Registrations for Pakistan’s Central Superior Services examination fell by nearly 48% between 2022 and 2025, according to Federal Public Service Commission data.
The number of registered candidates declined from 35,059 in 2022 to 18,139 in 2025. Candidates appearing in the examination also dropped from 20,262 to 12,792 during the same period.
Only 170 Candidates Recommended in 2025
Despite fewer registrations, CSS remained highly competitive. The FPSC recommended only 170 candidates in 2025, compared with 239 in 2022.
This means just 0.94% of registered candidates and 1.33% of those who appeared were recommended in 2025.
However, the participation rate improved. Around 71% of registered candidates appeared in 2025, compared with roughly 45% in 2023, showing that a larger share of applicants followed through with the examination.
Federal Job Applications Also Decline
A similar trend was recorded in the FPSC’s general recruitment process.
Registrations for federal government jobs peaked at 436,757 in 2023 before falling to 196,193 in 2025. The number of candidates who appeared also declined from 199,234 to 80,633.
The FPSC nominated 3,005 candidates through general recruitment in 2025, underlining that selection remained difficult despite the sharp fall in applications.
The data does not explain why interest has declined, but it indicates that fewer Pakistanis are applying for CSS and other federal government positions than in previous years.
