Desk Report:
Reform Commission Proposes Faster Process with Preliminary & Written Tests in a Year
The Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) recruitment process should be completed within 18 months, covering the period from the call for applications to final recruitment, according to recommendations submitted by the Reform Commission to the chief adviser yesterday.
The commission proposed that the preliminary and written tests be conducted within 12 months, while the remaining six months should be allocated for the final stages, including viva-voce, health screening, and appointment formalities.
Proposed Timeline for BCS Recruitment
- January (Second Week): Circular for applications released
- April (First Week): Preliminary exam
- May (First Week): Preliminary results published
- June (Second Half): Written exams
- December: Written exam results announced
- January-February: Viva-voce
- April (Third Week): Final results published
- June: Appointment gazette issued after health screening and police verification
- July 1: Successful candidates join service
- August (First Week): Foundation training begins
Overhaul of the Examination System
To make the process more efficient, the commission recommends restructuring the written exams. Candidates will be assessed on six compulsory subjects, each carrying 100 marks:
- Bangla Essay
- English Essay
- English Composition & Precis
- Bangladesh Constitution, History, Culture & Tradition
- International & Current Affairs, General Science & Technology
- Social Science, Geography & Environment
Additionally, candidates must take six optional papers from disciplines such as arts, social sciences, applied sciences, commerce, and law, with a restriction of selecting no more than two papers from the same field.
Currently, general cadre candidates take a 900-mark written exam, while those applying for both general and specialized cadres face an 1,100-mark test. The commission suggests modernizing the exams to better assess problem-solving skills.
Stricter Evaluation & Transparency
- Candidates scoring below 60 out of 100 in any exam will be disqualified.
- Results will be published with detailed score breakdowns for transparency.
- Candidates failing the exam three times will be barred from further attempts.
At present, the entire recruitment process takes nearly four years. The commission stresses that simplifying and expediting the procedure is crucial to ensuring a more efficient and effective civil service recruitment system.