CSS Exam System Set for Radical Overhaul

The decades-old Central Superior Services (CSS) examination system in Pakistan is on the brink of a radical transformation as the federal government’s Civil Service Reform Committee finalizes recommendations for a cluster-based examination model. In a significant policy shift, the existing generalized framework—where candidates from varied academic backgrounds are allocated to service groups irrespective of their specialization—will be replaced by a system that emphasizes technical expertise and specialization. A senior official familiar with the matter confirmed that the committee has completed deliberations on key issues and that the proposal, which includes separate competitive examinations for each service cluster, is expected to be presented to the federal cabinet soon.Under the current CSS framework, the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) conducts a uniform exam every year, leading to mismatched postings where doctors find themselves in revenue services, law graduates end up in audit departments, and engineers are posted in foreign service roles. This misalignment of skills with assigned roles has long been criticized for undermining the effectiveness of Pakistan’s civil service. The new cluster-based system aims to ensure that candidates’ academic and professional backgrounds are directly aligned with their roles, thereby fostering a more efficient and specialized bureaucracy

.Key Reforms and Proposed Changes

The proposed reforms, described as a significant structural shift, are part of a broader civil service overhaul intended to improve governance and service delivery. During a recent cabinet meeting, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal stressed the urgent need for restructuring the civil service. In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif established a high-level Civil Service Reform Committee, which is now finalizing recommendations not only on the examination system but also on adjustments to compensation and pension schemes for civil servants. A senior bureaucrat on the reform committee stated that the cluster-based system has been endorsed and will be a key component of the final report.