Role of UPSC

 

The Union Public Service Commission has been established under Article 315 of the Constitution of India. The Commission consists of a Chairman and ten Members. The terms and conditions of service of Chairman and Members of the Commission are governed by the Union Public Service Commission (Members) Regulations, 1969. 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.

 

The Union Public Service Commission has been entrusted with the following duties and role under the Constitution:

 

Ø  Recruitment to services & posts under the Union through conduct of competitive examinations;

Ø  Recruitment to services & posts under the Central Government by Selection through Interviews;

Ø  Advising on the suitability of officers for appointment on promotion as well as transfer-on deputation;

Ø  Advising the Government on all matters relating to methods of Recruitment to various services and posts;

Ø  Disciplinary cases relating to different civil services; and

Ø  Miscellaneous matters relating to grant of extra ordinary pensions, reimbursement of legal expenses etc.

 

The major role played by the Commission is to select persons to man the various Central Civil Services and Posts and the Services common to the Union and States (viz. All-India Services).

 

Recruitment to Various Services and Posts

Under Article 320 of the Constitution of India, the Commission are, inter-alia, required to be consulted on all matters relating to recruitment to civil services and posts. Recruitment is made by one of the following three methods:

Ø  Direct Recruitment;

Ø  Promotion; and

Ø  Transfer

 

Direct Recruitment is conducted broadly under the following two methods:

Ø  Recruitment by competitive examination.

Ø  Promotion; and Recruitment by selection through interview.

 

All India Services

The All India Services Act, 1951 and Rules and Regulations framed there under regulate the recruitment and conditions of service in respect of the All India Services viz. Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service and Indian Forest Service. As far as direct recruitment to the Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police Service Examination are concerned, it is done through the Civil Services Examination and for the Indian Forest Service through the Indian Forest Service Examination held by the Commission.