UPSC
The Union Public
Service Commission , abbreviated as UPSC,
is India's
premier central recruiting agency for Group 'A' officers of Government of India under union government civil services,
It is responsible for appointments to and examinations for Group A posts of
the union government under different professions. 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. 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 and can advise the Government through him.
Although, such advice is not binding on the Government. 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.
The commission is headquartered at Dholpur House, in New Delhi and functions through its own secretariat.
HISTORY OF THE UPSC
Civil Servants for the East India Company used to be nominated by the Directors of the Company and thereafter trained at Haileybury College in London and then sent to India.
Following Lord Macaulay’s Report of the Select Committee of British Parliament, the concept of a merit based modern Civil Service in India was introduced in 1854. The Report recommended that patronage based system of East India Company should be replaced by a permanent Civil Service based on a merit based system with entry through competitive examinations. For this purpose, a Civil Service Commission was setup in 1854 in London and competitive examinations were started in 1855.
Initially, the examinations for Indian Civil Service were conducted only in London. Maximum age was 23 years and minimum age was 18 years. The syllabus was designed such that European Classics had a predominant share of marks. All this made it difficult for Indian candidates.
Nevertheless,
in 1864, the first Indian, Shri Satyendranath Tagore brother of Shri
Rabindaranath Tagore succeeded. Three years later 4 other Indians succeeded.
Throughout the next 50 years, Indians petitioned for simultaneous examinations
to be held in India without success because the British Government did not want
many Indians to succeed and enter the ICS. It was only after the First World
War and the Montagu Chelmsford reforms that this was agreed to. From 1922
onwards the Indian Civil Service Examination began to be held in India also,
first in Allahabad and later in Delhi with the setting up of the Federal Public
Service Commission. The Examination in London continued to be conducted by the
Civil Service Commission.
Similarly, prior to independence superior police officers belonged to the Indian (Imperial) Police appointed by the Secretary of State by competitive examination. The first open competition for the service was held in England in June, 1893, and 10 top candidates were appointed as Probationary Assistant Superintendents of Police. Entry into Imperial Police was thrown open to Indians only after 1920 and the following year examinations for the service were conducted both in England and India. Indianisation of the police service continued to be very slow despite pronouncement and recommendations of the Islington Commission and the Lee Commission.
Till 1931,
Indians were appointed against 20% of the total posts of Superintendents of
Police. However, because of non availability of the suitable European
candidates, more Indians were appointed to the Indian Police from the year 1939
onwards. Regarding Forest Service, British India Government started the
Imperial Forest Department in 1864 and to organize the affairs of the Imperial
Forest Department, Imperial Forest Service was constituted in 1867. From 1867
to 1885, the officers appointed to Imperial Forest Service were trained in
France and Germany. Till 1905, they were trained at Coopers Hill, London. In
1920, it was decided that further recruitment to the Imperial Forest Service
would be made by direct recruitment in England and India and by promotion from
the provincial service in India. After independence, the Indian Forest Service
was created in 1966 under All India Service Act 1951.
Regarding Central Civil
Services, the Civil Services in British India were classified as covenanted and
uncovenanted services on the basis of the nature of work, pay-scales and
appointing authority. In 1887, the Aitchinson Commission recommended the
reorganization of the services on a new pattern and divided the services into
three groups-Imperial, Provincial and Subordinate. The recruiting and
controlling authority of Imperial services was the ‘Secretary of State’. Initially, mostly British candidates were
recruited for these services. The
appointing and controlling authority for Provincial
services was the respective provincial government, which framed
rules for these services with the approval of the Government of India. With the passing of the Indian Act 1919, the
Imperial Services headed by the Secretary of State for India, were split into
two-All India Services and Central Services. The central services were
concerned with matters under the direct control of the Central Government. Apart from the Central Secretariat, the more
important of these services were the Railway Services, the Indian Posts and
Telegraph Service, and the Imperial Customs Service. To some of these, the
Secretary of State used to make appointments, but in the great majority of
cases their members were appointed and controlled by the Government of India.
The origin of the Public
Service Commission in India is found in the First Dispatch of the Government of
India on the Indian Constitutional Reforms on the 5th March, 1919 which
referred to the need for setting up some permanent office charged with the
regulation of service matters. This concept of a body intended to be charged
primarily with the regulation of service matters, found a somewhat more
practical shape in the Government of India Act, 1919. Section 96(C) of the Act
provided for the establishment in India of a Public Service Commission which
should “discharge, in regard to recruitment and control of the Public Services
in India, such functions as may be assigned thereto by rules made by the
Secretary of State in Council”.
After passing of the
Government of India Act, 1919, in spite of a prolonged correspondence among
various levels on the functions and machinery of the body to be set up, no
decision was taken on setting up of the body. The subject was then referred to
the Royal Commission on the Superior Civil Services in India (also known as Lee
Commission). The Lee Commission, in their report in the year 1924, recommended
that the statutory Public Service Commission contemplated by the Government of
India Act, 1919 should be established without delay.
Subsequent to the
provisions of Section 96(C) of the Government of India Act, 1919 and the strong
recommendations made by the Lee Commission in 1924 for the early establishment
of a Public Service Commission, it was on October 1, 1926 that the Public Service
Commission was set up in India for the first time. It consisted of four Members
in addition to the Chairman. Sir Ross Barker, a member of the Home Civil
Service of the United Kingdom was the first Chairman of the Commission.
The functions of the
Public Service Commission were not laid down in the Government of India Act,
1919, but were regulated by the Public Service Commission (Functions) Rules,
1926 framed under sub-section (2) of Section 96(C) of the Government of India
Act, 1919. Further, the Government of India Act, 1935 envisaged a Public
Service Commission for the Federation and a Provincial Public Service
Commission for each Province or group of Provinces. Therefore, in terms of the
provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935 and with its coming into effect
on 1st April, 1937, the Public Service Commission became the Federal Public
Service Commission.
With the inauguration of
the Constitution of India in January 26, 1950, the Federal Public Service
Commission came to be known as the Union Public Service Commission, and
the Chairman and
Members of the
Federal Public Service Commission became Chairman and
Members of the Union Public Service Commission by virtue of Clause (1) of
Article 378 of the Constitution.
Constitutional Provisions
- Article-315. Public Service Commissions for the Union and for the States.
- Article-316. Appointment and term of office of members.
- Article-317. Removal and suspension of a member of a Public Service Commission.
- Article-318. Power to make regulations as to conditions of service of members and staff of the Commission.
- Article-319. Prohibition as to the holding of offices by members of Commission on ceasing to be such members.
- Article-320. Functions of Public Service Commissions.
- Article-321. Power to extend functions of Public Service Commissions.
- Article-322. Expenses of Public Service Commissions.
The Composition Of The
Commission
The UPSC consist of a chairman and other members appointed by the President of India on discretion without any specific number of strength of it composition. usually there are 9 to 11 member including the chairmen.
Further, no qualification are prescribe
for the commission’s composition except one that one half of the members should
be such person who have held office for at least ten years either under the
government of India or under any state govt.
The constitution also authorize the President to determine the conditions of services of e Chairmen and other members.
They hold office for term of six years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. They submit their resignation to the President.
Current Composition of
the Commision
REMOVAL
The
Constitution has made the following provisions to safeguard and ensure the
independent and impartial functioning of the UPSC:
(a) The
chairman or a member of the UPSC can be removed from office by the president
only in the manner and on the grounds mentioned in the Constitution. Therefore,
they enjoy security of tenure.
(b) The conditions of service of the chairman
or a member, though determined by the president, cannot be varied to his
disadvantage after his appointment.
(c) The entire expenses including the
salaries, allowances and pensions of the chairman and members of the UPSC are
charged on the Consolidated Fund of India. Thus, they are not subject to vote
of Parliament.
(d) The
chairman of UPSC (on ceasing to hold office) is not eligible for further
employment in the Government of India or a state .
(e) A member of UPSC (on ceasing to hold
office) is eligible for appointment as the chairman of UPSC or a State Public
Service Commission (SPSC), but not for any other employment in the Government
of India or a state.
(f) The chairman or a member of UPSC is (after
having completed his first term) not eligible for reappointment to that office
(i.e., not eligible for second term).
INDEPENDENCE
The Constitution has made the following provisions to
safeguard and ensure the independent and impartial functioning of the UPSC:
(a) The chairman or a member of the UPSC can be removed from
office by the president only in the manner and on the grounds mentioned in the
Constitution. Therefore, they enjoy security of tenure.
(b) The conditions of
service of the chairman or a member, though determined by the president, cannot
be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.
(c) The entire expenses including the salaries, allowances
and pensions of the chairman and members of the UPSC are charged on the
Consolidated Fund of India. Thus, they are not subject to vote of Parliament.
(d) The chairman of UPSC (on ceasing to hold office) is not
eligible for further employment in the Government of India or a state.
(e) A member of UPSC (on ceasing to hold office) is eligible
for appointment as the chairman of UPSC or a State Public Service Commission
(SPSC), but not for any other employment in the Government of India or a state
.
(f) The chairman or a
member of UPSC is (after having completed his first term) not eligible for
reappointment to that office (i.e., not eligible for second term).
FUNCTIONS
The UPSC
performs the following functions:
(a) It
conducts examinations for appointments to the all-India services, Central
services and public services of the centrally administered territories.
(b) It
assists the states (if requested by two or more states to do so) in framing and
operating schemes of joint recruitment for any services for which candidates
possessing special qualifications are required.
(c) It
serves all or any of the needs of a state on the request of the state governor
and with the approval of the president of India.
(d) It is
consulted on the following matters related to personnel management:
(i) All
matters relating to methods of recruitment to civil service and for civil posts.
(ii) The
principles to be followed in making appointments to c services and posts and in
making promotions and transfers from one service to another.
(iii) The
suitability of candidates for appointments to civil service and posts; for
promotions and transfers from one service another; and appointments by transfer
or deputation. concerned departments make recommendations for promotion and
request the UPSC to ratify them.
(iv) All
disciplinary matters affecting a person serving under t Government of India in
a civil capacity including memorials petitions relating to such matters.
These
include: –
Censure
(Severe disapproval)
–
Withholding of increments
–
Withholding of promotions
– Recovery
of pecuniary loss
– Reduction
to lower service or rank (Demotion)
– Compulsory
retirement
– Removal
from service
– Dismissal
from service
(v) Any
claim for reimbursement of legal expenses incurred by civil servant in
defending legal proceedings instituted again him in respect of acts done in the
execution of his offic duties.
(vi) Any
claim for the award of a pension in respect of injuri sustained by a person
while serving under the Government India and any question as to the amount of
any such award. (vii) Matters of temporary appointments for period exceeding o
year and on regularisation of appointments.
(viii)
Matters related to grant of extension of service and r employment of certain
retired civil servants.
(ix) Any other matter related to personnel management. The Supreme Court has held that if the government fails to consult UPSC in the matters (mentioned above), the aggrieved public servant has no remedy in a court. In other words, the court held that any irregularity in consultation with the UPSC or acting without consultation does not invalidate the decision of the government. Thus, the provision is directory and not mandatory. Similarly, the court held that a selection by the UPSC does not confer any right to the post upon the candidate.
However, the government is to act fairly and without arbitrariness or mala fides. The additional functions relating to the services of the Union can be conferred on UPSC by the Parliament. It can also place the personnel system of any authority, corporate body or public institution within the jurisdiction of the UPSC. Hence the jurisdiction of UPSC can be extended by an act made by the Parliament.
The UPSC presents, annually, to the president a report on its
performance. The President places this report before both the Houses of Parliament,
along with a memorandum explaining the cases where the advice of the Commission
was not accepted and the reasons for such non-acceptance. All such cases of non
acceptance must be approved by the Appointments Committee of the Union cabinet.
An individual ministry or department has no power to reject the advice of the
UPSC.
LIMITATIONS
The
following matters are kept outside the functional jurisdiction of the UPSC. In
other words, the UPSC is not consulted on the following matters:
(a) While
making reservations of appointments or posts in favour of any backward class of
citizens.
(b) While
taking into consideration the claims of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes
in making appointments to services and posts.
(c) With
regard to the selections for chairmanship or membership of commissions or
tribunals, posts of the highest diplomatic nature and a bulk of group C and
group D services.
(d) With regard to the selection for temporary or officiating appointment to a post if the person appointed is not likely to hold the post for more than a year. The president can exclude posts, services and matters from the purview of the UPSC.
The Constitution states that the president, in respect to the all-India
services and Central services and posts may make regulations specifying the
matters in which, it shall not be necessary for UPSC to be consulted. But all
such regulations made by the president shall be laid before each House of
Parliament for at least 14 days. The Parliament can amend or repeal them.
ROLE
The Constitution visualises the UPSC to be the ‘watch-dog of merit system’ in India. It is concerned with the recruitment to the all-India services and Central services–group A and group B and advises the government, when consulted, on promotion and disciplinary matters. It is not concerned with the classification of services, pay and service conditions, cadre management, training, and so on. These matters are handled by the Department of Personnel and Training–one of the three departments of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
Therefore, UPSC is only a central recruiting agency while the Department of Personnel and Training is the central personnel agency in India. The role of UPSC is not only limited, but also recommendations made by it are only of advisory nature and hence, not binding on the government. It is upto the Union government to accept or reject that advise. The only safeguard is the answerability of the government to the Parliament for departing from the recommendation of the Commission.
Further, the government can also make rules which regulate the scope of the advisory functions of UPSC . The emergence of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in 1964 affected the role of UPSC in disciplinary matters. This is because both are consulted by the government while taking disciplinary action against a civil servant. The problem arises when the two bodies tender conflicting advise. However, the UPSC, being an independent constitutional body, has an edge over the CVC, which is created by an executive resolution of the Government of India and conferred a statutory status in October 2003.
Organizational structure
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. Every member holds
office for a term of six years or until he attains the age of sixty-five years,
whichever is earlier.
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 chairman and any other member of the Commission 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 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.
Secretaria
The Commission is serviced by a Secretariat headed by a
Secretary with four Additional Secretaries, a number of Joint Secretaries,
Deputy Secretaries and other supporting staff. The secretariat, for
administrative purpose, is further divided into divisions, each
undertaking having a specific responsibility:
·
Administration: Administers
the Secretariat as well as looks after personal matters of Chairman/Members and
other Officers/Staff of the Commission.
·
All India Services: Recruitment
to All India Services is done either by direct
recruitment, through Civil Services Examination or
by promotion from the State Service. The AIS Branch handles the promotions of
State Service officers to the IAS, IPS and IFS. It also handles policy matters relating to All India Services and amendments in the
'Promotion Regulations' of respective services.
FAQ’s
1. How many services are there in UPSC?
Answer- There
are about 24 services which come under the Civil Services Exam
conducted by UPSC every year. These services include IAS, IFS, IPS etc.
UPSC Posts – 3 Types of Civil Services
1.
All India Civil Services
1.
Indian
Administrative Service (IAS)
2.
Indian
Police Service (IPS)
3.
Indian
Forest Service (IFoS)
2.
Group ‘A’ Civil Services
1.
Indian
Foreign Service (IFS)
2.
Indian
Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS)
3.
Indian
Civil Accounts Service (ICAS)
4.
Indian
Corporate Law Service (ICLS)
5.
Indian
Defence Accounts Service (IDAS)
6.
Indian
Defence Estates Service (IDES)
7.
Indian
Information Service (IIS)
8.
Indian
Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS)
9.
Indian
Communication Finance Services (ICFS)
10.
Indian
Postal Service (IPoS)
11.
Indian
Railway Accounts Service (IRAS)
12.
Indian
Railway Personnel Service (IRPS)
13.
Indian
Railway Traffic Service (IRTS)
14.
Indian
Revenue Service (IRS)
15.
Indian
Trade Service (ITS)
16.
Railway
Protection Force (RPF)
3. Group ‘B’ Civil Services
1.
Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service
2.
DANICS
3.
DANIPS
4.
Pondicherry Civil Service
5.
Pondicherry Police Service
All India Services
Brief details on the two All India Services are given below.
Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
1.
Indian Administrative Service is one of the 3 All India
Services.
2.
IAS is the permanent arm of the Government of India and State
Governments.
3.
IAS cadre is responsible for formulating and implementing
Government policies.
4.
The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is an All India
Administrative Civil Service of India.
5.
The IAS probationers begin their training at LBSNAA, Mussoorie.
2. What is minimum
qualification for UPSC?
Answer- Minimum qualification for
UPSC exam: The candidate must hold a degree from Government recognised
Universities or possess an equivalent qualification. Candidates who are in
their final year or awaiting results are also eligible to appear for UPSC
preliminary Examination.
3. What are the 3 stages of IAS?
Answer-
Stage I: Preliminary
Examination (IAS Prelims)
Stage II: Mains
Examination (IAS Mains)
Stage III: UPSC
Personality Test (IAS Interview)
4. 4. What is the age
limit for UPSC?
Answer- 21 to 32 years
UPSC Exam
Eligibility-
|
Age Limit - |
21 to 32 years |
|
Age
relaxation |
As per
category (mentioned below) |
|
Number of Attempts |
06 (General
and EWS) ; 09 (OBC); SC/ST (Upto age limit) |
|
Educational
qualification for UPSC Civil Services |
Graduation
from any recognized university |
|
Nationality |
Indian (For IAS and IPS); |
1 5. What is the Syllabus for UPSC?
download syllbus pdf
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1koqI30Dju7xiiTbXij11UfHcoZW1_7J9/view?usp=sharing
