The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is an independent constitutional body established under Article 315 of the Constitution of India. Its primary role is to act as the central recruiting agency for the All India Services and the Central Civil Services (Group A and B), thereby functioning as the "watchdog of the merit system" in the country.
The Commission's origin traces back to the British era, where the Public Service Commission was first established on October 1, 1926, based on the recommendations of the Lee Commission (1924). It was later reconstituted as the Federal Public Service Commission under the Government of India Act 1935. Following independence, it was renamed the Union Public Service Commission and granted its current constitutional status on January 26, 1950.
The UPSC's mechanism is detailed in Part XIV of the Constitution, covering Articles 315 to 323. Article 320 mandates its function of conducting examinations for appointments. The Commission consists of a Chairman and other members, typically nine to eleven, all appointed by the President of India, and they hold office for a term of six years or until the age of 65 years. The UPSC is also required to be consulted on matters like promotions, transfers, and disciplinary actions, although its advice is advisory and not binding on the government.
The UPSC is closely connected to the State Public Service Commissions (SPSCs), as Article 315 provides for both the Union and State bodies. It also relates to Article 312, which empowers Parliament to create the All India Services. Recently, the core constitutional mandate has remained unchanged, but the Commission has introduced procedural reforms for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026. These changes include the implementation of a real-time face authentication system at venues to prevent impersonation and a new process to invite objections from candidates regarding the provisional answer key immediately after the preliminary examination.