The full Form of UPSC is the Union Public Service Commission and it is one of the toughest exams in India. Every year, lakhs of people desire to clear the UPSC exam and achieve their desired job. The Union Public Service Commission conducts many exams to choose qualified candidates for the Indian government. It also administers the Civil Services Examination (CSE), often known as the IAS exam. UPSC exams are divided into two phases: UPSC prelims and UPSC mains. In this paper, the preliminary test will be objective-based, while the mains exam will be descriptive in form, including essay writing. Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is also responsible for conducting various examinations for the different posts like IAS, IFS, IPS and more.
History of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has a long history taking back to British control in India. The concept of a Public Service Commission was initially presented in 1923, when the Royal Commission on Superior Civil Services, was founded by Lord Lee of Fareham. The group, which had both Indian and British members, tried to establish a structure for India’s civil services.
Based on its recommendations, the Public Service Commission of India was established in 1924 with the following recruitment policy:
40% of future recruits should be British.
40% of the roles should be filled via direct recruitment of Indians.
20% of Indians should receive promotions from provincial services.
Despite being established in 1926, the Public Service Commission
After India obtained independence, the commission was granted constitutional authority on January 26, 1950, and became the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which is responsible for selecting the country’s top administrative officers.
Role of UPSC in Modern India
Today, UPSC conducts essential examinations such as the Civil Services Examination (CSE) to choose officers for IAS, IFS, IPS, and other government positions. With lakhs of young people every year, passing UPSC is a significant accomplishment. UPSC has influenced India’s administration by picking dedicated civil officials, encouraging many to serve the nation.
Key Functions of the UPSC Exam 2025
According to Article 320 of the Indian Constitution, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is in charge of managing recruitment exams for various civil services and Union Government posts.
Conducting Examinations: Conduct tests for IAS, IPS, IFS, and other government posts.
Recruitment Methods: Recommending methods of choosing candidates for civil services and other posts.
Appointments & Promotions: Managing the recruitment, appointment, promotion, and transfer of officers.
Disciplinary Matters: Handling disciplinary cases, such as petitions and appeals regarding civil servants.
Pension Matters: Consultation on pension and service benefit claims.
Joint recruiting: Assisting two or more states with joint recruiting as required.
UPSC has the crucial role of ensuring transparency and efficiency in the selection process for India’s civil services, keeping only the most capable candidates in service for the country.
List of UPSC Examinations
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is a central agency in India that conducts various recruitment examinations for Group A and Group B services of the Indian Government.
Here is a list of some of the major examinations conducted by UPSC:
- Indian Statistical Service Examination (ISS)
- Indian Forest Service Examination (IFS)
- Indian Civil Services Examination (ICSE) for recruitment to IAS, IPS, IRS, etc officers
- Combined Medical Services Examination
- Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS)
- Various Recruitment Tests for UPSC EPFO, and other exams
- Indian Engineering Services Examination
- Combined Geo-Scientist and Geologist Examination
- National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (NDA)
- Indian Economic Service Examination (IES)
- Central Armed Police Forces (ACs) Examination
UPSC Eligibility Criteria for 2025
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has outlined the eligibility criteria for the 2025 Civil Services Examination as follows:
Nationality: Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) Candidates must be citizens of India.
Other Services: Citizens of India, subjects of Nepal, and Bhutan refugees (who arrived before January 1, 1962), and individuals of Indian origin who have migrated from specified countries are eligible.
UPSC Age Limit
General Category: 21 to 32 years (born between August 2, 1992, and August 1, 2003).
Other Categories:
OBC: 21 to 35 years.
SC/ST: 21 to 37 years.
PwBD: 21 to 42 years.
Note: Age is calculated as of August 1, 2025.
UPSC Exam Educational Qualification
A bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification.
Number of Attempts
General Category: 6 attempts.
OBC: 9 attempts.
SC/ST: Unlimited attempts until the age limit is reached.
Conclusion
The UPSC acts as the backbone of India’s administrative system, selecting highly skilled and capable people for the national government. A difficult selection process guarantees that only the most talented applicants are recruited into the civil services, defence services, and others for more details visit the official website https://upsconline.gov.in/upsc/
