What is Article 315 of Indian constitution

www.hinsoli.com July 09, 2025

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:

The Union level → Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
The State level → State 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