Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

Under Article 315 of the Constitution, the Union and the States may constitute Public Service Commissions. The number of members of the Commission is determined by the President in the case of the Union Public Service Commission and by the Governor in the case of the State Commissions. They are appointed by the President and the Governor respectively. The Constitution does not prescribe any specific qualifications for them, except that half of the members of the Commission must have held some office under the Central/State Government for at least 10 years (Article 316). The term of office of a member is six years or 65 years (UPSC) or six years or 62 years (PSC), whichever is earlier. After retirement, the Chairman of the UPSC cannot hold any office under the Central and State Governments. The Commissions have to submit a report of their activities to the President/Governor every year.

UPSC/PSC Questions

1. Guardian of the merit system - UPSC

2. Constitutional provision that allows the central and state governments to constitute a Public Service Commission - Article 315

3. Appointment of the Chairman and members of UPSC - President

4. Removal of the Chairman and members of UPSC - President

5. Appointment of the Chairman and members of the State Public Service Commission - Governor

6. Removal of the Chairman and members of the State Public Service Commission - President

7. Term of a UPSC member - Six years or 65 years

8. Term of a State PSC member - Six years or 62 years

9. Number of members of UPSC - 11 (including the Chairperson)

10. Headquarters of UPSC - New Delhi

11. Headquarters of Kerala PSC - Thiruvananthapuram (Tulsi in Pattom Palace)

12. First Malayali to join UPSC - Dr. K.G. Atiyoti

13. First Chairman of UPSC - Sir Ross Barker (1926-1932)

14. First Chairman of Kerala PSC - V.K. Velayudhan

15. Recruitment of employees for central government posts - UPSC

16. Recruitment of employees for state government posts - PSC

17. Conducting selections for middle level and lower level posts in central government institutions - Staff Selection Commission

18. First PSC to conduct online examinations - Rajasthan PSC

19. First PSC to conduct its own online examinations - Kerala PSC