Union Public Service Commission Of India: An Introduction
Union Public Service Commission, popularly known as UPSC is one of the important and critical bodies of the country. This body is said to be responsible for the recruitment of the Group A officers of the country. It is also a constituent body. The Chairman as well as members of the UPSC are said to be appointed by the President as per the Constitution of India. In this article, we will be covering basic details about the UPSC and about the CSE exam that is conducted by it.
About UPSC & CSE
UPSC or the Union Public Service Commission conducts a nationwide competitive examination in India called the Civil Services Examination (CSE) to recruit higher Civil Services of the Government of India, including the following:
Indian Administrative Service (IAS),
Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and
Indian Police Service (IPS).
Civil Services Examination (CSE) is also called the UPSC examination that is conducted in the following three phases:
Phase I and II are objective kinds, i.e., General Studies (GS) Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II and we popularly call them Civil Service Aptitude Test or CSAT.
Phase-III: The third phase is an essay-type examination.
The Union Public Service Commission Syllabus is consistently revised as per the latest trends, which you will find on this page. Along with the exam pattern, you will get to know the latest updates on the UPSC exam, like the current Union Public Service Commission chairperson.
Process of The Union Public Service Commission Examination
The Civil Services Examination (CSE) is established on the guidelines of the British era Imperial Civil Service exams, in addition to the civil service exams conducted by ancient Indian empires such as the Mauryan Empire and Mughal Empire.
UPSC is the hardest competitive exam in India. A single attempt in this exam takes entire years of preparation - one year prior to the prelims and one year from prelims to interview. Results for the Prelims are published in mid-August, while the final result is published in May of the subsequent year.
Stage I: Preliminary Examination
Scheduled in June every year. Results are announced in August.
Stage II: Mains
Examination - Held in September - October every year. Results are announced in January.
Personality Test (interview) - Held in February - March. Final outcomes are usually announced in May.
The Training session
The training program for the selected candidates typically commences in the following September.
Syllabus of Union Public Service Commission
Below, you will Find the Updated Union Public Service Commission Syllabus:
1. General Studies Paper-I
This paper comprises 100 questions that widely cover the following topics carrying a maximum of 200 marks to be solved in 2 hours:
Current events of National and International importance.
History of India and Indian National Movement.
Indian & World Geography covering the Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India & the World.
2. Indian Polity & Governance carrying the following sub-topics:
Constitution,
Political System,
Panchayati Raj,
Public Policy,
Rights Issues, etc.
3. Economic and Social Development carrying the following sub-topics:
Sustainable Development,
Poverty, Inclusion,
Demographics,
Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
4. General issues on the following sub-topics:
Environmental ecology,
Bio-diversity, and
climate change – that does not need a subject specialization.
5. General Science (GS)
2. General Studies Paper-II Syllabus
It comprises 80 questions from the following topics bearing a maximum marking of 200 to be solved in 2 hours:
Comprehension
Interpersonal skills incorporating communication skills
Logical reasoning & analytical ability
Decision-making & problem-solving
General mental ability
General Studies Paper-II of the IAS Exam is a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks of 33%.
Educational Qualification For The UPSC Examination
All applicants ought to have as a minimum one of the following educational qualifications:
A degree from either a Central, State or a Deemed university, or
A degree obtained via correspondence or distance education, or
A degree from an open university.
A qualification recognized by the Government of India as being equal to one of the above.
The following applicants also are eligible, however, ought to submit the proof of their eligibility from an able authority at their institute/university at the time of the main exam, failing which they may not be allowed to wait for the examination.
Candidates who appeared in an exam the passing of which might render them educationally qualified enough to fulfill one of the above points.
Candidates who've passed the final examination of the MBBS degree, however, have not yet completed an internship.
Candidates who've passed the final exam of ICAI, ICSI, and ICWAI.
A degree from a private university.
A degree from any foreign college recognized by the Association of Indian Universities.
Important Points To Remember For The UPSC Exam
The papers on Indian languages and English (Paper A and Paper B) will be of qualifying nature and the marks acquired in those papers will now no longer depend on ranking.
The papers on Indian languages and English (Paper A and Paper B) will be of Matriculation or equal standard.
The papers on Essay, GS, and Optional Subject of only such candidates will be taken cognizance who attain 25% marks in ‘Indian Language’ and 25% in ‘English’ as minimum qualifying requirements in those qualifying papers.
Marks acquired by the candidates for Paper I-VII will only be considered for merit ranking.
The question papers for the main exam will be of conventional (essay) kind and each paper will be of three-hour duration.
Candidates will have the option to answer all the question papers, except the Qualifying Language Papers, i.e., Paper-A, and Paper-B, in any one of the languages incorporated in the 8th Schedule to the Constitution of India or in English.
The question papers (apart from the literature of language papers) will be set in Hindi and English only.
Compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour will be accredited for the Visually handicapped candidates and the candidates with locomotor disability and cerebral palsy where dominant (writing) extremity is affected to the extent of slowing the overall performance of function (minimum of 40% impairment) in both the Civil Services (Preliminary) in addition to in the Civil Services (Main) Examination.
Did You Know?
Do you know the current chairman of the Union Public Service Commission? Well! The current chairman of the Union Public Service Commission is Dr. Pradeep Kumar Joshi who assumed office in August 2020.
Do you know that in UPSC, an aggregate of 900,000 to one million candidates apply for this examination every year and the variety of applicants sitting in the initial exam is around 550,000?
The Union Public Service Commission was established (set up) on October 1, 1926. The child commission in India is Public Service Commissions in India.
Conclusion
Thus, here we have covered basic information about the UPSC and CSE exam, the syllabus and other key points. Besides this, you should follow the yearly exam calendar released by the UPSC every year to check the dates of the exams and go through the latest notification of the exam for the detailed syllabus.
FAQs on All About Union Public Service Commission - Establishment Year And The Updated UPSC Syllabus 2021
1. What is the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and what is its primary role?
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is India's premier central recruiting agency. It is an independent constitutional body whose primary role is to conduct examinations for appointments to the All-India Services and Central Services (Group A and Group B) and to advise the government on disciplinary matters related to civil servants.
2. Under which Articles of the Constitution of India is the UPSC established and defined?
The provisions concerning the Union Public Service Commission are detailed in Part XIV of the Constitution of India. Specifically, Articles 315 to 323 outline the establishment, appointment and removal of members, and the functions and powers of the UPSC. Article 315 provides for a Public Service Commission for the Union and for each state.
3. What are the main functions of the UPSC as per the Constitution?
The main functions of the UPSC include:
Conducting examinations for appointments to the services of the Union.
Direct recruitment by selection through interviews.
Advising the Government on matters related to methods of recruitment, principles for appointment, promotions, and transfers.
Handling disciplinary cases affecting a person serving under the Government of India in a civil capacity.
Assisting states, if requested by the state's governor and with the President's approval, in framing and operating schemes of joint recruitment.
4. What types of services and posts are covered under the recruitment process of the UPSC?
The UPSC is responsible for recruiting candidates for a wide range of prestigious services. The most prominent among these are the All-India Services, which include the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFoS). Additionally, it recruits for various Central Services (Group A and B) such as the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), and Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS), among others.
5. How are the Chairman and other members of the UPSC appointed, and what is their term of office?
The Chairman and other members of the Union Public Service Commission are appointed by the President of India. The Commission typically consists of a chairman and ten other members. A member of the UPSC holds office for a term of six years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. Their conditions of service are determined by the President and cannot be varied to their disadvantage after appointment.
6. Why is the independence of the UPSC crucial for the administrative framework of India?
The independence of the UPSC is crucial to ensure impartiality and meritocracy in the recruitment of civil servants. An independent commission can select the best-suited candidates without any pressure or influence from the executive, legislature, or any other external power. This functional autonomy, secured by constitutional provisions like a fixed tenure and charging expenses on the Consolidated Fund of India, ensures that the administrative machinery is run by competent individuals selected on merit, which is the bedrock of an efficient and neutral bureaucracy.
7. How does the UPSC ensure impartiality and a merit-based selection system in its examinations?
The UPSC employs a multi-pronged approach to ensure a merit-based and impartial selection process. Key measures include:
A transparent, multi-stage examination process (Preliminary, Mains, and Interview) that tests a wide range of skills and knowledge.
Anonymity of candidates during the evaluation of written papers to prevent bias.
Structured and standardized interview panels, comprising experienced and unbiased experts, to assess personality and suitability.
Constitutional security of tenure for its Chairman and members, making them free from political influence.
8. What is the key difference between the jurisdiction of the UPSC and a State Public Service Commission (SPSC)?
The fundamental difference lies in their jurisdiction. The UPSC is responsible for recruitment to the services and posts under the Union (Central Government) and the All-India Services. In contrast, a State Public Service Commission (SPSC) is responsible for recruitment to the services and posts under that particular State Government. While the UPSC serves the entire country, an SPSC's role is confined to the administrative needs of its respective state.
9. Under what specific conditions can a member of the UPSC be removed from office, and why are the removal procedures so stringent?
A member of the UPSC can be removed from office by the President of India only on the grounds of misbehaviour, after the Supreme Court has conducted an inquiry and upheld the cause of removal. The President can also remove a member if they are adjudged insolvent, engage in paid employment outside their office duties, or are deemed unfit due to infirmity of mind or body. These procedures are deliberately stringent to protect the autonomy and independence of the Commission. By making removal difficult, the Constitution ensures that members can perform their duties without fear or favour, free from any political or executive coercion.
