CSS exam eligibility criteria in Pakistan

AGE REQUIREMENTS:

All candidates must be between the ages of 21 to 28 years of age to take the CSS examination 2012. In January 2011, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani rejected an appeal by the Establishment Division to increase the upper age limit of eligibility on grounds of the fact that the examination must only be taken by the country’s youth, with eager and fresh minds. As a result the age limit could not be increased and the same will be applicable for the CSS 2012 examinations.

The upper age limit can be relaxed to 30 years only in case of those candidates falling in the following groups;

Candidates belonging to the Buddhist Community or a Scheduled Caste
Candidates who are permanent residents of Balochistan, Dera Ismail Khan and Peshawar inclusive of the Frontier States of Chitral, Dir, Swat and Amb
Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur Districts, Mardan and Hazara Divisions, and lastly, the Upper Tanawal area of Hazara Division
Permanent residents of Azad Kashmir, who are currently residing in Pakistan, and residents of certain northern areas of Gilgit, Diamir, Baltistan, Ghizar and Ghanche
For candidates who are currently government servants inclusive of the government servants in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, who have rendered not less than two years of continuous government service.
Note: The age limit shall only be relaxed for the mentioned candidates upon the submission of a certificate (Annexure-B of Application) which must be government issued.

A candidates’ age can only be verified via one of the following documents:

• Matriculation Certificate
• School Leaving Certificate
• An Attested Birth Certificate
• Once a year of birth has been verified by the FPSC, no changes will be allowed in any subsequent examination.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

All candidates must hold a Grade C bachelors’ degree issued by an HEC registered university of Pakistan. For overseas students, an equivalent degree of the same qualification can be accepted however, the final decision lies with the Pakistani Commission.
Holders of a Third Division Bachelors’ Degree can only sit for the examination if they are joint holders of a higher division Master’s Degree.
NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS:

Only residents of Pakistan or nationals of the state of Jammu and Kashmir can qualify for the examination upon the submission of a copy of his/her national identity card, issued by their respective states. Seats allocated for prescribed provincial/ regional quotas shall be allocated to candidates on the basis of the domicile certificate issued by the competent authority in accordance with the law and the rules.

Residents of Azad Jammu and Kashmir will only be allocated a seat in the examination upon submissions of a domicile certificate and a state issued NIC. The domicile once claimed and accepted by the Commission for the purpose of admission to an examination, no change will be allowed at a subsequent examination or selection. The domicile claimed by a candidate and accepted by the Government at the time of entry into Government service shall be treated as final throughout his/her service career and no subsequent change in his/ her domicile will be recognized for the purpose of terms and conditions of his/her service including his/her allocation and liability to transfer.

A candidate who has married a person who is not a citizen of Pakistan shall not be eligible for appointment provided that a person who marries an Indian national with the prior permission of Government may be regarded as eligible for appointment.

A candidate having dual Nationality must Surrender his/her Foreign Nationality and inform the Government before joining Civil Services Academy.

Number of attempts available for CSS exams

There are only three chances for candidates to appear in the CSS exams. No candidate can appear in the CSS exams more than three times. If candidates apply for the CSS exams but not appear in any one paper of the CSS exams then he/she will not be considered as one time attempted. A candidate will be considered to have attempted in the CSS exams only if she/he appears in any one or more papers of CSS exams.

If a candidate who appeared in CSS Exams 2011 and now wanted to appear in the CSS exams 2012 they should apply for the CSS exams 2012 without waiting for the CSS result 2011.

If any candidate apply for the CSS exams 2012 but not appear in the exams due to some reasons his/her CSS exams fee will not be refunded.