PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (PSC)
1. Context
The 2025 national conference of chairpersons of the State Public Service Commissions (PSCs) is being hosted by the Telangana State Public Service Commission on December 19 and 20. Every year, whenever State PSCs conduct examinations for recruitment, they are mired in one controversy or the other.
2. What is the history of PSCs?
- The origin of Public Service Commissions in India goes back to the British era, when the need for a merit-based and impartial civil service was increasingly recognised. Before formal commissions were established, civil services appointments were largely controlled by the British administration without a clear, independent recruitment mechanism.
- The first major step towards an independent recruitment body came in 1926, when the Government of India Act, 1919 provided for the creation of the first Public Service Commission at the national level..
- This body, known simply as the Public Service Commission, was tasked with advising the government on service-related matters and conducting examinations for certain posts, although its powers were still quite limited.
- A more robust framework emerged with the Government of India Act, 1935, which laid the foundation for a Federal Public Service Commission and also allowed for the establishment of Provincial Public Service Commissions. This was the beginning of what we now recognize as the Union and State Public Service Commissions.
- After independence, the Constitution of India (1950) strengthened and formalized the system.
- The old Federal PSC became the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), and each state was empowered to set up its own State Public Service Commission (SPSC). These commissions were granted constitutional status under Articles 315 to 323, ensuring independence and protection from political interference.
- Over time, PSCs evolved into key institutions responsible for recruiting civil servants through competitive examinations, maintaining merit-based selection, and advising governments on disciplinary matters, promotions, and appointments
3. How are Public Service Commissions Structured?
- The UPSC operates within an environment that is largely insulated from political influence. Its members are chosen for their competence and extensive experience in public administration, with care taken to ensure representation from all regions of the country.
- Although the Constitution does not specify minimum age or qualifications, most UPSC members tend to be over 55 years old and are known for maintaining a non-partisan stance.
- In contrast, State Public Service Commissions function in settings where political influence is more pronounced, and appointments often reflect elements of a patronage system. As a result, traditional expectations such as minimum age, qualifications, and administrative experience are frequently overlooked.
- The Union government, with its large administrative structure, has significant staffing requirements and the financial capacity to manage pension commitments and new recruitments.
- To streamline personnel matters, it set up the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions in 1985, which oversees policies related to human resource management.
- This institutional framework ensures that vacancies are declared on time, allowing the UPSC to issue notifications, hold examinations, and announce results consistently and efficiently.
- On the other hand, the staffing needs of State governments are smaller and often irregular. Many States face budgetary constraints that make it difficult to fulfil retirement and hiring obligations, resulting in raising the retirement age or postponing fresh recruitment.
- Most States also lack a dedicated personnel ministry. Consequently, vacancies are not announced in a timely manner, which means that State PSCs do not conduct examinations with the same regularity as the UPSC
4. How do they Work?
- The UPSC periodically sets up expert committees that include not just academics but also civil servants, social workers, and other specialists to review and update the examination syllabus.
- This helps maintain a balance between academic knowledge and current developments. Because it can draw on talent from across the country, the UPSC is able to design and evaluate question papers with high quality and reliability.
- It also uses a well-established system of inter-se moderation at various stages of the exam to reduce subjective differences in marking.
- Moreover, the UPSC manages to uphold both transparency and confidentiality by promptly addressing any errors and making necessary systemic improvements, which reduces the need for candidates to approach the courts with complaints.
- In comparison, most State PSCs do not regularly constitute committees to revise their syllabi. They also have limited access to subject experts, often relying only on local academic resources.
- As a result, achieving uniform moderation during evaluation becomes difficult. In addition, State PSCs must handle complicated calculations involving both vertical and horizontal reservations, and in some cases, regional or zonal quotas, which increases the complexity of the recruitment process. These challenges frequently lead to legal disputes, causing significant delays in finalizing selections.
- Such issues are among the major factors affecting the effectiveness and public trust in State PSCs.
- Many frustrated candidates express that they no longer have confidence in their State Commissions and would prefer the UPSC to conduct these examinations. To rebuild credibility, timely structural and procedural reforms are essential
5. Constitutional Provisions
- Article 315 establishes that India must have a UPSC for the Union and separate Public Service Commissions for each State. Two or more States may also form a Joint PSC if their legislatures agree. The UPSC can assist any State if the Governor requests and the President approves.
- Article 316 states that the President appoints members of the UPSC and Joint PSCs, while Governors appoint members of State PSCs. About half of the members must have at least ten years of government service. Members serve for six years or until they reach the age limit—65 for UPSC and 62 for State PSCs—and cannot be reappointed after their term ends.
- Article 317 provides that UPSC or State PSC members can be removed only by the President, based on a Supreme Court inquiry, except in cases like insolvency, outside paid employment, or physical/mental incapacity. The President or Governor may suspend a member while the inquiry is ongoing.
- Article 318 empowers the President or a Governor to determine the number of members and staff of the Commission and their service conditions, which cannot be altered to their disadvantage after appointment.
- Article 319 restricts former members from taking up further government jobs. The UPSC Chairperson cannot hold any future government office, while State PSC chairpersons or members may move to UPSC or another State PSC but not to other government posts.
- Article 320 outlines the functions of the Commissions, mainly conducting recruitment exams and advising on recruitment, promotions, transfers, disciplinary matters, and claims related to costs or pensions. Governments may make rules specifying matters where consultation with the PSC is not required.
- Article 321 allows Parliament or State Legislatures to assign additional duties to the PSCs.
- Article 322 states that PSC expenses are charged to the Consolidated Fund of India or the respective State, ensuring financial independence.
- Article 323 requires UPSC and State PSCs to submit annual reports on their work. These reports must be placed before Parliament or the State Legislature along with explanations wherever the PSC’s advice was not accepted
6. Roles and Functions of PSC
- The Constitution requires governments to consult the Public Service Commission on appointments and other matters listed under Article 320. The Commission’s responsibilities include holding examinations for State civil service posts and advising the government on recruitment methods, principles for appointments, promotions, inter-service transfers, suitability of candidates, and disciplinary cases involving State civil servants.
- Articles 229 and 234 further mandate consultation with the Commission for appointments to specific posts in the High Court establishment and the State Judicial Service. Several statutory bodies also follow similar requirements for certain categories of posts.
- Article 321 additionally empowers the State Legislature to assign extra functions to the Commission in relation to State services or local bodies, although no such legislation has been enacted so far.
- The State Government seeks the Commission’s advice for most civil service recruitments, but some posts are excluded through regulations framed under the proviso to Article 320(3). In West Bengal, for example, these exclusions are listed in the West Bengal Public Service Commission (Exemption from Consultation) Regulations, 2008
7. Way Forward
Reforms are also needed in the examination processes. The syllabus must be revised regularly, reflecting academic changes and aligning with UPSC standards. Any proposed revision should be made public, inviting feedback before implementation. State-specific topics—such as regional history, economy, or geography—can be evaluated through objective-type questions to reduce subjective bias. While the preliminary exam may remain fully objective, the mains should include both objective and descriptive papers. Translation of question papers should combine technology with human oversight to avoid errors. Frequent changes in question patterns can prevent overreliance on AI-generated answers
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For Prelims: Union Public Service Commission, Lord Thomas Macaulay, Haileybury College, Satyendranath Tagore, Indian Constitutional Reforms, Government of India Act, 1919, Public Service Commission, Public Service Commission (Functions) Rules, 1926, Government of India Act, of 1935, Article 378 of the Constitution, Consolidated Fund of India,
For Mains: 1. What is Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)? Discuss its evolution and Explain the functions of UPSC. (250 Words)
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Previous Year Questions
1. The Union Public Service Commission of India has been established under the Article ______ (MP Patwari 2017)
A. 315 B. 234 C. 421 D. 56
Answer: A
2. T.B. Macaulay has penned his 'Minute on Education' in the year (AP SET 2016)
A.1735 B. 1753 C. 1853 D.1835
Answer: D
3. Which of the following is NOT true about Mill's History of British India? (UGC NET 2019)
A. It founded the traditional institutions of India static and retrogressive
B. The analysis made by Mill suited the needs of imperial government.
C. It became a textbook on India for the British officers of the Indian Civil Services at Haileybury College
D. It was not informed by the English utilitarian philosophy
Answer: D
4. Who among the following was the first Indian to qualify for the Indian Civil Service? (NDA 2019)
1. Satyendranath Tagore
2. Surendranath Banerjee
3. R.C. Dutt
4. Subhas Chandra Bose
Answer: A
5. Which among the following events happened earliest? (UPSC 2018)
A. Swami Dayanand established Arya Samaj.
B. Dinabandhu Mitra wrote Neel Darpan
C. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote Anandmath.
D. Satyendranath Tagore became the first Indian to succeed in the Indian Civil Services Examination.
Answer: B
6. In the Government of India Act 1919, the functions of Provincial Government were divided into "Reserved" and "Transferred" subjects. Which of the following were treated as "Reserved" subjects? (UPSC 2022)
1. Administration of Justice
2. Local Self-Government
3. Land Revenue
4. Police
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1, 2 and 3 B. 2, 3 and 4 C. 1, 3 and 4 D. 1, 2 and 4
Answer: A
7. Features of the Government of India Act 1935 are: (Rajasthan Police SI 2016)
(a) The provincial autonomy
(b) The establishment of Federal Court
(c) The establishment of All India Federation at the Centre
1. a and b 2. b and c 3. a and c 4. a, b and c
Answer: 4
8. With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2015)
1. The Department of Revenue responsible for the preparation of Union Budget that is presented to the Parliament.
2. No amount can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India without the authorization from the Parliament of India
3. All the disbursements made from Public Account also need authorization from the Parliament of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only B. 2 and 3 only C. 2 only D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: C
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Source: The Hindu
