CSS Past Papers Analysis Current Affairs

Passing CSS exam is not hard work it's the game of smart work. Many intelligent and hard working students fail this examination in one paper or other because they fail to predict the anticipated questions, and do not prepare accordingly. 

Here I have analyzed past papers of Current Affairs subject from year 2016-2024, and I have segregated the CSS IR paper two question topic or theme wise.

By reading this post you can easily comprehend that what type of questions repeat each year in CSS current affairs paper, and from which theme or category.  

World Affairs

CSS Questions on Pakistan-China Relations in Current Affairs paper:

Q. No. 5. Discuss the project idea China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is the great leap forward of economic regionalization in the globalized world. Explain its potential advantages, challenges, and future prospects.

Q. No. 2. Examine China Strategic Vision behind ‘The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)’, also known as the One Belt One Road (OBOR). (20)

Q. No. 2. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is considered as a game-changer. How the CPEC can be helpful to uplift the Pakistan’s economy? Discuss. (20)

Q. No. 8. What are the opportunities and challenges for Pakistan as one of the new members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)?

Q. No. 3. What measures do you suggest to improve the security conditions of Balochistan in respect to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and the role of regional powers to sabotage it?

Q. No. 7. Critically examine China’s strategic vision behind its ‘One Belt, One Road’ (OBOR) venture. (20)

Q. No. 5. Discuss the prospects and challenges to the construction of “China-Pakistan Economic Corridor”. How will CPEC become a game changer for the region? (20)

CSS questions on US-India Relation in Current Affairs paper:

Q. No. 5. Discuss the strategic contours of Indo-US evolving partnership and how will it impact Pakistan-US and Pakistan-China relations? (20)

Q. No. 6. The impact of burgeoning US-India strategic partnership over the security situation of the region and Indian Ocean Region. (20)

Q. No. 8. (a). Analyze the effects of commissioning of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Arihant equipped with nuclear-capable missile called K-4 over the strategic stability of South Asia. (b). US-India in August 2016 signed Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) that will reportedly facilitate the two allies to use each other’s military facilities to check China’s growing influence. Comment

CSS questions on US-China Rivalry in Current Affairs paper:

Q. No. 7. Examine the emerging strategic competition between China and the US and its impact on global order. (20)

Q. No. 5. Explain the salient contours of the US ‘rebalancing’ policy and China’s assertive policy in South China Sea and latter’s disputes with the regional countries. Critically evaluate. (20)

Q. No. 7. The US and China have been in an on-going trade war since 2018. In academic circles, it has been argued that this conflict may as well be the Second Cold War. Critically evaluate the future world order with main actors as China, Russia and the US. (20)

Q. No. 4. How the United States is trying to keep its dominant position in the Asia-Pacific and what is the China’s response to it? (20)

Q. No. 6. Strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region is increasingly becoming intense. Define the interests and role of US, China, India, Japan and Australia in the geopolitics of Indo-Pacific region. (20)

CSS questions on US-Russia Rivalry in Current Affairs Paper:

Q. No. 4. How do the nature and possible prospects of US-Russia strategic nuclear deterrence change with the enforcement of New START treaty of 2021? What could be the treaty’s implications on Pakistan`s nuclear programme, keeping in view its defence policy? (20)

(20) Q. No. 4. Critically analyze the US-Russia relations in context of ISIS and its impact on the security situation of Middle East. (20)

CSS questions on Current global Issues in Current Affairs paper:

CSS past questions on Ukraine Issue: 

Q. No. 2. Propose prospective foreign policy options for Pakistan in the wake of Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. (20)

Q4. Discuss the core causes of the Russian invasion of Ukraine which have considerable socio-economic, political, and strategic consequences on the world. Explain its devastating impact on Pakistan and its severe lesson for the country’s survival.

CSS past questions on Kashmir Issue: 

Q. No. 3. What are the similarities and differences between Nagorno-Kaharabakh and Kashmir conflicts? 

Q. No. 4. Given the volatile lockdown in Indian Occupied Kashmir, what are the viable policy choices available to Pakistan? What can Pakistan realistically do to ease the sufferings of Kashmiri people? (20)

Q. No. 4. Discuss the possibilities of progress under the recently agreed rubric of comprehensive dialogue between Pakistan and India. In your opinion what are the major constraints at present? (20)

CSS past questions on Afghanistan Issue: 

Q. No. 3. The 2021 Taliban Takeover of Afghanistan presents regional and global challenges. Elaborate the anticipated policies of the Taliban government and the regional and global response. (20)

Q. No. 6. Some scholars term Afghan Peace Deal as the US Withdrawal Deal. Do you agree? Answer the question while discussing the contours of the Afghan peace process. (20)

CSS past questions on Climate Change:

Q3. The UN climate summit (COP-27) in Sharm el Sheikh (Egypt) discussed Pakistan’s catastrophic summer floods exacerbated by climate change and the country is facing imminent threat of epidemics and other multi-dimensional dangers. Discuss the COP-27 roadmap to face the challenge of climate change and proposed measures for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Pakistan.

Q. No. 2. What impact global climate change will have on the water resources of Pakistan? How will it affect inter-provincial harmony? (20)

Q. No. 3. Elaborate the reasons and impacts of Donald trump’s withdrawal from Climate Change Paris Agreement 2015? (20)

Q. No. 8. Discuss the adverse impact of climate change on the world and the measures recently adopted by the Paris Conference to address this issue. (20)

CSS questions' on Pakistan's domestic Issues in Current Affairs:

Q8. Critically discuss why Pakistan’s economic growth continues to be a “Balance-of-Payments” constraint which is one of the core causes to keep the foreign exchange reserve under pressure. Do you think that Pakistan’s export performance remains the most relevant long-term challenge to alleviate the balance-of-payments constraint for sustained economic growth and explain radical structural reforms to improve export performance?

Q. No. 3. What measures would you suggest to improve the economy of Pakistan particularly in the areas of debt reduction and enhancing export capacity? (20)

Q. No. 5. Give a critical review of Pakistan National Energy Policy 2013-2018. (20)

Q. No. 6. Numerous political systems- Parliamentary as well as Presidential, have been in vogue in Pakistan with limited success. Draft your own proposed but practical system that would result in good governance of the country. Stipulate reasons and conditions for its success. (20)

Q. No. 5. Most of the major political parties have committed to the creation of the new provinces in Pakistan. Should new provinces be created or not, in Pakistan? Elaborate your answer by giving references from the new provinces debate. (20)

Q. No. 3. Why was Pakistan placed on the ‘Grey List’ of Financial Action Task Force (FATF)? What are the implications and what measures should Pakistan take to move out of this list? (20)

Q. No. 4. What could be the reasons of emerging water conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan? (20)

Q. No. 6. How can the corruption elimination strategy be made part of the governance system of Pakistan?

Q. No. 7. How can the governing structures have the capacity to neutralize threats to internal security of Pakistan? (20)

Q. No. 8. Discuss the instruments and techniques of ‘Hybrid’ warfare in context to Pakistan. (20)

Q. No. 3. Discuss in detail the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and challenges to it. (20)

Q2. Discuss historic Pakistan and Turkey bilateral relations beyond the areas of socio-economic and strategic realms. Explain its geopolitical ripple effects in the Himalayas, the Arabian Peninsula, and the South Caucasus.

Q. No. 2. Highlight the role of National Action Plan (NAP) in stabilization of internal security of Pakistan. Critically analyze its outcomes? (20)

Q. No. 2. Discuss in detail the efficacy of counter terrorism measures adopted by the government, especially with reference to the National Action Plan. (20)

CSS questions on Middle East & Muslim World Issues in Current Affairs paper:

Q. No. 5. Muslim Ummah has failed to unite under one roof. The leadership, their internal wrangling and sectarian divide keeps them away from each other. No wonder the Muslim world is in shambles in their home countries, at OIC level and at international forums. Taking a tag from above, discuss ways and means to unite the Muslim Ummah with a pragmatic approach. (20)

Q. No. 7. Discuss in detail the role of OIC, Arab league and GCC in the Middle East crises and conflicts. (20)

Q. No. 5. Critically analyze the newly established Islamic Military Alliance and its future implications for the Muslim World? (20)

Q. No. 6. Describe the 2017 Qatar Diplomatic Crisis and its impact on the Middle East. (20)

Q. No. 6. How do you see recent developments in the Middle East, particularly with reference to deteriorating relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran? What role, if any, Pakistan could play in reducing the tensions between the two Muslim countries? (20)

CSS past paper Other questions in Current Affairs:

Q6. November 15, 2022, will be a historic date in humanity’s history because at this date the Earth’s population reached the 8 billion mark. Critically discuss that the 21st century is a century of rapid population growth which has a devastating negative impact on the world. Explain the severe consequences of rapid population growth which will affect every country on earth.

Q7. Critically discuss the conceptualized energy’s influence on world geopolitics and its distinctiveness of global energy governance.

Q. No. 8. Write short notes on any two of the following: (10 each)

(a) Poverty & Trade in South Asia and the role of SAARC

(b) A comparison of leadership qualities between Xi Jinping of China and Joe Biden of the US

(c) 2022 FIFA World Cup and politics of the Arab World

Q. No. 2. What will be the strategic and political implications of the US withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty, and how is it impacting the arms control arrangements between the great powers? (20)

Q. No. 4. Last two decades have seen the rise of the right as a potent challenge to the liberal democracies throughout the world. What are the causes of this rise and how can states attend to this challenge?

Q. No. 7. How is militarization of Artificial Intelligence and Computing revolutionizing the military affairs?

Q. No. 8. Delineate the ways in which Covid-19 has affected the contours of the contemporary world order. (20)

Q. No. 8. In view of the evolving global alignments and changing nature of major-power relationships, what is the future of globalism and multilateralism? Discuss with examples.

Q. No. 7. Critically examine the Donald Trump’s Policy for South Asia and its implications for Pakistan and the region. (20)