CSS Full Detail

Central Superior Service Exam, which is popularly known as CSS Exams, is organised by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) in Islamabad. 

 

The candidates who pass this exam become eligible to be recruited as a gazetted government officer holding a BPS-17 position. If you are also interested in applying for the CSS Exam, then this blog will serve as your guide. It has all the requisite information to help make the whole process easier for you. So, let’s get started

Candidates who want to apply for the CSS exams can apply online through the FPSC website. On the FPSC website and here on gotest, everything, application form, challan forms, and syllabus of CSS for preparation is available. Fill the online application form carefully & take a print of it before the closing date to reach in center. If you cant understand how to apply for CSS in Pakistan and it’s requirements then mentioned below.

The Central Superior Services CSS is an elite permanent bureaucratic authority and the civil service that is responsible for running the civilian bureaucratic operations and government secretariats and directorates of the Cabinet secretariat. If you are interested to appear in the CSS exams so you must follow these instructions. The examination will be conducted by the Federal Public Service Commission in accordance with the following Rules, subject to such changes as may be decided by the Government before finalizing appointments on the basis of this examination.

Those candidate must hold at least a Bachelor degree in any faculty of one of the Pakistani Universities or an equivalent degree or comparable educational qualifications of a foreign University. No candidate who has obtained a Third Division (or ‘D’ grade where result is declared under Semester System) in his Bachelor’s Degree will be eligible for the Examination. If candidates higher degree is 1st or 3rd division then they can apply.

WHICH GOVERNMENT SERVICE CAN YOU APPLY FOR AFTER CLEARING CSS EXAM?

Following are the Federal Government Services where you can apply if you have cleared the exams depending on your chosen discipline of education.

Commerce and Trade Services 

• District Management Group
• Foreign Service of Pakistan
• Custom and Excise Service 
• Information Group
• Income Tax Group 
• Office Management Group
• Military Lands and Cantonments Group
• Police Service of Pakistan
• Postal Service Group
• Pakistan Audit and Accounts Service 
• Railways (Commercial and Transportation Group)

WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE OF CSS EXAM IN PAKISTAN?

You need to prepare for theory test, medical test, psychological test and Viva Voce to clear CSS Exam

These exams are based on four main types of tests in order to quantify knowledge, skills and mental abilities of the candidate.

• Theory Test
• Medical Test 
• Psychological Test
• Viva Voce

THEORY TEST

The series of theory tests in CSS Exams are based on 12 papers, out of which 6 papers are compulsory and the remaining ones are optional. To qualify in compulsory papers you need 40% marks and for optional exams, you need 33%. You can pick from the list of optional papers specified by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) according to your preferred educational discipline. The names of compulsory and optional subjects has been listed below

Compulsory Subjects in CSS Syllabus (600 Marks)

Subject/Marks

1. English (Precis and Composition)100
2. English Essay100
3. General Science and Ability 100
4. Current Affairs 100
5. Pakistan Affairs 100
6. Islamic Studies Or Alternative Subject for Non-Muslims 100
7. Total Marks 600

Optional Subjects in CSS Syllabus (600 Marks)

Note: The optional subjects in CSS Syllabus have been categorised into seven different groups for uniform distribution of marks

Group 1: Here you have to select one subject only

Subject/Marks

1. Accountancy & Auditing 200
2. Economics 200
3. Computer Science 200
4. Political Science 200
5. International Relations 200

Group 2: Here you can select one or more than one subjects carrying equivalent to 200 marks

Subject/Marks

1. Chemistry 200
2. Pure Mathematics100
3. Applied Mathematics 100
4. Physics200
5. Geology100
6. Statistics100

Group 3: Here you have to select one subject only

Subject/Marks

1. Public Administration 100
2. Business Administration 100
3. Government & Public Policies 100
4. Town Planning & Urban Management 100

Group 4: Here you have to select one subject only

Subject/Marks

1. Islamic History and Culture 100
2. History of Pakistan and India100
3. British History 100
4. European History 100
5. History of USA 100

Group 5: Here you have to select one subject only

Subject/Marks

1. Gender Studies 100
2. Agriculture and Forestry 100
3. Environmental Sciences100
4. Zoology 100
5. Botany 100
6. English Literature100
7. Urdu Literature 100

Group 6: Here you have to select one subject only

Subject/Marks

1. Law 100
2. International Law 100
3. Constitutional Law 100
4. Criminology 100
5. Mercantile Law 100
6. Philosophy 100
7. Muslim Law and Jurisprudence 100

Group 7: Here you have to select one subject only

Subject/Marks

1. Journalism and Mass Communication 100
2. Psychology100
3. Geography 100
4. Anthropology 100
5. Sociology 100
6. Punjabi 100 Pashto100 Balochi 100 Sindhi 100
7. Arabic 100
8. Persian 100

Note: Any exam carrying 100 marks has one paper. Similarly, exams with 200 marks are split into two papers.

MEDICAL TEST

Once you get done with your writing test, the next for you as a CSS student is to undergo a medical test. The purpose of medical test is to check the physical health of the candidate. Candidates who fail to fulfil medical requirements will not be chosen.

In case of a disabled candidate, the disability certificates, which should be issued by a recognized authority, must be submitted beforehand. Physically challenged people are allowed to give CSS Examination in four disciplines: Pakistan Audit and Account, Postal Service, Commerce and Trade and Information Services. Upon special request, physically impaired candidates can also be provided with a helper who can assist them during exams. 

Pro Tip: It is suggested for candidates to have a thorough medical examination by a well-reputed medical institution before appearing in the CSS Exam.

PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST AND VIVA VOCE

The psychological test in CSS Examination is designed to judge the mental aptness, attitudinal aspects and behavioural traits of the candidates with regards to their competency to undergo civil services. Both Psychological Test and Viva Voce carry 300 marks together. To pass Viva Voce, which is basically an interview to assess the intelligence and readiness of mind of a CSS candidate, you must possess good general knowledge and communication skills.  

Let’s get to know a little more about these tests.

If you need admission to the examination, so must apply to the Federal Public Service Commission FPSC, Islamabad on the prescribed form of application and the same must reach the Commission on or before the closing date. No extra time is allowed for postal transit.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

In order to apply for a CSS Exam in Pakistan, you must fulfil the following eligibility criteria.

Nationality Criterion: The candidate must be Pakistani National

Educational Criterion: CSS applicants needs to have completed their Bachelor’s Degree with at least 2^nd division from any university in Pakistan or outside Pakistan, which is Recognized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). 

Age Criterion: Candidates ranging between 21 and 30 years of age can appear in CSS Exam in Pakistan.

WHERE IS CSS EXAMINATION CONDUCTED IN PAKISTAN?

CSS Exam is conducted in multiple cities across Pakistan like Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad, D.I. Khan, Gilgit, Hyderabad, Gujranwala, Khuzdar, Larkana, Multan, Okara, Muzaffarabad, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Skardu, Sialkot and Sukkur.

However, interviewing sessions for CSS Examination are only held in five major cities namely Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta and Peshawar.

HOW TO APPLY FOR CSS EXAM IN PAKISTAN?

All of the information must be carefully and correctly filled while applying for CSS Examination

CSS Exam is conducted during February and March each year. Advertisements regarding the announcement of these exams usually appear in the newspaper in the month of September. Below is the schedule of application submission dates and commencement of Central Superior Service Exam

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT ALONG THE HARD COPY OF ONLINE CSS APPLICATION 

The hard copy of your online CSS application needs to be submitted along with the following documents

Copy of Educational Certificates

Photographs

Bank Receipt of Exam Fee

Experience Certificates, if required 

Pro Tip: Document requirements may vary from applicant to applicant so read the CSS advertisement in the newspaper thoroughly before applying.

FEE STRUCTURE FOR CSS EXAMINATION DECLARED BY FPSC

Exam Application Fee: PKR 2,200

Paper Rechecking Fee: PKR 500

Note: A candidate can only appear in CSS Examination for three times