BCS Examination
The Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) is a nationwide competitive examination in Bangladesh conducted by the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) for recruitment to the various Bangladesh Civil Service cadres, including BCS (Admin), BCS (Taxation), BCS (Foreign Affairs), and BCS (Police) 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 to 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 to 2 months after finishing the viva voce.
Eligibility
The eligibility norms for the examination are as follows:[2]
Nationality
All candidates must be Bangladeshi citizens. Candidates who are committed to marry or thereby engaged to foreign nationals should apply for a Permit/NOC to the Government of People's Republic of Bangladesh; applications can not be made without a 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
Master's degree or 4-year bachelor's 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 - 55%
- Freedom Fighter/Freedom daughters/sons - 30%
- Female - 10%
- Tribal - 5%
- District Quota - 10%[4]
Criticism of the quota system
Current policy of the quota system is highly criticized by the civil society members and intellectuals. Further continuation of freedom fighter quota among their children and grandchildren is highly controversial and, to some extent, a violation of Article 19 and 29 of the Constitution of Bangladesh. The students demonstrated a mass protest against this quota system 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 : Bengali - 35 Questions, English - 35 Questions, General Knowledge on Bangladesh & International Affairs - 50 Questions, General Science and computer - 30 Questions, Mathematical Reasoning and Mental Ability - 30 Questions,ethics and good governance -10,geology-10
- Duration: 2 hours
- Marks: 200
- Question type: Objective[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.
Viva voce (interview)
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 selects the candidates on the basis of the aggregated 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 recommends 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. Generally, the entire process from the advertisement to the final date of joining takes 1 year.
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/
External links
- Bangladesh Public Service Commission official website
- Ministry of Public Administration official website
- Facebook Group for information about BCS Examination