• Former Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar took oath as the chairman of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

• The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Lt Gen Raj Shukla (retd), the senior most member of the Commission.

• The post of UPSC chairman fell vacant after the completion of Preeti Sudan’s tenure on April 29.

• President Droupadi Murmu appointed Ajay Kumar as UPSC chairman under Article 316(1) of the Constitution on May 13.

• The UPSC chairman is appointed for a term of six years or until attaining 65 years of age. 

• Kumar is 1985-batch former IAS officer of Kerala cadre. 

• After completing his Bachelor of Technology in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Kumar did his Master of Science in Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota, US and PhD in Business Administration from Carlson School of Management from the same university. 

• During his illustrious career of more than 35 years, he has served in key positions in Kerala as well as at the Centre. 

• In his last assignment, he served as Secretary, Ministry of Defence.

Union Public Service Commission

• The Union Public Service Commission is an independent constitutional body whose powers and functions have been elaborately defined in Articles 315 to 323 of the Constitution.

• It is concerned with recruitment to the All India Services and Central Services — Group A and Group B — and advises the government, when consulted, on promotion and disciplinary matters.

• UPSC consists of a chairman and other members appointed by the President of India. The Constitution has not specified the strength of the Commission and left it to the discretion of the President.

• Usually the Commission consists of nine to eleven members, including the chairman.

• By the exercise of powers conferred by the proviso to Article 320 (3) of the Constitution the President has made the UPSC (Exemption from Consultation) Regulations, 1958 as amended from time to time, as respects the All India Services and also as respects other services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union specifying the matters in which it shall not be necessary for the UPSC to be consulted.

Origin of UPSC

• Section 96C of the Government of India Act, 1919 provided for the establishment in India of a Public Service Commission which should “discharge, in regard to recruitment and control of the Public Services in India, such functions as may be assigned thereto by rules made by the Secretary of State in Council”.

• After the passing of the Government of India Act, 1919, a prolonged correspondence took place between the Secretary of State, the government of India and local governments, regarding the functions and machinery of the body to be set up. 

• In 1924, the Lee Commission recommended that the statutory Public Service Commission contemplated by the Government of India Act, 1919 should be established without delay.

• The first Public Service Commission was established on October 1, 1926. The Commission consisted of four members in addition to the chairman, appointed by the Secretary of State in Council. Sir Ross Barker, a member of the Home Civil Service of the United Kingdom, was the first chairman. The Commission was built up by him and his successors on the model and in accordance with the traditions of the British Civil Service Commission.

• The Sections of the Government of India Act, 1935 relating to the Public Service Commissions were brought into force on April 1, 1937, and the then Public Service Commission at the Centre became the Federal Public Service Commission.

• The Constituent Assembly saw the need for giving a secure and autonomous status to Public Service Commission both at Federal and Provincial levels for ensuring unbiased recruitment to Civil Services as also for protection of service interests. 

• After Independence, with the promulgation of the new Constitution for independent India on January 26, 1950, the ‘Federal Public Service Commission’ was accorded a Constitutional status and was renamed as ‘Union Public Service Commission’. 

• The chairman and members of the Federal Public Service Commission became chairman and members of the Union Public Service Commission by virtue of Clause (1) of Article 378 of the Constitution. 

Functions of UPSC: 

The functions of the Commission  are prescribed in Article 320 of the Constitution. 

These include:

a) Conduct of Examinations for appointment to the Services of the Union. 

b) Direct recruitment by selection through interviews. 

c) The Commission shall also be consulted in:

(i) Appointment of officers on promotion / deputation / absorption.

(ii) Framing and amendment of Recruitment Rules for various 

Services and posts under the government of India and Union Territories.

(iii) Disciplinary cases relating to different Civil Services.

(iv) On any matter referred by the President of India.

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