A Senate sub-committee has recommended major reforms to the CSS exam, including two attempts per year and increasing the upper age limit to 35 years.
The proposal was discussed during a meeting chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwala, with officials from the Establishment Division and FPSC present.
Committee members said the current system—one exam per year—forces students to wait long periods and often lose eligibility because of age restrictions. Allowing two attempts yearly would save time and help candidates stay within the age limit.
Lawmakers also pushed for raising the general age limit to 35, noting that many students face academic breaks and other challenges that delay preparation.
However, FPSC officials said conducting two exams a year is difficult with the current paper-based system, as marking and result preparation take several months.
The committee also reviewed the screening and written parts of the exam and stressed the need to make the overall system more flexible for candidates.
