The President of India has appointed Pradeep Kumar Joshi as Chairman of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Try this PYQ:

Q.Consider the following statements:

1. The Executive Power of the Union of India is vested in the Prime Minister.
2. The Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (CSP 2015)

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Backgrounder: UPSC

• Established on 1 October 1926 as Public Service Commission, it was later reconstituted as Federal Public Service Commission by the GoI Act 1935; only to be renamed as today’s UPSC after the independence.
• The UPSC is India’s premier central recruiting agency responsible for appointments to and examinations for All India services and group A & group B of Central services.
• The Department of Personnel and Training is the central personnel agency in India.
• It is also required to be consulted by the Government in matters relating to the appointment, transfer, promotion and disciplinary matters.

Appointments to the UPSC

• As per Article 316 of the constitution, the Chairman and other members of UPSC shall be appointed by the President.
• In case the office of the Chairman becomes vacant his duties shall be performed by one of the other members of the Commission as the President may appoint for the purpose.
• Under Art. 318, the President is empowered to determine the number of members of the Commission and their conditions of service.
• As per Art 319, a person who holds office as Chairman shall, on the expiration of his term of office, be ineligible for re-appointment to that office.
• But, a member other than the Chairman shall be eligible for appointment as the Chairman of the UPSC.
• Also, the Chairman of a State PSC shall be eligible for appointment as the Chairman or any other member of the UPSC.

Removal of members/chairman

• As per Art. 317, the Chairman or any other member of a UPSC shall only be removed from their office by order of the President on the ground of “misbehaviour” after the Supreme Court inquiry report.
• The President may suspend the Chairman or other member of the Commission until a report of the Supreme Court is received.

Distinguishing features

• The commission reports directly to the President and can advise the Government through him.
• Although, such advice is not binding on the Government.
• Being a constitutional authority, UPSC is amongst the few institutions which function with both autonomy and freedom, along with the country’s higher judiciary and lately the Election Commission.

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