Chandigarh, November 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) has refuted allegations of irregularities in the PCS (Mains) 2025 results, stating that the concerns raised are based on a misinterpretation of statistical data. The commission said a detailed analysis of centre-wise results showed that the reported patterns fell within the range of normal statistical variation.
According to PPSC, the examination was conducted at 12 centres in Patiala, with the number of candidates at each centre ranging from 118 to 553. A total of 3,959 candidates appeared, of whom 751 were shortlisted for interviews, representing an overall success rate of approximately 19%, after accounting for absentees.
The commission rejected the claim that 24 per cent of successful candidates came from a single centre. It said the highest number of candidates shortlisted from any one centre was 106, accounting for 14.1 per cent of the total 751 qualifiers. The centre had 496 candidates, the second-highest number among the 12 centres, making a larger share of successful candidates statistically expected.
Addressing concerns over classroom-wise results, PPSC said 751 candidates had been shortlisted from 179 classrooms, averaging around 4.2 successful candidates per classroom. It added that reports of 10 candidates qualifying from a single classroom at three different centres, with reported counts of 11, 10 and 10, were within the range of random variation given the overall success rate of approximately 19%.
The commission also cited the 2020 PCS Mains examination, stating that similar variations had occurred then, with some classrooms producing nine successful candidates despite only 960 candidates being allotted to two centres.
On consecutive roll numbers appearing in the shortlist, PPSC said an analysis of the 2018, 2020 and 2025 results showed that such groups had appeared in every examination. The 2018 list had 26 groups of consecutive roll numbers among 153 shortlisted candidates, while the 2020 list had 28 groups among 177 candidates. In 2025, there were 118 such groups among 751 shortlisted candidates.
PPSC further clarified that no absent candidate had been declared qualified and that both biometric and manual attendance were recorded at all examination centres. It said the centres were located in and around Patiala for administrative, logistical and security reasons, adding that this arrangement had been followed in previous Civil Services Mains examinations conducted by the commission.
Responding to questions about the political affiliation of the MLA representing the constituency where an examination centre was located, the commission said this had no bearing on the conduct of the examination or declaration of results.
It also stated that candidates shortlisted for interviews were three times the number of eligible candidates in each category, wherever available, as prescribed under the rules and advertisement.
Reiterating its position, PPSC said the alleged concentration of successful candidates was within the range of expected statistical variation. It added that stringent security measures were maintained throughout the examination, including CCTV cameras at centre entrances and control rooms, biometric attendance and jammers in every classroom.
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