Study OAS · 03 September 2025

UPSC to Establish Centre of Excellence

What’s the News?

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has proposed to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) as a repository of best practices from UPSC and State Public Service Commissions (PSCs).
The initiative was announced by UPSC Chairman Dr. Ajay Kumar during a virtual meeting with chairpersons and members of 27 State PSCs, including UPSC Members Dr. Dinesh Dasa and Ms. Anuradha Prasad.
The CoE aims to serve as a knowledge hub for Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), innovations, and key takeaways from recruitment processes.
This forms part of UPSC’s centenary celebrations (October 2025–October 2026), reflecting on past achievements and envisioning future reforms in public service recruitment.

Objectives:
- Act as a collaborative platform for documenting and sharing best practices, SOPs, and technological innovations in recruitment.
- Enhance transparency, efficiency, and inclusivity in recruitment processes across UPSC and State PSCs.
- Assist other national recruitment bodies in strengthening their examination and selection systems.
Key Features:
- Knowledge Repository: Centralized database of recruitment SOPs, innovations (e.g., AI-based surveillance, facial recognition), and strategies to prevent malpractices.
- Inclusivity Focus: Address low participation from aspirational districts through awareness campaigns, mentoring, and outreach programs.
- Talent Utilization: Expand initiatives like Pratibha Setu, a portal connecting near-successful candidates with opportunities in semi-government, quasi-judicial, and private sectors.
Collaboration: UPSC will lead the initiative, but State PSCs are crucial contributors to knowledge-sharing and implementation.

History of UPSC:
- The first Public Service Commission was established on October 1, 1926, based on the recommendations of the Lee Commission (1924) and the Government of India Act, 1919.
- It was renamed the Federal Public Service Commission under the Government of India Act, 1935.
- After independence, it became the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on January 26, 1950, with the adoption of the Constitution.
Constitutional Provisions for UPSC:
- Part XIV of the Constitution, titled 'Services Under the Union and the States', deals with Public Service Commissions.
- Article 315: Provides for the establishment of a Public Service Commission for the Union and a Public Service Commission for each State.
- Article 320: Lays down the functions of the Public Service Commissions, including conducting examinations for appointments to the services of the Union and advising on matters of recruitment, promotion, and disciplinary actions.
- Article 322: States that the expenses of the UPSC, including salaries and allowances, are charged to the Consolidated Fund of India.
- Article 323: Requires the UPSC to present an annual report on its work to the President of India.
Related Initiatives:
- Pratibha Setu Portal: Highlighted by the UPSC Chairman as a successful initiative that provides employment opportunities to candidates who reach the interview stage of UPSC exams but do not make the final merit list.