Strengthening State PSCs

• 24 Dec 2025

For Prelims: Vice-President, State Public Service Commissions (SPSCs), Constitutional Body, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Government of India Act, 1919, Governor, Supreme Court,  Parliament, President, CAG.     

For Mains: Key provisions regarding the SPSCs, associated challenges and way forward to strengthen SPSCs. 

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

The Vice-President emphasized the crucial role of State Public Service Commissions (SPSCs) in building a capable and ethical civil service amid growing scrutiny over delays and integrity issues in recruitment.  

• He underscored the need for urgent reforms to align recruitment with national goals and restore candidate trust. 

Summary 

• SPSCs are constitutional bodies ensuring merit-based recruitment to state services. 
• They face challenges like exam leaks, political influence, delays, and outdated systems. 
• Strengthening requires binding recommendations, digital modernization, transparency, capacity building, and independent appointments to restore public trust. 

What is a State Public Service Commission (SPSC)? 

• About: The SPSC is a constitutional body established under Articles 315–323 (Part XIV) to ensure merit-based, impartial, and independent recruitment to state civil services. 
  • Like the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) at the Centre, each state has its own SPSC, serving as the constitutional watchdog of the merit system to ensure transparent and merit-based recruitment to state civil services. 
• Historical Context: The Government of India Act, 1919, provided for the creation of a Central Public Service Commission, which was established in 1926 to recruit civil servants.  
  • The Government of India Act, 1935 further provided for the establishment of a Federal PSC, as well as Provincial PSCs and Joint PSCs for two or more provinces. 
• Composition: Consists of a Chairman and members appointed by the Governor.  
  • Strength: The Constitution doesn't specify the number of members. It is left to the Governor's discretion. 
  • Tenure: Members serve for 6 years or until they reach 62 years of age, whichever is earlier (UPSC members serve until 65 years). 
• Qualification Requirements: Half the members must have at least 10 years of service under the Government of India or a state government; no other qualifications are prescribed. 
• Service Conditions: Determined by the Governor, who also sets the terms of employment. The Governor can appoint a member as acting chairman when the position falls vacant or the chairman is unable to perform duties. 
• Removal: Members can be removed only by the President, not the Governor. Grounds include insolvency, paid employment, infirmity, or misbehaviour. The President can remove them on the same grounds and in the same manner as he can remove a Chairman or a Member of the UPSC. 
  • In cases of misbehaviour, the Supreme Court (SC) inquiry is mandatory, and its advice is binding. The governor can suspend the member during inquiry. 
  • Members can resign anytime by submitting their resignation to the Governor.  
• Safeguards for Independence:  
  • Service Condition Protection: Once appointed, conditions of service cannot be altered to their disadvantage. 
  • Financial Independence: Salaries, allowances, and pensions are charged to the Consolidated Fund of the state—not subject to legislative vote. 
  • Post-Retirement Restrictions: Chairman can only be appointed to UPSC or another SPSC chairmanship—no other government employment. 
    • Members can become UPSC members or SPSC chairmen—no other government employment. 
  • No Reappointment: Members are not eligible for a second term after completing their first tenure.  
• Functions of an SPSC:  
  • Conduct of Examination: Organizes competitive examinations for appointments to state services. 
  • Advisory Role on Recruitment: It advises on methods of recruitment for civil services and posts, promotions, inter-service transfers, and assesses candidate suitability for deputations. 
  • Disciplinary Consultation: It advises on disciplinary actions, including censure, withholding increments or promotions, recovery of financial losses, removal or dismissal among others. 
  • Annual Reporting: Submits performance reports to the Governor, who presents them to the state legislature with explanations for any rejected advice. 
  • Extended Jurisdiction: State legislature can expand SPSC's role to cover local authorities, corporate bodies, or public institutions.  
• Joint State Public Service Commission: The Constitution allows creation of a Joint State Public Service Commission (JSPSC) for two or more states. Punjab and Haryana shared a JSPSC briefly after Haryana's creation in 1966. 
  • Unlike UPSC and SPSC (constitutional bodies), JSPSC is a statutory body created by Parliament upon request from concerned state legislatures. 
  • Service Conditions: Number of members and service conditions determined by the President. 
  • Reporting: JSPSC submits annual reports to each concerned state governor, who presents them to respective state legislatures. 
  • Alternative Arrangement: UPSC can serve a state's needs upon the state governor's request with Presidential approval. 

What are the Constitutional Limitations of SPSC's Authority? 

• Matters Outside Jurisdiction: It includes reservations for backward classes and the consideration of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe claims in appointments. 
• Governor's Regulatory Power: The Governor can exclude specific posts, services, and matters from SPSC consultation through regulations (must be presented to legislature for 14 days, subject to amendment or repeal by the state legislature). 
• Advisory Nature: SPSC recommendations are not binding—state governments can accept or reject the advice. 
• Court Rulings: The Supreme Court in the State of U.P. v. Manbodhan Lal Srivastava (1957) held that failure to consult SPSC doesn't invalidate government decisions. Provision is directory, not mandatory.

What are the Major Challenges Facing State Public Service Commissions? 

• Question Paper Leaks: Frequent question paper leaks in State PSC exams (e.g., Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh) have eroded public trust. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported about 2,000 examination malpractices (including paper leaks and impersonation) in 2018 alone. 
  • Over 70 nationwide cases in 7 years have impacted more than 1.7 crore students, including the 2024 arrest of a former Rajasthan PSC member for the 2021 sub-inspector exam leak. 
• Delays in Recruitment Processes: Court cases over reservations, syllabus, and eligibility frequently stall recruitment through SPSCs, leaving thousands of selections unresolved for years. 
• Corruption and Bribery Issues: SPSCs have faced crises of credibility due to examination scandals, corruption, and bribery, most notably the systematic Vyapam Scam (2013) in Madhya Pradesh. Unverified rumors spreading on social media, coupled with a lack of timely official clarification from SPSCs, further erode public trust, often resulting in protests and exam boycotts. 
• Issues of Autonomy and Political Influence: Although constitutionally protected, the appointment process by the Governor raises concerns about potential political influence in appointment of members. This creates concerns about the independence of the body and favoritism. 
• Outdated Systems and Infrastructure: Many SPSCs lack the institutional capacity, manpower, and logistics needed to securely manage large-scale examinations. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has pointed to poor planning, manpower shortages, and inadequate exam security as key vulnerabilities. 
• Weak Accountability and Transparency Mechanisms: Most SPSCs operate without robust external audits or parliamentary oversight. Weak RTI compliance, delayed disclosures of marks and records, and transparency gaps flagged by groups like the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) foster public suspicion, even in fair processes. 

What Steps are Needed to Strengthen SPSCs? 

• Time-Bound Recruitment: State service rules should be amended to enforce maximum timelines for all recruitment stages, while mandating each SPSC to publish and follow an annual exam calendar for predictability. It is believed that such legal frameworks can complete recruitment cycles faster. 
• Institutional & Operational Overhaul: Create a State Examination Security Authority (SESA) modeled after the National Testing Agency to exclusively handle paper setting, encryption, logistics, and leak investigations. 
• Enhancing Independence & Accountability: Institute a collegium—including the Chief Justice of the State High Court, the UPSC Chairman, and the State Chief Secretary—to appoint the SPSC Chairman and Members, thereby insulating the appointment process from direct political control. Subject SPSCs to regular CAG performance audits vital for accountability.  
• Capacity Building & Transparency: Mandate comprehensive training for SPSC members and staff in modern recruitment technology and ethics. Additionally, create a real-time public dashboard for every recruitment cycle to display stage-wise progress and final selections, ensuring complete transparency. 

Conclusion 

SPSCs, as constitutional watchdogs of merit, face severe challenges like leaks, delays, and political influence, eroding their credibility. Strengthening them requires making their advice binding, ensuring operational independence, and adopting technology-driven transparency to restore their role in building a capable state civil service.

Drishti Mains Question:

Examine the constitutional role and functions of State Public Service Commissions in India.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. What is a State Public Service Commission (SPSC)? 
A constitutional body under Articles 315–323 ensuring merit-based, impartial, and independent recruitment to state civil services. 

2. How are members of a SPSC appointed and removed? 
Appointed by the Governor, removable only by the President on grounds like misbehaviour, insolvency, or infirmity, with Supreme Court inquiry mandatory for misbehaviour. 

3. Are the recommendations of a SPSC legally binding on the State Government? 
No. SPSC recommendations are advisory in nature, and as held in the State of U.P. v. Manbodhan Lal Srivastava (1957), non-consultation does not invalidate government action. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)  

Prelims 

Q. According to the Constitution of India, it is the duty of the President of India to cause to be laid before the Parliament which of the following? (2012)

1. The Recommendations of the Union Finance Commission 
2. The Report of the Public Accounts Committee 
3. The Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General 
4. The Report of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes 

Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 

(a) 1 only  

(b) 2 and 4 only 

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only 

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 

Ans: (c)

---

Mains 

Q. Identifyten essential values that are needed to be an effective public servant. Describe the ways and means to prevent non-ethical behavior in the public servants. (2021)

Q. “Institutional quality is a crucial driver of economic performance”.In thiscontext suggest reforms in the Civil Service for strengthening democracy. (2020)