ISLAMABAD: The Federal Public Service Commission has announced the schedule for the CSS 2026 exams through an early notice.
As per the commission, the public notice inviting online applications for the MCQ-based preliminary test (MPT) will be released on August 10, 2025. Candidates will be able to apply for the MPT between August 11 and August 25, 2025.
Those who clear the MPT will be allowed to submit applications for the written CSS examination, which will be accepted from December 15 to December 30, 2025. The written exams are set to begin on February 4, 2026.
The CSS exam is a key route to joining Pakistan’s top federal services, covering roles in administration, foreign affairs, customs, and other departments.
It generally attracts recent graduates and young professionals. The exam has strict eligibility criteria regarding age and number of attempts.
However, new changes aim to ease access. With the National Assembly’s approval, the upper age limit for CSS candidates has been raised from 30 to 35 years, and an extra attempt will now be allowed. These updates will apply starting from the 2026 exams.