Ahsan Iqbal proposes urdu option in CSS exam to end English bias

In a move aimed at reforming Pakistan’s civil service examination system, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has suggested allowing candidates to attempt CSS compulsory subjects in Urdu. The proposal is part of a broader plan to revamp the Central Superior Services (CSS) exam structure, which has remained largely unchanged since 1973.

Ahsan Iqbal highlighted that many talented students fail the CSS exams not because of a lack of knowledge but due to their struggle with the English language. He said that making English the primary medium of the exam has turned it into a tool of exclusion, depriving deserving candidates of the chance to serve the country.

“If English proficiency was the key to success, Pakistan’s civil service would have been the most efficient in the world,” the minister remarked.

He added that offering Urdu as an optional language would promote inclusivity, reduce the language gap, and provide equal opportunity to candidates from diverse educational backgrounds.

The minister also emphasised that the CSS exam structure is outdated and no longer reflects the modern needs of governance or public service. He called for a comprehensive overhaul to better align it with current realities and ensure merit-based selection without language barriers.

Meanwhile, the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) has announced that results of the CSS 2024 exams will be declared in the last week of April.

This announcement came after a hearing in the Islamabad High Court, where students requested postponement of the CSS 2025 exams until the 2024 results were published. Candidates, especially those nearing the upper age limit, expressed concerns about result delays impacting their future chances.

However, FPSC rejected the request, clarifying that all eligible candidates would still have opportunities beyond the 2025 exams.

FPSC has completed preparations for the upcoming CSS 2025 exams. A total of 88 examination centres have been booked across the country, and exam papers have already been dispatched.