Some details of Common Training Programme at the Civil Services Academy, Lahore:

1. Every commoner will be assigned an Academy Serial No. (Roll No.).
2. The very first day, the commoners are required to sign the service-joining letter, with surety etc.
3. After, they submit the required documents (photographs, surety bond, security fee etc.) they are given details of their CTP, i.e. their Room No. + Group No. (All the commoners are distributed into 4 groups - G1, G2, G3, G4-for the purpose of academics. Every group has a strength of around 40. It is ensured that all the occupational groups and provinces are represented equally in these 4 academic groups.)
4. There are 10 subjects in total (besides Syndicate). All the academic groups will study 5 subjects at a time,and 2 academic groups will have one set of 4 subjects while the other 2 groups will be studying the other 4 subjects.For example: G1 and G2 will study Economics, PSM, Contemporary Issues in Islam, NIP. G3 and G4 will be doing Office Management, Govt, Functioning, Public Finance ...etc.Computers, Communication Skills and Public Speaking will be for all the groups.
After the Mid-term, subjects will be exchanged among the groups.
5. Syndicate is for all. 7-8 Different groups are made for this purpose.
6. In the evening, Sports is must for all. Attendance is must...participation is not!
7. Morning PT was not mandatory for 32nd and 33rd CTP....it depends on the Director(s) of the CSA.....may b 34th have it as a mandatory exercise daily....ur DG is an ex-army-man!
8. All the books will be provided by the academy. Bank Account will be opened on the very first day....academy makes the arrangements for it. Sports kit is also provided by the CSA.

Details of subjects:
1. Economics: Very basics are taught.
2. Public Finance + Public Sector Management:
Those with an MBA will find these 2 subjects very very easy. For the rest these will be new, but not really tough.
3. Govt, Functioning: The book will have 10 chapters...meaning 10 topics only. History of Indo-Pak in a different perspective + some details of how the govt. machinery is being run...that's it!
4. Office Management : Very very easy + boring + important subject. Mian Khuda Buksh sahib is the genius instructor.....no doubt one gets sleepy, but Mian Sahib makes it really easy for the probationers!
5. NIP : 15-20 selected hot issues are discussed by Mr. Hassan Askari Rizvi. Just take ur lectures/notes.....reproduce in the papers.....nothing to worry at all!
6.Computers: Dua karain k koi sifarishi instructor na milay......rest no problem...very basics of MS OFFICE are taught!
7. Communication Skills + Public Speaking:
Ten selected topics are taught in Communication Skills. Public Speaking is the practical side of it. All the probationers are required to give presentations (3-4 presentations during the whole term).


CTP is not difficult at all. At least, after qualifying the CSS-exam....it is really easy. Just note down the lectures......re-produce them in the papers/tests.....that's it.Some subjects are relatively easier for MBA people...coz they have studied some of these things before.Rest, all will be equally "blanK".

Accomodation is fine. Not luxurious....but still better than most of the other governmental accomodations at this level......e.g. rooms have no carpets nor the wash-rooms are tiled; no A/C but a fan....standards vary from one person to another.Messing bus theek hi hoti hai.....guzaara ho jaye ga......but being there, with a lot of friends is the main thing....sub ho jata hai! Accomodation and Messing charges are deducted from salary, chahay aap avail karain ya nahin.I never stayed at the CSA.....messing bhi just 4-5 baar hi ki thi.....coz my house is very close toCSA......but now as ur new DG is strict....so may be u won't get a chance to escape after the classes...may be.....not sure!

Classes are from 8:30 am to 2: 00 pm. Then lunch....at 4: 00 pm it is sports time.So at 5 pm....finally the probationers are totally free to do as they like to! Now again, as there is a new DG, so things would be different.
Vacations.....only the gazetted holidays + a break of 1 week at the end of first term.

My experience......friends make CSA a paradise....rest it is quite boring.One thing that disappointed me at CSA.......people used all their links/resources to get marks/attendance etc......clerks are all corrupt.....kissi bhi clerk say bana kar rakho, and u get what u want.....40% attendance will be made 90%. Also, sifarishi instructors (like that of the computers in 33rd CTP) provide utmost assistance to their "favorite" probationers.
Lekin, yeh koi ajeeb baat nahin hai....yeh sub chalta hai. What u need is to just concentrate on your own work...and let others do what they can!

Here i am postiing some contents from the letter , which I received from the CSA before the commencement of my CTP:
Reporting time 8:30 AM, October 10 or the evening of October 09.
Bring the following with you:
1. Duly completed SURETY BOND (form will be provided by the parent department/ ministry).
2. 5 passport size and 12 2.5 cm x 2.5cm photographs, plus 15 passport size photographs to be pasted on the Bio-data forms.
3. 3 NIC copies
4. Sum of Rs. 4400/(male) 4150/(females)
(as security for different purposes).
5.Those already in Govt service will be providing their pay certificates, service statments, appointment letters etc.
DRESS CODE: No Jeans etc. allowed (so sad). For sports, CSA will provide the dress.
Bring adequate bedding when u come to the CSA! (i.e. bed sheets, quilts, pillows etc.)

How much money u should keep.....hmm.....depends on how much u usually spend.....just a normal amount is required !

Significance of the position in CTP
It does matter among the members of the same occupational group,.....coz inter se (i.e. within the group) seniority would be determined on the basis of CSS marks+ CTP marks + STP marks. So it does matter. Also, the topper gets the President's Gold Medal....so try to be the winner......if u want to take it easy...do as u wish!

Study Tour
It is usually arranged after the end of the first term.....we had it in december...and our second term started in January. It is of 10-11 days...at most!

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The Me you have always known, the Me that's a stranger still.