Union Public Service Commission

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Union Public Service Commission

Emblem of India.svg

Emblem of India

Commission overview

Formed October 1, 1926

Preceding agencies

Federal Public Service Commission

Public Service Commission

Jurisdiction Government of the India

Headquarters Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi

28.6080N 77.2269ECoordinates: 28.6080N 77.2269E

Commission executive

David R. Syiemlieh, Chairman

Website upsc.gov.in

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC; Hindi: ) is India's central recruiting
agency. It is responsible for appointments to and examinations for all central and all-India
services.[1] While Department of Personnel and Training is the central personnel agency in India.

The agency's charter is granted by Part XIV of the Constitution of India, titled as Services Under the
Union and the States.[2][3]

Contents [hide]

1 History

2 Constitutional Status

3 Organisational Structure

3.1 Present Members

3.2 List of all Chairmen

4 Functions

4.1 Examinations
5 Museum

6 Criticism

6.1 Gender issue in application form

7 Reports

8 See also

9 References

10 External links

History[edit]

The Royal Commission on the superior Civil Services in India was set up under the chairmanship of
Lord Lee of Fareham by the British Government in 1923.[4][5] With equal numbers of Indian and
British members, the commission submitted its report in 1924, recommending setting up of a Public
Service Commission.[6] The Lee Commission proposed that 40% of future entrants should be British,
40% Indians directly recruited, and 20% Indians promoted from the provincial services.[4][7]

This led to the establishment of the first Public Service Commission on 1 October 1926 under the
chairmanship of Sir Ross Barker.[5] A mere limited advisory function was granted to the Public
Service Commission and the leaders of the freedom movement continually stressed on this aspect,
which then resulted in the setting up of a Federal Public Service Commission under the Government
of India Act, 1935. [5][7]

The Federal Public Service Commission became the Union Public Service Commission after
independence. It was given a constitutional status with under of Constitution of India on 26 January
1950.[6][7][8]

Constitutional Status[edit]

See also: Part XIV of the Constitution of India

Articles 315 to 323 of Part XIV of the constitution, titled as Services Under the Union and the States,
provide for a Public Service Commission for the Union and for each state.[2][3] Accordingly, at Union
level, Union Public Service Commission is envisaged by it.

According to Art. 315 of the constitution of India there shall be a permanent Union Public Service
Commission for appointment to the various posts of the central government services. Likewise Art.
318 of the constitution of India also stated that the Union Public Service Commission will be
constituted with a chairman and a fixed number of members; the number of such members and the
terms and conditions of their service are to be determined by the President of India. As per Art. 318,
the President, shall appoint the Chairman and other members of the commission for a period of 6
years or until he attains the age of 65 years.
As per Art. 316, at least 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 the Government of
India or under the Government of a State.

As per Art 317(1) only the President of India can remove these members from their officers under
the special charge of corruption and dishonest behaviour by a special measure. The system is, when
a special charge against any member of the Union Public Service Commission is made before the
President of India about corruption and dishonesty the latter directs the Supreme Count of India to
make an enquiry on it and the Supreme Court after making the enquiry submits its report to him. If
the charge is proved against the member or even the chairman of the commission, the President can
remove him from his office. Art. 317(2) also says that if a member is found insolvent or mentally and
physically unfit then also the President can remove him from the post of membership.

For ensuring neutrality and impartiality of UPSC, the Chairman of the Union Public Service
Commission is not allowed to take any office of profit under the central or any of the state
governments even after his retirement from service as chairman. Art. 322 declares that the salaries
and allowances of these members including the chairman shall be charged upon the consolidated
fund of India, making them non-subjected to approval of the Parliament.

UPSC is amongst the few institutions which function with both autonomy and freedom along with
the countrys higher judiciary and lately the Election Commission.[9]

Organisational Structure[edit]

The Commission consists of a chairman and other members appointed by The President of India.
Usually, the Commission consists of 9 to 11 members including the chairman.[10] Every member
holds office for a term of six years or until he attains the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier.

The Commission is serviced by a Secretariat headed by a Secretary with two Additional Secretaries, a
number of Joint Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries and other supporting staff.[11]

The terms and conditions of service of chairman and members of the Commission are governed by
the Union Public Service Commission (Members) Regulations, 1969.[12]

The chairman 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 misbehaviour (only if an inquiry of such
misbehaviour 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.
Present Members[edit]

As of February 2017, the commission had 8 members including the chairman, who are:[13]

David R. Syiemlieh (Chairman)

Vinay Mittal

Chhatar Singh

Arvind Saxena

Pradeep Kumar Joshi

Bhim Sain Bassi

A.S. Bhonsle

Sujata Mehta

List of all Chairmen[edit]

Following is the list of chairmen of UPSC:[14]

List of UPSC Chairmen (since inception)[show]

Functions[edit]

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.

As mentioned in Article 320 of the Constitution of India, the Commission shall be consulted on all
matters relating to recruitment to civil services and posts in India. In a nutshell, it is responsible for
following tasks:[16]

Conduct examinations for appointment to the services of the Union.

Recruitment (Direct) by selection through interviews.

Appointment of Department officers on promotion, deputation and through absorption.

Framing and amendment of Recruitment Rules for various services and posts under the
Government.

Disciplinary cases relating to different Civil Services.

On any matter referred to the UPSC, they can directly Advice the Government by the President of
India.

Examinations[edit]

UPSC conducts following examinations:[17][18]

Civil Services Examination (CSE)

Engineering Services Examination (ESE)

Combined Medical Services Examination (CMSE)

Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE)

National Defence Academy Examination (NDA)

Naval Academy Examination

Special Class Railway Apprentice (SCRA)

Indian Forest Service Examination

Indian Economic Service Examination

Indian Statistical Service Examination

Combined Geo-scientist and Geologist Examination

Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandant) Examination (CAPF)

The examinations conducted for Civil Services have a success rate of 0.1%0.3%.

Museum[edit]

In November 2016, UPSC opened a museum for showcasing its possession of archival material
including original pamphlets, documents, reports and various other records.[19][20] The 1st section
displays various artifacts related to early administration in ancient and medieval India, and phases of
growth of administration in modern India. It also provides information regarding civil services in
China, USA, France, Japan and Bhutan. The 2nd section displays artifacts related to UPSC itself and
the various examinations it had conducted. The 3rd section displays various reports of various
committees appointed for suggesting improvements to quality of UPSC and Civil Services in
India.[19][21]

The museum is located in the premises of UPSC Dholpur House and is open 10 am - 2 pm (Monday
to Saturday). Entry is free and photography is allowed inside it.[21][20]
Criticism[edit]

Gender issue in application form[edit]

While the notification of UPSC claims "Government strives to have a workforce which reflects
gender balance and women candidates are encouraged to apply",[22] the application form available
online doesn't have the option for "others" under the category of sex. This was highlighted through
an RTI appeal filed by a Madurai-based 23-year-transgender, Swapna.[23]

Transgender Swapna and the gender activist Gopi Shankar from Srishti Madurai[24] staged the
protest in Madurai collectorate on 7 October 2013 demanding reservation and to permit alternate
genders to appear for examinations conducted by TNPSC, UPSC, SSC and Bank Exams. Later, Swapna
successfully moved the Madras High Court in 2013 seeking permission to write the TNPSC Group II
exam as a woman candidate.[25]

Reports[edit]

The UPSC annually submits a report of its work to the President of India. Further it is sent to each
house of Parliament for discussion.The commission submits an annual report on the work done by it
to the President.The President places the report of the commission before the parliament along with
a memorandum with regard to the cases where the advice of the commission was not accepted and
the reasons for such non-acceptance.