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What is Article 315 of indian constitution

 

🧾 Article 315 of the Indian Constitution

Title: Public Service Commissions for the Union and for the States


📘 Meaning & Purpose:

Article 315 provides for the establishment of Public Service Commissions (PSCs) at:

  1. The Union levelUnion Public Service Commission (UPSC)

  2. The State levelState Public Service Commissions (SPSC)

These commissions are constitutional bodies responsible for recruitment and advising the government on service matters.


🔍 Key Provisions of Article 315:

Clause Provision
(1) There shall be:
(a) A Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the Union
(b) A Public Service Commission for each State
(2) Two or more states may agree to have a Joint Public Service Commission (JPSC)
(3) The Parliament may regulate the service conditions and functioning of JPSCs

🧠 Types of Public Service Commissions under Article 315:

Type Name Level Example
National UPSC Union Conducts IAS, IPS, IFS exams
State-wise SPSC (one for each State) State UKPSC (Uttarakhand), BPSC, etc.
Joint Joint Public Service Commission Two or more States Rarely used (e.g., in some NE states)

📊 Summary Chart: Article 315

Feature Details
Constitutional Body? ✅ Yes – PSCs are constitutional bodies
Purpose Recruitment to civil services & advisory roles
Who appoints members? President (UPSC) / Governor (SPSC)
Who can form JPSC? Two or more states with President’s approval
Established Under Article 315

Why Article 315 is Important:

  • Ensures independent recruitment to public services

  • Maintains merit-based selection

  • Protects against political interference in civil service appointments


📌 Example:

Scenario Relevant Commission
Recruitment to Indian Forest Service (central) UPSC
Selection of Lecturers for State Colleges in Uttarakhand UKPSC (State PSC)
Two small states sharing PSC due to resources JPSC

Here is a well-organized 📊 Chart for Article 315 of the Indian Constitution, ideal for study, blogging, and competitive exam notes:


🧾 Article 315 – Public Service Commissions (PSCs)

Aspect Details
Article Number 315
Title Public Service Commissions for the Union and the States
Purpose Establishes UPSC, SPSC, and JPSC
Constitutional Status ✅ Yes – PSCs are constitutional bodies
Types of PSCs - UPSC (Union) - SPSC (State) - JPSC (Joint between states)
Authority to Establish - UPSC → Parliament - SPSC → Respective State - JPSC → Agreement between States + Parliament
Appointments Made By - UPSC → President of India - SPSC → Governor of State
Functions - Conduct exams for public service recruitment - Advise on promotions, transfers, disciplinary matters
Regulated By - Parliament (for UPSC & JPSC) - State Legislature (for SPSC)

🧠 Quick Summary of the Types of PSCs under Article 315

PSC Type Full Form Jurisdiction Example
UPSC Union Public Service Commission Entire India (Central Govt.) IAS, IPS, IFS recruitment
SPSC State Public Service Commission Individual States UKPSC, BPSC, RPSC, etc.
JPSC Joint Public Service Commission Two or more States Rare (e.g., NE states if agreed)

🧾 Visual Process Flow (Simplified)

                👥 Government of India / State
                           ↓
           Establish PSCs under Article 315
                           ↓
    UPSC        ←       SPSC(s)       →       JPSC (optional for small states)
     ↓                          ↓                           ↓
 National Services       State Services              Shared services for states