ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to restructure the Central Superior Services (CSS) examination and training system while a number of proposals are under consideration in this regard, it has been learnt. One of the recommendations include that the age limit for the CSS examination should be changed to 30 years while the education requirement to masters.

According to existing criteria, a graduate with C Grade is eligible for CSS exam and the upper age limit is 28 years in normal cases which is relaxed up to 30 years in certain cases. Sources in the government confirmed to The Nation that a number of proposals were under considerations to restructure CSS and FPSC examination and training programmes.

These sources said that Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms would be holding a two-day consultative session with senior bureaucrats, academia and technocrats by the middle of this month to review and evaluate various sets of proposals for reforms in the system. Sources further said that in the 18th Constitutional Amendment it was recommended that the Civil Services would be restructured to cater present day needs.

It was also proposed that besides upgrading the education requirement for the tests, courses of CSS could be revised introducing modern training modules in the CSS Academy. It is further proposed that by merging all cadres and ex-cadre positions new specialised cadres and groups would be evolved and specialised people would be picked to serve against specialised posts like in audit and accounts, customs and other technical areas. Examples of Malaysia, United Kingdom and some other countries were also cited where these states had rationalised their civil services system and upgraded education requirement for eligibility of these services.

It was also proposed that highly qualified faculty would be hired for training of those selected through the examination. Sources said that after holding of a couple of sessions with technocrats, senior bureaucrats and academia recommendations would be finalised which would be accordingly implemented in the country both at federal and provincial levels.