GPSSB Mukhya Sevika Recruitment 2026: Apply for 169 Posts

📅 Posted: 18/04/2026 📝 Updated: 04/05/2026

Total Vacancy169

SalaryFixed Pay ₹40,800/Month (Contract, first 5 years) [Regular Pay Scale after regularization as per Gujarat Panchayat Class-3 rules]

LocationGujarat

Last Date09/05/2026

Short Information: Gujarat Panchayat Service Selection Board (GPSSB) has released the recruitment notification (Advt No: 05/2026-27) for 169 Mukhya Sevika (Class-3) posts across District Panchayats of Gujarat. This recruitment is open exclusively for women candidates — no male applications are accepted. Candidates holding a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Home Science, Sociology, Child Development, Nutrition, or Social Work from any recognized university are eligible to apply. The age limit is up to 37 years as on 09 May 2026, with relaxation for reserved category, PwD, and ex-servicemen (women) candidates. Selected candidates are appointed on a fixed pay of ₹40,800 per month for the first 5 years on a contract basis. The competitive exam is a single paper of 200 marks, MCQ-based (OMR/CBRT), with a 3-hour duration. Negative marking of -0.25 marks applies for each wrong answer. Applications open on 18 April 2026 and close on 09 May 2026 at https://ojas.gujarat.gov.in. General category women must pay ₹100 + service charge via SBI e-Pay.

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📅 Dates & Fees 📦 Vacancy 💰 Salary 🎯 Selection 📝 Pattern 📏 Standards 📖 Syllabus ❓ FAQs 🔗 Important Links

GPSSB Mukhya Sevika Class 3 Recruitment 2026 2026Important Dates

Notification Released	18/04/2026
Application Begin	18/04/2026
Last Date to Apply	09/05/2026
Pay Exam Fee Last Date	09/05/2026
Offline Process Fee (General only)	11/05/2026 to 13/05/2026
Exam Date	To be notified

GPSSB Mukhya Sevika Class 3 Recruitment 2026 2026Application Fee

General (OC) Women	₹100 + Service Charge (SBI e-Pay)
SC / ST / SEBC / EWS Women	₹0
Ex-Serviceman Women (All Categories)	₹0
PwD Women (All Categories)	₹0

Payment: Online — SBI e-Pay (Debit Card / UPI / Internet Banking / NEFT / Credit Card)

GPSSB Mukhya Sevika Recruitment 2026: Apply for 169 PostsVacancy Details & Age Limit

Age Limit: Not more than 37 years (as on 09/05/2026). Maximum age with any relaxation shall not exceed 45 years under any circumstances. Only women candidates are eligible to apply.

(General (OC) Women: 5 years relaxation — born between 09/05/1984 to 09/05/2008, Reserved Category (SC/ST/SEBC/EWS) Women: 10 years (5+5) — born between 09/05/1981 to 09/05/2008, General (OC) PwD Women (≥40% disability): 15 years (10+5) — born between 09/05/1981 to 09/05/2008, Reserved Category PwD Women (≥40% disability): 20 years (5+10+5) — born between 09/05/1981 to 09/05/2008, Ex-Serviceman (Women): Actual military service rendered + 3 additional years (Max 45 years), Maximum age with all relaxations shall NOT exceed 45 years under any circumstance)

Post Name	OC (General)	EWS	S E B C	SC	ST	Total
Mukhya Sevika (Class-3)	69	21	39	4	36	169
Total Vacancy	69	21	39	4	36	169
Note: Only women candidates are eligible. Vacancies are subject to increase or decrease as per Panchayat Department requirements. 11 posts are reserved for PwD candidates. 3 posts reserved for Ex-Servicemen (women).

Recruitment Table: District-wise & Category-wise Vacancy — Mukhya Sevika Class-3

Sr.	District	Total Posts	Category-wise Posts					ESM Reserved	PwD Category				PwD Total
Sr.	District	Total Posts	OC	EWS	SEBC	SC	ST	ESM Reserved	Cat-A	Cat-B	Cat-C	Cat-D&E	PwD Total
1	Ahmedabad	3	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Amreli	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Anand	4	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Aravalli	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Banaskantha	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	Bharuch	5	2	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
7	Bhavnagar	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
8	Botad	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
9	Chhota Udaipur	11	4	1	4	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
10	Dahod	24	7	2	5	2	8	0	0	0	1	0	1
11	Devbhumi Dwarka	6	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
12	Dang	3	2	0	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	1
13	Gandhinagar	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
14	Gir Somnath	6	4	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	1
15	Jamnagar	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
16	Junagadh	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
17	Kutch	16	9	1	4	1	1	1	1	1	0	0	2
18	Kheda	4	2	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
19	Mahisagar	7	3	1	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
20	Mehsana	3	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
21	Morbi	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
22	Narmada	7	4	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	1
23	Navsari	4	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	0
24	Panchmahal	6	0	1	1	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	0
25	Patan	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
26	Porbandar	2	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	1
27	Rajkot	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
28	Sabarkantha	5	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
29	Surat	18	2	6	5	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	0
30	Surendranagar	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
31	Tapi	5	0	2	0	0	3	0	0	1	0	0	1
32	Vadodara	7	4	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
33	Valsad	6	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
34	Vav Tharad	11	7	0	3	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	1
Total		169	69	21	39	4	36	3	4	3	3	1	11

GPSSB Mukhya Sevika Class 3 Recruitment 2026Eligibility Criteria

Only women candidates are eligible. Male candidates cannot apply for this post under any circumstance.
Must hold a Bachelor's degree OR Master's degree in any of the following subjects from a recognized University (Central/State Act or Deemed University under UGC Act, 1956): Home Science, Sociology, Child Development, Nutrition, or Social Work.
Must possess basic knowledge of computer applications as prescribed in Gujarat Civil Services Classification and Recruitment (General) Rules, 1967.
Must possess adequate knowledge of Gujarati or Hindi or both.
Age: Not more than 37 years as on 09/05/2026 (cut-off date for both eligibility and age). Maximum age with all relaxations shall not exceed 45 years.
Must be an Indian citizen or hold nationality as per Gujarat Panchayat Service Classification and Recruitment (General) Rules, 1998, Rule-7.
Reservation benefits available only to women candidates originally from Gujarat (Mool Gujarat).
SEBC (OBC) candidates must hold a valid Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) certificate issued between 01/04/2024 and 09/05/2026.
EWS candidates must hold a valid EWS certificate issued between 10/05/2023 and 09/05/2026 (valid for 3 years from issue date).
Widow candidates must declare in the online form and submit a notarized affidavit of not remarrying at document verification stage.

GPSSB Mukhya Sevika Class 3 Recruitment 2026Pay Scale / Salary Structure

Post Name	Salary Level
Mukhya Sevika (Class-3)	Fixed Pay: ₹40,800/Month (Contract basis for first 5 years). After satisfactory service, eligible for regular appointment at the applicable pay scale for the cadre as per Gujarat Panchayat Class-3 rules.

GPSSB Mukhya Sevika Class 3 Recruitment 2026Selection Process Steps

Step 1 — Online Application at https://ojas.gujarat.gov.in (18/04/2026 to 09/05/2026)
Step 2 — Competitive Written Examination: Single paper of 200 marks, MCQ-based, 3 hours, OMR or CBRT mode. Negative marking of -0.25 per wrong answer.
Step 3 — Provisional Answer Key (PAK) published. Objections invited.
Step 4 — Final Answer Key (FAK) published after review. Results processed on FAK basis.
Step 5 — Provisional Merit List prepared category-wise based on marks + applicable bonus marks (Widow: 5%, Sports: 5%).
Step 6 — Document Verification for candidates in Provisional Merit List.
Step 7 — On-screen District Allocation (counselling) for verified candidates based on merit.
Step 8 — Final Select List, Recommendation List, and Waiting List published.
Step 9 — Appointment on contract basis at fixed pay ₹40,800/month for 5 years by Appointing Authority.

GPSSB Mukhya Sevika Class 3 Recruitment 2026Detailed Exam Pattern

Recruitment Details: Exam Overview

Mode: OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) / CBRT (Computer Based Recruitment Test) — MCQ format.
Total Papers: 1 (One paper only).
Total Marks: 200 Marks.
Duration: 3 Hours.
Negative Marking: Yes — (-0.25) marks deducted for each wrong answer. Pro-rata calculation applies if any question is deleted in FAK.
Medium: Gujarati (except English Language & Grammar section which is in English). Technical Knowledge section is in Gujarati.
Tie-Breaking Rule: Equal marks → older candidate preferred by DOB → if DOB also same, higher educational qualification merit applies.

Recruitment Table: Written Exam — Subject-wise Marks Distribution

Subject	Marks	Medium
General Awareness and General Knowledge	35	Gujarati
Gujarati Grammar	20	Gujarati
English Language and Grammar	20	English
General Mathematics, Reasoning & Data Interpretation	25	Gujarati
Technical Knowledge (Home Science / Sociology / Child Dev. / Nutrition / Social Work)	100	Gujarati
Total	200

Recruitment Table: PwD Category Details & Reserved Posts — Mukhya Sevika

Sr.	PwD Category	Reservation %	Disability Type	Posts Reserved
1	Category A	1%	Low Vision (LV) (40-70%)	4
2	Category B	1%	Deaf (D) / Hard of Hearing (HH) (40-70%)	3
3	Category C	1%	OA, OL, OAL, AAV, BA, BL, SD, SI (Locomotor Disability)	3
4	Category D & E	1%	ASD (Mild), SLD, Mental Illness, Multiple Disabilities (40-70%)	1
Total				11
Note:Only PwD candidates with benchmark disability of 40% or more are eligible for PwD reservation benefits. PwD posts adjusted against respective reservation categories.

Recruitment Table: Additional Bonus Marks — Eligible Categories

Category	Bonus Marks	Condition
Widow (Vidhwa) Candidates	5% of total marks obtained	Declare 'Yes' in online form. Submit notarized affidavit of not remarrying at document verification stage.
Recognized Sports Persons	5% of total marks obtained	Declare 'YES' in online form with sports certificate details. Original certificate from competent authority in prescribed format required.

GPSSB Mukhya Sevika Class 3 Recruitment 2026Subject-wise Syllabus Topics

The written exam is a single paper of 200 marks. The Technical Knowledge section (100 marks) covers subjects from the candidate's graduation degree — Home Science, Sociology, Child Development, Nutrition, or Social Work. The General section follows the standard Gujarat Panchayat Class-3 pattern.

📚 General Awareness & General Knowledge (35 Marks)

General Mental Ability and General Intelligence
History of India and History of Gujarat
Cultural heritage of India and Gujarat
Geography of India and Geography of Gujarat
Sports
Indian Polity and the Constitution of India
Panchayati Raj
Welfare Schemes of Gujarat State and Union Government
Indian Economy and Planning
General Science, Environment and ICT
Current Affairs — Regional, National and International Importance

📚 Gujarati Grammar (20 Marks)

Vyakaran (Grammar) — Sandhi, Samas
Kahevat (Proverbs) and Muhavara
Comprehension passages in Gujarati
Vocabulary and antonyms/synonyms

📚 English Language and Grammar (20 Marks)

English grammar and usage
Vocabulary and word meanings
Comprehension passages
Sentence correction and fill in the blanks

📚 General Mathematics, Reasoning & Data Interpretation (25 Marks)

Arithmetic: Percentage, Ratio, Average, Simple & Compound Interest
Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability
Data Interpretation: Tables, Bar Graphs, Pie Charts
Number Series and basic Algebra

📚 Technical Knowledge — Home Science / Sociology / Child Development / Nutrition / Social Work (100 Marks)

Home Science: Nutrition, Food & Dietetics, Human Development, Family Resource Management, Textile & Clothing
Child Development: Child Psychology, Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE), Developmental milestones, Child welfare schemes
Sociology: Social institutions, Social change, Rural society, Social problems in India
Nutrition: Macro and micronutrients, Malnutrition, Dietary assessment, Nutritional programs
Social Work: Case work, Community organization, Social welfare legislation, NGOs and social policy
Gujarat Government schemes related to women, child, and rural welfare (Poshan Abhiyan, ICDS, Beti Bachao etc.)

GPSSB Mukhya Sevika Class 3 Recruitment 2026How to Apply

Visit https://ojas.gujarat.gov.in — click 'Current Advertisement' → 'View All' → Select 'GUJARAT PANCHAYAT SERVICE SELECTION BOARD (GPSSB)'.
Click on Advt No. 05/2026-27 — Mukhya Sevika (Class-3). Click 'Details' to read the full notification. Save/download it for future reference.
Click 'Apply'. Choose either: (a) Apply With OTR (One Time Registration — data pre-fills automatically) or (b) Fill all details manually by skipping OTR.
Fill all required details: Personal info, Communication, Educational qualification (subject of degree), Category/Caste, Widow/PwD/ESM/Sports details as applicable.
Upload recent Photograph (max 15 KB, JPG) and Signature (max 15 KB, JPG). Keep 4–5 copies of the same photo — the identical photo must be used throughout the entire recruitment process.
Read the Declaration, accept terms, click SAVE. Note the Application Number generated.
Click 'Confirm Application' → enter Application Number + Date of Birth → preview carefully → make corrections if needed BEFORE confirming. Once confirmed, NO changes are allowed.
After confirmation, a Confirmation Number is generated — save it. All future correspondence requires this number.
General Category women candidates: Pay application fee of ₹100 + service charge via SBI e-Pay (Debit Card / UPI / Net Banking / NEFT / Credit Card) before 09/05/2026 at 23:59.
If fee payment failed online: Visit GPSSB office in person with Process Fee of ₹500 (cash) between 11/05/2026 to 13/05/2026 during office hours.
Print the confirmed application. Regularly check https://gpssb.gujarat.gov.in for exam schedule, admit card, and result updates.

Recruitment Note: About Gujarat Panchayat Service Selection Board (GPSSB)

Gujarat Panchayat Service Selection Board (GPSSB), operating under the Panchayat, Rural Housing and Rural Development Department of the Government of Gujarat, is the statutory recruitment body for Class-3 and Class-4 posts across all 33 District Panchayats of Gujarat. Headquartered at Block No. 2, 5th Floor, Karmayogi Bhavan, Sector-10/A, Gandhinagar, GPSSB conducts competitive recruitment examinations through Computer Based Recruitment Tests (CBRT) and OMR-based examinations. The board manages recruitment for key grassroots government positions such as Gram Sevak, Junior Clerk, Female Health Worker, Live Stock Inspector, Mukhya Sevika, and several other Class-3 cadres. GPSSB uses the state's OJAS portal (ojas.gujarat.gov.in) for seamless online application management and publishes all official updates — provisional answer keys, final answer keys, provisional merit lists, and appointment notifications — on its dedicated portal at gpssb.gujarat.gov.in. With lakhs of candidates appearing across each recruitment cycle, GPSSB is one of the most active and trusted state-level recruitment authorities in western India.

Recruitment Note: Job Profile — Mukhya Sevika (Class-3)

A Mukhya Sevika working under Gujarat District Panchayat is a frontline women development worker responsible for coordinating and supervising the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme at the Anganwadi level across rural areas. Key responsibilities include supervising Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) in the assigned area, monitoring supplementary nutrition programs for children (0–6 years) and pregnant/lactating mothers, ensuring timely immunization of children under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), conducting growth monitoring and malnutrition identification camps, facilitating pre-school non-formal education activities at Anganwadi centers, overseeing the maintenance of registers and reports at Anganwadi centers, organizing community awareness sessions on maternal and child health, nutrition, and hygiene, and coordinating with healthcare workers (ANM, ASHA) for convergence of government welfare schemes. The role requires regular field visits across the assigned cluster of villages. Career progression is possible through departmental examinations to higher cadre positions within the Panchayat and Women & Child Development departments.

Recruitment Note: Benefits & Perks Beyond Salary

Mukhya Sevika selected through GPSSB will receive a fixed pay of ₹40,800 per month for the first 5 years under the Gujarat Government's contract appointment scheme (Finance Department Resolution dated 18/10/2023 and earlier amendments). After 5 years of satisfactory service, candidates become eligible for regular appointment at the applicable Class-3 pay scale. Regular employees enjoy Provident Fund (GPF/NPS), Gratuity, Medical reimbursement for self and family, various leave entitlements (earned leave, casual leave, medical leave, maternity leave), Group Insurance coverage, and periodic DA revisions. Since this is a Gujarat Panchayat service post, regularized employees also receive post-retirement pension and ECHS-equivalent health scheme benefits. Field duty allowance may be applicable for village visit assignments.

Recruitment Note: Contract Appointment Terms & Regularization

Selected candidates are appointed on contract basis at a fixed salary of ₹40,800 per month for the first 5 years per Gujarat Government Finance Department resolutions. During this period, candidates must pass the Departmental Examination, Computer Skill Examination (Exam Rules 2006), and Pre-Service Training examinations as prescribed. After 5 years, if service is found satisfactory by the Appointing Authority, candidates become eligible for regular appointment at the then-applicable pay scale. Contract appointments are subject to Supreme Court SLP Nos. 14124/2012 and 14125/2012 final judgment. The appointment is made by the Appointing Authority (Niyuktinu Sattadhikari) of the respective District Panchayat, and the final appointment decision rests solely with the Appointing Authority.

Recruitment Note: Minimum Qualifying Standard & Tie-Breaking Rules

As per Gujarat Panchayat Service (Varg-3) Recruitment (Examination) Rules 2021 and amendments (2025), the minimum qualifying mark will be fixed by GPSSB based on available vacancies. Under no circumstance will the minimum cut-off be below 40% for any category. Candidates scoring below 40% of total marks will not be considered for the merit list. In case of a tie in marks: (1) The candidate who is older (greater age as per date of birth) gets higher merit rank. (2) If both marks and date of birth are identical, the candidate with higher educational qualification merit gets priority.

GPSSB Mukhya Sevika Class 3 Recruitment 2026Important Official Links

Apply Online Application Window: 18/04/2026 to 09/05/2026	Click Here ↗
Download Notification Advt No. 05/2026-27	Click Here ↗
Official Website	Click Here ↗

Disclaimer Information provided here is for quick reference. Verify all details on the official website before taking action.

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Quick Overview

🚀 Recruitment Overview

Quick Summary of the Notification

Organization	GPSSB
Post Name	Mukhya Sevika (Class-3)
Total Vacancy	169
Salary	Fixed Pay ₹40,800/Month (Contract, first 5 years) [Regular Pay Scale after regularization as per Gujarat Panchayat Class-3 rules]
Job Location	Gujarat
Apply Mode	Online
Last Date	09/05/2026
Official Website	Visit Website ↗

💡 Expert Tip

Since this post is exclusively for women, the age limit structure is different from standard GPSSB posts — there is no separate male bracket. The base upper age limit is 37 years (not 33), which is more relaxed than most Class-3 posts. Important: SEBC (OBC) women candidates must have a valid Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) certificate issued between 01/04/2024 and 09/05/2026. EWS women need a certificate issued between 10/05/2023 and 09/05/2026. For Widow candidates: declare 'Yes' in the online form to avail 5% bonus marks — but you must submit a notarized affidavit of not having remarried at the document verification stage, otherwise the benefit is cancelled. The Technical Knowledge section is 100 marks based on your graduation subject — Home Science, Sociology, Child Development, Nutrition, or Social Work.

Common Questions (FAQs)

Q.1 What is the in-hand salary for GPSSB Mukhya Sevika? ▼

Ans: Selected Mukhya Sevika candidates receive a fixed pay of ₹40,800 per month for the first 5 years on a contract basis. This is a consolidated fixed pay with no separate DA or HRA added during the contract period. After 5 years of satisfactory service, upon regularization the applicable Class-3 pay scale under 7th Pay Commission norms would bring the gross salary to approximately ₹50,000 to ₹60,000 per month including DA and allowances. At ₹40,800/month, this is significantly higher than most other GPSSB Class-3 contract posts.

Q.2 What is the last date to apply online for GPSSB Mukhya Sevika 2026? ▼

Ans: The last date to submit the online application is 09 May 2026 at 23:59 hours at https://ojas.gujarat.gov.in. The window opens on 18 April 2026 at 13:00 hours. General category women must also pay ₹100 + service charge by 09 May 2026. If online payment fails, a Process Fee of ₹500 can be paid in cash at the GPSSB Gandhinagar office between 11 May 2026 to 13 May 2026 during office hours — only for candidates whose application is confirmed but fee unpaid.

Q.3 Is there any negative marking in the GPSSB Mukhya Sevika exam? ▼

Ans: Yes. The official notification explicitly states -0.25 marks (minus zero point twenty-five) will be deducted for every wrong answer. If any question is cancelled in the Final Answer Key, the remaining questions carry pro-rata marks — 1/4 of the adjusted mark weight is deducted for wrong answers on those questions. Unattempted questions carry no penalty. Given the 100-mark Technical Knowledge section, candidates should avoid guessing on unfamiliar topics.

Q.4 What is the age limit for GPSSB Mukhya Sevika 2026? ▼

Ans: The upper age limit is 37 years as on 09/05/2026 for General (OC) women. Since this post is exclusively for women, there is no separate male age bracket. Relaxations: General women — 5 years extra (born 09/05/1984–09/05/2008); Reserved category (SC/ST/SEBC/EWS) women — 10 years extra; General PwD women (≥40% disability) — 15 years extra; Reserved PwD women — 20 years extra. Maximum age with any relaxation must not exceed 45 years.

Q.5 How to download the GPSSB Mukhya Sevika Notification PDF? ▼

Ans: Visit https://ojas.gujarat.gov.in → 'Current Advertisement' → 'View All' → Select 'GPSSB' from the department list → find Advt No. 05/2026-27 (Mukhya Sevika Class-3) → click 'Details' to view and download the full notification PDF. You can also directly visit https://gpssb.gujarat.gov.in for all official updates, errata, and corrigendums. The Download Notification link on this page provides direct access.

Q.6 What is the educational qualification required for GPSSB Mukhya Sevika? ▼

Ans: Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree or Master's degree in any one of these subjects: Home Science, Sociology, Child Development, Nutrition, or Social Work — from any recognized university under the Central or State Act or a deemed university under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. Additionally, candidates must have basic computer knowledge and adequate knowledge of Gujarati or Hindi. There is no minimum percentage specified for the degree.

Q.7 What is the selection process for GPSSB Mukhya Sevika 2026? ▼

Ans: Selection involves: (1) Online application at ojas.gujarat.gov.in, (2) Single written exam — 200 marks, 3 hours, MCQ-based OMR/CBRT, with -0.25 negative marking, (3) Provisional Answer Key with objection window, (4) Final Answer Key and provisional result, (5) Provisional Merit List (category-wise) including bonus marks for Widow/Sports candidates, (6) Document verification for merit-listed candidates, (7) On-screen district allocation counselling, and (8) Contract appointment at ₹40,800/month fixed pay for 5 years.

Q.8 Can men apply for GPSSB Mukhya Sevika recruitment 2026? ▼

Ans: No. This recruitment is exclusively for women candidates. The official notification clearly states only female candidates can apply. Male applications will be rejected outright at any stage of the recruitment process. The post of Mukhya Sevika under Gujarat Panchayat service is a women-specific cadre by design, as it involves supervising Anganwadi centers and working directly with women and children in rural communities.