CSS exam: discrepancies

E-Paper | May 04, 2026

THIS is apropos of Abdul Saboor Nizamani’s letter ‘CSS exam: official view’ (June 15). In the letter the official version is reported by a senior and responsible FPSC official about the CSS examinations.

The writer has tried to prove the existence of a fair and transparent mechanism of the CSS exams by providing an overview of the examination criterion which is totally different from reality. We have no objection regarding the three tests conducted by the FPSC for this competitive examination and we also strongly support their views regarding equal opportunity in this examination.

However, we do not agree with his point of view regarding the fairness, merit and transparency in this examination. As I appeared in CSS 2009 examinations, with roll number 1643, I obtained 669 marks but was declared fail in just one compulsory paper by just six marks. In one of optional subjects, Islamic History, I obtained 152 marks out of 200.

The first attempt of the CSS was both shocking and encouraging for me because my marks were excellent and I just failed by a narrow margin, but I did not lose hope and appeared in CSS 2010. In this attempt in my optional subjects the score was very low, specially in Islamic History: just 80 out of 200 marks as compared to the first one: 152 out of 200 marks.

I did not lose hope and appeared again and obtained 693 marks. I was declared fail in the same compulsory paper; this time just by three marks.

I appeal to the FPSC chairman to reform this institute by reshaping its evaluation policy.

IRFAN AHMED PANHWER Khairpur

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Jameel Ahmed Soomro

Jun 20, 2012 01:17pm

Dear, U and many other talented and extra-ordinary students have been the victims of old, uneven and uncertain rules and policies of FPSC. I wish u a promising future ahead for the struggle u have done. This kind of injustice can only be reformed by impartial policies particularly in optional subjects, fair assessment criterion and reformed mechanism to measure the ability of candidates.

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SamarMalik

Jun 20, 2012 05:27pm

This is the real situation of those who work hard and attempt fairly but the seats are allotted to those who do not even bother to open a single book for study but do get a strongest reference. This is true, for obtaining a Government post, your first eligibility criteria is to be the relative of some strong Government personnel. After that you can clear the exam with fling colors even without studying.

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Shariq Hasan Khan

Jun 20, 2012 04:52pm

What A Shame! : Part 4/4 We, overseas pakistanies, really face a great deal of embarrassement while meeting our other foreigner colleagues when the higher ups of our country are found to be guilty of such crimes! May God save Pakistan..Amen! Shariq Hasan Khan Mississauga, Ontarion, Canada

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Shariq Hasan Khan

Jun 20, 2012 04:50pm

What A Shame: Part 3/4 Hats off to the Chief Justice of Pakistan for his extraordinary courage first to face the previous military regime, and now for this extra ordinary decision to remove the corrupt Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Yousuf Raza Gilani. Also a big “bravo”., to President Asif Ali Zardari to have accepted this decision in the best interest of the country without any intervention from his side to modify the decision. Had Mr. yousuf Raza Gilani had the slightest element of humanity in his character, he should have immediately relinquished the position of Prime Ministership, and resigned from the parliament. Believe you me, he would have been much respected! Shariq Hasan Khan Mississauga, Ontario, Pakistan

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Shariq Hasan Khan

Jun 20, 2012 04:49pm

What A Shame Part 2/4 Alas! What a pity! In our country, the Sacked Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, when convicted & sentenced to a significant momentary punishment, was still carrying the signs of happiness on his face, and when he walked out side the court, he was still waiving hands towards the public as if he had returned to be victorious from some mission with some great achievements for the country. He was not at all feeling ashamed of himself; rather he had been trying to portray that the decision taken against him by the Court Of Justice In Pakistan was wrong, and that he could still remain the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Shariq Hasan Khan Mississauga, Ontarion, canada.

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Shariq Hasan Khan

Jun 20, 2012 04:47pm

What A Shame! Part 1/4 When someone gets convicted and then he or she is sentenced to a certain punishment, it certainly feels ashamed of itself and tries to hide its face from the public. Even the President of the USA, Mr. Bill Clinton, when faced the charges regarding the sexual harassement to his secretary Monica, could be clearly seen apologetic and crying infront of the nation. Atleast he felt remorseful, although he was not convicted guilty by their court of justice respecting the presidential title he had. Shariq Hasan Khan, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

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Ahmed Bux Jamali

Jun 20, 2012 10:00am

MY PRAYS ARE WITH YOU DEAR BROTHER... I HOPE U WILL BE JUSTIFIED VERY SOON

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M.Ayub Khan

Jun 20, 2012 04:18pm

The same situation also happened to me. I appeared in 1994 and was failed in aggregate due failure in Islamic Law. Next year again I was failed in the same subject along-with English compulsory. In other subject I performed well. However, it was surprising for me as I am graduate of IIU in law and studied Islamic law more elaborately than any graduate of other colleges.

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Syed Adeel Ahmed

Jun 20, 2012 06:16am

Absolutely right. There's dire need for a complete overhaul of the evaluation system, with is not at all in sync with the requirements of the 21st century. In English, for example, the checkers still prefer verbose, flowery sentences and have no idea about modern writing, which is short, pithy and concise. One has to write a 5,000-word essay, which I don't think even a Time editor or writer can do in a short time period of just 3 hours! This is ridiculous. And there's nothing related to creative writing either. And who will ensure that the person checking the longish essay will have time--and patience--to read the whole stuff with attention and interest?

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Shahbaz

Jun 20, 2012 01:46pm

Dear Irfan, I too disagree with the overall selection criteria for CSS exams but by reading your letter, challenging the exam evaluation policy on the basis that you were declared Failed by 3 or 6 marks does not seem fair. You might be right but there is hardly any argument in your letter over lack fairness, merit and transparency. As a Civil Service Hopeful you must come up with suggestions and ideas on how to address any given issues. Regards

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Babar

Jun 20, 2012 06:50am

sad story. hope you do well in life.

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Ali Zubair

Jun 20, 2012 06:52am

my css profile appeared in CSS 2008,,, subject journalism,, score 80 out 0f 100 appeared in CSS 2010 again,, subject journalism,,,score 39 out of 100 Isnt it an anamoly and a question mark on the ability of FPSC to objectively evaluate the answer sheets Isnt my result too irrational and beyong comprehension?

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Muhammad Daud Alam

Jun 20, 2012 07:36am

Dear Irfan, My full sympathies and prayers are with you. I and my younger brother have been bitten by the same pathetic rules. The obsession of becoming a CSP officer has ruined the lives of my talented Pakistani brothers. May ALLAH succeed you in your future endeavours. Ameen

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Qamber

Jun 20, 2012 08:23am

Actually transparency is not maintained by any government educational body (boards etc). Students are left to pray and hope with scrutinies whom again are not transparent. Second thing is that the criteria of FPSC does not coincide with any educational body in Pakistan i-e if a candidate has been awarded a distinction in his graduation might not get the same evaluation by the FPSC because we are used to a lenient evaluation but when we go through the strict evaluation FPSC many of us fail and are left blaming the institute.

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