🧾 Article 320 of the Indian Constitution
Title: Functions of Public Service Commissions
📘 Purpose:
Article 320 defines the duties and responsibilities of:
-
UPSC (Union Public Service Commission)
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SPSC (State Public Service Commissions)
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JPSC (Joint PSCs)
These commissions act as advisory bodies and conduct recruitment exams for government services.
🔍 Key Functions under Article 320:
| Clause | Function |
|---|---|
| (1) | Conduct examinations for appointments to services of the Union and States |
| (3) | PSCs must be consulted on: |
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Methods of recruitment
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Principles of appointments/promotions/transfers
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Suitability of candidates
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Disciplinary matters (dismissal, removal, etc.)
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Claims for legal expenses related to service
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Claims for pensions due to injury in service |
| (4) | The President/Governor may make regulations that exclude any matter from PSC consultation |
| (5) | These regulations must be laid before Parliament or State Legislature |
📊 Summary Chart: Article 320 – Functions of PSCs
| Function | Applies To |
|---|---|
| Conduct exams for civil services | UPSC, SPSC, JPSC |
| Advise on recruitment methods | ✅ Yes |
| Recommend promotions & transfers | ✅ Yes |
| Handle disciplinary cases | ✅ Yes |
| Examine legal cost/pension claims | ✅ Yes |
| Can Govt exclude some posts by rules | ✅ Yes (via regulation) |
🧠 Important Points:
-
PSCs are advisory bodies, not decision-makers. Their recommendations are usually followed but not binding.
-
President or Governor can exempt certain posts (e.g., temporary, contractual) from PSC consultation.
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Ensures merit-based recruitment and transparency in government hiring.
✅ Examples:
| Scenario | PSC Role Under Article 320 |
|---|---|
| Recruitment to IAS, IPS | UPSC conducts the exam |
| Promotion of state lecturers to senior posts | SPSC advises the state govt. |
| Disciplinary action against a public servant | SPSC consulted for recommendation |
| Contractual data entry operator hired by govt. | May be excluded via regulation |
Here is a clear and informative 🔄 Flowchart for Article 320 of the Indian Constitution — outlining the functions of Public Service Commissions (UPSC, SPSC, JPSC):
🧾 🔄 Article 320 Flowchart
📌 Functions of UPSC / SPSC / JPSC
🧑⚖️ Public Service Commissions
⬇️
🔹 Conduct Examinations
For recruitment to:
- Union services (by UPSC)
- State services (by SPSC)
⬇️
🔹 Advisory Role in:
- Recruitment Methods
- Appointments & Promotions
- Transfers between services
- Disciplinary Matters (dismissal/removal)
- Legal Costs (defended while in service)
- Pension Claims (injury-related)
⬇️
⚠️ Exceptions by Regulation
↳ President (UPSC) or Governor (SPSC)
↳ Can exclude any matter from PSC advice
↳ Must lay such regulation before Parliament/State Legislature
📊 Quick Recap Table
| Function | PSC Responsibility | Binding? |
|---|---|---|
| Conduct exams for govt. jobs | ✅ Yes | 🔸 Usually followed |
| Advise on recruitment/promotion/transfer | ✅ Yes | 🔸 Advisory |
| Advise on disciplinary actions | ✅ Yes | 🔸 Advisory |
| Advise on service-related legal/pension claims | ✅ Yes | 🔸 Advisory |
| Exempt posts from PSC consultation | ✅ By Govt. regulation | ✅ Regulation binding |
🧠 Important Notes:
-
PSCs ensure merit-based recruitment.
-
Their advice helps maintain transparency and fairness.
-
Governments can exclude certain posts from PSC purview for efficiency.
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