The data of the candidates who appeared in the Central Superior Services (CSS) examinations in the last three years was presented to the National Assembly this week.
This data contained details of the candidates who passed or failed in various subjects in 2019, 2020 and 2021. The data shows that at least 54.53% of the candidates who took the CSS exams in the last three years failed in Urdu, which is the national language of Pakistan.
A written response from the Establishment Division was presented during the National Assembly session with details of the candidates. The Establishment Division says that 30 percent of the candidates failed in Urdu in 2019. In 2020 and 2021, the rate of failure shot up to 59 percent and 73 percent, respectively. The overall rate of failure in Urdu in the last three years has been 54.53 percent.
The report says that 45,800 of the 49,500 candidates failed in Essay Writing in three years. In 2019, 13,328 of the 14,205 candidates failed in Essay Writing and only six percent of the candidates passed the Urdu exam.
In 2020, the report elaborates, 17,735 of the 18,387 candidates failed in Essay Writing and the pass percentage stood at just four percent. In 2021, at least 14,760 of the 16,887 candidates who appeared in the CSS exam failed in the subject. The success rate in 2021 was just 13 percent.
Giving further details about the results of the CSS exams, the House was informed that 35,000 of the 49,500 CSS candidates failed in English in 2019 and the rate of failure stood at 73 percent. This rate of failure in English decreased to 39 percent in 2020, but again shot up to 92 percent in 2021.
In the Pakistan Affairs subject, 37 percent of the CSS candidates failed in 2019, 71 percent in 2020 and 46 percent in 2021. In Islamiat, 18 percent of the CSS candidates failed in 2019, 51 percent in 2020 and 81 percent in 2021.
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CSS exams are competitive exams conducted by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) of Pakistan to select candidates for various civil service posts in the country. These exams were introduced by the British colonial administration in 1854 as the Indian Civil Services exams, and were continued after the creation of Pakistan in 1947.
The CSS exams are held once a year, usually in February, and consist of written and oral exams. The written exams cover a range of subjects, including Pakistan Affairs, Islamic Studies, English, Current Affairs and various optional subjects. The oral exams are conducted after the written exams and involve a personality test to evaluate the candidate’s communication and leadership skills.
Over the years, the CSS exams have undergone several changes and reforms to make them more transparent, merit-based and relevant to the needs of the country. In recent years, the FPSC has introduced several initiatives to improve the quality and efficiency of the exams, including the use of technology for online registration and testing, and the introduction of new subjects and optional courses.
Despite these reforms, the CSS exams remain highly competitive and challenging, with thousands of candidates appearing for a limited number of seats each year. Many successful candidates go on to serve in various high-ranking positions in the government, including administrative, police and foreign services, as well as other public sector organisations.
Overall, the CSS exams have played an important role in shaping the civil service and governance system in Pakistan, and continue to be a crucial pathway for young graduates and professionals to enter public service and contribute to the development of the country.