Constitutional Bodies: UPSC, State PSCs and the SC/ST Commissions

Some government bodies are built to stay out of party politics. They pick civil servants and guard the rights of whole communities. This lesson covers four of them: the UPSC, the State Public Service Commissions, and the SC, ST and Backward Classes Commissions. It also shows why “constitutional” and “statutory” are not the same, and what happened when the UPSC turned 100.

1Chapter 1: The UPSC and State PSCs

Must Know

The UPSC

• The Union Public Service Commission is set up under Article 315.
• It recruits for India’s central civil services, including the IAS and IPS.
• It decides who enters the top ranks of government service.
• It is built to stay clear of political pressure, so recruitment stays merit-based.
• Its advice is advisory, not binding on the government.
• Its real influence depends on how seriously the government treats it.

State PSCs

• Every State has its own State Public Service Commission.
• Articles 315 to 323 cover them.
• A State PSC recruits for that State’s own civil service posts.
• Its independence is designed like the UPSC’s.
• The difference is scale. It works for one State, not the nation.
• Read more: Civil Services: Role, Recruitment and the Steel Frame and Lateral Entry in the Civil Services.

Why independent recruitment matters

• Without an independent body, hiring could become political patronage.
• Posts could go to supporters, not the best candidates.
• The UPSC and State PSCs hire through competitive examination and merit.
• That keeps the civil service competent and broadly trusted.
• Knowing why independence exists lets you explain the design, not only name it.

2Chapter 2: The Commissions for SCs, STs and Backward Classes

Must Know

Which article creates which commission

• Article 338: National Commission for Scheduled Castes. It safeguards SC protections.
• Article 338A: National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. It does the same for STs.
• Article 338B: National Commission for Backward Classes. It safeguards socially and educationally backward classes.
• Their concerns and protections differ in real ways.

The NCBC upgrade

• The NCBC was only a statutory body until the 102nd Amendment, 2018.
• That Amendment added Article 338B and made it constitutional.
• The old National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993 was repealed.

Why SC and ST commissions were split

• They began as one combined body for both communities.
• Parliament later split it into two commissions.
• The two communities have different histories and concerns.
• One body risked giving less attention to each.
• Two dedicated commissions let each issue get full focus.

3Chapter 3: What the Commissions Can Do

Good to Know

Powers and limits

• They investigate complaints.
• They recommend safeguards.
• They report on how protections are working.
• Their recommendations are mostly advisory.
• They cannot enforce a remedy themselves.

A concrete example

• A complaint says a State is breaking reservation rules.
• The commission can investigate, call for records and recommend a fix.
• Whether the fix happens depends on the government.
• So legal power is not the whole story.
• A strong report can change little if the government does not act.
• This gap between formal power and real effect is a strong essay angle.

4Chapter 4: Constitutional versus Statutory

Great to Know

The core distinction

• A constitutional body is created by the Constitution’s own text.
• A statutory body is created by an ordinary Act of Parliament.
• Constitutional examples: the UPSC, the Election Commission (Article 324) and the NCBC (Article 338B).
• Statutory examples: the NHRC, the Law Commission and the NCDRC.
• A constitutional body is harder to change or abolish than one made by a simple law.
• Read more: NHRC, Law Commission of India, NCDRC, National Commission for Minorities.

5Chapter 5: UPSC at 100 and a New Chairman

Great to Know

The centenary, 1 October 2026

• UPSC completed 100 years on 1 October 2026.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the celebrations at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• He released a commemorative postage stamp and a special centenary coin.
• He also released a book of 100 landmark judgements that shaped UPSC and State commission policies. (Source: PIB.)

How it began

• The Public Service Commission was first set up on 1 October 1926.
• It came under the Government of India Act, 1919, on the Lee Commission’s advice.
• It became the Federal Public Service Commission in 1937.
• It took the name UPSC when the Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950. (Source: DD News.)

A real example of the appointment

• On 14 May 2025 Dr. Ajay Kumar became the 37th UPSC Chairman. He succeeded Preeti Sudan.
• He is a retired 1985-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre, and a former Defence Secretary.
• He was appointed under Article 316(1). His term runs until October 2027 or age 65, whichever comes first.
• A fixed, protected tenure keeps the leadership insulated from short-term political pressure. (Source: News on Air.)

6Previous Year Questions

Exam angle: real questions on this topic.

Quick Q&A

• UPSC under? Article 315.
• ST Commission? Article 338A.
• NCBC made constitutional? 102nd Amendment, 2018.
• UPSC named? 26 January 1950.
• UPSC Chairman 2025? Dr. Ajay Kumar.