UPSC Marking 100 Years of Commitment to Merit and Public Service
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: PIB
Context: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will mark its centenary year from 1 October 2025 to 1 October 2026, celebrating 100 years of transparent, merit-based recruitment for India’s civil services.
About UPSC Marking 100 Years of Commitment to Merit and Public Service:
• What it is? The UPSC is India’s premier constitutional authority for recruiting top-level government officers through a fair, competitive examination process.
• The UPSC is India’s premier constitutional authority for recruiting top-level government officers through a fair, competitive examination process.
• Established in: 1 October 1926, following the recommendations of the Lee Commission (1924) and provisions of the Government of India Act, 1919.
• Objective:
• Ensure meritocracy and fairness in public service recruitment. Select candidates through rigorous, impartial, and transparent examinations and interviews. Maintain the highest standards of integrity and competence in public administration.
• Ensure meritocracy and fairness in public service recruitment.
• Select candidates through rigorous, impartial, and transparent examinations and interviews.
• Maintain the highest standards of integrity and competence in public administration.
Historical Evolution of Civil Services in India
• Pre-1854 – Patronage System East India Company civil servants were nominated, trained at Haileybury College (London), and sent to India.
• East India Company civil servants were nominated, trained at Haileybury College (London), and sent to India.
• 1854 – Macaulay Reforms Introduction of competitive exams for the Indian Civil Service (ICS) held in London (from 1855). First Indian to succeed: Satyendranath Tagore (1864).
• Introduction of competitive exams for the Indian Civil Service (ICS) held in London (from 1855).
• First Indian to succeed: Satyendranath Tagore (1864).
• 1922 – Exams in India Civil Service exams began in Allahabad and later Delhi, alongside London exams.
• Civil Service exams began in Allahabad and later Delhi, alongside London exams.
• 1926 – Public Service Commission Established First Chairman: Sir Ross Barker. Initially had 4 members + chairman and functions under Public Service Commission (Functions) Rules, 1926.
• First Chairman: Sir Ross Barker.
• Initially had 4 members + chairman and functions under Public Service Commission (Functions) Rules, 1926.
• 1937 – Federal Public Service Commission Created under Government of India Act, 1935 for the Federation of India.
• Created under Government of India Act, 1935 for the Federation of India.
• 1950 – Union Public Service Commission Came into existence with the Constitution of India; powers defined in Articles 315–323.
• Came into existence with the Constitution of India; powers defined in Articles 315–323.