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PPSC reserves seats for Special Persons, Minorities, and Women to ensure inclusive representation in government services. Additionally, there are specific rules about how many attempts a candidate can make. This guide explains all the quota rules and chance limitations.
Special Persons Quota
Who is eligible?
A candidate is eligible for a post reserved for Special Persons if they meet both conditions:
- Registered as a Disabled Person with the Provincial Council for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons of the Social Welfare Department
- Declared fit for the work of the job applied for
Required Documentation
You must produce a Disability Certificate issued by the:
Provincial Council for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons of the Social Welfare Department
No other authority's certificate is accepted. Make sure your certificate is:
- Current and valid
- Specifically declares you fit for the type of work the post involves
- Issued by the correct authority (Provincial Council, not a hospital or private doctor)
Minority Quota
How are minority seats determined?
The number of seats reserved for the Minority quota is determined by the concerned Department - not by PPSC. PPSC follows the distribution of seats as prescribed by the Department for which the post is advertised.
This means:
- The number of minority seats varies from post to post
- Some posts may have minority seats, others may not
- Always check the specific advertisement for minority quota details
Women Quota
Is there a fixed quota for women?
No. There is no universally fixed quota for women across all PPSC posts. The women quota:
- Varies from post to post
- Is determined by the concerned Department for which the post is advertised
- Will be clearly mentioned in the advertisement if applicable
Number of Chances
Understanding chance limitations is crucial to planning your PPSC career strategy.
Competitive / Combined Competitive Examinations
For Competitive Examinations, including the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE/PMS):
The number of chances is strictly limited to 3 - no exceptions.
Posts Filled Through Written Test + Interview (or Interview Alone)
For other posts filled through written tests followed by interview, the rules are more nuanced:
When chances ARE counted (3 chance limit):
- If a candidate fails in the written test/interview three times for a specific post, they cannot apply again for that post
When chances are UNLIMITED:
There is no limit on chances when recruitment is through a one-paper written test followed by interview (or interview alone), provided:
- The candidate obtains qualifying marks (40%) in the written test - regardless of whether they are called for interview or not
- The candidate obtains qualifying marks (50%) in the interview - regardless of whether they are recommended or not
When is a chance considered "availed"?
A chance is considered used when:
- A candidate qualifies the written test with 40% marks AND is called for interview
- BUT could not obtain qualifying marks (50%) in the interview
Example: If you pass the written test and are called for interview but score below 50% in the interview - that counts as one chance used.
Multiple Subjects (e.g., Lecturers)
For posts where a candidate applies for more than one subject (such as Lecturer positions in the Education Department):
Each subject is treated separately - you get 3 chances per subject.
Example: If you're applying for Lecturer in both Chemistry and Physics, failing 3 times in Chemistry doesn't affect your chances for Physics.
Summary Table
| Category | Number of Chances |
|---|---|
| Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) | 3 (strict limit) |
| Written test failures (below 40%) | Counted toward 3 chances |
| Written test pass + Interview fail | Counted toward 3 chances |
| Written test pass (40%+) + Not called for interview | Not counted |
| Written test pass + Interview pass (50%+) + Not recommended | Not counted |
| Multiple subjects | 3 chances per subject |
Key Takeaways
- Special Persons must have a certificate from the Provincial Council of Social Welfare - no other certificate is accepted
- Minority and Women quotas vary by post and are set by the concerned Department
- CCE/PMS candidates have exactly 3 chances - plan your attempts carefully
- For one-paper tests, chances are only counted if you fail to obtain qualifying marks despite being at the qualifying stage
- Each subject counts as a separate track for chance calculation
- Always read the advertisement carefully for quota details specific to the post
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