The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) marks a century of its establishment on October 1. Envisioned by the nation’s founders as a guardian of meritocracy, the UPSC has played a pivotal role in the recruitment, the promotion and the disciplining of officials of the Central Civil Services. Its journey over the past 100 years is not just an institutional history but also a testament to India’s enduring faith in fairness, trust and integrity in governance.
The idea of an independent commission to recruit higher civil servants took root well before Independence. The Government of India Act, 1919, first provided for such a body, and in October 1926, the Public Service Commission was set up, following the recommendations of the Lee Commission (1924) which observed, “Wherever democratic institutions exists, experience has shown that to secure an efficient civil service it is essential to protect it as far as possible from political or personal influences and give it that position of stability and security which is vital to its successful working as the impartial and efficient instrument by which Governments, of whatever political complexion may give effect to their policies.”
Headed by Sir Ross Barker, it began with limited powers, as an experiment under colonial rule. The Government of India Act, 1935 elevated it to the Federal Public Service Commission, giving Indians a greater role in administration. With the adoption of the Constitution in 1950, it assumed its present status as the UPSC. From conducting a handful of examinations in its early years, the UPSC has grown into a premier institution overseeing recruitment for diverse services ranging from the civil services to engineering, forest, medical, and statistical cadres. Its scope has expanded with the Republic, yet its mandate remains unchanged — to select the finest talent for public service.
The foundation and pillars
If the history of the UPSC is its foundation, the principles of trust, integrity and fairness are its pillars. Over the decades, millions of aspirants have placed their faith in the Commission, assured that success or failure depends solely on merit. This trust is no accident. It has been built painstakingly through transparency in procedure, impartiality in evaluation, and an uncompromising stance against malpractice.
Integrity, meanwhile, has meant protecting the institution from political or external pressures, maintaining confidentiality, and ensuring that those who succeed are genuinely among the most competent. Fairness has also meant providing equal opportunity to candidates from every background, urban or rural, privileged or underprivileged, fluent in English or not. In a country as diverse as India, where inequalities persist, the fact that the UPSC examinations are regarded as a true “level playing field” is itself one of independent India’s proudest achievements.
This philosophy finds echo in the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gītā, where what Lord Krishna says, “Tasmadsakt statam karyam karma Samachar. Asakto haracharkarm paramapnoti purushah” can be translated as ‘… without attachment, constantly perform your duty as it ought to be done’.
The UPSC embodies this principle: it performs its duty with rigour and fairness, without attachment to outcomes.
The ‘Indian Dream’, the complexities
At the heart of the UPSC’s recruitment journey are the thousands of aspiring youngsters who come forward year after year, driven by dedication, perseverance and a dream to serve the nation. Once dominated by a select few from elite urban centres, today, the civil services examination attracts candidates from nearly every district of India, including the remotest and most underprivileged regions. This extraordinary diversity reflects the true spirit of the ‘Indian Dream’ — the aspiration that talent, hard work and commitment can open the doors of opportunity to all.
The UPSC salutes these courageous aspirants and remains committed to reaching every corner of the country, ensuring that every aspiring citizen has the chance to contribute to the nation’s service and progress.
The UPSC takes immense pride in conducting the world’s biggest and most sophisticated competitive examination, the civil service examination, with remarkable precision and consistency year after year. Starting with nearly between 10 lakh to 12 lakh applicants for the preliminary examination, candidates for the mains examination have the option of choosing from among 48 subjects and writing their answers in English or any of the 22 languages recognised under the Constitution of India. The UPSC then evaluates these multiple-subject candidates into a single merit-based ranking — a feat that is unique in its scale and sophistication anywhere in the world. The logistics of the civil services examinations are truly extraordinary.
The preliminary examination is held across more than 2,500 venues nationwide. For the mains examination, the task becomes an intricate challenge in ensuring that each candidate at different centres across the country receives the question paper for the subject they have chosen.
This complexity is further compounded by the special arrangements made for differently-abled candidates. After the examination, answer sheets are evaluated anonymously by top experts in the 48 disciplines, with proficiency in the language in which the answers are written. All of this is completed within a defined timeline, without disruption, even during events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
This seamless, time-bound orchestration typifies the UPSC — its ability to manage complexity and diversity with efficiency, fairness, and equity.
As we celebrate a century of the UPSC, it is equally fitting to honour the unsung heroes behind its remarkable success — the paper-setters and evaluators who form the faceless backbone of the Commission. These are some of the finest academics and experts in the country, each a master in their own discipline. Yet they serve with quiet dedication, without seeking recognition or the limelight. This writer thanks every one of them for their selfless service, which ensures that the dreams and the aspirations of thousands of candidates are judged with fairness, rigour and integrity.
Across decades, the UPSC has given the nation civil servants who have administered during crises, managed the economy through reforms, overseen infrastructure and environmental challenges, and contributed in countless invisible ways to nation-building. Their work touches every Indian, even if the hand behind the service remains unseen.
A series of reforms
As the UPSC enters its centenary year, this moment calls not just for celebration but also for reflection. As India marches toward reclaiming old glory as a leading light of the world, the challenges emanating from global competition and technology advancements are disrupting existing models of governance. As an institution, the UPSC will continuously strive and adapt to these changes to remain current.
As a part of this, the UPSC has already initiated many reforms. The UPSC has a new online application portal for greater ease of application and new face-recognition technology to ensure zero impersonation. Its reforms with examination and recruitment processes are in line with the changing needs of time. The UPSC’s Professional Resource And Talent Integration Bridge for Hiring Aspirants (PRATIBHA) Setu initiative, is facilitating employment opportunities for those who reach the interview stage but are unable to make it in the final list. PRATIBHA Setu has already helped many. Going forward, the UPSC proposes to use digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence, for its efficient and effective working, without compromising on the integrity of the processes and practices.
As Chairman, along with my fellow members of the Commission, celebrating the centenary year at the UPSC, we are humbled and inspired by the strength of our legacy and the faith reposed in the institution by the society at large.
We reaffirm our resolve to uphold and carry forward this gold standard of integrity, fairness and excellence, ensuring that the UPSC continues to serve the nation with the same trust and distinction in the years to come.
Ajay Kumar is Chairman, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
