SSSB Excise & Taxation Inspector
Punjab SSSB Excise & Taxation Inspector (Advt 01/2026). 197 vacancies. Covers GK & Current Affairs, Punjab History & Culture, Logical Reasoning, Punjabi, English and ICT. ¼ negative marking applies in the actual exam.
Conducting Body
Subordinate Services Selection Board (SSSB), Punjab
Advertisement No.
Advt. 01/2026
Total Vacancies
197 posts
Pay Scale
Pay Level-5 (29,200/-)
Exam Structure
Part A (Punjabi, qualifying) + Part B (100 MCQs, 100 marks)
Duration
2 hours 30 minutes (combined)
Negative Marking
¼ mark deducted per wrong answer in Part B
Official Website
sssb.punjab.gov.in
Syllabus
General Knowledge & Current Affairs
- Current events — national and international
- Indian Constitution and polity
- Indian economy and five-year plans
- Geography of India and Punjab
- Science and technology developments
- Sports, awards and honours
- Books and authors
- Important government schemes
Punjab History & Culture
- History of Punjab from ancient to modern times
- Sikh history and Sikh Gurus
- Punjab during Mughal and British periods
- Punjab after independence and reorganisation
- Folk culture, festivals and traditions of Punjab
- Prominent personalities of Punjab
- Punjabi literature and language
Logical Reasoning & Mental Ability
- Logical and analytical reasoning
- Series completion (number and letter)
- Analogies and odd one out
- Coding-decoding
- Direction sense and ranking
- Syllogisms and Venn diagrams
- Numerical skills — simplification, percentages, ratios
- Data analysis — tables, bar graphs, pie charts
Punjabi Language
- Reading comprehension in Punjabi
- Grammar — noun, pronoun, verb, adjective
- Sentence construction and error detection
- Vocabulary and synonyms/antonyms
- Idioms and proverbs
English Language
- Reading comprehension
- Grammar — tenses, articles, prepositions
- Vocabulary — synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution
- Sentence correction and fill in the blanks
- Idioms and phrases
Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
- Basics of computers — hardware and software
- Operating systems (Windows, Linux basics)
- MS Office — Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- Internet, email and cyber security basics
- E-governance and digital services in Punjab
Select Paper
Part B – Written Test
100 MCQs: GK & Current Affairs (25), Punjab History & Culture (17), Logical Reasoning & Mental Ability (25), Punjabi (13), English (12), ICT (8). Each question 1 mark. Note: ¼ negative marking applies in the actual exam; mock tests here have no negative marking.
Eligibility Criteria
- Bachelor's degree from a recognised university
- Certificate of 120 hours computer course from a recognised institution OR "O" Level certificate from DOEACC
- Punjabi language up to Matriculation (Class X) level is mandatory
- Age limit: 18–37 years (relaxation for reserved categories as per Punjab Govt. rules)
Selection Process
- 1Part A — Punjabi Language Paper (qualifying only, 50 questions; minimum 50% required)
- 2Part B — Written Objective Test (100 MCQs, 100 marks) with ¼ negative marking
- 3Merit list prepared on the basis of Part B marks
- 4Document verification for shortlisted candidates
Preparation Tips
Part A (Punjabi) is qualifying only — scoring 50% (25/50) is enough to clear it. Do not over-invest time here; spend the bulk of your preparation on Part B subjects.
Punjab History & Culture and GK together account for 42 marks in Part B. Cover Sikh history, the reorganisation of Punjab, and current affairs from the last 12 months thoroughly.
Logical Reasoning (25 marks) is the highest-weighted section. Practice series, analogies, coding-decoding, and data interpretation daily. Accuracy matters more than speed here due to negative marking.
Negative marking in Part B is ¼ per wrong answer. Avoid guessing on questions where you are unsure — a wrong answer costs you 1.25 marks net (1 mark lost + 0.25 penalty).
ICT carries 8 marks. These are straightforward marks — revise MS Office shortcuts, internet basics, and Punjab e-governance initiatives. Most candidates lose these marks unnecessarily.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the structure of the Excise & Taxation Inspector exam?
The exam has two parts. Part A is a qualifying Punjabi paper (50 questions, no negative marking; you must score at least 50%). Part B is the merit-determining paper with 100 MCQs covering GK, Punjab History, Reasoning, Punjabi, English, and ICT. Part B has ¼ negative marking.
Is there negative marking in the Excise Inspector exam?
Yes, but only in Part B. Each wrong answer in Part B deducts ¼ mark. Part A (Punjabi qualifying paper) has no negative marking.
What is the educational qualification required?
You need a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university and a computer qualification — either a 120-hour course certificate from a recognised institution or the "O" Level certificate from DOEACC (NIELIT). Punjabi up to Matriculation is also mandatory.
How many vacancies are there for the 2026 notification?
Advertisement No. 01/2026 notified 197 vacancies for the post of Excise & Taxation Inspector in Punjab.
What is the pay scale for Excise & Taxation Inspector?
The post carries Pay Level-5 with a basic pay of ₹29,200/- per month as per Punjab Pay Commission scales.