GS-2Editorial
1.UPSC–State PSC Structural Gaps (Public Service Commissions)
The HinduArticles 315-323 · UPSC · State PSCs
What & Where
State Public Service Commissions (SPSCs); constitutional bodies under Arts 315-323 for State civil-service recruitment.
Present in every State; 2025 national conference hosted by Telangana PSC, Hyderabad (19-20 Dec).
Conduct prelims-mains-interview cycles for Group A/B posts, advise governors on personnel matters.
Quick Facts for MCQs
Historical Evolution
- 1918 reforms proposed merit-based, politically insulated recruitment countering colonial bias.
- 1935 Act institutionalised federal PSC structure, basis for UPSC-State PSC duality.
- Constituent Assembly 1950 retained PSCs to ensure neutrality, continuity post-Independence.
Structural Gaps
- Appointment; UPSC merit-centric, SPSCs often politically influenced, lacking fixed qualifications.
- Representation; UPSC zonal spread mandatory, States have no comparable diversity norm.
- Administrative support; UPSC aided by DoPT, States lack dedicated personnel ministry and budgeting.
Operational Issues
- Syllabus stagnation; expert committees rarely convened, misaligned with contemporary subjects.
- Evaluation inconsistencies; weak moderation, translation errors spur litigation, cancellations.
- Vacancy backlogs; fiscal constraints, extended retirements create irregular notifications and exam delays.
Reform Proposals
- Create State-level DoPT; publish five-year recruitment calendar for predictable cycles.
- Panel-based, apolitical member selection; integrity, seniority, domain expertise criteria codified constitutionally.
- Mixed exam pattern; objective prelims, objective + descriptive mains to balance analytics and evaluation fairness.
Key Data Points
| Feature | Data-Point |
|---|---|
| Constitutional backing | Articles 315-323 |
| First Public Service Commission | 1926 (Union level) |
| Provinces mandated own PSCs | Government of India Act 1935 |
| Reform origin | Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms 1918 |
| Proposed member age band | 55–65 years |
| Suggested syllabus revision cycle | Every 3–5 years |
| Upcoming PSC conference | 19–20 Dec 2025, Hyderabad |
Related UPSC Prelims PYQs
CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2025PYQ 1
Part IV-A of the Constitution of India relates to which of the following?
CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2024PYQ 2
Under which one among the following Articles of the Constitution of India, a member of a Civil Service, whether of the Union or of a State, seeks protection from unlawful dismissal from service?
