Chinese examinees walk towards an exam site to attend the 2015 China National Civil Service Examination in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, Nov 30, 2014. [Photo/IC]

Authorities announce severe punishment for those caught cheating in the upcoming national civil servant exams, the State Administration of Civil Service said, adding that cheating would be listed as a criminal offense according to the revised Criminal Laws.

The laws state that cheaters in national exams would be sentenced up to three years in prison, held in custody or fined. In serious cases, the violators would be sentenced to three-to-seven years in prison.

The national-level government agencies, their affiliated public institutions and local branches are planning to recruit 27,000 civil servants this year, up from around 22,000 in 2014, Xinhua News reported on Tuesday.

The number is going to the highest in over a decade, Beijing News said.

However, incumbent civil servants are forbidden to take the annual national public civil servant exam this year.

While candidates with experience working for local government bodies will be favored.

Most positions in government agencies above provincial level will require two years of such "grassroots" experience, and about 10 percent of vacancies will be set aside for college graduates-turned village officials, said the statement.

The threshold will be lowered for the applicants from the remote hinterland, with the more lax requirement for age, working experience, and education background, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said.

The application period for joining national enrollment exam is to open on Oct 15, and lasts until Oct 24. The written exam will take place on Nov 29.?