The CSS (Central Superior Service Exam) is a test for future civil servants for Pakistan. The CSS examination has a catalog of over 40 subjects. We will now focus on the FPSC CSS syllabus, with compulsory and optional subjects, FAQs, as well as how to understand and prepare from the CSS Syllabus.
There are six CSS compulsory subjects in CSS Pakistan. Below are the subjects syllabus and the marks breakdown:
| # | Download Compulsory Subjects CSS Syllabus | 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/ Comparative Study of Major Religions ( Non-Muslims) | 100 |
The CSS English essay requires basic English writing knowledge, along with how to structure CSS essay in terms of grammar, vocabulary, coherence, clarity of thought and content.
This subject focuses on understanding the English language through passages and answering questions in terms of sentence completion, structure, synonyms, antonyms, nouns, and pronouns.
General Science & Ability focuses on how to approach and answer questions in a quantitative sense. It includes arithmetic, geometry, algebra, triangles, sets, and more.
In the Current Affairs paper, you are to focus on exhibiting your knowledge of international affairs and relations, history, and politics.
The CSS Pakistan Affairs subject deals with pre-partition and post-partition affairs pertaining to Pakistan's relations, affairs, history, and the economy.
The Islamic Studies subject builds a better understanding of religious history, writings, and Islam’s current state in the world. Comparative Study of Major Religions does the same, but for other religions.
| # | (Group 1 = 200 Marks) | Marks |
| 1 | Accountancy & Auditing | 200 |
| 2 | Economics | 200 |
| 3 | Computer Science | 200 |
| 4 | Political Science | 200 |
| 5 | International Relations | 200 |
Accountancy & Auditing focuses on building a deeper understanding of the subject matter through financial accounting, the different types of accounting, auditing, business taxation business studies as well as cost and managerial accounting.
Economics for the CSS exam explores the types of economics which include microeconomics and macroeconomics, as well as money, banking, and the economic development of Pakistan.
The Computer Science subject for the CSS examination develops the learner's understanding of an introduction to the subject matter, then data structure, programming, computing algorithm as well as software engineering.
Political Science relies on engaging with western political thought, Muslim political thought, state systems, political concepts (western as well as Islamic), comparative and analytic study of political systems integrations, political movements, and international relations.
The CSS examination subject International Relations explores an introduction to the subject matter, theories, and approaches, international political security, international political economy, community and institutions, approaches to peace, wars, weapons as well as contemporary issues.
| # | Group -2 Subjects Syllabus | Marks |
| 1 | Physics | 200 |
| 2 | Chemistry | 200 |
| 3 | Applied Mathematics | 100 |
| 4 | Pure Mathematics | 100 |
| 5 | Statistics | 100 |
| 6 | Geology | 100 |
Physics develops a deeper understanding of the learner’s concepts of mechanics, fluid mechanics, optics, heat, electricity, modern and quantum, solid-state as well as nuclear physics.
The CSS exam in Pakistan has a subject of Chemistry that engages with atomic structure and quantum chemistry, electrochemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics, surface chemistry and catalysis, chemometrics, separation methods, inorganic chemistry as well as more topics.
Applied Mathematics focuses on how to approach and answer questions in a quantitative sense. It includes vector cactus, statics, dynamics, ordinary differential equations, Fourier series and partial differential equations, and numerical methods.
Pure Mathematics focuses on how to approach and answer questions in a quantitative sense. It includes modern algebra, calculus, geometry, and complex variables.
The CSS examination subject Statistics explores descriptive statistics, basic portability, probability distributions, regressive and correlation analysis, non-parametric methods, sampling distributions, statistical inferences, design of experiments and population analysis, and vital statistics.
The CSS subject Geology develops a deeper understanding for the learner’s concepts of physical geology, stratigraphy, paleontology, mineralogy, structural geology, petrology and petrography, geophysics, sequence stratigraphy, petroleum geology, engineering and environmental geology, mineral, and energy resources, and economic and applied geology.
| # | CSS Optional Subjects (Group 3 = 100 Marks) | Marks |
| 1 | Business Administration | 100 |
| 2 | Public Administration | 100 |
| 3 | Governance and Public Policies | 100 |
| 4 | Town Planning and Urban Management | 100 |
Business administration explores various facets of the business world, broadly focusing on management, HR management, financial management, operations and supply chain management, and marketing.
The CSS subject Public Administration engages with the approaches, concepts, and content to the subject, as well as theories. It also focused on public policy planning and implementation and evaluation, as well as budgeting and financial management, human resources, administrative law, public management skills, civil service, provincial and local government, reforms, accountability, and development.
Governance and Public Policies focuses on how to approach basic concepts of the matter, theories, indicators, public policy institutions, accountability, beurocracy, public policy formulation and implementation, multilevel governance, federalism, devolution, and decentralization, the role of citizens, and good governance in Islam.
Town Planning and Urban Management explore perspectives surrounding the subject matter, the definition, urban-rural differences, management, communities, economic development, urban design, sustainability, and urban information systems.
| # | CSS Optional Subjects (Group 4 = 100 Marks) | Marks |
| 1 | History of Pakistan & India | 100 |
| 2 | Islamic History & Culture | 100 |
| 3 | British History | 100 |
| 4 | European History | 100 |
| 5 | History of USA | 100 |
The CSS subject History of Pakistan & India engages with Muslim rule and heritage, British rule, reforms, Independence, the Pakistan movement, the history of Pakistan, military, East Pakistan separation, Democracy, and foreign policy.
Islamic History & Culture dates from pre-Islamic near East to the dawn of Islam, the Caliphate, the Political system of Islam, institutional development, Umayyads, the Abbasids, Muslim Spain rule, The crusades, The Ottoman Empire, Sufism, and Islam, and modernity in the contemporary world.
British History visits the vast depth of the Britain's past, from the glorious revolution to the union of England and Ireland, the Industrial and agricultural revolution, the victorian Era to Thaterism.
The CSS subject European History explores the french revolution, the eastern question, the first world war, post-war Europe, and Europe now, along with many topics in between.
The History of the USA visits the vast depth of the USA’s past, from ancient times to 1492, the civil war, the great depression, congress, and international conflicts, along with many more topics in between.
| # | CSS Optional Subjects (Group 5 = 100 Marks) | Marks |
| 1 | Gender Studies | 100 |
| 2 | Environmental Sciences | 100 |
| 3 | Agriculture and Forestry | 100 |
| 4 | Botany | 100 |
| 5 | Zoology | 100 |
| 6 | English Literature | 100 |
| 7 | Urdu Literature | 100 |
The CSS subject Gender Studies focuses on the social constriction of gender, feminist theories, movements, gender and development, the status of women in Pakistan, Gender and governance, Gender-based violence, and various case studies.
Environmental Sciences zones in on the history, sustainable developmental issues, the interdisciplinary nature, environmental pollution, climate change, environmental governance, global initiatives, and environmental assessment and management.
Agriculture and Forestry are divided into two parts, with agriculture focusing on integrated agriculture, challenges, elements of climate, and relationship with crop growth, genetic improvement, horticulture, and rainfed agriculture. Forestry focuses on rangelands’ importance and significance, wildlife, statistics, socio-economic impacts of man-made forests, and more.
The CSS subject botany explores Algae, Pteridophyta, Anatomy and Embryology, Taxonomy of Angiosperms, Plant Physiology, Ecology, Cytology, Genetics, Evolution, and molecular biology.
Zoology focuses on the topics Animal Diversity-Invertebrates, Animal Diversity-Chordata, Principles of Animal Life, and Animal Form and Function.
The CSS subject English Literature can be broadly divided into six sections: Essays, short stories, poetry, drama, novels, and literary theory and criticism.
Urdu literature is under similar divisions i.e. Essays, short stories, poetry, drama, novel
| # | CSS Optional Subjects (Group 6 = 100 Marks) | Marks |
| 1 | Law | 100 |
| 2 | Constitutional Law | 100 |
| 3 | International Law | 100 |
| 4 | Muslim Law and Jurisprudence | 100 |
| 5 | Mercantile Law | 100 |
| 6 | Criminology | 100 |
| 7 | Philosophy | 100 |
Law focuses on broadly Law of contracts, sales of goods act, partnership act, negotiable instrument act, electronic funds transfer, and many more.
This subject focuses on the definition and scope of Constitutional Law, principles, history, and legal development.
International law ranges from nature and origin, to state to humanitarian law, international institutions, state responsibility, war, and neutrality.
This subject explores the sources of Islamic law, family law, the law of contract, banking and insurance, and more
Mercantile law focuses on the Law of contracts, sales of goods act, partnership act, negotiable instrument act, and more.
The topics for criminology range from crimes, criminals, and theoretical perspectives to juvenile delinquency and the justice system, to criminal investigations, and modern concepts in contemporary criminology.
Philosophy extends on Philosophical Methods, Epistemology, Ontology, Ethics, Muslim Thinkers and Contemporary Philosophical Movements
| # | CSS Optional Subjects (Group 7 = 100 Marks) | Marks |
| 1 | Journalism and Mass Communication | 100 |
| 2 | Psychology | 100 |
| 3 | Geography | 100 |
| 4 | Sociology | 100 |
| 5 | Anthropology | 100 |
| 6 | Punjabi | 100 |
| 7 | Sindhi | 100 |
| 8 | Pashto | 100 |
| 9 | Balochi | 100 |
| 10 | Persian | 100 |
| 11 | Arabic | 100 |
Journalism and Mass Communication involve theories, communications, media and society, mass media development support communication, public relations, media laws, and ethics.
The CSS subject Psychology focuses on nature, biological basis, perception, learning and memory, motivation, psychological assessment, personality, intelligence, and more.
This subject focuses on physical geography which includes landform development, climate, seas, and climate change, along with human geography which includes culture, languages, agriculture, population growth, and politics.
Sociology explores the individual, culture, society, social interaction, social control, public option, community, and social problems in Pakistan.
Anthropology relies on social, urban, and socio-cultural definitions and changes, along with an emphasis on race, theories and research methods.
Punjabi focuses on the language’s origin, grammar, movements, translations, poetry, and folk literature.
Sindhi focuses on the language’s origin, grammar, movements, translations, poetry, and folk literature.
Pashto focuses on the language’s origin, grammar, movements, translations, poetry, and folk literature.
Balochi focuses on the language’s origin, grammar, movements, translations, poetry, and folk literature.
Persian focuses on the language’s origin, grammar, movements, translations, poetry, and folk literature.
Arabic focuses on the language’s origin, grammar, movements, translations, poetry, and folk literature.
So, why is understanding the CSS syllabus so important? Can't you study without them? Well, there are multiple reasons why the CSS syllabus is absolutely essential in how well you score on the CSS.
The first main benefit of the CSS syllabus is just to understand how the paper functions. You will get a good idea of which CSS questions and topics are there and are worth how many marks, the type of CSS Compulsory and Optional questions that may be asked in the section, and prepare you for what to expect during the exam.
It is important to see the paper through the lens of the examiner also, and that can only happen when we study the syllabus and then practice CSS past papers and work on solved past papers. It is also important to take a look at the scoring trend to truly ascertain quantitatively if your response or answer is meeting the examiner's guidelines or not.
Understanding the syllabus then working on CSS past papers within the time frame can do wonders for your reading speed. But for this, you will need to know what is/isn't relevant in terms of the past paper. This way you also learn to be more efficient with your time and you will read sifting through the long paragraphs and your reading time will decrease eventually.
Another great reason to focus on CSS syllabus analysis as a form of studying is that it will improve your writing over time. If you are not just writing mindlessly, and are actually writing critically and being aware of your quality of writing and engaging with CSS compulsory and optional answer keys and patterns, your writing is bound to improve by leaps also.
Believe it or not, the syllabus helps a ton with revision. Performing and practicing CSS compulsory and optional questions can test your memory and knowledge of a topic, but the syllabus can truly help you engage with how much you know and don't know.
This depends on the FPSC requirements. The syllabus of the CSS does not generally change but if there are any changes, FPSC informs the CSS aspirants in advance to avoid the inconvenience of any kind!
Again, FPSC regulations dictate changes in the CSS syllabus. Generally speaking, the syllabus has been subject to change every now and then, but aspirants are always informed in advance and details can be found for these changes on the FPSC website. Click here to check it out!
There is no fixed timeline for CSS syllabus change. It is subject to change whenever syllabus updates are decided by the relevant stakeholders. But not to worry, CSS aspirants for the CSS examination are informed well before the CSS examination date.
Dialing it back and truly understanding the CSS syllabus is arguably the most important puzzle piece in your preparation for the CSS exam. They can help develop your analysis, or categories any required topic, related to gender, politics, or current affairs for the CSS. Don't forget, Nearpeer is here to help you with all your CSS troubles with our high quality online CSS classes, along with other courses. Competitors simply can not match. Check out our courses for our reasonable prices and exciting discounts. Stay informed with future CSS updates through Nearpeer Blogs and our social media handles, including our official Facebook and Instagram. We know how to prepare for the CSS the RIGHT way. And as always, happy learning!