CSS Syllabus 2026 (All CSS Subjects)

The Central Superior Services (CSS) 2026 examination, conducted by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), requires a 1200-mark written exam (600 compulsory, 600 optional) followed by a 300-mark viva voce. Key changes include a mandatory Multiple-Choice Question (MCQ) based Preliminary Test (MPT). Candidates must pass 6 compulsory subjects (100 marks each) and select 600 marks from the optional subject groups.

CSS Compulsory Subjects

CSS compulsory subjects are mandatory for the aspirants to attempt. These contain no choice. Aspirants are required to prepare them by hook or by crook. There are 1200 marks of written examination, where six hundred marks are covered through compulsory subjects.

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 Major Religions (For non muslim candidates)	100
Total		600

CSS Optional Subjects

Below can be seen seven groups containing different subjects. A candidate has to cover the rest of the six hundred marks through these groups. Here are the groups with a variety of subjects. 

Group 1: 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 2: To select 1 subject of 200 or 2 subjects of 100 marks.

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 3: 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 4: 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 5: 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 6: 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 7: 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

• • These groups contain all the details regarding CSS syllabus 2026. Aspirants are required to attempt all subjects in the English language except Islamic studies and regional languages (Pashto, Balochi, Sindhi, Persian, etc.). Islamic studies, in particular, can be attempted in Urdu or English. It depends upon the candidate whether they feel comfortable in Urdu or English.
  • As per the FPSC (federal public service commission) CSS syllabus, subject containing 200 marks are comprised of two papers, whereas subject containing 100 marks are comprised of one paper only. Each paper has three hours duration of its attempt.
  • There are chances that CSS exams aspirants may go through some objective MCQs in both optional and compulsory subjects.

This was all about the CSS exam syllabus that would help you in the subject selection, hopefully. Understand the overall scheme of these groups and gently choose your CSS subjects. Wrong turns in this phase will not only waste your time but also great efforts.