(I) Every member of the Service, unless already done so, shall qualify departmental examination within two and a half years from the date of commencement of these rules. Details of syllabus will be prescribed by the Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru State Institute of Rural Development, Punjab:
Provided that a member of the Service exceeding fifty years of age, shall not be required to qualify departmental examination.
(2) A member of the service shall be considered to have qualified the test only if he secures minimum fifty percent marks in the aggregate but not less than forty percent marks in each paper. A member of the service, who secures the prescribed minimum pass marks in each paper but has failed to secure the prescribed minimum marks in the aggregate, may re-appear in either or in all the papers so as to qualify the test. The test shall be conducted by the Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru State Institute of Rural Development, Punjab:
Provided that in case a person fails to qualify the Departmental Examination within the specified period, he shall be allowed annual increment only with effect from the date he qualifies such examination, but he shall not be paid any arrear for the period for which he could not qualify the said examination.
(3) In order to maintain computer accounts, the Panchayat Secretaries, presently working in the Gram Pahchayats, may be directed to undergo short 26 PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), JANUARY25, 2013 (MAGHA 05, 1934 SAKA) term courses in computer typing and/or computer application.