CSS Compulsory And Optional Subjects 2025 Complete Guide

The Central Superior Services (CSS) Exam demands thorough preparation across various disciplines. To help you navigate the 1200-mark written exam, let’s delve into the subjects tested and their specific details. This guide outlines the compulsory and optional subjects, exam durations, and language requirements. Familiarize yourself with these crucial aspects to optimize your approach and excel in the CSS Exam. Read the full article for complete details of CSS Compulsory and Optional Subjects.

CSS Compulsory And Optional Subjects 2025

The exam will cover specific subjects, with marks allocated to each. Subjects totalling 200 marks will have two 100-mark papers, while others will have one paper. Each paper lasts for 3 hours.
Expect multiple-choice questions in compulsory and optional papers, except for Essay, Applied Mathematics, and Pure Mathematics.
Answer papers in Urdu or other regional languages like Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi, Persian, and Arabic in their respective languages. Translation questions may be answered as directed. Islamic Studies or Comparative Study of Major Religions papers should be in English or Urdu only. All other papers must be in English unless specified otherwise, with violation leading to zero marks.
Non-Muslims can choose between Islamic Studies or Comparative Study of Major Religions.
A candidate must attempt all compulsory/optional subjects to sit for the remaining papers.
The three General Knowledge papers (GK-I, GK-II, & GK-III) require a collective score of 120 out of 300 to pass.

CSS Exam – Detail of Written Exam

The CSS Exam consists of four parts:
Written Exam: This is the primary examination phase where candidates are assessed on various subjects through written tests.
Medical Test: Candidates undergo a medical examination to ensure they meet the required health standards for the service they are applying for.
Psychological Test: This assesses the candidate’s psychological suitability for the civil service position they are applying for.
Viva Voce: Also known as the interview stage, candidates face an oral examination where they interact with a panel of interviewers to evaluate their personality, communication skills, and suitability for the civil service role.

Public Notice – Written CSS Competitive Examination

Occupational CSS Groups in Pakistan

These are the different occupational groups in Pakistan for CSS:

Postal Services Group
Income Tax Group
Commerce and Trade Group
Custom and Excise Service
Police Service of Pakistan
District Management Group – DMG Group
Foreign Service of Pakistan
Information Group
Military Land and Cantonment Group
Office Management Group
Pakistan Audit and Account Service Group
Pakistan Railway or Commercial and Transportation Group

COMPULSORY SUBJECTS (600 MARKS)

Code No.	Subjects	Marks
1.	English Essay	100
2.	English (Precis and Composition)	100
3.	General Science & Ability	100
4.	Current Affairs	100
5.	Pakistan Affairs	100
6.	Islamic Studies OR Comparative Study of	100
	Major Religions (For Non-Muslims)
Total Marks		600

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS (600 MARKS)

In the CSS syllabus, there are optional subjects that you can choose. These subjects are divided into seven groups by the FPSC. You can pick the group that suits you best from the options below.

Note for Candidates: Remember that papers worth 100 marks count as one paper, while those worth 200 marks are split into two papers.

CSS Compulsory and Optional Subjects Complete Guide

Group-I: (To select one subject of (200 marks) only)

Code No.	Subjects	Marks
11.	Accountancy & Auditing	200
12.	Economics	200
13.	Computer Science	200
14.	Political Science	200
15.	International Relations	200

Group-II: (To select subject(s) of 200 marks only)

Code No.	Subjects	Marks
16.	Physics	200
17.	Chemistry	200
18.	Applied Mathematics	100
19.	Pure Mathematics	100
20.	Statistics	100
21.	Geology	100

Group III: (To select one subject of 100 marks only)

Code No.	Subjects	Marks
22.	Business Administration	100
23.	Public Administration	100
24.	Governance & Public Policies	100
25.	Town Planning & Urban Management	100

Group-IV: (To select one subject of 100 marks only)

Code No.	Subjects	Marks
26.	History of Pakistan & India	100
27.	Islamic History & Culture	100
28.	British History	100
29.	European History	100
30.	History of USA	100

Group-V: (To select one subject of 100 marks only)

Code No.	Subjects	Marks
31.	Gender Studies	100
32.	Environmental Sciences	100
33.	Agriculture & Forestry	100
34.	Botany	100
35.	Zoology	100
36.	English Literature	100
37.	Urdu Literature	100

Group-VI: (To select one subject of 100 marks only)

Code No.	Subjects	Marks
38.	Law	100
39.	Constitutional Law	100
40.	International Law	100
41.	Muslim Law & Jurisprudence	100
42.	Mercantile Law	100
43.	Criminology	100
44.	Philosophy	100

Group-VII: (To select one subject of 100 marks only)

Code No.	Subjects	Marks
45.	Journalism & Mass Communication	100
46.	Psychology	100
47.	Geography	100
48.	Sociology	100
49.	Anthropology	100
50.	Punjabi	100
51.	Sindhi	100
52.	Pashto	100
53.	Balochi	100
54.	Persian	100
55.	Arabic	100

Eligibility Criteria for CSS Exam in Pakistan

Age Limit:

Must be between 21 and 30 years old as of December 31st of the year preceding the exam.
Age relaxation applies to specific groups (check official notification for details).

Educational Qualification:

Minimum bachelor’s degree required.
Second-class degree (minimum 50% marks) mandatory.
The degree must be verified by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

Nationality:

Must be a Pakistani citizen.

READ MORE: FPSC CSS Registration

CSS Exam Schedule and Locations

Conducted once annually in Pakistan.
Exam centres in various cities: Multan, Karachi, Lahore, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Quetta, Peshawar, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Gilgit, Okara, Gujranwala.
Finalized cities announced with official notification.
Interview sessions were held in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Quetta, and Peshawar.
Exams are typically held in February or March.

Required Documents for CSS Application

Submit a hard copy of the online application with:
Photographs
Experience certificate (if applicable)
Bank receipt of examination fees
Attested copies of educational and credential certificates

Important Tip:

Read the official CSS advertisement carefully before applying.