THE current upper age limit of 30 years for the Central Superior Services (CSS) examination, along with the restriction of three attempts, raises some important questions.

For instance, should merit be constrained by age in society where intellectual and professional maturity comes late in life?

In Pakistan’s evolving socioeconomic landscape, many students complete their education after considerable delay, not by choice, but owing to circumstances beyond their control. Financial hardships, limited academic opportunities, and the need to support families compel countless capable individuals to enter professional life before pursuing their ambitions in public service. By the time they acquire the intellectual depth and analytical ability necessary for effective governance, they find themselves excluded due to an arbitrary age ceiling.

Maturity is not a liability in public administration; it is an asset. The state, by limiting opportunities to younger candidates alone, risks depriving itself of individuals who possess both intellectual competence and real-world perspective.

The argument that increasing the age limit or the number of attempts would undermine merit overlooks a fundamental reality: the CSS examination itself is an uncompromising filter. Only those with exceptional ability, discipline and knowledge succeed.

Revisiting the age limit and number of attempts would not be a concession, but an affirmation of meritocracy; the principle that capability, and not chronology, should determine one’s opportunity to serve.

Himayat Ullah
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2026