I cleared the Punjab Police Sub Inspector exam with Rank 2 (713/800). Inspector, Cooperative Societies is one of the most popular PPSC graduate posts, and most pages about it online are guesses. This page sticks to what the official PPSC advertisement says.
The last recruitment was PPSC Advertisement No. 202144, dated 1 December 2021, for 320 posts. A new notification had not been published when this page was written. The facts below come from the 2021 advertisement; the next one may change numbers and dates, so check it when it comes. We will update this page.
The recruitment at a glance
- Post: Inspector, Cooperative Societies, Department of Cooperation, Punjab
- Posts: 320, of which 107 reserved for women
- Pay: a fixed Rs 35,400 a month during the 3-year probation, with no allowances
- Last cycle: applications closed 22 December 2021; the written exam was held in September 2022
| Category | Posts | For women |
|---|---|---|
| General | 125 | 35 |
| Ex-servicemen / LDESM | 23 | 13 |
| Wards of freedom fighters | 3 | 1 |
| Sports persons | 6 | 3 |
| Persons with disabilities | 13 | 7 |
| SC (others) | 32 | 13 |
| SC (others) ESM / LDESM | 6 | - |
| SC (others) sports | 1 | - |
| Balmiki / Mazhbi Sikh | 33 | 13 |
| Balmiki / Mazhbi Sikh ESM / LDESM | 6 | - |
| Balmiki / Mazhbi Sikh sports | 2 | - |
| Backward Classes | 32 | 13 |
| BC ESM / LDESM | 6 | - |
| EWS | 32 | 10 |
| Total | 320 | 107 |
Eligibility
- A bachelor's degree in any stream with at least 60% marks. This is stricter than most Punjab graduate posts - check your percentage first.
- A 120-hour computer course with hands-on PC or IT use, from a government-recognised or ISO 9001 institution. Not needed if a similar course was part of your degree.
- Matriculation with Punjabi as a compulsory or elective subject, or an equivalent Punjabi examination.
You must hold every qualification by the last date of applying.
Age limit (as on 1 January of the recruitment year)
- General: 18 to 37 years
- SC and BC of Punjab: up to 42 years
- Punjab, other state and central government employees: up to 45 years
- Widows, divorcees and certain other women: up to 42 years
- Persons with disabilities of Punjab: up to 47 years
- Ex-servicemen of Punjab: service period is deducted from age; the result may exceed the limit by up to 3 years
Fee
| Category | Online charges | Exam fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| General, sports persons, wards of freedom fighters | Rs 500 | Rs 1,000 | Rs 1,500 |
| SC/ST of all states and BC of Punjab | Rs 500 | Rs 250 | Rs 750 |
| Ex-servicemen of Punjab | Rs 500 | Nil | Rs 500 |
| EWS, PwD and LDESM of Punjab | Rs 500 | Nil | Rs 500 |
In the last cycle the fee was paid at any State Bank of India branch.
Exam pattern
One pen-and-paper exam on an OMR sheet, 2 hours long:
| Part | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Logical reasoning & mental ability | 40 | 160 |
| General knowledge & current affairs | 80 | 320 |
| Total | 120 | 480 |
- +4 for a correct answer, -1 for a wrong one, 0 for a blank.
- No interview. The final selection is on the written exam alone.
- To be appointed you need 45% marks (40% for SC and BC of Punjab).
Syllabus
General knowledge & current affairs of national and international importance:
- Economic issues
- Polity issues
- Environment issues
- Science and technology
- Any other current issues
- History of India, especially the freedom struggle
- History of Punjab from the 14th century onwards
Logical reasoning & mental ability:
- Logical reasoning, analytical and mental ability
- Basic numerical skills: numbers, magnitudes, percentages, numerical relations
- Data analysis: charts, tables, spreadsheets and graphic presentation
How to prepare
- Solve the real paper first. We have the 2022 PPSC Cooperative Inspector paper. It shows the level and the mix far better than any article.
- GK is two-thirds of the marks. 320 of 480 marks come from GK and current affairs. Read current affairs daily and revise it monthly.
- Punjab history from the 14th century is named in the syllabus - Sufis, Bhakti, the Sikh Gurus, the Misls, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Anglo-Sikh wars and Punjab's freedom fighters.
- Mind the negative marking. At -1 against +4, a guess is worth it only if you can rule out two options.
- Reasoning is the scoring part. 40 questions of series, coding, directions, percentages and data tables - practise them timed until they take under a minute each.
Free practice on House of Aspirants
- Cooperative Inspector previous year paper
- All PSSSB, PPSC and Punjab Police papers
- Sikhism Part 1
- Five Year Plans
- DPSP & Fundamental Duties
- Number Series Part 1
- Current affairs
Official source
The official advertisement and every new notification are published on the PPSC website, ppsc.gov.in, under recruitment / advertisements. Always confirm dates and posts there before you apply.