160,000 Civil Servants to Retire in 2025; State Apparatus Minister Signals CPNS Test in 2026

The Minister of State Apparatus Utilisation and Bureaucratic Reform, Rini Widyantini, has indicated that a Civil Servant Candidate (CPNS) test will be held in 2026. Her ministry is also preparing for the required number of civil servant (PNS) positions. “We have submitted a request to the Minister of Finance regarding the budget readiness. We can’t just announce it suddenly; we need to know the required competencies,” said Rini at the Ministry of State Apparatus Utilisation and Bureaucratic Reform building in Jakarta on Tuesday (24 February 2026). “Hopefully, the CPNS test will be opened in 2026,” she added. Rini stated that the CPNS test will focus on recent graduates. She mentioned that the number of civil servants retiring in 2025 will reach 160,000 and needs to be replaced promptly. “And we have also prepared around 160,000 positions to fill the vacancies,” she said. The specific competency requirements will be further assessed before the CPNS test is opened. Her ministry will also coordinate with regional governments regarding their needs. “From there, we will re-evaluate the required competencies. And I can’t just make up the competencies needed by government agencies at the regional level. We have already sent a letter to the Minister of Finance to calculate this as soon as possible,” she explained. (ial/jbr)