CSS Exam

CSS Exam Introduction

WHAT IS CSS?

CSS stands for CENTRAL SUPERIOR SERVICES. The government of Pakistan conducts CSS Exam or the Competitive Exam to fill up Grade-17 posts in 12 different service groups every year.  A candidate is offered 3 chances to pass this exam before BECOMING OLDER THAN 30 YEARS. Syllabus and actual rules & regulations governing this examination can be had from the official website of Federal Public  Service Commission of Pakistan i.e. www.fpsc.gov.pk. Admission Forms for the Competitive


Eligibility criteria

WHAT IS THE REQUIRED STANDARD OF ELIGIBILITY?
QUALIFICATION:
Graduation with minimum 2nd Division in any discipline
If there is 3rd division in graduation then a candidate with a higher division in masters is also eligible.

AGE LIMIT: (If the FPSC retains its previous policy)
Minimum 21 years
Maximum 30 years

IS RELAXATION IN AGE POSSIBLE?
YES, only in the upper age limit. Not more than 32 years of age in any case
2 Years for the citizens of Kashmir
2 years for the candidates of certain districts of KHYBER PAKHTUNKHAWAH
2 years for certain recognized tribes of Balochistan
2 years for the people from scheduled castes
2 years for people doing govt. service for two years


HOW MANY PAPERS ARE THERE IN THIS EXAMINATION?

A CSS Candidate appears in 12 papers of Compulsory as well as Optional Subjects. There are 6 papers of Compulsory subjects which include:

  1. ENGLISH ESSAY,
  2. ENGLISH PRECIS & COMPREHENSION,
  3. EVERYDAY SCIENCE,
  4. CURRENT AFFAIRS,
  5. PAKISTAN AFFAIRS AND
  6. ISLAMIYAT
  7.  NOTE: In paper No. 3,4 and 5 you need to get minimum 120 marks in the aggregate.
    Passing in each of these 3 papers is not necessary.
    Passing marks in each compulsory paper are 40%
    Passing marks in each optional paper are 33%
    Aggregate of 50% in all 12 papers is compulsory

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONAL SUBJECTS?

Click optional subjects to view complete list along with rules to select optional subjects. There are different conditions for the selection of these subjects. Candidates cannot choose any subjects without following those conditions. We provide complete counselling to candidates for the selection of subjects.

WHAT IS THE RANGE OF MARKS  WHICH GUARANTEES SUCCESS?

To pass this exam you need to score at least 600 marks. However, your allocation is possible if you score around 650 marks in the written exam and around 180 out of 300 marks in the interview but merit is different for different provinces and each province has a specific quota.

IS THERE ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SELECTED OPTIONAL SUBJECTS AND THE DESIRED OCCUPATIONAL GROUP/SERVICE?

No. But the candidate must be ready to answer subject oriented questions in the interview.

IS THERE ANY SPECIAL PRIVILEGE FOR WOMEN?
Great privilege: there is 10% special quota for women.

HOW MUCH HARD WORK IS REQUIRED TO GET THROUGH THIS EXAM?
Depends on the calibre of individual . However, an average candidates needs to study 5-6 hours a day.

IS THE SYSTEM FOR THE SELECTION OF CANDIDATES TRANSPARENT?

Most fortunately it is almost 100% transparent.

Graduation with minimum 2nd Division in any discipline:
BA/ BBA/ BSc/ B.Com/ BS/ BE/ LLB

EDUCATION

(i) A candidate must hold at least a Second Division or Grade “C” Bachelor’s degree in any faculty of one of the Pakistani Universities or an equivalent degree or comparable educational qualifications of a foreign University recognised by Higher Education Commission, Islamabad.

Note:   In case the candidate does not hold the required degree  on or before the cut off date, he/she shall be required to produce a certificate from the duly authorised officer of the concerned degree awarding institution, to the effect that the candidate has fulfilled all the requirements of the said degree and has/had cleared/passed the examination for the said degree on or before the cut off date. The candidate however would be required to produce the said degree before the final result is declared by the Commission.

(ii) A candidate who has obtained a Third Division (or ‘D’  grade) in his/her Bachelor’s Degree will be eligible for the Examination in cases where he/she has obtained a higher Division in Master’s Degree.

(iii) The decision as to which foreign degrees or comparable educational qualifications are equivalent to corresponding Pakistani degree rests solely with the Federal Public Service of Pakistan.
NOTE: Candidates are advised to visit the original website of FPSC, that is, www.fpsc.gov.pk

Subjects
COMPULSORY SUBJECTS
 SUBJECT PAPER MARKS
 English  Essay 100
 English  Precis & Composition 100
 General Knowledge-I  Every day Science 100
 General Knowledge-II  Current Affairs 100
 General Knowledge-III  Pakistan Affairs 100
 Islamiyat  Islamiyat 100
OPTIONAL SUBJECTS   
 NOTE: Optional Subjects will be offered later 
SUBJECT PAPER MARKS
 International Relations 1 & 2 200
Political Science 1 & 2 200
Public Administration 100
Public Policy & Governance 100
Islamic History 100
History of Indo-Pak 100
History of USA 100
Gender Studies 100
Environmental Science 100
International Law 100
Muslim Law 100
Constitutional Law 100
Criminology 100
Sociology 100
Anthropology 100
Punjabi 100
Pushto 100