Union/State Public Service Commission and Other (Appointment, Power and Responsibilities)

Public Service Commissions for the Union as per ARTICLE-315

Subject to the provisions of this article, there shall be a Public Service Commission for the Union
Any such law as aforesaid may contain such incidental and consequential provisions as may be necessary or desirable for giving effect to the purposes of the law.
The Public Service Commission for the Union, if requested so to do by the Governor of a State, may, with the approval of the President, agree to serve all or any of the needs of the State.
References in this Constitution to the Union Public Service Commission shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as references to the Commission serving the needs of the Union as respects the particular matter in question

Appointment and term of office of members as per Article-316

The Chairman and other members of a Public Service Commission shall be appointed, in the case of the Union Commission by the President:

Provided that as nearly as may be one-half of the members of every Public Service Commission shall be persons who at the dates of their respective appointments have held office for at least ten years either under the Government of India or under the Government of a State, and in computing the said period of ten years any period before the commencement of this Constitution during which a person has held office under the Crown in India or under the Government of an Indian State shall be included.

If the office of the Chairman of the Commission becomes vacant or if any such Chairman is by reason of absence or for any other reason unable to perform the duties of his office, those duties shall, until some person appointed under clause (1) to the vacant office has entered on the duties thereof or, as the case may be, until the Chairman has resumed his duties, be performed by such one of the other members of the Commission as the President, in the case of the Union Commission may appoint for the purpose.

A member of a Public Service Commission shall hold office for a term of six years from the date on which he enters upon his office or until he attains, in the case of the Union Commission, the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier:
Provided that—
1. a member of a Public Service Commission may, by writing under his hand addressed, in the case of the Union Commission to the President, resign his office;
2. a member of a Public Service Commission may be removed from his office in the manner provided in clause (1) or clause (3) of article 317.

A person who holds office as a member of a Public Service Commission shall, on the expiration of his term of office, be ineligible for reappointment to that office.

Removal and suspension of a member of a Public Service Commission as per Article-317

Subject to the provisions of clause (3), the Chairman or any other member of a Public Service Commission shall only be removed from his office by order of the President on the ground of misbehaviour after The Supreme Court, on reference being made to it by the President, has, on inquiry held in accordance with the procedure prescribed in that behalf under article 145, reported that the Chairman or such other member, as the case may be, ought on any such ground to be removed.
The President, in the case of the Union Commission, may suspend from office the Chairman or any other member of the Commission in respect of whom a reference has been made to the Supreme Court under clause (1) until the President has passed orders on receipt of the report of the Supreme Court on such reference.
Notwithstanding anything in clause (1), the President may by order remove from office the Chairman or any other member of a Public Service Commission if the Chairman or such other member, as the case may be,—
1. is adjudged an insolvent; or
2. engages during his term of office in any paid EMPLOYMENT outside the duties of his office; or
3. is, in the opinion of the President, unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body.
If the Chairman or any other member of a Public Service Commission is or becomes in any way concerned or interested in any contract or agreement made by or on behalf of the Government of India or the Government of a State or participates in any way in the profit thereof or in any benefit or emolument arising there from otherwise than as a member and in common with the other members of an incorporated company, he shall, for the purposes of clause (1), be deemed to be guilty of misbehavior

Power to make regulations as to conditions of service of members and staff of the Commission as per Article-318

In the case of the Union Commission the President may by regulations—

determine the number of members of the Commission and their conditions of service; and
make provision with respect to the number of members of the staff of the Commission and their conditions of service:

Provided that the conditions of service of a member of a Public Service Commission shall not be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment

Prohibition as to the holding of offices by members of Commission on ceasing to be such members as per Article-319

On ceasing to hold office-

the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission shall be ineligible for further employment either under the Government of India or under the Government of a State;
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;

Functions of Public Service Commission’s as per Article-320

It shall be the duty of the Union Public Service Commissions to conduct examinations for appointments to the Services of the Union and the services of the State respectively.
It shall also be the duty of the Union Public Service Commission, if requested by any two or more States so to do, to assist those States in framing and operating schemes of joint recruitment for any services for which candidates possessing special qualifications are required.
The Union Public Service Commission as the case may be, shall be consulted—
1. on all matters relating to methods of recruitment to civil services and for civil posts;
2. on the principles to be followed in making appointments to civil services and posts and in making promotions and transfers from one service to another and on the suitability of candidates for such appointments, promotions or transfers;
3. on all disciplinary matters affecting a person serving under the Government of India or the Government of a State in a civil capacity, including memorials or petitions relating to such matters;
4. on any claim by or in respect of a person who is serving or has served under the Government of India or the Government of a State or under the Crown in India or under the Government of an Indian State, in a civil capacity, that any costs incurred by him in defending legal proceedings instituted against him in respect of acts done or purporting to be done in the execution of his duty should be paid out of the Consolidated Fund of India;
5. on any claim for the award of a pension in respect of injuries sustained by a person while serving under the Government of India or under the Crown in India in a civil capacity, and any question as to the amount of any such award, and it shall be the duty of a Public Service Commission to advise on any matter so referred to them and on any other matter which the President may refer to them:

Provided that the President as respects the all- India services and also as respects other services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union, and the Governor, as respects other services and posts in connection with the affairs of a State, may make regulations specifying the matters in which either generally, or in any particular class of case or in any particular circumstances, it shall not be necessary for a Public Service Commission to be consulted.

Nothing in clause (3) shall require a Public Service Commission to be consulted as respects the manner in which any provision referred to in clause (4) of article 16 may be made or as respects the manner in which effect may be given to the provisions of article 335.
All regulations made under the proviso to clause (3) by the President shall be laid for not less than fourteen days before each House of Parliament as the case may be, as soon as possible after they are made, and shall be subject to such modifications, whether by way of repeal or amendment, as both Houses of Parliament may make during the session in which they are so laid.

Power to extend functions of Public Service Commissions

As per Article-321 an Act made by Parliament may provide for the exercise of additional functions by the Union Public Service Commission as respects the services of the Union and also as respects the services of any local authority or other body corporate constituted by law or of any public institution.

Expenses of Public Service Commissions

As per Article-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 the Consolidated Fund of India.

Reports of Public Service Commission

As per A-323 It shall be the duty of the Union Commission to present annually to the President a report as to the work done by the Commission and on receipt of such report the President shall cause a copy thereof together with a memorandum explaining, as respects the cases, if any, where the advice of the Commission was not accepted, the reasons for such non-acceptance to be laid before each House of Parliament.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is an independent body constituted by the Constitution of India to conduct the Civil Services Examination for recruiting officers for the All India Services and Central Services. The UPSC also advises the Government on matters relating to Public Administration and personnel management.

The State Public Service Commission (SPSC) is a body constituted by the State Government to conduct the State Civil Services Examination for recruiting officers for the State Services. The SPSC also advises the State Government on matters relating to public administration and personnel management.

The members of the UPSC and SPSC are appointed by the President of India on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Chairman and members of the UPSC hold office for a term of six years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. The Chairman and members of the SPSC hold office for a term of five years or until they attain the age of 62 years, whichever is earlier.

The UPSC and SPSC have the following powers and functions:

To conduct the Civil Services Examination and the State Civil Services Examination;
To select candidates for appointment to the All India Services and the State Services;
To advise the Government on matters relating to public administration and personnel management;
To conduct inquiries into allegations of Corruption and maladministration in the Central and State Governments;
To undertake studies and research on matters relating to public administration and personnel management.

The UPSC and SPSC are independent bodies and are not subject to the control of the Government. However, the Government can give directions to the UPSC and SPSC in matters of policy. The UPSC and SPSC are also subject to the supervision of the Supreme Court of India.

The UPSC and SPSC have played a vital role in the development of the Indian administrative system. They have helped to ensure that the Indian Bureaucracy is efficient, impartial, and accountable. The UPSC and SPSC have also helped to promote social Justice by ensuring that the benefits of government services are available to all sections of Society.

The UPSC and SPSC are important institutions in the Indian Democracy. They help to ensure that the government is run in a fair and impartial manner. The UPSC and SPSC also help to promote social justice by ensuring that the benefits of government services are available to all sections of society.

Other related provisions:

The UPSC and SPSC are required to submit an annual report to the President of India.
The UPSC and SPSC are also required to submit a report to the Government on any matter that is referred to them by the Government.
The UPSC and SPSC are subject to the jurisdiction of the Central Administrative Tribunal and the Tribunals/”>State Administrative Tribunals.
The UPSC and SPSC are also subject to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India.

What is the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)?

What are the functions of the UPSC?

The functions of the UPSC are:

To conduct the Civil Services Examination
To select candidates for the All India Services and Central Services
To advise the Government on matters relating to appointments, promotions and transfers of civil servants
To conduct departmental examinations for civil servants
To maintain a register of qualified civil servants
To conduct inquiries into allegations of corruption and maladministration against civil servants

How is the UPSC constituted?

The UPSC consists of a Chairman and seven members, all of whom are appointed by the President of India. The Chairman and members of the UPSC hold office for a term of six years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

What are the qualifications for appointment to the UPSC?

A person is eligible for appointment to the UPSC if he/she is a citizen of India, has completed 21 years of age and is not more than 32 years of age on the 1st of January of the year in which he/she applies for the examination. He/she should also possess a degree from a recognized university.

What is the procedure for applying for the UPSC examination?

The application form for the UPSC examination is available on the UPSC website. The application form can be filled online or offline. The last date for submitting the application form is usually in the month of December.

What are the subjects for the UPSC examination?

The UPSC examination consists of two papers:

Paper I: General Studies
Paper II: Optional Subject

Paper I is a compulsory paper for all candidates. Paper II is a paper of the candidate’s choice from a list of 27 subjects.

What is the syllabus for the UPSC examination?

The syllabus for the UPSC examination is available on the UPSC website. The syllabus is divided into two parts:

General Studies
Optional Subject

The General Studies syllabus covers a wide range of topics, including Indian Polity and Governance, Indian economy, International Relations, Geography, History, Current Affairs, and Science and Technology.

The Optional Subject syllabus is different for each subject. The syllabus for each subject is available on the UPSC website.

What is the pattern of the UPSC examination?

The UPSC examination is a two-tier examination. The first tier is the Preliminary Examination, which is a qualifying examination. The second tier is the Main Examination, which is a competitive examination.

The Preliminary Examination consists of two papers:

Paper I: General Studies Paper I
Paper II: General Studies Paper II

Paper I is a 200-mark paper, while Paper II is a 200-mark paper. The duration of each paper is two hours.

The Main Examination consists of nine papers:

Paper I: General Studies I
Paper II: General Studies II
Paper III: General Studies III
Paper IV: General Studies IV
Paper V: Optional Subject I
Paper VI: Optional Subject II
Paper VII: Optional Subject III
Paper VIII: Optional Subject IV
Paper IX: Essay

Paper I to Paper IV are 250-mark papers, while Paper V to Paper IX are 300-mark papers. The duration of each paper is three hours.

What is the marking scheme for the UPSC examination?

The marking scheme for the UPSC examination is as follows:

The Preliminary Examination is a qualifying examination. The marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination are not counted for the final selection.
The Main Examination is a competitive examination. The marks obtained in the Main Examination are counted for the final selection.
The interview is a qualifying examination. The marks obtained in the interview are not counted for the final selection.

What is the cut-off for the UPSC examination?

The cut-off for the UPSC examination is decided by the UPSC. The cut-off is the minimum marks that a candidate must obtain in order to qualify for the Main Examination. The cut-off is different for each category of candidates.

What is the selection process for the UPSC examination?

The selection process for the UPSC examination is as follows:

The Preliminary Examination is a qualifying examination. The marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination are not counted for the final selection.
The Main Examination is a competitive

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is a constitutional body set up under Article 315 of the Constitution of India. It is responsible for conducting the Civil Services Examination, the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Examination, the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Examination, and the Indian Police Service (IPS) Examination.
The UPSC has a Chairman and six members, who are appointed by the President of India. The Chairman and members of the UPSC hold office for a term of six years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
The UPSC has its headquarters in New Delhi, and it has regional offices in Allahabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
The UPSC is responsible for the following:
- Conducting the Civil Services Examination, the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Examination, the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Examination, and the Indian Police Service (IPS) Examination.
- Making recommendations to the Government of India on matters relating to appointments to the civil services of the Union and the All-India Services.
- Advising the Government of India on matters relating to the conditions of service of persons appointed to the civil services of the Union and the All-India Services.
- Conducting examinations for the recruitment of persons to the civil services of the Union and the All-India Services.
- Conducting research on matters relating to public administration.
- Publishing books and journals on public administration.
The UPSC is a highly respected institution, and its recommendations are generally accepted by the Government of India. The UPSC has played a vital role in the development of the Indian civil service, and it has helped to ensure that the civil service is a professional and impartial body.

Here are some MCQs on the Union Public Service Commission:

The UPSC is a constitutional body set up under which Article of the Constitution of India?
(A) Article 315
(B) Article 316
(C) Article 317
(D) Article 318
The UPSC has a Chairman and how many members?
(A) 5
(B) 6
(C) 7
(D) 8
The Chairman and members of the UPSC are appointed by whom?
(A) The President of India
(B) The Prime Minister of India
(C) The Chief Justice of India
(D) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
The UPSC has its headquarters in which city?
(A) New Delhi
(B) Chennai
(C) Kolkata
(D) Mumbai
The UPSC is responsible for which of the following?
(A) Conducting the Civil Services Examination
(B) Making recommendations to the Government of India on matters relating to appointments to the civil services of the Union and the All-India Services
(C) Advising the Government of India on matters relating to the conditions of service of persons appointed to the civil services of the Union and the All-India Services
(D) All of the above
The UPSC is a highly respected institution, and its recommendations are generally accepted by the Government of India. True or False?
The UPSC has played a vital role in the development of the Indian civil service. True or False?
The UPSC has helped to ensure that the civil service is a professional and impartial body. True or False?