47th BCS Preliminary Exam Postponed – Likely to be Held in Early August

The Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) has decided to postpone the preliminary exam of the 47th BCS. According to the latest information from a senior official at PSC, the exam is now expected to take place in early August 2025. Earlier, it was scheduled to be held on June 27.

This decision was made to manage the current backlog of BCS exams and to improve the overall process. Many candidates are now adjusting their study plans based on the new possible exam date.

Over 350,000 candidates applied

The formal announcement for the 47th BCS exam was released in November 2024. Through this exam, the government intends to recruit:

3,487 candidates for cadre positions, and
201 persons applied for non-cadre positions.

More than 350,000 job hopefuls applied for this very demanding exam. This shows how popular the BCS (Bangladesh Civil Service) still is among young graduates in the country.

Backlog of BCS Exams Creating Pressure

At present, the PSC is struggling with a backlog of four BCS exams. These include the 44th, 45th, 46th, and now the 47th BCS exams. Some of these exams have been ongoing for over three and a half years, with many stages still incomplete.

The 44th, 45th, and 46th BCS exams started during the term of the previous government (Awami League), but many of their steps remain unfinished. This delay has created a lot of uncertainty and frustration among job seekers, especially those who are nearing the upper age limit for government jobs.

New Plan to Complete BCS in 1.5 Years

To fix this situation, the current PSC has decided to take strong steps. The Public Administration Reform Commission has recently submitted a report to the government with new suggestions.

The main proposal is to complete each BCS exam within 1.5 years. According to their plan:

The first 12 months should cover all the exam steps — preliminary, written, and viva (oral test).
The next six months should be dedicated to publishing the final results and completing the recruitment process.
This concept is intended to increase discipline and speed in the BCS system, as well as to alleviate the stress caused by extended applicant wait times.

PSC is Also Considering Changing its Syllabus

In addition to the schedule, the PSC intends to modify the BCS syllabus. The goal is to make the exam more current, relevant to real-world needs, and focused on practical skills and knowledge.

Many experts say that the current syllabus is out of date and not totally appropriate for today’s employment market. A more comprehensive syllabus will aid in the selection of more capable and efficient government officers.

Challenges in Implementing the New Plan

Although the new plans sound promising, there are many challenges ahead. Some of these include:

A lack of enough exam centres across the country.
The need to maintain the secrecy and security of question papers.
Managing a large number of candidates fairly and efficiently.
Shortage of trained staff to evaluate written papers and conduct viva exams on time.

If the government wants to make the new schedule a reality, it must prepare carefully, collaborate, and appropriate resources.

Previous Attempts were Unsuccessful

It is important to note that PSC has attempted to speed the BCS procedure before. In 2021, they also revealed a goal to complete the exam in one year. However, the idea did not work out, and delays continued. As a result, the backlog got worse.

Hope For a Better Future

Despite these challenges, many hopefuls remain hopeful. They believe the new PSC leadership is more aggressive and committed to addressing issues. If the commission is successful in implementing the new strategy, it will benefit not only job seekers but also the country’s public service quality.

A speedier and more efficient BCS procedure allows brilliant young people to begin their careers and make significant contributions to the nation.

Source: Daily Jugantor