CSS Exam Registrations Drop 48% in Pakistan Between 2022 and 2025: FPSC Data
CSS registrations decline sharply in Pakistan, with the number of candidates falling by nearly 48 percent between 2022 and 2025, according to official data released by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC). Registrations dropped from 35,059 in 2022 to 18,139 in 2025. Meanwhile, the number of candidates who appeared in the examination also decreased from 20,262 to 12,792 during the same period. The FPSC nominated 239 candidates in 2022, but that figure fell to 170 in 2025.
Fewer applicants, tough competition
FPSC data also shows a decline in applications for federal government jobs through its general recruitment process. However, competition for available positions remains extremely high. Only a small percentage of applicants receive nominations each year.
In 2025, the FPSC nominated just 0.94 percent of registered CSS candidates. It also selected only 1.33 percent of those who actually appeared in the examination. In comparison, the nomination rates stood at 0.68 percent of registered candidates and 1.18 percent of appearing candidates in 2022.
The same pattern appeared in the commission’s general recruitment process. Registrations reached 436,757 in 2023 before falling to 196,193 in 2025. This represents a decline of more than 55 percent within two years. Likewise, the number of candidates appearing in recruitment examinations dropped from 199,234 to 80,633.
More candidates appear after registering
Although registrations declined, a larger share of applicants actually appeared in the examinations. Around 45 percent of registered CSS candidates took the exam in 2023. That figure increased to nearly 71 percent in 2025. Similarly, the appearance rate for general recruitment exams rose from about 32 percent in 2022 to 41 percent in 2025.
Despite fewer applications, the selection process remains highly competitive. In 2025, the FPSC nominated only 3,005 candidates from 196,193 registered applicants for general recruitment. The latest figures suggest that interest in government jobs has declined, but competition for available positions remains as strong as ever.
