Age limit for appearing in CSS Exam extended

Prime Minister of Pakistan has finally approved the proposal for an extension of age limit for appearing in the Central Superior Services(CSS) Examination. The upper age limit has been extended from 28 to 30 years.

Planning, Development and Reforms Minister Ahsan Iqbal had been relentlessly pursuing for the acceptance of the proposal. The proposal’s main demand was for a two-year increase in the upper age limit of candidates appearing in the CSS examination. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had previously rejected the proposal in March citing that younger people should be encouraged join because they are “more receptive to the core ethics of the civil service.”

However, yesterday Ahsan Iqbal announced via a Facebook Live session that the Prime Minister and Cabinet had finally approved for the extension of age limit from 28 to 30 years. The upper age limit for federal and provincial serving government employees has been increased from 30 to 32 years for CSS examinations. The new age limit will be applicable to people appearing in the first exam of the coming year.

The announcement is basically a restoration of the original age criteria. The upper age limit initially used to be 30 and 32 years, respectively. However, during the Musharraf regime, it was reduced by two years.

The extension in age limit has both an upside and a downside. The application was initially rejected due to concerns that increasing the age limit to 30 years would exacerbate the current situation as older officers would superannuate before, or soon after, their promotions to BS-22. This would mean a further reduction in the pool of seasoned officers for promotion to key positions.

However, Ahsan Iqbal is optimistic that this decision will empower the youth. The Bachelor’s degree now takes up 4 years and there is an added interest in our youth for Master’s. The extension in age limit will attract a pool of more qualified individuals. Furthermore, young people from less-privileged backgrounds tend to finish their education in parts and pieces. So their age is often closer to thirty when they complete their education. The new age limit will be inclusive for all.