A Joint State Public Service Commission may be established for two or more States
- (a)If respective States agree in this regard
- (b)Parliament appoints Joint State Public Service Commission by law
- (c)Both (A) and (B)
- (d)None of the above
Correct — C, Both (A) and (B). Article 315(2) allows a Joint State Public Service Commission only when two conditions are met together: the Legislature of each of the States concerned passes a resolution agreeing to a common commission, and Parliament, acting on those resolutions, provides for the Joint Commission by law. Neither condition works on its own, so both A and B are required — hence C.
- (a)If respective States agree in this regard — The States' agreement (a resolution by each State legislature) is necessary but not sufficient — Parliament must still create the Joint Commission by law.
- (b)Parliament appoints Joint State Public Service Commission by law — Parliament can legislate only after the States concerned pass the enabling resolutions, so this step alone is incomplete.
- (d)None of the above — Both conditions do apply, so 'none' is wrong.
Under Article 315(2), two or more States may resolve to have a single Public Service Commission; acting on such resolutions, Parliament may by law provide for a Joint State Public Service Commission. Unlike an ordinary State Public Service Commission, whose members the Governor appoints, the chairman and members of a Joint Commission are appointed by the President. It serves the recruitment needs of that group of States.
The question tests whether you know the Joint Commission needs BOTH the States' consent AND a Parliamentary law — a classic 'both conditions together' construction where each single option is a half-truth.
- Article 315(2) is the basis for a Joint State Public Service Commission.
- It needs a resolution by the Legislature of each participating State.
- It also needs a law made by Parliament creating the Joint Commission.
- The chairman and members of a Joint Commission are appointed by the President.
- State A Legislature passes resolution
- State B Legislature passes resolution
- Parliament provides by law
- Joint State Public Service Commission
Both the States' resolutions and a Parliamentary law are needed — that is why the answer is 'Both (A) and (B)'.
- Picking only 'States agree' or only 'Parliament by law' — both are required together
- Assuming the Governor appoints Joint Commission members — for a Joint Commission it is the President
Asked as a 'both conditions' MCQ or a 'who appoints' item — remember: the States' resolutions plus a Parliamentary law, and the President appoints a Joint Commission's members.
Provision for the Public Service Commission for the Union and the States is contained in which Article of the Constitution of India?
- (a) Article 340
- (b) Article 315
- (c) Article 328
- (d) Article 238
Answer(b) Article 315
Article 315 is the parent provision for Public Service Commissions — and its clause (2) is exactly the basis for a Joint State Public Service Commission.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The chairman and members of a Joint State Public Service Commission are appointed by the:
- (a)Governors of the States jointly
- (b)President
- (c)Chief Ministers of the States
- (d)Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission
Answer(b) President.
- practice — not a real PYQ
A Joint State Public Service Commission can be established under which provision of the Constitution?
- (a)Article 312
- (b)Article 315(2)
- (c)Article 320
- (d)Article 324
Answer(b) Article 315(2).