Urdu option for CSS exam proposed in new civil service reforms

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday led a multi-party consultation on proposed civil service reforms, with the government finalising a plan for specialised recruitment through cluster-based examinations or separate tests for individual occupational groups.

Under the proposals, the CSS examination will continue, with candidates allowed to attempt compulsory papers in either English or Urdu. The reforms also envisage an all-Urdu option, full digitisation of the CSS process and reducing the recruitment cycle to six months.

The proposals include establishing a National University of Public Administration (NUPA), merging existing training institutes and revising the performance evaluation system for civil servants.

The government has also proposed a National Executive Service (NES) for specialised recruitment to Grade 20 and above positions at the federal level, excluding the police and Foreign Service. Candidates from the private sector, academia and government would be eligible to compete through an FPSC screening test followed by a competency-based assessment and interview.

The proposals suggest raising the CSS passing threshold from 33% to 40% and introducing questions assessing analytical and logical reasoning skills.

Two committees formed by the prime minister recommended an overhaul of recruitment, training, evaluation, promotion and pay systems. Consensus was reached on 43 of the 46 recommendations.

Iqbal said the committees studied civil service systems in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and the United Kingdom.