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The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) has rejected reports suggesting a sharp decline in CSS applicants, saying the impression is based on an incorrect comparison of statistics and does not reflect the actual level of interest among candidates.
According to the FPSC, comparing the number of candidates who appeared in the written CSS examination with previous years without considering the MCQ-Based Preliminary Test (MPT) gives a misleading picture. The commission said 64,081 candidates registered for the MPT in the latest cycle, showing that thousands of young Pakistanis continue to pursue the country’s most competitive civil service examination.
The commission explained that after the MPT, only eligible candidates can apply for the written examination. For the latest recruitment cycle, 18,139 applications were submitted for the written exam, 12,792 candidates appeared, 354 qualified, and 342 were declared successful after interviews. Eventually, 170 candidates were recommended for appointment to different civil services.
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The FPSC emphasized that the MPT was introduced to improve the examination process by filtering candidates before the written stage. Therefore, comparing only written examination applications with figures from years before the introduction of the MPT does not provide an accurate assessment of candidate interest.
The commission also urged the public and media to consider the complete examination process before concluding CSS registrations. It maintained that the consistently high number of MPT registrations reflects strong interest among Pakistani youth in joining the country’s civil service.
Officials reiterated that the CSS examination remains one of Pakistan’s most prestigious competitive exams, attracting graduates from across the country who aspire to serve in key government departments. The FPSC said the available data clearly indicates that interest in the examination remains stable and significant, despite claims circulating on social media and other platforms.