The Bhutanese Leading the way.
According to the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC), a total of 5,905 candidates have registered for the Preliminary Examination (PE) 2025, marking a significant increase from 4,102 registrants in 2024.
For the 2025 civil service intake, there are only 696 vacancies, including 45 in Administrative Services, 30 in Finance Services, 388 in Technical Services, 75 in Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), and 158 in Bachelor of Education (B.Ed).
This marks a significant drop from last year’s 1,203 vacancies, which included 55 in Administration Services, 40 in Finance Services, 31 in Legal Services, 272 in PGDE, 370 in B.Ed, and 435 in Technical Services.
While the increased number of registrants could generally be seen as a positive sign of growing interest in secure civil service jobs, many believe it reflects the rising number of unemployed people in the country. Others, however, question the limited availability of vacancies and express concern over the shrinking opportunities despite the growing competition.
Moreover, many people expressed disappointment and hopelessness after the RCSC announced the number of vacancies across various categories.
A student from Sherubtse College, Tshewang Namgay, expressed his concerns about the limited vacancies, saying, “Given the limited number of vacancies, after the results are declared, many people who have applied will leave for foreign countries, as that is the last option.”
Sumitra Pradhan, a contract teacher, shared her experience of registering for the PE three times. Although she has passed each time, she has not been able to secure a high enough rank to be selected after the RCSC exam. “I am very interested in teaching, but each time the vacancies keep getting limited,” she said.
Expressing further concern, she added, “On top of that, this year’s intake is the lowest in my case. I hope the government increases the number of contract positions, even if the civil service intake remains limited.”
A member of the public also expressed frustration on social media, stating that the limited number of seats is causing many productive youths to feel hopeless, leading some to seek opportunities abroad.
Sobit Subba, another social media user, highlighted the growing competition, writing, “This year, around 2,500 students graduated, yet over 5,000 registered for the Preliminary Examination. Only about 200 are in-service candidates.” This suggests that many applicants are graduates from previous years still seeking secure employment.
Sonam Dawa pointed out that more than half of the candidates will be disqualified. “This only adds to next year’s PE applicants,” he said. “The numbers keep doubling, leaving many youths unemployed, given the current number of slots.”
With the gap between registrants and available vacancies widening each year, concerns are rising not just about individual opportunities but also about broader employment challenges. As thousands compete for just a few hundred posts, the pressure is growing, and so is the call for diversified employment opportunities beyond the civil service.
