On 1 October 2026, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) completes one hundred years

1. Important Introduction

• 1 October 2026: UPSC completes 100 years.
• 1 October 1926: First Public Service Commission in India was established.
• Initially, it was an advisory body.
• Its Chairman and Members were appointed by the Secretary of State in London.
• Today, UPSC is an independent constitutional body.

2. Road to the Establishment of UPSC

• 1855: Indian Civil Service (ICS) examination was introduced in London.
  • Replaced the East India Company’s nomination system with open competition.
  • Examination was conducted only in London and in English.
  • Subjects such as Greek and Latin favoured candidates educated in the British system.
• 1863: Satyendranath Tagore cleared the ICS examination.
  • First Indian to enter the ICS.
  • Joined the service in 1864.
  • Elder brother of Rabindranath Tagore.
• Later Indian ICS entrants included:
  • Surendranath Banerjee
  • Behari Lal Gupta
  • Romesh Chunder Dutt
• The maximum age for the ICS examination was reduced from 23 to 19 years.
• By 1919: Only 78 out of 1,255 ICS officers were Indians.
• 1919: Government of India Act provided for the establishment of a Public Service Commission.
• 1922: ICS examination was conducted in India for the first time, at Allahabad, alongside London.
• 1924: Lee Commission, chaired by Arthur Hamilton Lee, recommended the immediate establishment of a statutory Public Service Commission.
  • Proposed recruitment ratio: 4 British, 4 Indians and 2 Indians promoted from provincial services out of every 10 entrants.
• 1 October 1926: Public Service Commission was established.
  • First Chairman: Sir Ross Barker.
  • Had four other Members.
  • Located at Metcalfe House, Delhi.
  • Established under the Public Service Commission (Functions) Rules, 1926, framed under Sections 96B and 96C of the Government of India Act, 1919.

3. Constitutional Mandate

• 22 August 1949: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar moved the draft articles relating to Union and State Public Service Commissions in the Constituent Assembly.
• These provisions became Part XIV, Articles 315–323, of the Constitution.
• 26 November 1949: Dr. Rajendra Prasad emphasised the importance of independent Public Service Commissions.
• Independence helps prevent:
  • Nepotism
  • Favouritism
  • Improper appointments
  • Jobbery

4. Important Constitutional Articles (315–323)

5. Major Functions of UPSC

• Recruitment through examinations:
  • Civil Services Examination
  • Indian Forest Service Examination
  • Engineering Services Examination
  • Combined Medical Services Examination
  • NDA and Naval Academy Examination
  • Combined Defence Services Examination
  • Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination
• Recruitment by selection:
  • Interviews
  • Recruitment tests for specialist posts requested by Ministries and Departments
• Advisory functions:
  • Recruitment rules
  • Promotions through Departmental Promotion Committees
  • Induction into All India Services
  • Disciplinary matters
• 2023–24: Processed records of 24,581 officers for promotion.
• 2023–24: 532 officers were inducted into the All India Services.
• Police leadership: Since 2012–13, UPSC has empanelled senior IPS officers for appointment as State Directors General of Police/Heads of Police Force, following the Supreme Court’s order in Prakash Singh v. Union of India (22 September 2006).

6. Landmark Events: 1926–1949

• 1935: Government of India Act, 1935:
  • Provided for a Federal Public Service Commission and Provincial Public Service Commissions.
  • Expanded the Commission’s role in recruitment, appointments, promotions, disciplinary cases and service rules.
• 1 April 1937: Commission renamed the Federal Public Service Commission.
• 1938: Combined Competitive Examinations began for several services.
• 1940: Indians numbered 625 in the ICS, exceeding the 575 Europeans for the first time.
• 1947:
  • H.K. Kripalani became the first Indian Chairman.
  • First examination after Independence was held in December.
  • ICS gave way to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
• 1948: First batch of Indian Foreign Service officers recruited through the combined examination.

7. Building the Republic’s Services: 1950–1979

• 26 January 1950: Federal Public Service Commission became the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
  • Chairman: Shri R.N. Banerjee.
• 1950–51: First regular recruitment to All India Services under the Constitution:
  • IAS: 29 candidates recommended.
  • IPS: 31 candidates recommended.
• 1951: All-India Services Act enacted.
• 1966: Indian Forest Service constituted as the third All India Service.
  • First selection took place in 1967.
• 1969: Eighth Schedule languages introduced as options for Essay and General Studies papers of the Civil Services Examination.
• 1976: UPSC Golden Jubilee.
  • Applications crossed one lakh for the first time.
  • D.S. Kothari Committee proposed a three-stage examination.
• 1977: First Combined Medical Services Examination conducted.
• 1978: UPSC adopted computers to process applications, answer sheets and records.
• 1979:
  • Three-stage Civil Services Examination introduced: Prelims, Mains and Interview.
  • Eighth Schedule languages formalised in the Main Examination.
  • London examination centre discontinued.