You surely must have heard your friends, family and acquaintances talk about the daunting CSS Examinations all around Pakistan. The exam grips its youth to prepare for the competitive exam months – or even years – in advance. Every literate Pakistani dreams about being a member of Civil Service Pakistan (CSP). Have you ever wondered what this acronym stands for? And why this exam is so covetous?
The bureaucracy of any country holds a prominent position; Pakistan being no exception. The youth aims to work for the development of the country. To provide such a platform to serve the country, governments expound different ways to select a cadre to serve the purpose. In case of Pakistan, the CSS exam is something that can serve the purpose of recruitment of high-profile individuals – both physically and mentally.
When the British government left and Pakistan came into being in 1947, the cadre of Civil Services of Pakistan was formed by officers who had come to live in Pakistan. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, ordered the government in 1948 to form an institution to cater to the needs of fresh entrants and recruits. This institute was named the Civil Services Academy, situated in Lahore. Further reforms were made in 1971 after the secession of East Pakistan. These changes were made under Article 240 of the constitution of Pakistan. From its beginning to present, the CSP is the epicenter of attention of the bureaucracy, as well as the whole country.
One can call the CSS a prize trophy. The exam accommodates 12 divisions, or occupational groups, where the qualified candidates can serve. The selection depends on how well a participant has performed. The candidate goes through different phases before the final merit list: theoretical evaluation i.e, the written exam, physiological or medical assessment, and communicative skills.
After passing every hurdle, the candidate is appointed in any one of the following groups as per his/her merit:
Commerce and Trade Group (CTG) is related to commercial diplomacy and an insight on economy. Its training span is ten months where different subjects are taught to the trainee.
Foreign Services of Pakistan (FSP) includes experts of International Relations and economists who represent Pakistan at international level. Its trainees are grilled for nine months.
Information Group (IG) members act as a bridge between media and the government. They get training in the Civil Services Academy Islamabad. Their main work area is in the Press Information Department.
Inland Revenue Service (IRS) includes programs and training related to information and knowledge about taxes and their collection. The gist of the training is to provide skills and expertise about income tax bulwark, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
Military Lands and Cantonment Group (MLCG) is all about the protection and administration of military areas, known as cantonments. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) holds a large number of candidates of this division.
Office Management Group (OMG) is the secretariat group of administration of different offices. They train for six months after being selected. Imperative skills and techniques of office management are their top agenda.
Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS) is the most sought after division. It has the highest merit as most of the candidates prioritize it as compared to other divisional groups. They have the most powerful position, among all the twelve divisions, at their disposal.
The Pakistan Audit and Accounts Service (PAAS) cadre is responsible for maintaining and looking after public accounts, especially of organizations. Their training consists of eleven months.
Pakistan Customs Service (PCS) includes three different categories: Customs Duty, Sales Tax, and Central Excise Duty. This group is responsible for the techniques and ways to collect taxes and provide an account of the taxpayers to the government.
Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) houses the exalted officers of the Police. It is the second most sought after group in the twelve occupational groups of the CSS. They are responsible for maintaining law and order in the country. PSP’s training is conducted in Islamabad in the National Police Institute.
Postal Group (PG) is responsible for post office matters. It is controlled/operated by the Pakistan Post Office institute.
Railways Commercial and Transportation Group (RCTG) is endowed the responsibility of controlling the railway affairs. The Ministry of Railway holds the reins of this division. The candidates of this group go under training for six months.
This is a brief glance into the twelve divisions of the CSP. Let us throw a light on its scope and perks.
The job a candidate gets after competing and completing the exam is permanent. All jobs are at the level of bureaucracy. If an individual passes the exam, he is sure to get a 17-BPS job. The qualifiers get to exercise power of an officer rank with a myriad of privileges-housing, transport, easy access to everything, and more. After service of five years in a specific group, the officers are promoted to the 18th scale where they serve for seven years before grabbing the position of a 19th scale officer.
There are six compulsory subjects in the CSS exam. They include: English Precis and Composition, English Essay, Islamic Studies or Alternate for Non-Muslims, Current Affairs, Pakistan Affairs, General Science and Ability. These six are mandatory while a candidate must choose other six optional subjects from the list of 45 options. The viva voce is comprised of 300 marks. Moreover, the minimum age limit for the exam is 32 years. The exam is conducted under the supervision of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) of Pakistan.
At the end, one can conclude that power and comfort are things every individual strives for. The CSS exam gives you a chance to obtain these perks. An aspirant (the one who is aspiring to pass the CSS) gets a chance to serve his/her country. However, the aspirant must burn the midnight fuel to achieve success in the country’s most difficult exam. (Edited by Khadijah Kamili)
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About the Author
The author is a CSS aspirant and holds a bachelor degree in English Literature and Linguistics. Having two major publications (research papers) in HEC recognized journals on bachelorette level, his articles have been published on the Reader’s Corner blog site and also in the Express Tribune editorials. He can be reached at kashif.wa32@gmail.com.
