Union Public Service Commission

Union Public Service Commission

Union Public Service Commission
Constitutional body overview
Formed	1 October 1926 (97 years ago)
Jurisdiction	Republic of India
Headquarters	Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi 28.6080°N 77.2269°E
Minister responsible	Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Constitutional body executive	Manoj Soni, Chairman
Parent department	Government of India
Child Constitutional body	Public Service Commissions in India
Website	upsc.gov.in
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The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC; ISO: Saṅgh Lok Sevā Āyog) is a constitutional body of India that conducts direct recruitment of officers to the All India                Services and the Central Civil Services (Group A and B) through examinations and appoints officers in various Services under the Government of India.^[1] The personnel are managed by the Department of Personnel and Training.

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] The commission is mandated by the Constitution for appointments to the services of the Union and All India Services. It is also required to be consulted by the Government in matters relating to the appointment, transfer, promotion and disciplinary matters. The commission reports directly to the President. The commission can advise the Government through the President, although, such advice is not binding. Being a constitutional authority, UPSC is amongst the few institutions which function with both autonomy and freedom, along with the country’s higher judiciary and lately the Election Commission.^[4]

The commission is headquartered at Dholpur House, in New Delhi and functions through its own secretariat. Dr. Manoj Soni has been the Chairman of UPSC since 5 April 2022.^[5]

Established on 1 October 1926 as Public Service Commission, it was later reconstituted as Federal Public Service Commission by the Government of India Act 1935; only to be renamed as today's Union Public Service Commission after the independence.^[6][7]

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.^[8][6] With equal numbers of Indian and British members, the commission submitted its report in 1924, recommending setting up of a Public Service Commission.^[9] The Lee Commission proposed that 40% of future entrants should be British, 40% Indians directly recruited, and 20% Indians promoted from the provincial services.^[8][7]

This led to the establishment of the first Public Service Commission on 1 October 1926 under the chairmanship of Sir Ross Barker.^[6] 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.^[6][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.^[9][7]