 minority, 2 special persons |
| Excise and Taxation Officer | Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control | 1 | 1 open merit |
| Assistant Director Local Fund Audit | Finance | 2 | 2 open merit |
| Total | 48 |
PPSC says the number of posts can change at any stage without fresh applications. Any change appears only as a notice on ppsc.gop.pk. Posting can be anywhere in Punjab.
The age limit is 32, counted on 1 January 2027
General candidates must be 21 to 32 on 1 January 2027. Punjab raised the CCE limit from 30 to 32, and attempts from 3 to 4, for the 2026 and 2027 exams only. Serving officials get 35 and special persons 45.
| Candidate | Upper age limit | Basis in the advertisement |
|---|---|---|
| General candidates | 32 (30 plus 2) | S&GAD notification of 2 October 2026, one-time for CCE 2026 and 2027 |
| Federal or Punjab government officials with 4 years' service | 35 | Federal officials must hold a Punjab domicile |
| Special persons | 45 | Up to 15 years' relaxation under the 1976 age relaxation rules |
Two points catch people out. The general age relaxation that PPSC allows on most jobs does not apply to CCE posts; the advertisement says so in its own note. And staff of semi-government bodies, autonomous bodies of the federal government and local bodies get no age concession for that service. The usual relaxation rules for other PPSC jobs are in our guide to PPSC age relaxation.
Age is counted on 1 January 2027. Every other condition, including your degree, must be complete by the closing date of 30 November 2026.
Eleven written papers carry 1,100 marks
The written exam has ten compulsory papers and one optional paper, each worth 100 marks. Papers VI to X each have 25 marks of MCQs and 75 marks of written questions. The interview adds 300 marks, for a total of 1,400.
| Paper | Type | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I. General Knowledge | MCQs | 100 |
| II. Mental Ability and Reasoning Test (MART) | MCQs | 100 |
| III. English Essay | Subjective | 100 |
| IV. English (precis, comprehension, grammar, translation) | Subjective | 100 |
| V. Urdu (essay, precis, comprehension, grammar, translation) | Subjective | 100 |
| VI. Islamic Studies, or Ethics for non-Muslim candidates | MCQs and subjective | 100 |
| VII. Pakistan Studies-I | MCQs and subjective | 100 |
| VIII. Pakistan Studies-II | MCQs and subjective | 100 |
| IX. International Affairs | MCQs and subjective | 100 |
| X. Economy and Development | MCQs and subjective | 100 |
| XI. One optional subject (from 30) | Subjective | 100 |
| Interview (viva voce) | 300 |
The MART paper covers logical and analytical reasoning, quantitative and numerical processing, reading and verbal comprehension, and decision-making. Our PPSC MART guidebook explainer goes through each area.
The 30 optional subjects are Agriculture, Arabic, Botany, Business Administration, Chemistry, Commerce, Computer Science, Economics, Education, Engineering Fundamentals and Engineering Management, English Literature, Geography, Geology, History, Law, Mass Communication, Mathematics, Persian, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Punjabi, Social Work, Sociology, Statistics, Urdu, Veterinary Science and Zoology. You cannot change your optional subject once the form is submitted.
Pass marks: 33% in MART, 40 in each paper, 550 overall
To reach the interview you need 33% in MART, at least 40 marks in each other paper and 550 marks (50%) in the written total. Then you must score 50% in the interview to enter the final merit list.
- Negative marking: 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer in the General Knowledge MCQ paper.
- MART is also negatively marked, and PPSC may revise its 33% qualifying mark after analysis.
- Missing one paper for any reason bars you from the remaining papers.
- The exam may be held in phases.
The general PPSC pass rules for other jobs differ; see PPSC passing marks for the comparison.
How to apply for PPSC CCE-2026 before 30 November
Apply only online at ppsc.gop.pk, pay the fee through a listed channel, and keep a copy of everything. PPSC accepts no other form of application. The Urdu line on the advertisement says online applications are accepted until midnight on the last date.
- Read the "Important Instructions" page on ppsc.gop.pk for the fee and test rules.
- Create or sign in to your PPSC online account with your CNIC.
- Choose CCE-2026, Case No. 106-RC/2026, and fill in your degree marks as obtained and total marks.
- Select your optional subject and exam centre priority carefully; neither can be changed later.
- Pay the fee through an ATM, mobile or internet banking, a 1Link member bank counter, JazzCash, Easypaisa or UPaisa.
- Submit the form and save the application and fee receipt as PDFs.
The fee channels and PSID steps for every commission are in our guide to job test fee payment.
Documents PPSC will ask for at the interview
You do not upload certificates with the form, but you must produce originals at the psychological assessment and interview. CGPA alone is not accepted, so get a marks or percentage certificate for every degree before then.
- Marks obtained and total marks, or a percentage certificate, for every degree. A CGPA transcript alone is rejected.
- An HEC equivalence certificate if you claim a foreign or equivalent degree. Without it, PPSC cancels the candidature. Our guide to HEC equivalence explains how to get one.
- An NOC or departmental permission if you are in government service, applied for by the closing date.
- Your Punjab domicile and CNIC.
Last year's CCE interviews are still running; the stations and dates are in our PPSC interview schedule for CCE-2025.
Common questions
What is the last date to apply for PPSC CCE-2026?
30 November 2026. Apply online at ppsc.gop.pk; PPSC accepts no other form.
What is the age limit for PPSC CCE-2026?
21 to 32 for general candidates on 1 January 2027, 35 for government officials with 4 years' service, and 45 for special persons.
How many attempts are allowed?
Four, under the one-time Punjab relaxation for the CCE exams held in 2026 and 2027. It was three before.
Can a third division graduate apply?
No. The advertisement asks for at least a second division bachelor's degree from a recognised university.
Is there negative marking in PPSC CCE-2026?
Yes. 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer in the General Knowledge MCQ paper, and MART is negatively marked too.
Can candidates from other provinces apply?
No. A Punjab domicile is required. Federal officials need a Punjab domicile to use the age limit of 35.
How we verified this
What we checked and where we read it.
Checked on 14 November 2026 against PPSC Advertisement No. 12/2026, "Combined Competitive Examination-2026", marked for newspapers on 8 November 2026 and linked from the home page of ppsc.gop.pk. The fee amount is on PPSC's Important Instructions page, not in the advertisement. PPSC helpline (UAN): 042-111-988-722.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
