AAP government deliberately weakening Punjabi in PCS exam to benefit outside candidates : Sarabjeet Singh Jhinjer

AAP government deliberately weakening Punjabi in PCS exam to benefit outside candidates : Sarabjeet Singh Jhinjer

This is a direct attack on Punjabi identity, our language and the rights of Punjab’s youth : Jhinjer

Delaying the exam for years and then reducing Punjabi-related questions exposes AAP’s anti-Punjab and anti-youth mindset : Jhinjer

Patiala 30 December ( PDL ) : Youth Akali Dal President and Ghanaur constituency in-charge Sarabjeet Singh Jhinjer today strongly criticised the Aam Aadmi Party government, alleging that the role of Punjabi has been deliberately reduced in the PCS (Punjab Civil Services) examination. He termed this a calculated conspiracy to push Punjab’s youth behind and to benefit candidates from outside the state.

Sarabjeet Singh Jhinjer said that during the Akali government, PCS examinations were regularly conducted in 2012, 2014 and 2015, and later the Congress government also held them in 2018 and 2021. However, under the AAP government, there has been an unexplained gap of four years, and the exam is now being conducted in 2025, which raises serious questions about the government’s intent and functioning.

He pointed out that earlier, around 20 to 30 percent of questions in PCS papers were related to Punjab, the Punjabi language, history and culture, ensuring fair representation for local candidates. But in the latest examination, Punjabi has been deliberately sidelined. In one paper, only 8 out of 80 questions, and in another, just 5 out of 100 questions were related to Punjab, clearly reflecting open discrimination against Punjabi candidates.

The Youth Akali Dal president said this drastic reduction is not a coincidence but a deliberate attempt to make the examination favourable for non-Punjabi and outside-state candidates, so that they can be inducted into Punjab’s administrative system at the cost of the state’s own youth.

He said, “Punjabi is the official language of Punjab, yet this government has weakened its importance in the PCS examination. Delaying the exam for years and then cutting down Punjabi-related questions exposes the Aam Aadmi Party’s anti-Punjab and anti-youth thinking.”

Jhinjer further stated that candidates selected through PCS must have proper knowledge of Punjab’s geography, economy, agriculture and social structure. However, by deliberately excluding Punjab’s geography and economy from the paper, it clearly indicates an attempt to favour candidates from outside the state.

He said it is an undeniable truth that only those students who are connected with Punjab’s villages, fields and ground realities can truly understand the state’s land, agricultural system and social fabric. An outsider can never possess that level of understanding of Punjab’s realities.

Jhinjer pointed out that all three Punjab General Knowledge questions were asked from a single domain — literature — showing a complete lack of diversity in the syllabus and raising serious doubts over the fairness of the examination.

He further said that in Group ‘C’ recruitments, 20 marks are reserved for Punjab General Knowledge and 15 marks for Punjabi grammar for candidates from outside states, clearly to benefit Punjabi candidates. If such a policy can be applied in Group ‘C’ posts, why is the same principle not followed for Group ‘A’? Are Punjabis meant to be restricted only to Group ‘C’ jobs? Do Punjabis have no rightful claim over Group ‘A’ posts? Not asking even a single question related to Punjab’s geography in this examination further strengthens the argument that outsiders were deliberately favoured, because in-depth knowledge of Punjab’s regions can only be expected from local candidates.

Jhinjer said that a strong example of prioritising local candidates can be seen in neighbouring Rajasthan. In the Rajasthan Civil Services Examination held in October 2025, 43 out of 150 questions — nearly 30 percent — were related to Rajasthan General Knowledge. This clearly shows that the Rajasthan Public Service Commission effectively closed the door on outside candidates at the preliminary stage itself.

In contrast, Punjab has created a laughable and highly suspicious situation. By deliberately avoiding questions related to Punjab’s history, geography, culture, economy, Gurmukhi script and Punjabi language, an attempt has been made to push outside candidates into officer-level positions by every possible means.

He also highlighted that before the examination, the Secretary of the Punjab Public Service Commission had clearly stated that priority would be given to Punjab’s history, geography, culture and economy. Based on this assurance, Punjabi and rural-background candidates prepared extensively for these sections. However, all of this was ignored in the actual paper, amounting to a clear betrayal of Punjabi candidates and a deliberate effort to favour preferred candidates from outside the state.

Sarabjeet Singh Jhinjer said that officers who do not understand Punjabi cannot effectively serve the people of the state. “This is a direct attack on Punjabi identity, our language and the rights of Punjab’s youth. The AAP government must explain why Punjabi was sidelined and why the PCS process was manipulated. Such moves will be strongly and firmly opposed,” he warned.