Rajni Razdan became UPSC Chairperson

Rajni Razdan on 16 August 2014 became the new Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). She was appointed as Chairperson of UPSC by the President Pranab Mukherjee on 14 August 2014 in accordance with the Article 316 (1) of the Constitution.

She replaced Prof. D P Agrawal who completed his six-year tenure as Chairman of UPSC on 16 August 2014. He was appointed as Chairman of UPSC on 16 August 2008.

She will serve as UPSC Chairperson for next six years. She had joined as UPSC member on 19 April 2010.

Appointment and term of office of members

Article 316 (1) mentions that the Chairman and other members of the Public Service Commission shall be appointed by the President in case of Union and by the Governor in case of States.

Article 316 (2) of the Constitution mentions that a member of Union Public Service Commission shall hold office for a term of six years from the date on which he enters upon his office or until he attains the age of sixty-five years. In case of State Public Service Commission the tenure is sixty-two years.

Article 316 (2)(a) mentions that a member of the UPSC shall resign by writing under his hand addressed to President in case of Union and Governor in case of States.

Article 316 (2)(b) mentions about the removal of a member of a Public Service Commission. A member of the commission may be removed from his office in the manner provided in clause (1) or clause (3) of Article 317.

Article 316 (3) mentions that a person who holds office as a member of a Public Service Commission shall, on the expiration of his term of office, be ineligible for re-appointment to that office.

The terms and conditions of service of Chairman and Members of the Commission are governed by the Union Public Service Commission (Members) Regulations, 1969.

 About UPSC

The Union Public Service Commission has been established under Article 315 of the Constitution of India. The Commission consists of a Chairman and ten Members.

The first Public Service Commission in India was set up on 1 October 1926. However, its limited advisory functions failed to satisfy the people’s aspirations and the continued stress on this aspect by the leaders of our freedom movement resulted in the setting up of the Federal Public Service Commission under the Government of India Act 1935.

Under this Act, for the first time, provision was also made for the formation of Public Service Commissions at the provincial level.

On 26th January, 1950, the Federal Public Service Commission was accorded a constitutional status as an autonomous entity and given the title – Union Public Service Commission.

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