ISLAMABAD: The federal government has turned down proposals seeking major changes to the eligibility criteria for Pakistan’s Central Superior Services (CSS) examination, rejecting recommendations to raise the maximum age and increase the number of attempts.
Under the existing rules, candidates between 21 and 30 years of age can appear in the CSS examination a maximum of three times.
The recommendations were discussed by a sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat as part of deliberations on reforms to the country’s civil service recruitment system.
The parliamentary panel had proposed increasing the upper age limit from 30 to 35 years and allowing candidates up to five attempts.
However, the Establishment Division has termed the proposals impractical and conveyed its position to the committee in writing.
Govt cites administrative concerns
The Establishment Division said decisions regarding the age limit and number of CSS attempts fall within the federal government’s policy domain.
It added that the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) is responsible for implementing policies approved by the government. The commission, during its 174th meeting, decided to retain the existing eligibility framework.
According to the Establishment Division, raising the age ceiling could substantially increase the number of candidates appearing for the competitive examination, placing additional pressure on the system responsible for conducting tests and assessing answer scripts.
The division also expressed concerns that increasing the number of permitted attempts could encourage candidates to repeatedly appear for the examination, potentially consuming years that could otherwise be spent in productive employment.
Shorter careers cited as another concern
The government further argued that recruiting officers at a relatively advanced age could reduce the length of their overall civil service careers.
As a result, officers entering the service later may have fewer years to progress to senior positions, potentially affecting the long-term availability of experienced personnel for top-level administrative roles.
For now, the existing CSS policy of a 21–30 age bracket and three attempts will remain unchanged.
