How this paper is set and answered
From the notes printed under FPSC's own Revised Scheme tables.
- The question papers in Urdu or other Pakistani regional languages (Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto and Balochi), Persian and Arabic should be answered in the respective languages. However, question relating with translation from respective language into English or vice versa may be answered as directed in the question paper.
- Ratio of MCQs in compulsory papers for CE-2016 will be 20 MCQs in each paper except in the paper of Essay. Similarly there will be 20 MCQs from each optional paper except Pure Mathematics and Applied Mathematics.
Complete Pashto Syllabus
The full official FPSC syllabus, reproduced section by section from the source document.
1Origin of Pashto language, its dialects and alphabets
2Pashto Grammar
3General question on history of Pashto literature and literary movements in Pashto
4Essay on prominent aspects of Pashto Culture, Historical and Literary personalities.
5Translation of unseen passages from Pashto in to English or Urdu.
6Translation of unseen passages of English or Urdu into Pashto.
7General Questions on evolution and criticism of Pashto Prose and Poetry.
8Pashto Classic Poetry
1 point
- (i) Khoshal Khan Khattak (ii) Rehman Baba (iii) Abdul Hamid Baba (iv) Ali Khan (v) kazim Khan Sheda
9Pashto Modern Poetry
1 point
- (i) Amir Hamza Khan Shinwari (ii) Ghani Khan (iii) Qalandar Momand (iv) Abdur Rahim Majzoob (v) Younas Khalil
10Pashto Folk Literature,
4 points
- (i). Tappa’ (ii) Charbaita’ (iii) Neemakai’ (iv) Badala etc and Pashto proverbs, PAPER: PASHTO (100 MARKS) ٠٠١ ﻮﻟﯥ ﻧﻤﺒﺮې : ﭘ ֣ﺘﻮ ﭘﯧﭙﺮ ﯾﺠﻦ، ﻟﮭﺠﯥ او اﻟﻔﺒﺎ i.ﭘ ֣ﺘﻮ ژﺑﮫ: اور
- ﭘ ֣ﺘﻮ יﺮاﻣﺮ .د ﭘ ֣ﺘﻮ ادب ﺗﺎرﯾﺦ او ﭘ ֣ﺘﻮ ادﺑﻲ ﺗﺤﺮﯾﮑﻮﻧﻮ ﺑﺎﻧﺪې ﻋﻤﻮﻣﻲ ﺳﻮال iii .د ﭘ ֣ﺘﻮن ﮐﻠﭽﺮ ֢ﮑﺎره اړﺧﻮﻧﻮ، ﺗﺎرﯾﺨﻲ او ادﺑﻲ ﺷﺨﺼﯿﺘﻮﻧﻮ ﺑﺎﻧﺪې ﻣﻀﻤﻮن iv
- ﭘﮫ اردو ﯾﺎ اﻧךﺮﯦﺰۍ ﮐ ֣ﯥ د ﭘ ֣ﺘﻮ د ﻧﺎﻟﯿﺪﻟﻲ ﭘﯧﺮاיﺮاﻓﻮﻧﻮ ﺗﺮﺟﻤﮫ ﻮﻧﻮ ﺗﺮﺟﻤﮫ .ﭘﮫ اردو ﯾﺎ ﭘ ֣ﺘﻮ ﮐ ֣ﯥ د اﻧךﺮﯦﺰۍ د ﻧﺎﻟﯿﺪﻟﻲ ﭘﯧﺮاיﺮاﻓ vi .د ﭘ ֣ﺘﻮ ﻧﻈﻢ او ﻧﺜﺮ ﭘﮫ ارﺗﻘﺎ او ﺗﻨﻘﯿﺪ ﺑﺎﻧﺪې ﻋﻤﻮﻣﻲ ﺳﻮال vii :ﭘ ֣ﺘﻮ ﮐﻼﺳﯿﮑﻲ ﺷﺎﻋﺮي . viii ﻋﻠﻲ ﺧﺎن .iv ﻋﺒﺪاﻟﺤﻤﯿﺪﺑﺎﺑﺎ .iii رﺣﻤﺎن ﺑﺎﺑﺎ .ii I.ﺧﻮﺷﺤﺎل ﺧﺎن ﺧՙﮏ ﮐﺎﻇﻢ ﺧﺎن ﺷﯧﺪا .v :ﭘ ֣ﺘﻮ ﺟﺪﯾﺪه ﺷﺎﻋﺮي . ix ﻗﻠﻨﺪرﻣﻮﻣﻨﺪ .iii ﻏﻨﻲ ﺧﺎن .ii I.اﻣﯿﺮﺣﻤﺰه ﺧﺎن ﺷﻨﻮاري ﯾﻮﻧﺲ ﺧﻠﯿﻞ . v .ivﻋﺒﺪاﻟﺮﺣﯿﻢ ﻣﺠﺬوب
- ﭘ ֣ﺘﻮ اوﻟﺴﻲ ادب ﺑﺪﻟﮫ وﻏﯧﺮه اوﭘ ֣ﺘﻮ ﻣﺘﻠﻮﻧﮫ .iv سﻧﯿﻤﮑ .iii ﭼﺎرﺑﯧﺘﮫ .ii i.ﭙﮫ ﻣﺠﻮزه ﮐﺘﺎﺑﻮﻧﮫ ﻣﺼﻨﻒ د ﮐﺘﺎب ﻧﻮم ﺷﻤﯧﺮه Dr. Khadeeja Feroz Ud Deen Life and Works of the Illustrious .1 Khushal Khan Khattak Sir Olaf Careo. The Pathans .2 Major Raverty. Selected poems of Khushal khan .3 Khattak Dr. Yar Muhammad The Rowshanites and Pashto .4 Maghmoom Literature ﻋﺒﺪاﻟﺤﺌﻰ ﺣﺒﯿﺒﻲ دوﯦﻢ ﺟﻠﺪ( .دﭘ ֣ﺘﻮادﺑﯿﺎﺗﻮﺗﺎرﯾﺦ )وړﻣﺒﮯ او 5 ﺑﮭﺎدرﺷﺎه ﻇﻔﺮﮐﺎﮐﺎﺧﯧﻞ ﺳﯿﺪ .ﭘﺸﺘﻮن ﺗﺎرﯾﺦ ﮐﮯ آﺋﯿﻨﮯ 6 ﺧﯿﺎل ﺑﺨﺎري .ﺻﺮف و ﻧﺤﻮ 7 ﭘﺮوﻓﯧﺴﺮﻣﺤﻤﺪﻧﻮاز ﻃﺎﺋﺮ .روھﻲ ادب 8 ﮐՙﺮ راج وﻟﻲ ﺷﺎه ﺧՙﮏ .ﭘ ֣ﺘﻮ ادﺑﻲ ﺗﺤﺮﯾﮑﻮﻧﮫ 9 ﯽ ﺷﺎﮨﯿﻦ ﺳﻠﻤ .1ٰروھﻲ ﺳﻨﺪرې 0 ھﻤﯧﺶ ﺧﻠﯿﻞ (ﭘ ֣ﺘﺎﻧﮥ ﻟﯿﮑﻮال )اول او دوﯦﻢ ﺟﻠﺪ .1 1 ﻣﺼﻨﻒ د ﮐﺘﺎب ﻧﻮم ﺷﻤﯧﺮه ي ﻓﺎرغ ﺑﺨﺎر .1ﺳﺮﺣﺪ ﮐﮯ ﻟﻮک ﮔﯿﺖ 2 دوﺳﺖ ﻣﺤﻤﺪﺧﺎن ﮐﺎﻣﻞ ﻣﻮﻣﻨﺪ (ﺧﻮﺷﺤﺎل ﺧﺎن ﺧՙﮏ )اردو .1 3 ډاﮐՙﺮﻋﺒﺪاﷲ ﺟﺎن ﻋﺎﺑﺪ .1ﭘﺸﺘﻮ زﺑﺎن و ادب ﮐﻰ ﻣﺨﺘﺼﺮﺗﺎرﯾﺦ 4 ډاﮐՙﺮﻧﻮرﻣﺤﻤﺪ داﻧﺶ ﺑﯧՙﻨﮯ .1د ﭘ ֣ﺘﻮ ﭙﯥ ﻋﻤﺮاﻧﻲ ﻣﻄﺎﻟﻌﮫ 5 ډاﮐՙﺮﻣﺤﻤﺪﺟﺎوﯦﺪﺧﻠﯿﻞ .1ﭘ ֣ﺘﻮ او ﻣﺴﺘﺸﺮﻗﯿﻦ 6 ﺳﺤﺮ ﯾﻮﺳﻔﺰے .1ادب ոﮥ دے 7 اؤد داور ﺧﺎن د .1֣ﺘﻮ ﭙﮫ 8 ﺑﻲ ﺑﻲ ﻣﺮﯾﻢ .د ﭘ ֣ﺘﻮﻧﺜﺮ ﺗﺎرﯾﺨﻲ او ﺗﻨﻘﯿﺪي ﺟﺎﺋﺰه 19
Preparation Outline for Pashto
Pashto is a 100-mark subject testing a candidate's proficiency in the Pashto language, its grammar, literary history, cultural aspects, and translation skills. The paper requires a comprehensive understanding of both classical and modern Pashto poetry and prose, alongside an appreciation for Pashto folk literature. A strong script demonstrates accurate linguistic command, insightful literary analysis, and precise translation, distinguishing it from average attempts that may lack depth or grammatical correctness.
Pashto (100 marks) is an excellent, extremely high-scoring choice for native speakers residing in KP and Balochistan.
1. Classical Giants: An exhaustive critical analysis of Khushal Khan Khattak’s martial/nationalist poetry and Rahman Baba’s sufi philosophy is the absolute core of the paper.
2. Modern Evolution: Study the evolution of modern Pashto prose, drama, and the impact of regional conflicts on contemporary Pashto literature.
3. The Linguistic Code: Ensure a deep understanding of 'Pashtunwali' (the indigenous code) and accurately express how it governs the recurring thematic plots of legendary folk tales.
Paper by paper
Focus on mastering Pashto grammar and vocabulary as it underpins all other sections, especially translation. Dedicate significant effort to understanding the history of Pashto literature and key literary movements, as well as the works of specified classic and modern poets. Practice essay writing on cultural and literary personalities, ensuring arguments are well-structured and supported. Regular translation practice between Pashto, English, and Urdu is crucial for scoring well in those dedicated sections.
A six-month plan
- 1Foundational PashtoWeeks 1-6
Grasping the basics of Pashto language, its origin, dialects, and alphabets. Intensive study of Pashto Grammar. Begin familiarisation with key literary terms and figures.
- 2Literary History & ProseWeeks 7-12
Deep dive into the general history of Pashto literature and major literary movements. Study the evolution and criticism of Pashto Prose, identifying prominent prose writers and their contributions.
- 3Poetry & CultureWeeks 13-18
Detailed study of Pashto Classic Poetry (Khoshal Khan Khattak, Rehman Baba, Abdul Hamid Baba, Ali Khan, Kazim Khan Sheda) and Pashto Modern Poetry (Amir Hamza Khan Shinwari, Ghani Khan, Qalandar Momand, Abdur Rahim Majzoob, Younas Khalil). Prepare for essays on prominent aspects of Pashto Culture, Historical and Literary personalities.
- 4Folk Literature & Translation MasteryWeeks 19-24
Comprehensive study of Pashto Folk Literature (Tappa', Charbaita', Neemakai', Badala etc and Pashto proverbs). Intensive practice of translation of unseen passages from Pashto into English or Urdu, and vice versa, to build speed and accuracy.
- 5Revision & Mock ExamsWeeks 25-26
Thorough revision of all syllabus topics. Attempt full-length mock exams to refine time management, identify weak areas, and practice integrating knowledge across sections.
Using CSSPrep.AI for Pashto
Only the tools that genuinely support this subject are listed.
Use the tool to structure essays on Pashto cultural and literary personalities, ensuring a strong thesis, logical outline, and coherent arguments.
Try: Essay on prominent aspects of Pashto Culture, Historical and Literary personalities.
Submit written answers to the Evaluator to receive scores on structure, content, evidence, and language, helping to refine writing style and analytical depth for Pashto-specific questions.
High-yield topics
Each one is traced back to the section of the official syllabus it comes from.
This foundational topic is crucial for understanding the language's development and often appears as a direct question.
Syllabus section: Origin of Pashto language, its dialects and alphabets
Grammar is fundamental to writing correct Pashto and is directly tested, impacting performance across all written sections including translation.
Syllabus section: Pashto Grammar
A recurring theme, this requires a broad understanding of Pashto literary evolution and the forces that shaped it.
Syllabus section: General question on history of Pashto literature and literary movements in Pashto
This essay section carries significant marks and tests a candidate's ability to articulate complex ideas about Pashto identity and its influential figures.
Syllabus section: Essay on prominent aspects of Pashto Culture, Historical and Literary personalities.
These three poets are pillars of Pashto classical literature and their works are frequently examined for themes, style, and historical context.
Syllabus section: Pashto Classic Poetry
Folk literature is a distinct and important part of Pashto culture, often tested for its forms, themes, and significance.
Syllabus section: Pashto Folk Literature,
This section requires analytical skills to discuss the development and critical evaluation of both prose and poetry forms in Pashto.
Syllabus section: General Questions on evolution and criticism of Pashto Prose and Poetry.
Common mistakes in Pashto answers
- Failing to achieve accuracy and nuance in Pashto-to-English/Urdu and English/Urdu-to-Pashto translations, often due to a limited vocabulary or grammatical errors.
- Providing superficial analysis of literary works or personalities instead of a critical and in-depth discussion, especially for classic and modern poets.
- Neglecting the study of Pashto grammar, leading to basic linguistic errors in written answers and translations.
- Writing generic essays on culture or personalities that lack specific examples or insights relevant to Pashto context.
- Overlooking the distinct forms and significance of Pashto folk literature, resulting in incomplete answers on this section.
FPSC recommended books
The 19 books FPSC lists for Pashto in the official syllabus.
| Title | Author |
|---|---|
| 1. Life and Works of the Illustrious Khushal Khan Khattak | Dr. Khadeeja Feroz Ud Deen |
| 2. The Pathans | Sir Olaf Careo. |
| 3. Selected poems of KhushalKhan Khattak | Major Raverty. |
| 4. The Rowshanites and Pashto Literature | Dr. Yar Muhammad Maghmoom |
| 5. (ﺪﻠﺟ ﻢﯦود وا ﮯﺒﻣړو) ﺦﯾرﺎﺗﻮﺗﺎﯿﺑداﻮﺘ ֣ ﭘد | ﻲﺒﯿﺒﺣ ﺊﺤﻟاﺪﺒﻋ |
| 6. ﮯﻨﯿﺋآ ﮯﮐ ﺦﯾرﺎﺗ نﻮﺘﺸﭘ | ﻞﯿﺧﺎﮐﺎﮐ ﺮﻔﻇ هﺎﺷ ردﺎﮭﺑ ﺪﯿﺳ |
| 7. ﻮﺤﻧ و فﺮﺻ | يرﺎﺨﺑ لﺎﯿﺧ |
| 8. بدا ﻲھور | ﺮﺋﺎﻃ زاﻮﻧ ﺪﻤﺤﻣ ﺮﺴﯿﻓوﺮﭘ |
| 9. ﮫﻧﻮﮑﯾﺮﺤﺗ ﻲﺑدا ﻮﺘ ֣ ﭘ | ﮏﭩﺧ ﮦﺎﺷ ﯽﻟو جار ﺮﭩﮐاڈ |
| 10. ېرﺪﻨﺳ ﻲھور | ﻦﯿﮨﺎﺷ ﯽﻤﻠﺳ |
| 11. (ﺪﻠﺟ ﻢﯦود وا لوا) لاﻮﮑﯿﻟ ﮥﻧﺎﺘ ֣ ﭘ | ﻞﯿﻠﺧ ﺶﯿﻤﮨ |
| 12. ﺖﯿﮔ کﻮﻟ ﮯﮐ ﺪﺣﺮﺳ | یرﺎﺨﺑ غرﺎﻓ |
| 13. (ودرا) ﮏՙﺧ نﺎﺧ لﺎﺤﺷﻮﺧ | ﺪﻨﻣﻮﻣ ﻞﻣﺎﮐ نﺎﺧ ﺪﻤﺤﻣ ﺖﺳود |
| 14. ﺦﯾرﺎﺗﺮﺼﺘﺨﻣ ﻰﮐ بدا و نﺎﺑز ﻮﺘﺸﭘ | ﺪﺑﺎﻋ نﺎﺟ ﷲاﺪﺒﻋ ﺮﭩﮐاڈ |
| 15. ﮫﻌﻟﺎﻄﻣ ﻲﻧاﺮﻤﻋ ﯥﭙ ﻮﺘ֣ ﭘ د | ﮯﻨՙﯧﺑ ﺶﻧاد ﺪﻤﺤﻣرﻮﻧﺮՙﮐاډ |
| 16. ﻦﯿﻗﺮﺸﺘﺴﻣ وا ﻮﺘ ֣ ﭘ | ﻞﯿﻠﺧ ﺪﯾوﺎﺟ ﺪﻤﺤﻣ ﺮﭩﮐاڈ |
| 17. ےد ﮥո بدا | ےﺰﻔﺳﻮﯾ ﺮﺤﺳ |
| 18. ﮫﭙ ﻮﺘ֣ ﭘ | دؤاد نﺎﺧ رواد |
| 19. هﺰﺋﺎﺟ يﺪﯿﻘﻨﺗ وا ﻲﺨﯾرﺎﺗ ﺮﺜﻧﻮﺘ ֣ ﭘ د | ﻢﯾﺮﻣ ﯽﺑ ﯽﺑ |
Frequently asked questions
Is there an objective (MCQ) portion for the Pashto paper?
The official FPSC syllabus provided for Pashto (100 Marks) does not explicitly mention an objective or MCQ component. All listed sections are descriptive, requiring written answers, essays, and translations.
How important is translation in the Pashto paper?
Translation is highly important, with two dedicated sections for translating unseen passages between Pashto and English/Urdu. These sections test direct language proficiency and can significantly impact your overall score.
Which poets should I prioritise from the Classic and Modern Poetry sections?
For Classic Poetry, Khoshal Khan Khattak, Rehman Baba, and Abdul Hamid Baba are frequently tested and should be thoroughly prepared. For Modern Poetry, Amir Hamza Khan Shinwari and Ghani Khan are often prominent.
How should I prepare for the essay on Pashto Culture, Historical and Literary personalities?
Prepare by studying the lives, works, and contributions of key Pashto figures and understanding the prominent aspects of Pashto culture. Practice structuring essays with clear arguments, relevant examples, and strong Pashto vocabulary.
Are the FPSC recommended books essential for preparation?
The recommended books offer comprehensive coverage of the syllabus topics, from language origin and grammar to literary history and specific poets. Consulting them is highly advisable to gain depth and breadth in your preparation.
What is the weightage of Pashto Grammar in the paper?
While there is a specific section on Pashto Grammar, its importance extends across the entire paper. A strong grasp of grammar is essential for accurate writing in essays, literary analysis, and especially for precise translations, making it foundational for good scores.
Syllabus text reproduced from Revised Syllabi for CSS Competitive Examination, CE-2016 (updated 7 July 2015), pages 115-118. Marks and grouping are from the same document's Revised Scheme tables. Verify against the official PDF before relying on it.