PPSC HDO Syllabus 2025, Check Exam Pattern and Detailed Syllabus Here

The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) has released the recruitment of Horticulture Development Officer (Group-A), and candidates preparing for the written exam must go through the PPSC HDO Syllabus followed by its detailed exam pattern. A total of 101 posts have been announced, and the selection will be based on a Written Competitive Examination followed by an Interview. To help candidates prepare strategically, this article provides the latest PPSC HDO Syllabus 2025, exam pattern, and other important details to guide your preparation journey.

PPSC HDO Syllabus 2025

The written exam for PPSC HDO Recruitment 2025 is a highly competitive test aimed at selecting capable candidates for 101 Group-A HDO positions in the Department of Horticulture, Punjab. To succeed, aspirants must have a strong grasp of both technical horticulture knowledge and essential general aptitude skills. The written test will consist of 120 questions totalling 480 marks, covering horticultural practices, crop management, pest control, reasoning, quantitative aptitude, and Punjabi language proficiency. Candidates who qualify in the written examination will be called for an interview carrying 60 marks, which will form part of the final selection process.

Punjab HDO Exam Pattern 2025

Before diving into the detailed syllabus, let’s understand the exam pattern. Knowing the distribution of marks and question types will help candidates plan their preparation efficiently.

PPSC HDO Written Exam Pattern 2025
Particulars	Details
Name of the Post	Horticulture Development Officer (Group-A)
Total Marks	540 (Written Exam – 480 + Interview – 60)
Type of Exam	Pen and Paper-based (OMR Sheet)
Type of Questions	MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)
Total Questions	120
Marks per Question	4
Negative Marking	Yes (–1 mark for each wrong answer)
Duration of Exam	2 Hours
Language of Paper	English
Mode of Examination	Offline (OMR-based)

Section-Wise Distribution of Questions and Marks
Topic	No. of Questions	Marks
Questions from the Subject (Part A)	90	360
General Knowledge & Current Affairs (Part B)	10	40
General Mental Ability, Logical Reasoning & Quantitative Aptitude (Part C)	10	40
Punjabi Language (Part D)	10	40
Total	120	480

PPSC HDO Detailed Syllabus 2025

The PPSC HDO Syllabus 2025 consists of four key parts – Subject-related (Horticulture), General Knowledge, Reasoning & Quantitative Aptitude, and Punjabi Language. Below is the section-wise breakdown based on the official notification.

Part A: Horticulture (Subject-Related Topics)

This section forms the backbone of the PPSC HDO examination, carrying 90 questions and 360 marks. It evaluates candidates’ in-depth understanding of horticultural principles, cultivation techniques, crop management, pest and disease control, and post-harvest practices.

Part A: Horticulture (Subject-Related Topics) (90 Questions – 360 Marks)
Subject Area	Key Topics
Fruit Science	Recommended fruit crops for different climatic zones, nursery production techniques, canopy and floor management, irrigation and fertilisation practices, pest and disease management, post-harvest handling, processing, and value addition.
Vegetable Science	Production technology of major vegetable crops, seed production techniques, protected cultivation practices, pest and disease control in vegetables.
Ornamental & Landscape Horticulture	Production technology for ornamental plants, floriculture practices, greenhouse and polyhouse management, landscaping principles, lawn and garden design.
Post-Harvest Management	Storage, grading, packaging, transportation, and value addition of horticultural produce; management of post-harvest losses.
Protected Cultivation & Innovations	Hydroponics, greenhouse cultivation, water and nutrient management, climate-smart and precision horticulture technologies.
Horticulture & Agricultural Diversification	Role of horticulture in diversification of Punjab’s agriculture, challenges, planning, and policy recommendations for sustainable development.

Part B: General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The General Knowledge and Current Affairs section evaluates the aspirant’s awareness of national and international events, economic policies, and environmental developments. Covering 10 questions for 40 marks, this part ensures candidates are not only technically skilled but also socially and politically informed.

Part B: General Knowledge and Current Affairs (10 Questions – 40 Marks)
Subject Area	Key Topics
General Awareness	National and International current affairs, major events, and government schemes.
Economy & Polity	Economic issues, governance, public policy, and Indian polity.
Environment & Science	Environmental issues, biodiversity, scientific advancements, and technological developments.
Geography & History	Geography of India and Punjab, Indian history with special focus on the freedom movement, history of Punjab (14th century onwards).

Part C: General Mental Ability, Logical Reasoning & Quantitative Aptitude

This section tests the aspirant’s analytical thinking, reasoning skills, and numerical ability, contributing 10 questions for 40 marks. It evaluates how well candidates can interpret data, solve logical problems, and apply quantitative reasoning to practical scenarios.

Part-C: General Mental Ability, Logical Reasoning & Quantitative Aptitude (10 Questions – 40 Marks)
Subject Area	Key Topics
Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability	Coding-decoding, blood relations, syllogism, analogy, series completion, and decision-making.
Quantitative Aptitude	Percentages, ratios, averages, number systems, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, time, speed and distance, and data interpretation.
Data Analysis	Tables, graphs, spreadsheets, and chart-based reasoning questions.

Part D: Punjabi Language

The Punjabi Language section assesses candidates’ proficiency in the regional language, which is essential for effective communication in the state’s horticultural offices. With 10 questions totalling 40 marks, this part covers grammar, vocabulary, idioms, composition, and cultural knowledge.

Part-D: Punjabi Language (10 Questions – 40 Marks)
Topic Area	Key Topics
ਸ਼ਬਦ ਜ਼ਾਨਕਾਰੀ (Word Knowledge)	ਅਸ਼ੁੱਧ ਸ਼ਬਦ, ਵਿਰੋਧਾਰਥਕ ਸ਼ਬਦ, ਸਮਾਨਾਰਥਕ ਸ਼ਬਦ, ਅਤੇ ਬਹੁਤੇ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ ਇੱਕ ਸ਼ਬਦ (Incorrect words, Antonyms, Synonyms, and One word substitution).
ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਅਤੇ ਵਿਯਾਕਰਣ (Language & Grammar)	ਸ਼ੁੱਧ-ਅਸ਼ੁੱਧ, ਸ਼ਬਦ ਜੋੜ, ਲਿੰਗ-ਪੁਲਿੰਗ, ਵਿਸਰਾਮ ਚਿੰਨ੍ਹ, ਕਿਰਤ ਅਤੇ ਵਚਨ ਬਦਲੋ, ਕਿਰਿਆਕਰਨ (Conjugation), ਸ਼ਬਦ ਭੇਦਾਂ (Parts of Speech).
ਸਭਿਆਚਾਰ ਅਤੇ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ (Culture & History)	ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ, ਮੇਲੇ, ਤਿਉਹਾਰ ਅਤੇ ਸਭਿਆਚਾਰ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਬੰਧਤ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਨ (Questions related to Punjab’s history, fairs, festivals, and culture).
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਰਚਨਾ (Punjabi Composition)	ਪੱਤਰ ਲੇਖਨ ਅਤੇ ਅੰਗਰੇਜ਼ੀ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ ਦੇ ਸ਼ੁੱਧ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਰੂਪ (Letter writing and correct Punjabi forms of English words).

PPSC HDO Syllabus 2025, Check Exam Pattern and Detailed Syllabus Here