In India, the PSC, or Public Service Commission, has a constitutional requirement to assist state governments in aspects of recruitment, deployment, and disciplinary action. The Union Public Service Commission holds the prestigious IAS Exams every year (UPSC). The IAS exam is the prevalent entry point for over twenty for Group A as well as Group B services. Likewise, the State Public Service Commissions (SPSC) administer the recruitment examinations that serve as an entry point into the state administration for covered services.

The State Public Service Commission is a legal entity. A State Public Service Commission exists in every state. Articles starting from 315 to 323 of the Constitution cover the structure, appointment, expulsion of members, and the power and functions of the State Public Service Commission and its independence. 

History of Public Service Commission

The Public Service Commission was established in India for the first time on October 1, 1926, as a result of the terms of Section 96(C) of the Indian Act, 1919, and the powerful suggestions given by the Lee Commission in the year 1924 for the initial introduction of a Public Service Commission. In addition to the Chairman, it had four members. The Commission’s first Chairman was Sir Ross Barker, a representative of the United Kingdom’s Home Civil Service. The Public Service Commission’s functions were not specified in the Government of India Act, established in 1919, but governed by the Public Service Commission.

A Public Service Commission for the Federation and a Provincial Public Service Commission for every Province or group of Provinces were also established by the Government of India Act, 1935. The Public Service Commission has become the Federal Public Service Commission as a result of the regulations of the Indian Act, 1935, which took effect on April 1, 1937. The Federal Public Service Commission became the Union Public Service Commission with the inauguration of the Indian Constitution on January 26, 1950, and the Chief and Representatives of the Federal Public Service Commission had already become Chairman and Members of such Union Public Service Commission besides virtue of Provision of Article 378 of the Constitution.

SPSC full form and duties

SPSC’s full form is the State Public Service Commission. The chief and representatives of the SPSC serve for a six-year term or until they reach the age of 62, whichever comes first. Members can resign at any time during the period by writing to the governor and informing them of their decision.

Public Service Commissions for the Union and States – Article 315 of Indian Constitution

  • Article 315 of the Indian constitution states that there must be a Public Service Commission for the Union and a Public Service Commission for every State, in compliance with the provisions of this article.
  • If the House passes a resolution towards that effect or, if they’re more than a house or two Houses, with each House of the Legislature of all of these States, Parliament may provide by law for the referral of a Joint State Public Service Commission, also known as Joint Commission, to serve the needs of those States.
  • Any such law may include incidental and moral provisions necessary or desirable to carry out the law’s purposes.
  • If the Governor of a State requests it, the Public Service Commission for the Union may agree to serve all or any of the State’s needs with the President’s approval.
  • Unless the context requires otherwise, references to the Union Public Service Commission and a State Public Service Commission in this Constitution refer to the Commission catering to the needs of a Union or, even as the case may be, the State in the particular matter in question.

Conclusion

The SPSC can be given additional responsibilities related to state services by the state legislature. It can also expand the SPSC’s role by bringing the personnel systems of any local authority, other legal entity, or public institution under its jurisdiction.

The governor is presented with the SPSC’s annual report on its performance. The governor then presents this report to the state legislature, along with a memorandum outlining the cases in which the commission’s advice was not followed and why it was not followed.