Patwari · Syllabus · Exam pattern

Punjab Patwari Exam Pattern and Syllabus: A Topic-by-Topic Breakdown

The Punjab Patwari written exam is conducted by the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB) for the Revenue Department. Like other PSSSB Group C exams, it has a qualifying Punjabi part and a scoring part. This guide explains the pattern used in recent recruitments and lists, topic by topic, what you actually need to study.

By PunjabExams Editorial Team · Updated 29 October 2026 · 6 min read · How we prepare guides

The exam pattern used in recent recruitments

In the recent PSSSB Patwari recruitment the written test had two parts in one sitting.

The reported duration was two and a half hours for both parts together, with negative marking of one-fourth of a mark for each wrong answer in the scoring part. Since May 2022 the Punjab Government has required candidates for Group C and Group D posts to score at least 50% in the Punjabi qualifying test; if you fail it, Part B is not evaluated for merit.

Patterns are revised, and the official PDF syllabus attached to each advertisement is the final word. Download it from the PSSSB website the day the advertisement is published.

Part A: Punjabi qualifying paper

Expect matriculation-level questions on:

• Gurmukhi script: the alphabet (ਪੈਂਤੀ), vowel signs (ਲਗਾਂ-ਮਾਤਰਾਂ), ਬਿੰਦੀ, ਟਿੱਪੀ and ਅੱਧਕ.
• Grammar: parts of speech (ਨਾਂਵ, ਪੜਨਾਂਵ, ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ਣ, ਕਿਰਿਆ, ਕਿਰਿਆ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ਣ, ਸੰਬੰਧਕ, ਯੋਜਕ, ਵਿਸਮਿਕ), gender (ਲਿੰਗ), number (ਵਚਨ), tense (ਕਾਲ).
• Vocabulary: synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitutes, correct spelling.
• Idioms and proverbs: ਮੁਹਾਵਰੇ and ਅਖਾਣ with meanings.
• Comprehension: a short passage with questions.

Fifty per cent sounds easy, but candidates educated outside Punjab, or who studied Punjabi only up to Class 10 years ago, often fail. Give Punjabi 30 minutes every day from the start.

Part B: subject-by-subject breakdown

1. General Knowledge and current affairs

• Indian polity: Preamble, fundamental rights and duties, DPSPs, Parliament, President, Governor, Panchayati Raj (73rd Amendment), local bodies (74th Amendment).
• Indian economy: budget basics, banking, RBI, GST, important schemes.
• General science: everyday physics, chemistry and biology.
• Current affairs: national and Punjab events of the last 12 months — schemes, appointments, awards, sports, important days.

2. Punjab history and culture

• The Sikh Gurus and their contributions, the Khalsa (1699), Banda Singh Bahadur.
• The Sikh misls and the empire of Maharaja Ranjit Singh; the Anglo-Sikh wars and annexation in 1849.
• Freedom movement: Kuka (Namdhari) movement, Ghadar Party, Jallianwala Bagh (1919), Gurdwara Reform movement, Bhagat Singh.
• Culture: fairs and festivals (Lohri, Vaisakhi, Hola Mohalla, Maghi), folk dances (Bhangra, Giddha, Jhumar), folk instruments, literature and the Punjabi language.
• Geography: rivers, doabs, regions, districts and agriculture.

3. Reasoning and mental ability

Series, analogy, classification, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, ranking, syllogisms, calendar and clock, simple puzzles, and non-verbal series.

4. Quantitative aptitude (where included)

Percentages, ratio and proportion, averages, simple and compound interest, profit and loss, time and work, speed and distance, area and perimeter. Area calculations are especially relevant to land records.

5. English

Grammar (articles, prepositions, tenses, subject-verb agreement), vocabulary, sentence correction, voice and narration, and comprehension.

6. ICT

Computer fundamentals, operating systems, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), internet and email, keyboard shortcuts, cyber security basics and e-governance services in Punjab.

Where revenue knowledge fits in

The written syllabus is mainly general, but questions on revenue terms (jamabandi, girdawari, intkal, khasra, khewat, fard), land units (acre, kanal, marla) and the revenue hierarchy do appear, and you will need them during training and on the job. Our land records glossary covers these terms.

Suggested weight of your study time

Adjust the shares after your first two mocks: give more time to the section where you lose the most marks.

Key points to remember

• Conducted by PSSSB for the Revenue Department.
• Part A: Punjabi (qualifying, 50% required); Part B: scoring paper.
• Recent pattern: about 150 questions in 2½ hours, with ¼-mark negative marking in the scoring part.
• Part B subjects: GK and current affairs, Punjab history and culture, reasoning and mental ability, English, Punjabi and ICT.
• Revenue terms and land units are useful even though the syllabus is mainly general.
• The syllabus PDF with the advertisement is final — download it from sssb.punjab.gov.in.

Practice questions

1. Q1. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act relates to:

   • (a) Urban local bodies
   • (b) Panchayati Raj institutions
   • (c) Anti-defection law
   • (d) Goods and Services Tax
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) Panchayati Raj institutions — The 73rd Amendment (1992) gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions.

2. Q2. The Khalsa was founded by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 at:

   • (a) Amritsar
   • (b) Talwandi Sabo
   • (c) Anandpur Sahib
   • (d) Kartarpur
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) Anandpur Sahib — Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib on Vaisakhi, 1699.

3. Q3. Which shortcut key is used to select all content in a document?

   • (a) Ctrl + S
   • (b) Ctrl + A
   • (c) Ctrl + C
   • (d) Ctrl + V
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) Ctrl + A — Ctrl + A selects all; Ctrl + C copies and Ctrl + V pastes.

4. Q4. A rectangular plot is 120 ft long and 45.375 ft wide. Its area is about:

   • (a) 1 kanal
   • (b) 2 kanal
   • (c) 10 marla
   • (d) 1 acre
   Show answer

   Answer: (a) 1 kanal — 120 × 45.375 = 5,445 sq ft, which is 1 kanal.

5. Q5. Choose the correct sentence.

   • (a) He do not like tea.
   • (b) He does not likes tea.
   • (c) He does not like tea.
   • (d) He not like tea.
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) He does not like tea. — With "does not", the main verb stays in its base form: "does not like".

6. Q6. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place in:

   • (a) 1915
   • (b) 1919
   • (c) 1921
   • (d) 1930
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) 1919 — It took place in Amritsar on 13 April 1919 (Vaisakhi day).

7. Q7. If DOOR is coded as EPPS, how is WALL coded?

   • (a) XBMM
   • (b) XBNN
   • (c) VZKK
   • (d) XAMM
   Show answer

   Answer: (a) XBMM — Each letter moves one step forward: W→X, A→B, L→M, L→M.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Punjabi paper in the Patwari exam only qualifying?

Yes. The Punjabi part is qualifying, with 50% required. Punjabi questions may also appear within the scoring part, so prepare Punjabi thoroughly for both.

Is there negative marking in the Patwari exam?

In the recent recruitment the scoring part carried negative marking of one-fourth of a mark per wrong answer. Check the current notice before your exam.

Are revenue terms part of the written syllabus?

The written syllabus is mostly general, but revenue terminology is often asked in Punjab GK. Learning it also prepares you for training and the job itself.

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