If you grew up in a small Gujarat town and someone in your family works in the Prohibition and Excise Department, you already know this job commands respect. It's uniformed, it's government, and it comes with job security a private sector offer rarely matches. The post is called Jamadar, and it's the excise department's equivalent of a police constable.
This post walks you through what's actually open right now, how the exam works, what to study, and what to expect on salary day. No guesswork, no invented dates.
Quick Answer
Is the Gujarat Excise Constable (Jamadar) notification out in 2026? A small special recruitment drive is live — just 1 Jamadar post, reserved only for Hard of Hearing (Divyang) candidates, announced by GSSSB on June 5, 2026, with applications already closed on June 18, 2026. This is not a general recruitment. The last full-scale Jamadar drive was Advertisement No. 144/2017-18, with 35 vacancies. If you're a general candidate waiting for a big Jamadar recruitment, none has opened since 2017-18 — keep checking pareeksha.in exam news for the next one.
Latest Notification and Important Dates
Here's what's confirmed versus tentative, so you don't confuse the 2026 special drive with the last regular cycle.
| Event | 2026 Special Drive (PwD, 1 post) | Last Regular Cycle (2017-18, reference only) |
|---|---|---|
| Advertisement released | June 5, 2026 | November 2017 (Advt 144/2017-18) |
| Application start | June 4, 2026 | November 5, 2017 |
| Application end | June 18, 2026 (closed) | November 18, 2017 |
| Fee payment last date | June 20, 2026 | Same as application window |
| Vacancies | 1 (Hard of Hearing category only) | 35 Jamadar posts |
| Exam date | Not announced yet (tentative, expected late 2026) | 2018 (prelim and main both held that year) |
| Conducting body | GSSSB (Gujarat Subordinate Service Selection Board) | GSSSB |
Since this is a single-post special drive, don't expect it to reopen for general candidates. Until GSSSB announces a fresh, large-scale recruitment, treat the 2017-18 pattern as your best reference for eligibility, exam structure, and syllabus — the format has stayed broadly consistent across GSSSB's Class-3 constabulary posts.
What the Job Actually Is
A Jamadar is a uniformed enforcement officer in the Prohibition and Excise Department, doing field duty similar to a police constable but focused on liquor prohibition, illegal manufacturing, smuggling, and excise law violations. Gujarat is a dry state, so this department stays busier than you'd think.
Day to day, you're patrolling, raiding illicit liquor units, checking vehicles at checkpoints, guarding seized goods, filing reports, and assisting Excise Inspectors in investigations. It's physically active work with irregular hours, and postings can be anywhere in the state. You report to a Nirikshak (Inspector), who reports up the department hierarchy.
If you like fieldwork over a desk job and don't mind night shifts and transfers, this is a solid career, not a fixed 9-to-5.
Vacancy Details / Post Breakdown
The current 2026 notification has just 1 vacancy, earmarked exclusively for Hard of Hearing candidates with 40% to 70% disability. No general, OBC, SC, ST, or EWS seats in this round.
For context, the 2017-18 cycle (Advertisement 144/2017-18) had 35 Jamadar posts spread across general and reserved categories, alongside a parallel recruitment for 8 Excise Inspector posts under Advertisement 145/2017-18. When the next full cycle opens, expect a similar breakup across unreserved, SEBC, SC, ST, EWS, and horizontal quotas for women, ex-servicemen, and PwD candidates.
Eligibility
What's the age limit for Gujarat Excise Constable (Jamadar)? You need to be between 18 and 33 years old as of the last date of application, with relaxation available for reserved categories.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| General (Unreserved) | Up to 33 years, no relaxation |
| SEBC / SC / ST | Relaxation as per state government norms (usually 5 years) |
| PwD (Divyang) | 10 years relaxation, up to 45 years maximum |
| Ex-servicemen | As per Gujarat government rules |
Education: HSC (12th standard) from a recognised board. There's no degree requirement for Jamadar — that's for the Excise Inspector post instead.
Other requirements: basic computer knowledge (usually a certificate or CCC exam) and working knowledge of Gujarati or Hindi.
Physical standards: similar to Gujarat Police constable recruitment — minimum height and chest norms for male candidates, plus a running test both men and women must clear. Exact numbers are notified in each advertisement, so check the official PDF.
Application Process and Fee
You apply only through the OJAS portal — ojas.gujarat.gov.in — GSSSB does not accept offline forms.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| PwD (Divyang) candidates | Rs. 400 (refundable if you appear for the preliminary exam) |
| General / Other categories | Not specified in the current PwD-only drive; expect the standard GSSSB fee (typically Rs. 100-200 for general, lower or nil for reserved categories) in the next full recruitment |
How to apply: register on ojas.gujarat.gov.in if you're new, find the correct advertisement number, fill in your details carefully, upload photo, signature, and certificates, pay the fee online, and download the confirmation page.
Exam Pattern
How many stages does the Jamadar selection process have? Three stages: a preliminary written test, a physical efficiency test, and a main written exam.
| Stage | Format | Marks | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Exam | MCQ, OMR/CBRT | 100 | 1 hour | 0.25 negative marking per wrong answer; qualifying and shortlisting round |
| Physical Efficiency Test | Running test | Qualifying only | — | Men: 800m in 5 minutes. Women: 400m in 3 minutes |
| Main Exam | MCQ | 100 (Gujarati 35, English 30, General Studies 35) | 1 hour | Final merit is based on this stage |
The preliminary exam filters out the bulk of applicants — for a post with just a few hundred vacancies, GSSSB usually gets applications running into lakhs, so competition at the prelim stage alone is brutal.
Syllabus, Subject by Subject
Gujarati Language (35 marks in main exam): Grammar (સંધિ, સમાસ, વિરામચિહ્નો), vocabulary, synonyms and antonyms, idioms and proverbs, comprehension passages, and basic composition. This carries the highest weight, so don't skip it even if Gujarati is your mother tongue — the question level is tougher than school exams.
English Language (30 marks): Basic grammar (tenses, articles, prepositions), vocabulary, one-word substitution, spotting errors, and short comprehension passages. Keep it simple and accurate.
General Studies (35 marks in main exam, with a mix in prelims too): Indian history and freedom movement, Gujarat history and culture, Indian polity and constitution, geography of India and Gujarat, current affairs (national and Gujarat-specific), general science, sports, and government schemes. Reasoning and basic numerical ability also show up in the preliminary paper.
For daily practice on these areas, use topic-wise practice sets and a few free mock tests to get used to the timing pressure. The Quantitative Aptitude guide and Reasoning guide on pareeksha.in cover the question types GSSSB tends to ask.
Salary, Pay Scale, and Career Growth
What is the in-hand salary for a Gujarat Excise Constable (Jamadar)? A newly selected Jamadar gets a fixed pay of Rs. 26,000 per month for the first five years, after which they move into the regular Level-2 pay matrix of Rs. 19,900 to Rs. 63,200, plus dearness allowance and other benefits.
After probation, in-hand salary including DA, HRA, and other allowances typically lands between Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 38,000 a month, depending on city classification and years of service. Career growth follows the usual Class-3 to Class-2 ladder — Jamadar to Head Jamadar and beyond, subject to departmental exams and vacancies. It's a slow climb, but stable, with pension benefits.
Previous Cut-Off Trends
GSSSB has not published a fresh, large-scale Jamadar cut-off since the 2017-18 cycle, and even then, category and district-wise official numbers were not widely released. As a rough benchmark, based on aggregator reports from that cycle:
| Category | Approximate Prelim Cut-off (out of 100) |
|---|---|
| General (Unreserved) | 60-68 |
| SEBC | 55-62 |
| SC/ST | 48-56 |
Treat these as indicative, not official. Competition depends heavily on vacancies advertised — a single-post drive like 2026's will have a sharper cut-off than a 35-post cycle. Check the official cut-off PDF on gsssb.gujarat.gov.in when a fresh recruitment opens, rather than relying on old numbers.
Best Books and Preparation Strategy
You don't need a shelf full of books. Three to four solid resources, used properly, beat ten skimmed once: a Gujarat GK book covering state history, geography, culture, and schemes; a Gujarati grammar and vocabulary book for competitive exams; a basic English grammar book; and a current affairs digest updated monthly through pareeksha.in's current affairs section.
A rough three-month plan: month one, build your base in grammar and GK plus light jogging; month two, shift to mock tests and review every wrong answer while increasing running distance; month three, full revision and timed practice, with fitness at exam-ready level in the final two weeks. Build a broader study plan too, since the syllabus overlaps with other GSSSB posts.
Common Mistakes and Honest Advice
Most candidates lose marks from avoidable errors, not a hard syllabus. Negative marking on the prelim means random guessing can hurt you — only attempt a question if you can eliminate at least two wrong options. A lot of aspirants also ignore the physical test until the last month and then struggle; 800m in 5 minutes sounds easy until you try it cold, so start training early. And don't underestimate Gujarati as "my own language, I'll manage" — સંધિ, સમાસ, and vibhakti questions catch native speakers off guard too.
Finally, don't wait for a "big" recruitment to start preparing. GSSSB posts often open with short windows, and solid prep before the notification drops saves you weeks that other candidates waste catching up.
FAQ
Is GSSSB Jamadar recruitment 2026 open for general candidates? No. The only 2026 notification so far is a special drive for 1 post reserved for Hard of Hearing candidates. General category recruitment has not opened since 2017-18.
What is the age limit for Gujarat Excise Constable (Jamadar)? 18 to 33 years as of the deadline, with 10-year relaxation for PwD candidates (up to 45 years) and category-based relaxation for SC/ST/SEBC.
What is the educational qualification for Jamadar post? HSC (12th standard) from a recognised board. A degree is not required for this post.
How many stages are there in the Jamadar exam? Three: preliminary exam, physical efficiency test, and main written exam, which decides your final merit rank.
Is there negative marking in the GSSSB Jamadar exam? Yes, 0.25 marks are deducted for every wrong answer in the preliminary exam.
What is the salary of a Gujarat Excise Constable (Jamadar)? Rs. 26,000 per month fixed pay for the first five years, moving to the Level-2 pay matrix of Rs. 19,900 to Rs. 63,200 after that, plus allowances.
What is the physical test requirement for Jamadar? Male candidates run 800 metres in 5 minutes; female candidates run 400 metres in 3 minutes. It's a qualifying round only, not counted toward final marks.
Where do I apply for GSSSB Jamadar recruitment? Only through the official OJAS portal at ojas.gujarat.gov.in. GSSSB does not accept offline forms.
Is Jamadar the same as Excise Constable? Yes, Jamadar is the official GSSSB designation for what's commonly called Excise Constable, under the Prohibition and Excise Department.
When will the next full Jamadar recruitment open? No official date is announced yet. Watch pareeksha.in's exam news page and the official GSSSB and OJAS websites for updates.
Related Reads on Pareeksha
- Gujarat Police Constable Recruitment Guide
- GSSSB Talati-cum-Mantri Recruitment Guide
- SSC GD Constable Recruitment Guide
- Browse all exam guides on Pareeksha
Final Word
The Jamadar post is a genuinely good option if you want a stable, uniformed government job in Gujarat and you're comfortable with field duty. Right now, there's no big recruitment window open for general candidates — the 2026 notification is a narrow, one-post special drive. Use this waiting period well. Build your Gujarati and English fundamentals, keep your GK updated through current affairs practice, get your running fitness to exam-ready level, and browse the free Reading Room. For official updates, always cross-check with gsssb.gujarat.gov.in and ojas.gujarat.gov.in directly.
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