The UK government admitted its outsourced civil service pension scheme, run by Capita, failed, leaving thousands, including a 98-year-old and a young widow, in financial hardship. The Cabinet Office plans to bring the scheme back in-house due to "unacceptable" service levels and missed targets.
Incoming UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham plans a radical overhaul of the civil service, centralizing some powers, decentralizing others to regional leaders, and relocating staff outside London. This move aims to challenge the influence of Whitehall departments and potentially counter Nigel Farage's anti-establishment platform.
Capita expects to lose up to £40m annually due to the crisis at the Civil Service Pension Scheme. This follows a poor service that left thousands of civil servants without income and retirement quotes, leading to government withholding nearly £10m and calls to strip Capita of its contract.
A love marriage between two civil services aspirants in Bihar has allegedly turned into a murder case, with police arresting a woman sub-inspector accused of having an extramarital affair with the victim's husband. The victim's brother filed an FIR alleging dowry harassment and murder.
Andy Burnham's proposed 'No 10 North' government operations are reportedly set to be housed in a new civil service base under construction in Ancoats, Manchester. The site, part of the Manchester Digital Campus, is expected to be operational by 2032.
Hong Kong saw a 33% increase in resignations and retirements among elite administrative officers in 2025-26, with 36 departures, despite an overall 9% decline in civil service turnover to 7,506.
Hong Kong's civil service chief pledged a future "reasonable and attractive" pay adjustment after the Legislative Council approved a flat 2% rise for civil servants. Lawmakers criticized the 2% increase, effective retroactively from April, as insufficient compared to survey recommendations and union demands, raising concerns about civil service appeal and the local economy.
Olly Robbins, the former Foreign Office chief sacked over the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal, is in early talks with Andy Burnham's team for a security-related role, potentially national security adviser, under the likely new prime minister. His controversial return follows his dismissal by Keir Starmer for overturning a security clearance denial for Mandelson, who had links to Jeffrey Epstein and foreign powers.
Keir Starmer met Andy Burnham for the first time since the Makerfield byelection in a "frosty" meeting to discuss the transition of power. Sources described the talks as strained, with deep resentment within Starmer's circle towards Burnham. Starmer agreed to allow Burnham's team access to civil service talks.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Andy Burnham to discuss an "orderly" transition of power after Starmer announced his resignation. Burnham is the sole candidate for leadership, potentially becoming PM on July 17. Access talks with civil servants are being authorized for leadership contenders.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee, chaired by Brij Lal, reviewed the status of vacant posts in central government departments, evaluated recruitment measures, and discussed Civil Services Examination issues, including CSAT, involving key agencies like UPSC, SSC, and DoPT.
The UPSC has released the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 result in PDF format. Over 13,000 candidates qualified for the Main Examination against 1,016 vacancies. The application window for Mains is from June 19-28, 2026, with the exam starting August 21, 2026.
A new film explores the life of Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first governor of Greece, who was instrumental in its independence and state-building but remains largely unknown. The film highlights his diplomatic skill, dedication to Greece, and the controversies surrounding his autocratic leanings and assassination.
The UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2026 results show a shrinking shortlist for Mains, with 13,343 candidates qualifying, down from 14,161 last year. The Indian Forest Service (IFoS) shortlist saw a near halving. This indicates a tighter selection process and increased competition for coveted government jobs.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 results, with 13,343 candidates advancing to the Main Examination. The exam, held on May 24 for 1,016 vacancies, saw a slight decrease in qualifiers compared to the previous year. Qualified candidates must complete online formalities by June 28.
A Bareilly woman's 8-year UPSC preparation journey, involving multiple attempts and significant emotional/financial strain, concluded with an entry-level ₹18,000 job in Gurugram. Her candid account highlights the critical need for a 'Plan B' for aspirants facing the reality of failure.
The UPSC Civil Services Exam, one of India's toughest, sees lakhs of aspirants aiming for limited IAS, IPS, IFS posts. Experts advise quitting if performance stagnates or mental well-being suffers, highlighting the emotional, financial, and professional toll of prolonged, unsuccessful preparation. Skills gained can be reframed for other careers, and some successful candidates even pivot away from bureaucracy.
Thousands, including Kay Donald, face delays in receiving pensions after Capita took over the Civil Service Pension Scheme, causing distress and financial hardship.
Busan's civil service is bracing for a shift in local power with the election of Jeon Jae-soo of the Democratic Party as mayor. Officials are preparing reports and facing uncertainty over upcoming personnel changes and potential organizational restructuring.
Taiwan's Examination Yuan announced that the 2026 Civil Service High-Level Exams (Levels 1 & 2) will be held Oct 3-4, with 79 positions available. English proficiency test validity extended to 5 years, and BESTEP added to requirements.
Taiwan's Ministry of Civil Service clarified rules for acting duty allowances, stating overtime on holidays or after hours can count towards the 10-day minimum for the allowance if directly related to the代理職務. However, overtime hours cannot be accumulated across different days.
Hong Kong's civil service is set to implement a stricter performance review system with proposed grading distributions. The top 10-15% will be 'excellent', the bottom 5-10% will be 'unsatisfactory', and the majority will fall into the 'satisfactory' third tier. This 'bell curve' approach aims to reward high performers and address underperformers, but faces opposition from unions concerned about fairness and potential 'sycophancy'.
UK senior civil servants will receive performance bonuses for the first time under a new pay system. Most civil servants get a 3.5% rise, while senior staff receive 2.5% base increase plus 1% for bonuses. The move aims to reward high performers and improve civil service delivery.
Prachi Kumari, a farmer's daughter from Vidisha, achieved an impressive AIR 260 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, becoming the Hindi medium topper. Her journey, marked by financial struggles and reliance on self-study, highlights the power of determination and continuous hard work. Prachi's success serves as a significant inspiration to aspiring civil servants across the nation.
