The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) (Hindi:संघ लोक सेवा आयोग) is India's central agency authorized to conduct the Civil Services Examination, Engineering Services Examination, Combined Defense Services Examination, National Defense Academy Examination, Naval Academy Examination, Combined Medical Services Examination, Special Class Railway Apprentice, Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Service Examination, Geologists' Examination, and Central Armed Police Forces(Assistant Commandant) Examination.
The agency's charter is granted by 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.
History
The Royal Commission on the Superior Civil Services in India under the Chairmanship of Lord Lee, which submitted its Report in 1924,recommended the setting up of the Public Service Commission. This led to the establishment of the first Public Service Commission on October 1, 1926 under the Chairmanship of Sir Ross Barker. The limited advisory function accorded to the Public Service Commission and the continued stress on this aspect by the leaders of our freedom movement resulted in the setting up of a Federal Public Service Commission under the Government of India Act, 1935. The Federal Public Service Commission became the Union Public Service Commission after Independence and it was given a Constitutional status with promulgation of Constitution of India on January 26, 1950 .
Administration and Control
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 Chairman and other members of the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) are appointed by the President of India. At least half of the members of the Commission are Civil Servants (working or retired) with minimum ten years of experience either in Central or State service.
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.
Members of the UPSC
Every member holds office for a term of six years or until he attains the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier.
He 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 misbehavior (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.
U.P.S.C. is amongst the few institutions which function with both autonomy and freedom along with the country’s higher judiciary and lately the Election Commission.
As of May 15, 2014, the Commission consists of a Chairman and 10 members. The names of the members are :
- Smt. Rajni Razdan - Chairman (IAS-Haryana Cadre)
- Smt. Alka Sirohi (IAS-Madhya Pradesh Cadre)
- Prof. David R. Syiemlieh (Academician, Former VC of R.G. University)
- Shri Manbir Singh (ex-IFS)
- Shri Amar Pratap Singh (Former CBI Director)
- Vice Admiral (Retd.) D.K. Dewan
- Shri Vinay Mittal (Former Railway Board Chairman)
- Dr.(Smt.)P. Kilemsungla (Indian educationist)
- Shri Chhatar Singh (Former Prin. Sec. to Haryana CM)
- Prof. Hem Chandra Gupta (Former Professor, IIT Delhi)
Recruitment Rules
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 etc. under the relevant Acts made by Parliament in pursuance of the provisions of Article 321.a
Gender issue in application form
While the notification of UPSC claims"Government strives to have a workforce which reflects gender balance and women candidates are encouraged to apply ", 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.
Transgender Swapna and gender activist Gopi Shankar from Srishti Madurai staged the protest in Madurai collectorate on 7th October 2013 demanding reservation and to permit alternate genders to appear for examinations conducted by TNPSC, UPSC, SSC and Bank Exams.Later Swapna was incidentally, had successfully moved the Madras High Court in 2013 seeking permission to write the TNPSC Group II exam as a ‘woman’ candidate
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR - LECTURER IN PHYSIOLOGY - MEDICAL EDUCATION