 Union Public Service Commission | |
 | |
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| Constitutional body overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 October 1926 (99 years ago) (1926-10-01) |
| Jurisdiction | Republic of India |
| Headquarters | Dholpur House,Shahjahan Road,New Delhi 28°36′29″N77°13′37″E / 28.6080°N 77.2269°E /28.6080; 77.2269 |
| Motto | "सत्यमेव जयते" |
| Minister responsible | |
| Constitutional body executive |
|
| Parent department | Government of the Republic of India |
| ChildConstitutional body | |
| Website | upsc |
TheUnion Public Service Commission (UPSC) is aconstitutional body inIndia tasked with recruiting officers forAll India Services and theCentral Civil Services (Group A and B) through various standardized examinations.[1] In 2023, 1.3 million applicants competed for just 1,255 positions.[2]
The agency's charter is granted byPart XIV of the Constitution of India, titledServices Under the Union and the States.[3][4] The commission is mandated by the Constitution for appointments to the services of the Union andAll India Services. It is also required to be consulted by theGovernment in matters relating to appointment, transfer, promotion, and disciplinary matters. The commission reports directly to the President. The commission can advise the Government through the president, although, such advice is not binding. Being a constitutional authority, UPSC is amongst the few institutions that function with both autonomy and freedom, along with the country'shigher judiciary and lately theElection Commission.[5]
The commission is headquartered atDholpur House, inNew Delhi, and functions through its secretariat. Established on 1 October 1926 as Public Service Commission, it was later reconstituted as Federal Public Service Commission by theGovernment of India Act 1935; only to be renamed as today's Union Public Service Commission after theindependence.[6][7]
TheRoyal Commission on the Superior Civil Services in India was set up under the chairmanship ofLord Lee of Fareham by theBritish Government in 1923.[8][6] With equal numbers of Indian and British members, the commission submitted its report in 1924, recommending setting up of a Public Service Commission.[9] The Lee Commission proposed that 40% of future entrants should beBritish, 40% Indians directly recruited, and 20% Indians promoted from the provincial services.[8][7]
This led to the establishment of the first Public Service Commission on 1 October 1926 under the chairmanship of Sir Ross Barker.[6] A mere limited advisory function was granted to the Public Service Commission and the leaders of thefreedom movement continually stressed on this aspect, which then resulted in the setting up of aFederal Public Service Commission under theGovernment of India Act 1935.[6][7]
The Federal Public Service Commission became the Union Public Service Commission afterthe country gained independence. It was given a constitutional status under theConstitution of India on 26 January 1950.[9][7]
In 1947, the then deputy prime ministerVallabhbhai Patel called the recruits as the "steel frame of India".[1]
Articles 315 to 323 ofPart XIV of the constitution, titledServices Under the Union and the States, provide for a Public Service Commission for the Union and each state.[3][4] Accordingly, as perArt.315, at the Union level, the Union Public Service Commission is envisaged by it. UPSC is amongst the few institutions which function with both autonomy and freedom, along with the country'shigher judiciary and lately theElection Commission.[5]
As perArt.316, the chairman and other members of the Union Public Service Commission shall be appointed by thepresident. In case the office of the chairman becomes vacant, the duties shall be performed by one of the other members of the Commission at the appointment of the President.[10]
Also, nearly half of the members of the Commission shall be persons who at the dates of their respective appointments have held office for at least ten years either under theGovernment of India or under the Government of a State. A member of a Union Public Service Commission shall hold office for a term of six years from the date on which they enter upon the office or until they attain the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier. UnderArt318, the President is empowered to determine the number of members of the commission and their conditions of service.[10]
As perArt319, a person who holds office as chairman shall, on the expiration of the term of office, be ineligible for re-appointment to that office. But, a member other than the chairman of the Union Public Service Commission shall be eligible for appointment as the chairman of the Union Public Service Commission, or as the chairman of a State Public Service Commission, but not for any other employment either under the Government of India or under the Government of a State. Also, the chairman of a State Public Service Commission shall be eligible for appointment as the chairman or any other member of the Union Public Service Commission.[10]
As perArt.322, the expenses of the Union Public Service Commission, including any salaries, allowances, and pensions payable to or in respect of the members or staff of the commission, shall be charged on theConsolidated Fund of India.[10]
As perArt.321, an Act made byParliament may provide for the exercise of additional functions by the Union Public Service Commissionw.r.t. Services of the Union.[10]
As perArt.320, it shall be the duty of the Union Public Service Commissions to conduct examinations for appointments to the services of the Union. It shall also assist two or more states, if requested so, in framing and operating schemes of joint recruitment for any services.[10]
As perArt.317, the chairman or any other member of a Public Service Commission shall only be removed from their office by order of the president on the ground of "misbehavior" after the Supreme Court, on a reference being made to it by the president, has, on inquiry reported that the chairman or such other member ought to be removed. The president may suspend the chairman or other members of the commission until the report of the Supreme Court is received.[10]
As perArt.323, it will be the duty of the Union Commission to annually present a report to the president of the work done by the commission. On receipt of such report, the president shall present a copy before each House of Parliament; together with a memorandum, if any, explaining the reasons why the advice of the commission was not accepted by him.[10]
The president may also remove the chairman or other member of the commission if he/she/they:
The Union Public Service Commission shall be consulted:
It shall be the duty of a Union Public Service Commission to advise on any matter referred to them; provided that the president has not made any regulations specifying the matters in which it shall not be necessary for Union Public Service Commission to be consulted.[10]
The Commission consists of thechairman and other members appointed by thePresident of the Republic of India. Usually, the Commission consists of 9 to 11 members including the chairman.[11] Every member holds office for a term of six years or until he attains the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier.
The terms and conditions of service of the chairman and members of the commission are governed by the Union Public Service Commission (Members) Regulations, 1969.[12]
The chairman and any other member of the commission can submit their resignation at any time to the President of India. They may be removed from their office by the President of India on the ground of misbehavior (only if an inquiry of such misbehavior is made and upheld by the Supreme Court) or if he is adjudged insolvent, or engages during the term of office in any paid employment outside the duties of their office, or in the opinion of the president unfit to continue in office because of the infirmity of mind or body.
The commission is serviced by a Secretariat headed by a Secretary with four Additional Secretaries, several Joint Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, and other supporting staff.[13] The secretariat, for administrative purposes, is further divided intodivisions, each undertaking having a specific responsibility:[14]
The institute currently nine members including the chairperson, compared to its sanctioned strength of ten members.
| Name | Service | Position | Term started | Term end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajay Kumar | IAS | Chairperson | 15 May 2025 | 1 October 2027 |
| Lieutenant GeneralRaj Shukla (Retd.) | Indian Army | Member | 18 July 2022[23] | 26 March 2027 |
| Suman Sharma | IRS | Member | 25 May 2023 | 24 May 2029 |
| Bidyut Bihari Swain | IAS | Member | 1 June 2023[24] | 4 September 2028 |
| Sanjay Verma | IFS | Member | 1 February 2024 | 27 January 2030 |
| Dr. Dinesh Dasa | Academician | Member | 29 September 2023[25] | 28 September 2029 |
| Sheel Vardhan Singh | IPS | Member | 15 January 2024[26] | 25 August 2028 |
| Sujata Chaturvedi | IAS | Member | 1 May 2025 | 18 June 2030 |
| Anuradha Prasad | IDAS | Member | 2 May 2025 | 22 January 2029 |
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.Generally, UPSC conducts yearly Exams for various posts.
UPSC conducts many exams, but these are commonly trending.
