FPSC Clarifies CSS Applicant Numbers 2025: Official Data Rejects Claims of 45% Decline
The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) has issued an official press release to address a viral claim circulating on social media and in some news reports regarding the CSS Competitive Examination.
According to the reports, the number of candidates applying for CSS dropped by around 45% between 2022 and 2025, leading to the perception that young people in Pakistan are losing interest in joining the country’s civil services.
FPSC has rejected this conclusion. The Commission says that the official data available with it does not support this claim and that important facts were ignored while comparing the figures.
This clarification aims to present the complete picture using official statistics from CSS examinations conducted between 2022 and 2025.
Why Did FPSC Issue This Press Release?
FPSC stated that recent news reports created an impression that Pakistani youth are gradually losing trust and interest in the Civil Services of Pakistan.
According to the Commission, this perception became widely discussed on print media, electronic media, and social media platforms.
Check also: 15% Disparity Reduction Allowance (DRA) 2026 Notification: Complete Guide for Federal Government Employees
To avoid confusion, FPSC released official data and explained why the conclusion presented in those reports was misleading.
The Commission emphasized that its own records tell a different story.
Check also: SITC Jobs 2026 – Sindh Information Technology Company Announces Multiple Career Opportunities
What Was the Viral Claim?
The reports compared the number of candidates who applied for the Written CSS Examination in 2022 and 2025.
Based on those figures, it was claimed that CSS applications had fallen by nearly 45 percent.
This claim quickly spread across social media and raised concerns among CSS aspirants, students, and education experts.
However, FPSC says this comparison does not present the complete picture.
FPSC Says the Comparison Was Incomplete
According to the press release, the reports ignored one very important part of the CSS recruitment process.
Since the introduction of the MCQs Based Preliminary Test (MPT), candidates must first register for and qualify this screening examination before appearing in the Written CSS Examination.
FPSC says that many reports only focused on Written CSS applications while ignoring the much larger number of candidates who registered for the MPT.
Because of this, the Commission believes the comparison created an inaccurate perception about declining interest in CSS.
Official CSS Statistics Shared by FPSC
To support its clarification, FPSC published official data covering both the MPT Screening Test and the Written CSS Examination.
CSS 2022 Statistics
MPT Screening Test
- Registered/Applied: 61,753
- Appeared: 49,038
- Qualified: 48,787
Written CSS Examination
- Registered/Applied: 32,059
- Appeared: 20,262
- Written Qualified: 393
- Interview Qualified: 375
- Finally Allocated: 239
CSS 2023 Statistics
MPT Screening Test
- Registered/Applied: 59,133
- Appeared: 46,256
- Qualified: 41,562
Written CSS Examination
- Registered/Applied: 28,024
- Appeared: 13,008
- Written Qualified: 401
- Interview Qualified: 387
- Finally Allocated: 210
Special CSS 2023 Statistics
FPSC also included the figures for the Special CSS Examination conducted in 2023.
MPT Screening Test
- Registered/Applied: 54,297
- Appeared: 38,445
- Qualified: 33,157
Written CSS Examination
- Registered/Applied: 21,947
- Appeared: 15,245
- Written Qualified: 519
- Interview Qualified: 489
- Finally Allocated: 141
CSS 2024 Statistics
MPT Screening Test
- Registered/Applied: 59,760
- Appeared: 42,156
- Qualified: 36,212
Written CSS Examination
- Registered/Applied: 23,100
- Appeared: 15,602
- Written Qualified: 397
- Interview Qualified: 387
- Finally Allocated: 229
CSS 2025 Statistics
MPT Screening Test
- Registered/Applied: 64,081
- Appeared: 44,445
- Qualified: 31,265
Written CSS Examination
- Registered/Applied: 18,139
- Appeared: 12,792
- Written Qualified: 354
- Interview Qualified: 342
- Finally Allocated: 170
What Does the Official Data Show?
The figures shared by FPSC show that the MPT Screening Test continues to attract a very large number of candidates every year.
In fact, according to the official data, 64,081 candidates registered for the MPT in 2025, which is the highest registration figure among the years included in the press release.
The Written CSS Examination has fewer applicants because candidates must first pass through the MPT stage.
FPSC says this is why comparing only Written CSS applications does not present the complete situation.
FPSC Also Questions the Reported 2022 Figure
Another important point mentioned in the press release is that the news reports used an incorrect figure relating to the year 2022.
According to FPSC, the comparison itself was based on inaccurate information.
The Commission believes that using incorrect figures along with ignoring MPT statistics resulted in a misleading conclusion.
Why MPT Statistics Matter
The MCQs Based Preliminary Test has become the first stage of the CSS recruitment process.
Every candidate interested in appearing for the Written CSS Examination must first register for this screening test.
For this reason, FPSC believes that the number of MPT registrations provides an important indicator of how many people are interested in pursuing a career in Pakistan’s civil services.
Ignoring these numbers may not accurately reflect the overall level of interest.
Key Highlights from FPSC’s Official Data
Some important points from the official statistics include:
- The highest MPT registrations were recorded in 2025 with 64,081 applicants.
- The highest Written CSS registrations were recorded in 2022 with 32,059 applicants.
- The highest number of Written qualifiers was 519 during the Special CSS 2023 examination.
- The highest number of final allocations among the listed years was 239 in CSS 2022.
These figures were released by FPSC to provide official information and address confusion created by viral claims.
What Should CSS Aspirants Understand?
The purpose of the press release is not to deny that Written CSS application numbers have changed over the years.
Instead, FPSC explains that looking at only one stage of the examination process does not provide the complete picture.
According to the Commission, both the MPT Screening Test and the Written CSS Examination should be considered when discussing trends in CSS participation.
Candidates planning to appear in future CSS examinations are encouraged to rely on official FPSC announcements rather than unverified social media claims.
FAQs
Why did FPSC issue this press release?
FPSC issued the press release to clarify viral reports claiming that CSS applications had dropped by around 45% between 2022 and 2025 and that young people were losing interest in civil services.
Did FPSC deny that Written CSS applications decreased?
FPSC did not deny that Written CSS application numbers changed. Instead, it stated that comparing only Written CSS applications without considering MPT registrations gives an incomplete picture.
What is the MPT in CSS?
The MCQs Based Preliminary Test (MPT) is the screening examination that candidates must qualify before appearing in the Written CSS Examination.
How many candidates registered for the MPT in 2025?
According to FPSC’s official data, 64,081 candidates registered for the MPT Screening Test in 2025.
What is FPSC’s main message?
FPSC says that official data does not support the perception that Pakistani youth are losing interest in civil services. The Commission believes that MPT statistics should also be considered before reaching such conclusions.
Conclusion
The FPSC press release was issued to respond to widespread discussions about a reported decline in CSS applicants. According to the Commission, comparing only the Written CSS Examination applications between 2022 and 2025 does not provide a complete view of candidate interest.
By publishing official statistics for both the MPT Screening Test and the Written CSS Examination, FPSC has attempted to clarify the facts and address the perception created by recent reports. The Commission maintains that the official data should be used when discussing trends in CSS participation, rather than relying on incomplete comparisons or viral social media claims.
