PM rejects summary, age-limit for CSS exam remains unchanged

The news about increasing the age limit from twenty eight years to thirty years for the candidates to appear in Central Superior Service (CSS) exams has once again left the candidates of CSS in the deep confusion. As, Prime Minister, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has rejected the proposal of increasing the age limit for CSS exams.

In the “Second Pakistan Governance Forum” at Islamabad in December 2015, Minister for Planning, Development and Reform, Prof Ahsan Iqbal, announced that as a part of the civil services reforms, 16 years of education would be mandatory for youth looking for career in Central superior Service from 2017.

But, this case takes a new turn, when Secretary Establishment Nadeem Hassan Asif told media “I think that this proposal has not been presented at any forum up to now and it is actually not a part of this proposal which is going to be presented before cabinet”.

Then proposal was presented to PM, Nawaz Sharif, who ordered to make this proposal a part of the agenda item of the next cabinet meeting.

After that, as per sources, the Planning commission sends a summary to prime minister, stating that 16 years of education made mandatory to appear in CSS competitive exams rather than 14 years of education.

Furthermore, the proposal stated, the maximum age limit to appear in test would be thirty years instead of twenty eight years.

Though, this suggestion has been rejected by PM, sources.   

According to the sources, the main reason behind rejecting this Planning commission’s summary is that the time duration for completing 16 years of education including Montessori, Nursery and prep is total 19 years and  even if the student get admission in school in 5 years of age then also in this case he must complete his degree till 24 years. So, there is no need to increase the age limit from 28 years to 30 years to appear in CSS competitive exams.

The sources said, usually candidates appear in CSS exams after the completion of master’s degree but if an aspirant is capable of taking CSS exam after graduation then it is fair to be a hurdle in the way of such candidate.

But, if candidates would remain confused about the issues such as screening test or age limit or qualifications, then how could they pay attention their studies?

The deficiency of continuance in policies in the country is the major problem. Undulating back of policies or changing them habitually proves damaging to their effectiveness. So, the same is case with Federal Public Service Commission.