What-is-CSS-Exams-2025-Compulsory-Optional-Subjects-Eligibility-Criteria Multan Kitab Ghar

What is CSS Exams 2025, Compulsory, Optional Subjects & Eligibility Criteria

CSS Exams Central Superior Service (CSS) is an exam which is conducted by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), under the Government of Pakistan. 

The students who participate and qualify in CSS exam, are given government employment opportunities in different government disciplines. 

The best field after completing the CSS examination is Revenue, Police, Customs, District Magistrate (DM) and if student willing to prepare for the exam they need to refer to social science subjects However, Public Administration, Governance and Public Policy, Political Sciences, International Relations are Generally the best options for the students aiming for CSS.

CSS exams conducted by the Federal Public Service Commission include the following Eleven Occupational Groups.

  1. Police Services of Pakistan (PSP)
  2. Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS) / District Management Group (DMG)
  3. Foreign Services of Pakistan (FSP)
  4. Pakistan Customs Services (PCS)
  5. Commerce & Trade Group (PCG)
  6. Income Tax group (ITG)
  7. Information Group (IG)
  8. Railways (Commercial & Transport) Group (RCTG)
  9. Postal Group (PG)
  10. Office Management Group (OMG):
  11. Military Lands and Cantonment group (MLCG)What-is-CSS-Exams-2025-Compulsory-Optional-Subjects-Eligibility-Criteria Multan Kitab Ghar

1: Police Services of Pakistan (PSP):

Definition of Police can be “The civil force of a federal or local government, responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of public order.” 

The function of the police is that branch of the government's administrative machinery entrusted with maintaining public order and calm, promoting public health, safety, and morality, and preventing, detecting, and punishing crimes. 

In Pakistan, police officials are hired as ASPs (Assistant Superintendents of Police) at scale 17. 

2: Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS) / District Management Group (DMG): 

Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) is the newly established group, and it was previously known as the District Management Group (DMG).

The Prime minister of Pakistan in May 2012 changed the name from DMG to PAS. The post of Assistant Commissioner of a Subdivision is the starting point for PAS officials at the district level. 

They are in charge of general administration, state land administration, tax problems, government department coordination, and law and order. 

The PAS Officer can rise through the ranks to become Secretary of any of the federal government's divisions, including Commerce and Trade, Establishment, Housing, Information Technology, and so on.

3: Foreign Services of Pakistan (FSP):

Pakistan's Foreign Service was formally established in October 1952, after having existed as an improvised institution since the country's inception. 

Junior officers join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad after completing their first training and work as Assistant Directors in the political, administrative, or protocol wings. 

The hierarchy at the Ministry comprises of five stages:

1) Section Officer

2) Director

3) Director General

4) Additional Foreign Secretary

5) Foreign Secretary

4 : Pakistan Customs Services (PCS):

Pakistan Customs is the guardian of Pakistan's borders, preventing band or smuggled goods from entering the country and facilitating legitimate trade. 

All goods which enter Pakistan without tax duty are considered as non-custom paid goods. Pakistan customs take measures to stop band or smuggled goods in Pakistan territory.  Pakistan Customs offers the Pakistani government a significant source of money in the form of taxes placed on items traded across the border. 

It also aids in the protection of local industry, the reduction of luxury goods consumption, and the stimulation of development in underdeveloped areas.

Customs and regulatory duties can account for up to 15% of the Federal Board of Revenue's total receipts. Officers after completing the CSS examination are appointed as Assistant Customer Collector which is the 17th scale government servant position.  

The Pakistan Customs Service (PCS) work at Pakistan Customs, giving them the opportunity to focus on their core function of guarding the nation's borders against Smuggled trade and regulating tax reforms on imports and exports. 

5: Commerce & Trade Group (PCG):

Consequent upon the introduction of administrative reforms of 1973, aiming to create civil Services of specialized nature and responsibilities; the Trade Service of Pakistan, created in 1967, was changed into Commerce and Trade Group. The officers of Commerce and Trade are entrusted with the responsibility of trade promotion, facilitation, regulation and development through different organizations and Pakistan's commercial missions abroad. The total number of officers in the group is 266.

The Commerce and Trade Group Officers have the role of career commercial diplomats. They are posted in Pakistan commercial mission’s abroad (presently 62 missions) right from Commercial Secretary to the position of Trade Minister.

The Commerce and Trade officers are paid standard salary, perks & privileges as determined for each BPS by the Federal Government.

Ranks in Commerce and Trade Group after passing CSS are:

  •         Assistant Director BS 17

6: Income Tax group (ITG):

If the CSS officer is selected in the Income Tax group he/she will be responsible for the collection of direct taxation, including income tax, national insurance contributions, inheritance tax, corporation tax, petroleum revenue tax and stamp duty. After completion of the CSS examination he will be appointed as Assistant Commissioner Inland Revenue / Assistant Director FBR at BPS -17 grade. 

7: Information Group (IG)

Information Services of Pakistan plays an important role in national image building and reputation in the country and internationally. These officers are posted in Departments of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. On completion of specialized training, these officers are posted in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting as Assistant Press Information (API) at BPS-17 grade.

8: Railways (Commercial & Transport) Group (RCTG)

The Railways Commercial & Transportation (C&T) group plays the most important role as such it is the only cadre in Railways, inducted through CSS and is a part of Civil Services Academy Alumni C&T group also called as operating and management department. After completion of CSS officers go to Pakistan Railway Academy Walton Lahore where they have to complete departmental training secretary railway board at BPS1-17 grade. 

9: Postal Group (PG)

Direct induction in the Postal Group was not done until 1972. After Civil Service Reforms, the Postal Group was formed and young officers started joining the group regularly every year since 1973. It is the least desired group by candidates. The Officers are posted in General Post Offices all over Pakistan. After completion of CTP you will undergo Postal Training at Islamabad Postal Staff College and then after training you will be posted as Divisional Superintendent Post Offices (DSPO) BS 18.

10: Office Management Group (OMG):

Office Management and Secretariat Group OMG/SG today is a more dynamic and broad-based cadre than its predecessor (Central Secretariat Service). A specialized pre-service training program equips the new entrants with the necessary administrative skills, and mandatory refresher courses/capacity building techniques are useful to have the officers retain the cutting edge of modern management. The officers of the OMG function in the Federal Secretariat at the level of Section Officers (BPS-17).

11: Military Lands and Cantonment group (MLCG)

Military Lands & Cantonments Group (ML&C) is responsible for administering the Military Lands & Cantonments Department which in turn looks after the various Cantonment Boards and military estates that do not fall within the domain of the civil municipal/district administrations of the respective cities / towns. The CSS officers are appointed as Assistant Director General, Military Lands & Cantonments (BS-17).

What is CSS exam full form? Or CSS exams Stands for?

Full form of CSS or stands for is Central Superior Service 

What is CSS syllabus 2023?

In 2015, the CSS Exam syllabus was updated. For the following years' exam, the revised curriculum is used. 

The CSS Exam syllabus shows both the list of subjects and the course material for each one. 

It's a guide to help you prepare for the CSS Exam. 

A candidate taking the CSS exam should thoroughly read the syllabus. 

It aids in the right selection of subjects as well as good preparation. 

The syllabus lists the names of all subjects, both mandatory and elective. Subjects are separated into categories for optional subjects. 

The candidate must choose one optional subject from each set of subjects. Optional subjects, of 600 marks in total, are to be selected. A subject, carrying 100 marks, has one paper. A subject, carrying 200 marks , has two papers of 100 marks each.

The list of all subjects for CSS Exams is as follows:

CSS COMPULSORY SUBJECTS (600 MARKS) 2023

Code No. Subjects Marks
1 English Essay 100
2 English (Precise and Composition) 100
3 General Science & Ability 100
4 Current Affairs 100
5 Pakistan Affairs 100
6 Islamic Studies OR Comparative Study of Major Religions (For Non-Muslims) 100
Total Marks 600

CSS OPTIONAL SUBJECTS (600 MARKS) 2023

Group I: (To Select one subject of (200 Marks) only)

Code No. Subjects Marks
11

Accounting & Auditing

 200
12

Economics

 200
13

Computer Science

 200
14

Political Science

 200
15 International Relations 200

Group II:  (To Select one subject of (200 Marks) only)

Code No. Subjects Marks
16 Physics 200
17 Chemistry 200
18 Applied Mathematics 100
19 Pure Mathematics 100
20 Statistics 100
21 Geology 100
Group III: (To Select one subject of (100 Marks) only)
Code No. Subjects Marks
22 Business Administration 100
23 Public Administration 100
24 Governance & Public Policies 100
25 Town Planning & Urban Management 100
Group IV: (To Select one subject of (100 Marks) only)
Code No. Subjects Marks
26 History of Pakistan & India 100
27 Islamic History & Culture 100
28 British History 100
29 European History 100
30 History of USA 100
Group V: (To Select one subject of (100 Marks) only)
Code No. Subjects Marks
31 Gender Studies 100
32 Environmental Sciences 100
33 Agriculture & Forestry 100
34 Botany 100
35 Zoology 100
36 English Literature 100
37 Urdu Literature 100
Group VI: (To Select one subject of (100 Marks) only)
Code No. Subjects Marks
38 Law 100
39 Constitutional Law 100
40 International Law 100
41 Muslim Law & Jurisprudence 100
42 Mercantile Law 100
43 Criminology 100
44 Philosophy
Group VII: (To Select one subject of (100 Marks) only)
Code No. Subjects Marks
45 Journalism & Mass Communication 100
46 Psychology 100
47 Geography 100
48 Sociology 100
49 Anthropology 100
50 Punjabi 100
51 Sindhi 100
52 Pashto 100
53 Balochi 100
54 Persian 100
55 Arabic 100

Important Note for CSS Examination 2023

  1. A subject carrying 100 marks has one paper. On the other hand, a subject carrying 200 marks has two papers.
  2. Question papers in Urdu or other regional languages (i.e. Punjabi,Pashto, Sindhi orBalochi), Arabic and Persian Must be answered in the respective languages. However translation questions (from respective language to English) in the same papers must be answered as directed in the question.
  3. There will be 20 MCQs in all compulsory papers except the paper of Essay. There will be 20 MCQs in all optional papers except paper of Applied Mathematics and Pure Mathematics.  

What is the process of CSS 2023?

The CSS Exam consists of the following four parts: Written Examination. Medical Test. Psychological Test. Viva Voce.

How to apply for the CSS Exam 2023?

  1. Deposit the exam fee in the nearest Govt. Treasury/ State Bank of Pakistan / National Bank of Pakistan under the account head “CO2012-Organs of State Exam Fee (FPSC Receipt).
  2. Fill in the Online Application Form on the Official Website of FPSC. Take a print-out (Hard-Copy) of the same online-form.
  3. Dispatch the hard-copy of the online form along with copies of your documents and bank-receipt to the FPSC headquarter, Islamabad.
  4. Your complete application must reach FPSC headquarter, Islamabad within ten days of the closing date.

Applying Online is compulsory for CSS Exam, Remember the following points for applying online:

  1. The online application requires personal details, CNIC number, bank details, names of optional subjects, educational details, experience details and post preferences of the applicant.
  2. The application has to provide all this information carefully and correctly.
  3. After filling the application, click on the button ‘SUBMIT’ given at the end.
  4. When you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email of your application. The same email also has a tracking ID of your application.
  5. If after submitting your online application, you realize that you have made some mistake in giving the information in the online application, you must correct it on the hard copy of your application and put your signature with it.

The print-out (hard copy) along with the following documents must be dispatched (by post or by hand) to the FPSC headquarter, Islamabad.

  1. Copy of educational documents (i.e. certificates and degrees).
  2. Photographs.
  3. Other required documents.
  4. Bank receipt of deposited exam fee.
  5. Experience certificate. If applicable.
  6. Other documents as required in the advertisement.
  7. If an applicant has applied for relaxation of the age limit (by two years). He or she should submit the relevant certificate, duly filled in by the concerned authorities. All such certificates are available on the official website of FPSC.

General Pay Scale for CSS Officers 2023

A CSS officer's basic salary is Rs 30,370/- with four Adhoc allowances of Rs10,000 each (2016,2017,2018,2019) now being added to compensation. A medical stipend (Rs 1846), a conveyance allowance (Rs. 5000), and dwelling rent are also included (roughly Rs. 4000 to Rs. 6000). Deductions, including GP and BF funds, would total about Rs. 6,000.

Promotional Scope (How he will get promoted or what is required) 2023

There are four basic features of promoted government servants:

  1. Appropriate qualification.
  2. The amount of time it takes to advance to a higher position.
  3. Duties were completed satisfactorily.
  4. Good manners, and passing the regular interviews and assessments.

Subjects Scheme for Group1 2023: 

  • Accounting & Auditing: Should have Strong background.
  • Economics: Must have a strong background.
  • Computer Science: Strong background needed.
  • Political Science:
  • International Relations

What should I do after FSC for CSS 2023?

After FSC for attempting CSS will be helpful if the candidates has knowledge or degree on the following subjects:

  • Bachelor of International relations
  • Degrees related to Governance
  • Bachelor of Public administration
  • Bachelor of Public policy. 
  • Bachelor of Science in History

For Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) 2023:

  • Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) 
  • Bachelor of Economics 
  • Public Administration 

CSS Eligibility Criteria 2023

  • The upper age limit for CSS exam will be 32years (vide Rule 22of the rules ibid). Two year relaxation in upper age limit to the categories specified in Rule 6(2) would also be admissible.
  • For Special CSS Exam one additional/ fourth chance* would be admissible.
    • The attempt of additional chance in respect of written part of Special CSS is not countable towards regular CSS exam.

CSS applicants need to have completed their bachelor's degree with at least 2nd division from any university in Pakistan or outside Pakistan, which is recognized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

Fees: CSS Fee Structure as on 2023

Give below are the fees structure for the CSS examination in Pakistan:

Examination Remarks Fee Structure
CSS Pakistan Written Examination Rs. 2200/-
CSS Pakistan Review petition Rs. 500/-
CSS Pakistan Re-counting of marks Rs. 500/- per paper
CSS Pakistan MPT Test Rs. 250/-
CSS Pakistan Fee to medical examination Rs. 100/-
CSS Pakistan Fee to medical board (before examination by medical board) Rs. 1400/-

Procedure for online submission of CSS application 2023

All candidates may apply online for Preliminary MCQs test during the period of 18th December 2022 to 2nd January 2023.

Upcoming CSS Exam 2023 Notifications and Announcements

The examination schedule, registration method, and cost structure for the MCQ based preliminary test (MPT) test for the CSS 2023 exams were released by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC). 

As announced on December 18th, 2022, the CSS MPT exam will be held on January 31, 2023.

The exam cost for the CSS MPT examination is Rs 250/-. 

This charge can be paid only at the State Bank of Pakistan, the National Bank of Pakistan, or a Government Treasury near you. 

The Fee Structure for all CSS Exam 2023 can be checked above in the table.

Recommended Books CSS 2023

Useful links

CSS Official Website

  • https://css.com.pk/

CSS Exam Downloads 2023

The challan form for MPT test 2023 can be downloaded here.

  • https://invent.ilmkidunya.com/images/Section/fpsc-css-challan-form.pdf

CSS Exam Online Application Portal 2023:

Back to blog