CSS Exam Compulsory & Optional Subject Recommended Books and CSS Complete Syllabus

Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) and the CSS syllabus

CSS Exam Compulsory Subject Recommended Books

The Central Superior Services (CSS) exam conducted by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) of Pakistan has a compulsory subjects list that includes six subjects. Here are some recommended books for the compulsory subjects of the CSS exam:

1. English Essay:

• Exploring the World of English by Saadat Ali Shah
• Dawn English Newspaper for editorial and opinion articles
• High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin
• An Advanced English Grammar with Exercises by David Albert

2. English Precis and Composition:

• A Practical English Grammar by A.J. Thomson and A.V. Martinet
• Better English by Norman Lewis
• Precis Writing by R.Dhillon
• A Handbook of English Usage by David Baker

3. General Science and Ability:

• Principles of Physics by Resnick and Halliday
• A Comprehensive Introduction to Computer Science by Glenn Brookshear
• General Science by Dr. Amanullah Khan
• Reasoning and Analytical Thinking by M. Khurram Shahzad and I. Ahmed

4. Current Affairs:

• CSS Current Affairs by Rai Muhammad Iqbal Kharal
• Daily Dawn Newspaper
• Pakistan Affairs by Ikram Rabbani
• Encyclopedia of General Knowledge by Imtiaz Shahid

5. Pakistan Affairs:

• Pakistan Affairs by Ikram Rabbani
• Pakistan: A Modern History by Ian Talbot
• Struggle for Pakistan by I. H. Qureshi
• The Military and Politics in Pakistan by Hasan-Askari Rizvi

6. Islamic Studies:

• Islamic Studies by Hafiz Karim Dad Chugtai
• Islam: Beliefs and Practices by Yasir Nadeem
• Studies in Islam by Dr. Muhammad Hamidullah
• Islamic Studies MCQs by Zahoor Ahmed

CSS Exam Optional Subject Recommended Books

The optional subjects list is quite extensive and includes various fields such as social sciences, law, and science and technology. Here are some recommended books for some of the popular optional subjects of the CSS exam:

1. International Relations:

• International Relations by Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse
• World Politics: Interests, Interactions, and Institutions by Jeffry A. Frieden, David A. Lake, and Kenneth A. Schultz
• Foreign Policy of Pakistan by Abdul Sattar
• Pakistan's Foreign Policy: An Historical Analysis by Abdul Sattar

2. Sociology:

• Sociology by John J. Macionis and Linda M. Gerber
• Sociology by Richard T. Schaefer
• Social Problems by D. Stanley Eitzen and Maxine Baca Zinn
• Sociology: Themes and Perspectives by Michael Haralambos and Martin Holborn

3. Gender Studies:

• Gender Studies by Sundas Hoorain
• Women, Culture and Society by Michelle Rosaldo and Louise Lamphere
• Gender, Development, and Globalization: Economics as if All People Mattered by Lourdes Beneria and Gunseli Berik
• Globalization and Women in Academia: North/West-South/East by Carmen Luke

4. History of Pakistan and India:

• A History of Pakistan and Its Origins by Christophe Jaffrelot
• A Concise History of India by Barbara D. Metcalf and Thomas R. Metcalf
• A History of the Indian People by K. N. Panikkar
• The Idea of Pakistan by Stephen Philip Cohen

5. Political Science:

• Political Science: An Introduction by Michael G. Roskin
• Comparative Politics Today: A World View by Gabriel A. Almond and G. Bingham Powell Jr.
• The State in Capitalist Society by Ralph Miliband
• Political Science by Andrew Heywood

6. Law:

• The Law of Contract by Avtar Singh
• The Law of Torts by Ratanlal and Dhirajlal
• Criminal Law by Shafi Muhammad Khan
• Constitutional Law of Pakistan by S. M. Zafar

7. Public Administration:

• Public Administration: Concepts and Theories by Basu, Rumki
• Public Administration: An Introduction by Marc Holzer and Richard Schwester
• Public Administration and Public Affairs by Nicholas Henry
• Public Policy: Politics, Analysis, and Alternatives by Michael E. Kraft and Scott R. Furlong

8. Journalism and Mass Communication:

• Mass Communication Theory by Denis McQuail
• Journalism by Warren Breed, Lyman Bryson, and Felix Frankfurter
• Mass Communication in India by Keval J. Kumar
• Mass Communication: An Introduction by R. L. Mathur

9. Anthropology:

• Cultural Anthropology: A Toolkit for a Global Age by Kenneth J. Guest
• Anthropology: Appreciating Human Diversity by Conrad Kottak
• Anthropology: The Exploration of Human Diversity by Conrad Phillip Kottak
• Cultural Anthropology: The Human Challenge by William A. Haviland

10. Psychology:

• Psychology by David G. Myers
• Introduction to Psychology by Morgan and King
• Social Psychology by David Myers
• Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach by David H. Barlow and V. Mark Durand

11. Philosophy:

• Philosophy: The Quest for Truth by Louis P. Pojman and Lewis Vaughn
• Introduction to Philosophy: Classical and Contemporary Readings by John Perry and Michael Bratman
• Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy by Simon Blackburn
• Ethics: Theory and Contemporary Issues by Barbara MacKinnon

12. Geography:

• Human Geography: People, Place, and Culture by Erin H. Fouberg, Alexander B. Murphy, and Harm J. de Blij
• Physical Geography: The Global Environment by Joseph Holden
• The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography by James M. Rubenstein
• Geographical Thought: A Critical Introduction by Tim Cresswell

13. International Relations:

• International Relations: Theories, Discipline, and Diversity by Tim Dunne, Milja Kurki, and Steve Smith
• World Politics: Interests, Interactions, and Institutions by Jeffry A. Frieden, David A. Lake, and Kenneth A. Schultz
• An Introduction to International Relations Theory by Jill Steans and Lloyd Pettiford
• Theories of International Politics and Zombies by Daniel W. Drezner

14. Political Science:

• Political Science: An Introduction by Michael G. Roskin and Robert L. Cord
• Political Science: A Comparative Introduction by Rod Hague and Martin Harrop
• Theories of Political Economy by James A. Caporaso
• Democracy and Its Critics by Robert A. Dahl

15. Sociology:

• Sociology: A Brief Introduction by Richard T. Schaefer
• Sociology: The Essentials by Margaret L. Andersen and Howard F. Taylor
• Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings by Charles Lemert
• Sociology: A Global Introduction by John J. Macionis and Ken Plummer

16. Gender Studies:

• Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity by Judith Butler
• Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center by bell hooks
• The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir
• The Social Construction of Gender by Judith Lorber

Some Recommended Books for the Biological Sciences optional:

1. Biochemistry by Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, and Lubert Stryer

2.    Biology by Jane B. Reece, Lisa A. Urry, Michael L. Cain, Steven A. Wasserman, Peter V. Minorsky, and Robert B. Jackson

3. Molecular Biology of the Cell by Bruce Alberts, Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis, David Morgan, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, and Peter Walter
4. Genetics: A Conceptual Approach by Benjamin A. Pierce
5. Evolution: The Story of Life by Douglas Palmer
6. Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood
7. Principles of Anatomy and Physiology by Gerard J. Tortora and Bryan H. Derrickson
8. Microbiology: An Introduction by Gerard J. Tortora, Berdell R. Funke, and Christine L. Case
9. Immunology by Richard A. Goldsby, Thomas J. Kindt, Barbara A. Osborne, and Janis Kuby
10. Ecology: Theories and Applications by Peter Stiling

In addition to these books, candidates should also refer to scientific journals, research papers, and other relevant sources to keep up with the latest developments in their field of study. Candidates should also practice solving past papers and sample questions to improve their understanding of the exam format and question types.

Note

In conclusion, the CSS exam is a highly competitive exam, and the candidates must prepare well for the compulsory subjects. These recommended books can help candidates prepare thoroughly and improve their chances of success in the CSS exam. Candidates should also focus on practicing past papers, developing a good understanding of current affairs, and improving their writing and analytical skills. It is important to choose the optional subject carefully and wisely, based on one's interest and background.

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