Punjab Master Cadre
Direct recruitment of Master Cadre (subject) teachers for Classes 6-10 in Punjab government schools, in subjects such as Mathematics, Science, English, Punjabi, Hindi, Social Studies and Physical Education.
Eligibility
Bachelor's degree with the relevant subject combination plus B.Ed, and a pass in the Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test (PSTET Paper II) or CTET as specified in the notification. Punjabi up to Matriculation level is compulsory. The general-category age band is normally 18-37 years with substantial relaxations for reserved categories; check each notification, as limits have varied by cycle.
Age limit: 18-37 years for general candidates, with category relaxations extending the limit (recent notices have allowed up to 47 with relaxations)
Exam pattern
Single written objective test in recent cycles: around 150 multiple-choice questions covering the subject concerned (the bulk of the paper) plus general knowledge/current affairs of Punjab and Punjabi language, in roughly 2 to 2.5 hours. Merit is prepared from the written test — there is no interview. Exact question counts, marking scheme and any negative marking are fixed per notification, so read the latest advertisement carefully.
Syllabus at a glance
Subject syllabus up to graduation level aligned with what is taught in Classes 6-10 (for example, the Mathematics paper spans school and BSc-level topics), plus teaching methodology of the subject. A smaller component tests Punjab general knowledge and current affairs, Punjabi language and grammar, and basic teaching aptitude. Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) and NCERT textbooks are the core content sources.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Master Cadre notification (2,000+ posts anticipated) | Late 2026 | expected |
| Application window | TBA | tba |
| Written exam | TBA | tba |
| Parallel ERD Lecturer Cadre written exam (1,013 posts; post count since revised — see ERD corrigendum) | 5, 6, 12, 13 & 20 Sep 2026 | confirmed |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Relevant NCERT and PSEB subject textbooks (Classes 6-12)
- Punjab General Knowledge - Arihant Experts (Manohar Pandey series)
- Punjab Master Cadre subject-wise guide - Youth Competition Times (YCT)
- Child Development and Pedagogy - Sandeep Kumar (Pearson)
- Punjabi Vyakaran (grammar) guide for competitive exams
How toppers play it
- Clear PSTET first — without it your Master Cadre application is rejected at scrutiny, whatever your written score.
- The paper is subject-dominant with no interview, so a deep command of your subject up to graduate level matters more than general-studies breadth.
- Study Punjab-specific material: Punjab GK, Punjabi grammar and PSEB textbook framing distinguish this exam from CTET-style tests.
- Practise from the 2020 and 2022-23 Master Cadre papers to calibrate difficulty; subject cutoffs have varied widely between subjects.
- Keep documents (subject combination in degree, B.Ed, Punjabi at Matric level, category certificates) verified in advance — Punjab recruitments are strict on subject-combination rules.