AAP Govt diluting Punjab in PCS exam to favour outsiders: SAD’s Sarabjeet Jhinjer
Babushahi Bureau
Patiala (Punjab), December 30, 2025: Youth Akali Dal President and the Ghanaur constituency in-charge Sarabjeet Singh Jhinjer on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, alleging that it has deliberately weakened the role of Punjabi in the Punjab Civil Services (PCS) examination to benefit candidates from outside the state.
Addressing the media, Jhinjer termed the move a “calculated conspiracy” against Punjab’s youth and said it amounted to a direct assault on Punjabi identity, language and constitutional rights. He pointed out that while the PCS examinations were regularly conducted during the Akali Dal government in 2012, 2014 and 2015, and later by the Congress government in 2018 and 2021, the AAP government allowed an unexplained gap of four years before holding the exam in 2025.
“This delay, followed by a drastic reduction in Punjabi-related questions, exposes the AAP government’s anti-Punjab and anti-youth mindset,” Jhinjer said.
He noted that earlier PCS papers carried nearly 20–30 per cent questions related to Punjab, including Punjabi language, history and culture, ensuring fair representation for local candidates. However, in the latest examination, Punjabi was allegedly sidelined, with only 8 out of 80 questions in one paper and just 5 out of 100 in another linked to Punjab.
Calling this an intentional design, Jhinjer said the reduction was aimed at making the examination favourable for non-Punjabi and outside-state candidates so they could enter Punjab’s administrative system at the cost of local youth.
“Punjabi is the official language of Punjab. Weakening its importance in a premier examination like PCS is unacceptable,” he asserted.
The Youth Akali Dal leader further argued that PCS officers must possess in-depth knowledge of Punjab’s geography, economy, agriculture and social fabric to serve the people effectively. “By deliberately excluding questions on Punjab’s geography and economy, the government has clearly attempted to favour outsiders who lack a grassroots understanding of the state,” he said.
Jhinjer also raised concerns over the lack of diversity in the paper, stating that all Punjab General Knowledge questions were drawn from a single domain—literature—casting serious doubts on the fairness of the examination.
Drawing a comparison, he cited the Rajasthan Civil Services Examination held in October 2025, where nearly 30 per cent questions were related to Rajasthan General Knowledge, effectively prioritising local candidates. “If Rajasthan can safeguard the interests of its youth, why is Punjab doing the opposite?” he questioned.
He also pointed out that in Group ‘C’ recruitments, marks are reserved for Punjab General Knowledge and Punjabi grammar, even for candidates from outside states. “If this principle applies to Group ‘C’, why is it ignored for Group ‘A’? Are Punjabis meant to be confined only to lower posts?” he asked.
Jhinjer further alleged that the Punjab Public Service Commission had assured candidates that priority would be given to Punjab’s history, geography, culture and economy. “Based on this assurance, rural and Punjabi-background candidates prepared accordingly. Ignoring these areas in the actual paper amounts to a clear betrayal,” he said.
Concluding, Sarabjeet Singh Jhinjer warned that officers who do not understand Punjabi cannot serve Punjab effectively. “This is a direct attack on Punjabi identity and the future of Punjab’s youth. The AAP government must answer why Punjabi was sidelined and why the PCS process was manipulated. Such moves will be strongly opposed,” he asserted.