PPSC HDO Eligibility Criteria 2025, Check Qualifications and Age Limit

The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) has officially released the notification for Horticulture Development Officer (HDO) Recruitment 2025 under the Department of Horticulture, Government of Punjab. The notification invites eligible candidates to apply for 101 Group-A posts, offering an excellent opportunity for horticulture graduates to join the state government. Before applying, it is essential for candidates to carefully review the PPSC HDO Eligibility Criteria 2025, as applications not meeting the required qualifications, age limits, or other eligibility conditions will be rejected during scrutiny.

PPSC HDO Eligibility Criteria 2025

Candidates willing to apply for the PPSC HDO Recruitment 2025 must check the essential qualifications, age limits, and other conditions that applicants must fulfil to be considered for the Horticulture Development Officer (Group-A) post under the Department of Horticulture, Government of Punjab. These criteria ensure that only candidates with the required academic background and language proficiency are eligible to participate in the recruitment process.

The PPSC HDO Eligibility Criteria norms are defined in the official PPSC HDO Notification 2025 (Advt. No. 20256), released on 17th October 2025. Candidates can apply online through the official website – ppsc.gov.in – until 14th November 2025. Applicants must meet all prescribed conditions, including educational qualifications, age limit, and Punjabi language requirement, on or before the last date of application submission.

PPSC HDO Eligibility Criteria 2025: Highlights

Here’s an overview of the PPSC Horticulture Development Officer 2025 recruitment process, including key details about vacancies, qualifications, and selection stages.

PPSC HDO Eligibility Criteria 2025

The PPSC HDO Eligibility Criteria form the core of the selection process. Candidates must meet the educational, language, age, and nationality requirements as laid down by the Punjab Public Service Commission. Applications will be accepted provisionally, and detailed scrutiny will be conducted later.

Essential Qualifications

1. Candidates should possess a B.Sc. (Agriculture) degree with Horticulture as an elective subject or Experiential Learning Programme (ELP) in Horticulture / B.Sc. (Horticulture) from a recognized university or institution with at least 50% marks.
2. Additionally, candidates must have a Master’s degree (M.Sc.) in Horticulture from a recognized university or institution.
3. Candidates must possess the required qualification on or before the last date of application (14-11-2025).

Punjabi Language Requirement

• Candidates must have passed Matriculation with Punjabi as a compulsory or elective subject, or possess an equivalent qualification in Punjabi language as recognized by the Punjab Government.
• Exemptions:

  • Wards of Defence Personnel who are bona fide residents of Punjab must pass the Punjabi language test within two years of appointment.

  • War Heroes, their widows, or dependent family members are exempted from this requirement.

Nationality

Applicants must be one of the following:

1. Citizen of India, or
2. Citizen of Nepal, or
3. Subject of Bhutan, or
4. Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanent settlement, or
5. Person of Indian origin migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Candidates belonging to categories (ii) to (v) must obtain a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of Punjab, Department of Home Affairs and Justice.

PPSC ADO Age Limit

• Minimum Age: 18 years
• Maximum Age: 37 years

Age Relaxation:

• Punjab Government employees and employees of Boards/Corporations/Commissions: up to 45 years
• SC and BC categories of Punjab: up to 42 years
• Ex-servicemen (Punjab domicile): Relaxation equal to service period plus 3 years
• Widows, divorcees, and certain women categories: up to 42 years
• Persons with Disabilities (PwD) of Punjab: up to 47 years

Note: Age relaxation and other rules will follow the Punjab Civil Services (General and Common Conditions of Service) Rules, 1994, as amended.

PPSC HDO Application Forms Scrutiny and Disqualification Conditions

All applicants will be considered provisionally eligible to appear in the written examination. However, acceptance of applications and allotment of roll numbers do not guarantee final eligibility. A detailed scrutiny of documents will be conducted after the examination, and candidates found ineligible at any stage will be disqualified. Disciplinary or legal action may follow in cases of false claims.

Candidates belonging to the Sports Person (Punjab) and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) categories must submit their respective certificates by 14-11-2025 via the official email IDs provided in the notification.

Conditions That May Render a Candidate Ineligible

Candidates may be disqualified if:

• The application fee is insufficient or not paid online.
• The application form is incomplete or unsigned when demanded.
• Incorrect information is provided in the form.
• The candidate is debarred by the PPSC or any other Public Service Commission.
• The PPSC HDO Eligibility Criteria regarding age, educational qualification, or category certificate are not met.