Skip to content
Pakistan’s Central Superior Services (CSS) examination is witnessing a significant decline in popularity, with the number of applicants falling sharply over the past few years. Official figures released by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) show that fewer graduates are now choosing the country’s most competitive civil service examination.
According to the available data, CSS registrations dropped from 35,059 in 2022 to just 18,139 in 2025, representing a decline of nearly 48%. The number of candidates who actually appeared in the examination also fell from 20,262 to 12,792, while the number of successful nominations decreased from 239 to 170.
Experts believe several factors are contributing to the falling interest. Long recruitment timelines, increasing competition, changing career preferences, better private-sector opportunities, overseas employment, and the growing IT industry are encouraging many talented graduates to explore alternatives instead of pursuing government careers.
Despite the decline in registrations, the CSS examination remains one of Pakistan’s toughest competitive exams. In 2025, only 170 candidates were nominated, meaning less than 1% of registered applicants secured a recommendation. This highlights the highly competitive nature of the selection process.
The trend is also visible in FPSC’s general recruitment examinations. Registrations, which peaked at 436,757 in 2023, dropped to 196,193 in 2025, reflecting a decline of more than 55%. The number of candidates appearing in recruitment tests also fell considerably during the same period.
Interestingly, while fewer candidates are registering, a higher percentage of applicants are actually appearing for the examinations. Around 71% of registered CSS candidates took the exam in 2025 compared to about 45% two years earlier. This suggests that those who register are becoming more serious and better prepared for the competition.
Education analysts say Pakistan’s civil services continue to attract ambitious candidates because of their prestige, policymaking role, job security, and career progression. However, many graduates now compare these benefits with the rapidly growing opportunities available in the private sector, freelancing, entrepreneurship, and international employment markets.
Although registrations have declined significantly, the CSS examination remains one of the country’s most respected career pathways. Experts believe future reforms in the recruitment process, faster hiring, improved transparency, and modernized examination policies could encourage more talented graduates to once again consider a career in Pakistan’s civil services.