The Cabinet today approved lowering of the pass percentage from 66.66% to 50% in Criminal Law and Revenue Law papers for vesting powers of Executive Magistrate and Assistant Collector or Collector to IAS/PCS (EB) officers.The Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, approved an amendment in Rule-12 of the Civil Services (Departmental Examination) Punjab Rules-2014 for the posts of Assistant Commissioner/Extra Assistant Commissioner.Since Rule-10 is not being amended, officers still need to pass in higher standard i.e. 66.66% in order to clear their probation/promotion. Besides this, in order to rationalize the existing Rules, some minor changes are also proposed to be made in Rules 4(3), 4(6), 10(1) pertaining to exemption and language etc.The changes have been approved in view of the fact that a large number of officers do not score the prescribed 66.66% marks in criminal law and revenue law papers in the first or second attempt. Hence, when such officers are posted as Sub Divisional Magistrate etc. they cannot be vested with powers of Executive Magistrate/Assistant Collector Grade-I or Collector. Consequently, they are not able to perform their duties effectively.