Union Public Service Commission
Encyclopedia
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the central agency authorized to conduct the Civil Services Examination
for entry-level appointments to the various Civil Services of India
. The agency's charter is granted by the Constitution of India
. Articles 315 to 323 of Part XIV of the constitution, titled Services Under the Union and the States, provide for a Public Service Commission for the Union and for each state.
in response to demands that more Indians be inducted into the Indian Civil Services
. Until then, most senior positions in the civil services were occupied by the British. The function of this first commission were largely advisory and it lacked any authority, and as such it failed to have a meaningful impact on the composition of the service. Following further Indian demands, the British Indian government then set up a Federal Public Service Commission and provided for the formation of provincial level Public Service Commissions under the Government of India Act, 1935.
After the independence of India in 1947, its new constitution envisaged a key role for the civil services in government. The constitution provided for the UPSC and the state PSCs, to set the standards and qualifications for entry to these key services of the government. If requested by the Governor
of a state and approved by the President
, the UPSC may work for a state, as in Manipur Public Service Commission
and Kerala Public Service Commission
.
1. Recruitment to services & posts under the Union through conduct of competitive examinations- This is the regular mode of recruitment where an examination is conducted followed by an interview. The annual list of competitive exams is:
2. Recruitment to services & posts under the Central Government by direct selection:
This type of recruitment is done to fill immediate/ irregular job vacancies. It is generally done through direct interviews, but sometimes, a written test is conducted preceding the interview.
3. On the suitability of officers for appointment on promotion as well as transfer-on-deputation
4. Advising the Government on all matters relating to methods of Recruitment to various services and posts
5. Disciplinary cases relating to different civil services and
6. Miscellaneous matters relating to grant of extra ordinary pensions, reimbursement of legal expenses etc. ..
The Chairman and other members of the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) are appointed by the President of India
. At least half of the members of the Commission are Civil Servants (working or retired) with minimum ten years of experience either in Central or State service.
Every member holds office for a term of six years or until he attains the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier.
He can submit his resignation at any time to the President of India. He may be removed from his office by the President of India on the ground of misbehavior (only if an inquiry of such misbehavior is made and upheld by Supreme Court) or if he is adjudged insolvent, or engages during his term of office in any paid employment outside the duties of his office, or in the opinion of the President unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body.
U.P.S.C. is amongst the few institutions which function with both autonomy and freedom along with the country’s higher judiciary and lately the Election Commission.
for discussion.
Civil Services Examination
The Civil Services Examination is a nationwide competitive examination in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to the various Civil Services of the Government of India, including Indian Administrative Service , Indian Foreign Service , Indian Police Service and...
for entry-level appointments to the various Civil Services of India
Civil Services of India
The Civil Services of India refer to the civil service and the permanent bureaucracy of the Government of India...
. The agency's charter is granted by the Constitution of India
Constitution of India
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens...
. Articles 315 to 323 of Part XIV of the constitution, titled Services Under the Union and the States, provide for a Public Service Commission for the Union and for each state.
Origin
India's first Public Service Commission was set up on 1 October 1926 by the then British Indian GovernmentBritish Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
in response to demands that more Indians be inducted into the Indian Civil Services
Indian Civil Services
The Indian Civil Service , which after 1886 was officially called the Imperial Civil Service and was also known as the British India Civil Service, was the civil service of the Government of India in the period of the British Raj...
. Until then, most senior positions in the civil services were occupied by the British. The function of this first commission were largely advisory and it lacked any authority, and as such it failed to have a meaningful impact on the composition of the service. Following further Indian demands, the British Indian government then set up a Federal Public Service Commission and provided for the formation of provincial level Public Service Commissions under the Government of India Act, 1935.
After the independence of India in 1947, its new constitution envisaged a key role for the civil services in government. The constitution provided for the UPSC and the state PSCs, to set the standards and qualifications for entry to these key services of the government. If requested by the Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of a state and approved by the President
President of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
, the UPSC may work for a state, as in Manipur Public Service Commission
Manipur Public Service Commission
The Manipur Public Service Commission is the Constitutional body constituted for recommending candidates for recruitment to various posts of the Government of Manipur . It also gives concurrence on the recommendation of Departmental Promotion Committee for appointment to various posts. The...
and Kerala Public Service Commission
Kerala Public Service Commission
The Kerala Public Service Commission is a body created by the Constitution of India to select applicants for civil service jobs in the Indian state of Kerala according to the merits of the applicants and the rules of reservation....
.
Functions of the Commission
Functions of the UPSC are to conduct examinations for appointment to the services of the Union.1. Recruitment to services & posts under the Union through conduct of competitive examinations- This is the regular mode of recruitment where an examination is conducted followed by an interview. The annual list of competitive exams is:
2. Recruitment to services & posts under the Central Government by direct selection:
This type of recruitment is done to fill immediate/ irregular job vacancies. It is generally done through direct interviews, but sometimes, a written test is conducted preceding the interview.
3. On the suitability of officers for appointment on promotion as well as transfer-on-deputation
4. Advising the Government on all matters relating to methods of Recruitment to various services and posts
5. Disciplinary cases relating to different civil services and
6. Miscellaneous matters relating to grant of extra ordinary pensions, reimbursement of legal expenses etc. ..
Members of the UPSC
President of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
. At least half of the members of the Commission are Civil Servants (working or retired) with minimum ten years of experience either in Central or State service.
Every member holds office for a term of six years or until he attains the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier.
He can submit his resignation at any time to the President of India. He may be removed from his office by the President of India on the ground of misbehavior (only if an inquiry of such misbehavior is made and upheld by Supreme Court) or if he is adjudged insolvent, or engages during his term of office in any paid employment outside the duties of his office, or in the opinion of the President unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body.
U.P.S.C. is amongst the few institutions which function with both autonomy and freedom along with the country’s higher judiciary and lately the Election Commission.
Members of UPSC
As of July 2011, the Commission consists of a Chairman and 9 members. The names of the members are :- Shri I M G Khan
- Dr. K K Paul
- Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Nirbhay Sharma
- Shri Prashanta Kumar Mishra
- Prof. Purushottam Agarwal
- Smt. Rajni Razdan
- Smt. Shashi Uban Tripathi
- Dr. Venkatarami Reddy Y
- Shri Vijay Singh (ex-Defence Secretary)
Recruitment Rules
In accordance with the provisions contained in Article 320 of the Constitution read with the provisions of Union Public Service Commission (Exemption from Consultation) Regulations 1958, Recruitment Rules of all Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B" posts in various Ministries/Departments of Government of India are required to be framed in Consultation with the Commission. Consultation with the Commission is also necessary for framing/amending Recruitment Rules for certain categories of posts under the Employees State Insurance Corporation, The Delhi Municipal Corporation, The New Delhi Municipal Council, Employees Provident Fund Organisation etc. under the relevant Acts made by Parliament in pursuance of the provisions of Article 321.Exams Conducted
- Combined Medical Services ExaminationCombined Medical Services ExaminationThe "Combined Medical Services" Examination or the CMS Exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment as Medical Officer in various organizations under the Government of India. The Notification for the examination is usually released in the month of September and ...
- Combined Defence Services ExaminationCombined Defence Services ExaminationThe "Combined Defense Services" Examination or the CDS Exam is conducted twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment into the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Naval Academy and Air Force Academy...
- National Defence Academy and Naval AcademyIndian Naval AcademyThe Indian Naval Academy is the initial officer training establishment of the Indian Navy, located in Ezhimala, Kerala. Situated between Mount Dilli and the Kavvayi backwaters, NAVAC has a 7 km beach front on the Arabian Sea. It conducts basic training for all officers inducted into the...
Examination - Indian Engineering ServicesIndian Engineering ServicesIndian Engineering Services are the Technical Services that meet the technical and managerial functions of the Government of India. Government spending comprises more than 15 percent of India's GDP...
Examination - Civil Services ExaminationCivil Services ExaminationThe Civil Services Examination is a nationwide competitive examination in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to the various Civil Services of the Government of India, including Indian Administrative Service , Indian Foreign Service , Indian Police Service and...
- Indian Forest Service Examination
- Special Class Railway Apprentices' Examination
- Central Police Forces (Assistant Commandants)Examination
- Indian Economic ServiceIndian economic serviceThe Indian Economic Service is a Group A civil service of the Union of India.The Indian Economic Service was constituted in 1961 with the objective of having an organized Group ‘A’ Service consisting of a specialized cadre of officers, trained in economic analysis, policy formulation and its...
Examination - Indian Statistical Service Examination
- Geologists'Geological Survey of IndiaGeological Survey of India , established in 1851 is a government organization in India which is an attached office to the Ministry of Mines of Union Government of India for conducting geological surveys and studies. It is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world and the second oldest...
Examination
Reports
The UPSC annually submits a report of its work to the President of India. Further it is sent to each house of ParliamentParliament of India
The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body in India. Founded in 1919, the Parliament alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all political bodies in India. The Parliament of India comprises the President and the two Houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha...
for discussion.