Overview
The Bhutan Civil Service Examination (BCSE) is the merit-based examination the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) uses to recruit university graduates into regular positions in the Bhutanese civil service. It is open to Bhutanese citizens only. The rules in this page come from Chapter 5 of the Bhutan Civil Service Rules and Regulations 2023; the RCSC can revise papers, weightings and cut-offs from time to time, so check each year's announcement.
Who can apply
You must be a Bhutanese citizen.
You must be at least 18 and no older than 35 for pre-service candidates, or 45 for in-service candidates, as on the last date of online registration.
You need a bachelor's degree of at least three years, studied full time on campus at a recognised institution. Graduates of Shedras with an equivalent bachelor's or master's degree (two years) also qualify. A two-year bachelor's degree is accepted if the candidate has Class X plus a validated certificate or diploma of two years or more.
Some categories need a specific field: the Finance category asks for a degree in commerce, economics, finance, accountancy, business administration or business management; the Education category asks for a degree with a relevant school or higher-education subject, or a B.Ed; the Technical category asks for a degree in the relevant field, and law graduates also need a PGDNL.
You are not eligible if you have a criminal conviction or a pending prosecution, were terminated or compulsorily retired, used false statements or forged documents, or took part in politics without completing a one-year cooling-off period. The rules list a few further grounds.
Exam pattern
The BCSE has two stages: a Preliminary Examination and a Main Examination.
Preliminary Examination (PE)
The PE is a common, objective-type paper that screens candidates for the Main Examination. It tests English and Dzongkha communication, logic and analytical ability, problem solving and data interpretation, and general awareness and current affairs. Candidates who reach the cut-off set by the RCSC may sit the Main Examination. PE marks are valid for that year only and are not carried into the Main Examination. The RCSC may waive the PE for accredited professions facing critical shortages.
Main Examination (ME)
Candidates sit the ME in one of six categories: Administrative, Finance, PGDE, Technical, Dzongkha and B.Ed. It has three parts.
| Part | Administrative, Finance, PGDE, Technical, Dzongkha | B.Ed |
|---|---|---|
| Academic achievement (bachelor's degree marks) | 10% | 20% |
| Written examination (three papers) | 70% | 60% |
| Viva voce | 20% | 20% |
The three written papers differ by category.
| Paper | Administrative, Finance, PGDE | Dzongkha | Technical | B.Ed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Dzongkha language | Dzongkha language and general knowledge | Language and general knowledge | Dzongkha language |
| Paper II | English and general knowledge | English language and current affairs | General subject knowledge | English language |
| Paper III | Bhutan and its socio-political institutions and socio-economic development | Buddhist studies | Subject specialisation for the position | Teacher aptitude test |
Within the written examination, Papers I and II carry 15% each of the ME for every category, and Paper III carries 40% (30% for B.Ed).
The viva voce is held in both Dzongkha and English before a panel appointed by the RCSC and is marked out of 100.
Marking and results
Academic achievement is based on the marks in your bachelor's degree. Letter grades are converted to percentages using a table in the rules if your university does not state a conversion. The RCSC rules say PE results should be declared within one month and ME results, with merit rank, within 45 days of the examination. A written appeal can be made within five working days of the result on payment of an administrative fee; only recounting is allowed, not re-evaluation. A result is not declared if you skipped any of the three written papers or the viva voce.
After the exam
To be selected you need at least 50% in the ME. Placement follows merit rank and the vacancies available. Selected candidates must pass a drug test before appointment. Pre-service candidates in some categories take a Post Graduate Diploma course before appointment, and their final ranking combines the BCSE (50%) and the PGD course (50%). Candidates who withdraw after signing the confirmation but before the oath-taking ceremony are charged an administrative fee of Nu. 5,000 under the 2023 rules.
Preparation tips
Build fluency in both English and Dzongkha, since both the PE and the viva voce use them.
Read about Bhutan's institutions and development, which feeds Paper III for the Administrative, Finance and PGDE categories.
Follow current affairs, which both the PE and the Dzongkha-category paper cover.
Keep your Class X, Class XII and degree transcripts ready, because academic achievement is scored from them.
Does my PE score count towards the Main Examination?
No. PE marks only decide whether you can sit the Main Examination in that year.
Can I use any degree for the Administrative category?
Yes. The Administrative category asks for a bachelor's degree without a specified field. If you hold more than one degree, you may choose which one is assessed.
Where are the dates and application fee for this year?
The RCSC announces them each year. This page does not list them because the rules chapter does not fix them.