PM rejects proposal to increase CSS age-limit

Recommendation sought enhancement in upper age to 30 years

ISLAMABAD: The prime minister has rejected a proposal from the Establishment Division to increase the upper age-limit for candidates of the Central Superior Services (CSS) examinations.

“The increase in the number of academic years from 14 to 16 for a bachelor’s degree is really no justification to enhance the upper age-limit for CSS candidates,” a statement issued on Friday by the Prime Minister House said.

The government, it stated, should encourage people to join civil services at a younger age as they are expected to be comparatively more receptive to core ethics of civil services and basic tenets of public interest.

The minimum existing stipulated requirement in terms of experience for any officer of BS-21 to be considered for promotion to BS-22 is 24 years. In actual practice, however, it takes even longer and most officers end up being able to serve in BS-22 for the last year or two of their career.

The PM House clarified that raising the age-limit from 28 to 30 years would only worsen the current situation as even more officers would superannuate before, or soon after, their promotions to BS-22.

This in turn, the statement said, would mean a further reduction in the pool of seasoned and experienced officers available to the federal and provincial governments for appointment in key positions.

The proposal sought the enhancement in the upper age from 28 to 30 years in light of proposed enhancement of educational level for the Central Superior Services candidates.

The ministry of planning commission and reforms, and other stakeholders had prepared a comprehensive proposal for the reforms of civil services entrance exam. The Senate had also sought an enhancement in the upper age limit of CSS candidates.

As per the rules, the age limit for CSS examination is between 21 and 28 years. A candidate must also have a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent degree recognised by the Higher Education Commission to be able to sit for the exams.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2016.