FPSC CE-2016 syllabus · 52 subjects

Prepare for the CSS Exam in Pakistan

Free, structured preparation for Pakistan's Central Superior Services exam. Read structured subject-wise notes, find recommended books, practise MPT MCQs, and use AI essay prompts to support your writing practice.

Browse Syllabus Start with Pakistan Affairs CSS Syllabus (Official)

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Subject-wise notes
Books & AI prompts
MCQs + past papers

Choose your CSS preparation starting point

Use the syllabus to identify your topics, study the relevant notes, then test your recall. For written papers, practise an outline and a timed answer after revising each topic.

CSS recommended books

Find subject-wise reading lists with book titles and authors, then connect your reading to the study notes.

CSS notes by subject

Find compulsory and optional subject notes, topic guides and revision material.

CSS MPT preparation notes

Revise screening-test topics before practising MCQs.

CSS English Essay preparation

Study essay structure, argumentation and writing practice.

CSS Pakistan Affairs notes

Browse Pakistan Affairs topics and build your revision plan.

Solved CSS MPT paper and answer key

Review 200 questions with English and Urdu explanations.

Free CSS MPT mock tests

Practise under time limits and review your answers.

CSS Prepare is an independent study resource. Check FPSC’s official website for exam notices, eligibility and the applicable syllabus.

Read, practise and revise with a clear structure

Follow subject and topic links through the notes, use book recommendations for deeper reading, and practise with questions and writing exercises. The study notes and prompt templates are free to read online, so you can start with the topic you need today.

Structured notes, free online

Move from subject overviews into topic notes, then continue to related pages through the study navigation.

Books for deeper understanding

Browse book titles and authors by subject. Pair your chosen references with online notes for revision.

AI prompts for writing practice

Use reusable essay prompts to explore an outline or ask for feedback on your own writing.

Free AI prompt templates for CSS essay preparation

Open a template, copy it into your preferred AI tool, and add your topic or essay. Use the output to examine an argument, compare possible outlines and identify areas to revise. Write your own practice answer and verify factual claims against reliable sources.

Get feedback on your CSS essay

A reusable prompt for reviewing an essay’s structure, relevance, argument and expression.

Explore an essay outline and draft

A guided prompt for working through a topic, rough work, outline and sample essay.

These are copyable templates for an external AI tool. AI feedback is practice guidance, not an official FPSC assessment; your chosen tool’s access terms apply.

Subjects

528

Topics

1200

Marks total

Free

Forever

Free CSS study material for Pakistan’s exam aspirants

CSS Prepare brings together FPSC CSS subject outlines, study notes, MCQs and past-paper resources. Start with the compulsory subjects, explore your optional subjects, and use the MPT library for screening-test revision. Each subject page links to its available topics and learning resources.

For English Essay and Précis & Composition, explore essay planning, argumentation, grammar, vocabulary and comprehension. The compulsory library also covers Pakistan Affairs, Current Affairs, Islamic Studies, and General Science & Ability, with a separate syllabus page for Comparative Study of Major Religions.

Optional-subject notes include Computer Science, International Relations, Public Administration, Criminology, Sociology and Gender Studies. The directory below also links to the wider optional syllabus catalogue, including sciences, history, law, literature and regional languages. Coverage varies by subject: look for the study-notes label to find imported subject collections.

Use solved papers to review how questions are framed, then practise recalling the material without looking at the answer. The MPT resources include subject-wise notes, timed mock tests, and a solved 200-question paper with English and Urdu explanations.

What's inside

Everything you need, in one place

A focused toolkit for serious aspirants — concise notes, instant feedback, and decades of past papers.

Structured lessons

Every subject broken into bite-sized topics with concise notes.

MPT Trap Decoder

3-volume FPSC-pattern smart notes for the 200-MCQ screening test.

Try Yourself MCQs

Topic-wise multiple choice questions with instant feedback.

Past papers

Searchable archive of FPSC past papers, year and subject-wise.

Required

6 Compulsory Subjects

600 marks. Every candidate must attempt all six papers.

View all

English Essay

100

Candidates will be required to write one or more essay in English. A wide choice of topics will be given. Candidates are expected to reflect comprehensive and research-based knowledge on a selected topic. Articulation, expression and technical treatment of style are examined.

5 topicsOpen

English (Precis & Composition)

100

Tests precis writing, reading comprehension, sentence structuring, translation, grammar and vocabulary.

7 topicsOpen

General Science & Ability

100

Two parts: General Science (60 marks) covering physical, biological, environmental, food sciences and IT; General Ability (40 marks) covering quantitative, logical and analytical reasoning.

8 topicsOpen

Current Affairs

100

Tests general knowledge of history, politics and international affairs as needed to interpret current events.

3 topicsOpen

Pakistan Affairs

100

Comprehensive study of Pakistan's ideology, history, geography, society, security challenges, foreign policy, economy and constitutional/legal evolution.

28 topicsOpen

Islamic Studies

100

Study of Islam — beliefs, Sirah of the Prophet (PBUH), civilization, human rights, governance and the Islamic code of life. Non-Muslim candidates may opt for Comparative Study of Major Religions instead.

7 topicsOpen

Comparative Study of Major Religions

100

Alternative paper in lieu of Islamic Studies, available to non-Muslim candidates. Covers the major world religions — Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam — through their history, scriptures, doctrines, sects and contemporary trends.

6 topicsOpen

Optional

45 Optional Subjects across 7 groups

Pick subjects totalling 600 marks from Groups I–VII. Browse the full catalogue and build the combination that plays to your strengths.

Browse optional subjects

Group

III

Group

VII

Group

Explore every CSS optional subject

Browse subject descriptions by syllabus group. Open a subject to see its syllabus and available resources; use the linked subject names to go straight to your chosen area.

Group I

Accountancy & Auditing

Financial accounting, cost accounting, auditing, taxation and business law.

Syllabus & subject overview

Economics

Micro and macro economics, monetary economics, public finance, international trade and development.

Syllabus & subject overview

Computer Science

Programming, algorithms, databases, networking, software engineering, operating systems and AI.

Study notes & syllabus

Political Science

Western and Muslim political thought, political theory, comparative politics and government systems.

Syllabus & subject overview

International Relations

IR theories, international history, foreign policies, security studies, international political economy.

Study notes & syllabus

Group II

Physics

Mechanics, electromagnetism, modern physics, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, optics.

Syllabus & subject overview

Chemistry

Physical, inorganic, organic, analytical and industrial chemistry.

Syllabus & subject overview

Applied Mathematics

Vector calculus, mechanics, fluid dynamics, numerical analysis, partial differential equations.

Syllabus & subject overview

Pure Mathematics

Algebra, calculus, real and complex analysis, topology, number theory.

Syllabus & subject overview

Statistics

Probability, statistical inference, sampling, regression, design of experiments, time series.

Syllabus & subject overview

Geology

Mineralogy, petrology, structural geology, palaeontology, stratigraphy, economic geology.

Syllabus & subject overview

Group III

Business Administration

Management, marketing, finance, HR, organisational behaviour.

Syllabus & subject overview

Public Administration

Public administration theory, bureaucracy, public policy, financial administration, ethics.

Study notes & syllabus

Governance & Public Policies

Governance concepts, public policy process, good governance, e-governance.

Syllabus & subject overview

Town Planning & Urban Management

Urbanisation, town planning theory, land use, transport planning, urban governance.

Syllabus & subject overview

Group IV

History of Pakistan & India

From Muslim rule in the subcontinent to the creation of Pakistan and beyond.

Syllabus & subject overview

Islamic History & Culture

From the rise of Islam to the Ottoman Empire and modern Muslim world.

Syllabus & subject overview

British History

Tudor England to the contemporary period.

Syllabus & subject overview

European History

From the Renaissance and Reformation through the World Wars to contemporary Europe.

Syllabus & subject overview

History of USA

American Revolution to the contemporary period.

Syllabus & subject overview

Group V

Gender Studies

Gender theories, women's movements, gender and development, gender in Pakistan.

Study notes & syllabus

Environmental Sciences

Ecosystems, biodiversity, pollution, climate change, environmental policy.

Syllabus & subject overview

Agriculture & Forestry

Crop production, soil science, forestry, livestock, agricultural economics.

Syllabus & subject overview

Botany

Plant biology, taxonomy, physiology, ecology and applied botany.

Syllabus & subject overview

Zoology

Animal biology, physiology, ecology, evolution and applied zoology.

Syllabus & subject overview

English Literature

From Chaucer to contemporary literature, including criticism and theory.

Syllabus & subject overview

Urdu Literature

Classical to modern Urdu prose and poetry.

Syllabus & subject overview

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