BCS Examination
Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) Examination is a nationwide competitive examination in Bangladesh conducted by the Bangladesh Public Service Commission for recruitment to the various Bangladesh Civil Service cadres, including BCS(Admin), BCS(Taxation), BCS(Foreign Affairs) BCS(Police) and among others.[1] The examination is conducted in three phases - the Preliminary examination, the Written examination and the Viva Voce (Interview). The entire process from the notification of the Preliminary examination to declaration of the final results takes 1.5 to 2 years.
Process
Bangladesh Civil Service Examination is based on the British Raj - era Imperial Civil Service. The Civil Services Examination of Bangladesh is considered as the top most competitive job examination in Bangladesh. On an average, 150,000 to 225,000 candidates apply every year and the percentage of candidates appearing is roughly 90%. Aspirants must complete a three-stage process, with a final success rate of about 0.02% for all cadres and 0.005% for general cadres, although it varies from years to years exam.
- Phase I: Preliminary examination - This is qualifying test usually held in May/June every year. Notification for this is published about one month before the exam. Results are published about one month after the exam.
- Phase II: Written examination - This is the main test, usually held in October/November/December every year. Notification for this is published about one month before the exam. Results are usually published about 2–3 months after the exam.
- Phase III: Viva Voce (Interview) - It is the oral test and is held after the publication of written result.
Final result is published about 1.5–2 months after finishing the viva voce.
Eligibility
The eligibility norms for the examination are as follows:[2]
Nationality
All Candidates must be Bangladeshi citizen.Candidates who is committed to marry or thereby engaged to foreign nationals should apply for Permit/NOC to the Government of People's republic of Bangladesh. Application can not be made without Permit/NOC.
Age
- 21 to 30 years (for General candidates)
- 21 to 32 years:
- For Freedom Fighter's Children and Health cadre,
- Tribal candidates for only general education cadre.[3]
Academic
Masters degree or 4-year bachelor degree after Higher Secondary Certificate(HSC) Exam. More than one third class in any academic phase is considered as disqualification of a candidate.
Quota distribution
Quota system was introduced in the government service by an executive order in 1972, After independence of Bangladesh till 1976 only 20 percent of civil officers were recruited on merit basis. In 1976 recruitment on merit increased from 20% to 40% and in 1985 merit became 45% which is still going on. On the other hand rest 55% is distributed as 30% for children of freedom fighters, 10% for women, 10% for districts and 5% for indigenous people. Freedom fighter quota is further continued to their children and grand children in 1997 and in 2010 respectively.
Quota Distribution
Quota Distribution (for both cadre and non-cadre class I & II gazetted posts)
- Merit - 45%
- District - 15%
- Freedom Fighter/Freedom daughters/sons - 30%
- Female - 10%
- Tribal - 5%
- General Quota - 10%[4]
Criticism of Quota System
Current policy and distribution of Quota is highly criticized by the civil society members and intellectuals. Specially the further continuation of freedom fighter quota among their children and grand children is highly controversial and also a somewhat violation of the article 19 and 29 of the Constitution of Bangladesh. Mass student protest against the quota system was erupted in 2013.[5][6] Anti Quota Protests were spread to other parts of the country which made this protest a vital political issue.
Preliminary Examination
This examination is a screening test conducted on the following pattern: Subject : বাংলা - 40 Questions, English - 40 Questions, General Knowledge on Bangladesh & International Affairs - 50 Questions, General Science and Technology - 35 Questions, Mathematical Reasoning and Mental Ability - 35 Questions
- Duration : 2 hr
- Marks : 200
- Question Type : Objective type[7]
Main Exams
Written Examination
General Cadre
Nine Compulsory subjects[8]
- General Bengali (Part I & II) = 200 Marks
- General English (Part I & II) = 200 Marks
- Bangladesh Affairs (Part I & II) = 200 Marks
- International Affairs = 100 Marks
- Mathematical Reasoning and Mental Ability = 100 Marks
- General Science and Technology = 100 Marks
Technical Cadre
Seven compulsory subjects and two post related subjects.[9]
- General Bengali = 100 Marks
- General English(Part I & II) = 200 Marks
- Bangladesh Affairs(Part I & II) = 200 Marks
- International Affairs = 100 Marks
- Mathematical Reasoning and Mental Ability = 100 Marks
- Two Papers for post Related subject = 200 Marks
Both Cadre
One applying for both cadres: Nine compulsory subjects and two post related subjects.
Interview(viva voce)
Candidates who pass the written phase successfully are qualified for the interview commonly known as viva voce. Success rate in this rigorous phase is quite lower than other phases. Current marks allocation for viva voce is 200.
Final Selection
BPSC finally selects the candidates on the basis of the aggregate marks of written(obtained marks out of 900) and viva voce(obtained marks out of 200). 45% of the selection is made on the basis of merit and rest 55% according to several quotas. BPSC recommend the selected qualified candidates to the Ministry of Public Administration.[10] The ministry publishes the gazette of the selected candidates after a rigorous inspection of medical test by DGHS,[11] Police verification and NSI verification. The entire process from the advertisement to the final date of joining takes 1 years generally.
See also
References
- ↑ http://www.bpsc.gov.bd/platform/node/61.bpsc2012.pml
- ↑ http://www.bpsc.gov.bd/platform/node/61.bpsc2012.pml
- ↑ http://www.bpsc.gov.bd/platform/node/61.bpsc2012.pml
- ↑ http://www.bpsc.gov.bd/platform/node/61.bpsc2012.pml
- ↑ http://www.theindependentbd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=177669:protesters-to-siege-varsities-tomorrow-demanding-cancellation-of-bcs-quota-system&catid=187:online-edition&Itemid=223
- ↑ http://www.bdchronicle.com/detail/news/31/810
- ↑ http://www.bpsc.gov.bd/platform/node/61.bpsc2012.pml
- ↑ http://www.bpsc.gov.bd/platform/node/61.bpsc2012.pml
- ↑ http://www.bpsc.gov.bd/platform/node/61.bpsc2012.pml
- ↑ http://mopa.gov.bd/
- ↑ http://www.dghs.gov.bd/index.php/en/