The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) completes 100 years on October 1, 2026, marking a century since the establishment of the Public Service Commission in 1926. Over the past 100 years, UPSC has evolved into a constitutional institution with an important role in the recruitment process for India’s public services.

From London-Based ICS Exams to a Constitutional Body

The roots of India’s civil services system go back to the British era, when the Indian Civil Service (ICS) examination was conducted in London. For Indian aspirants, appearing for the examination meant travelling to England. The examination was conducted in English and included subjects such as Greek and Latin, creating significant barriers for Indians seeking entry into the higher civil services.

In 1862, Satyendranath Tagore, then 21, travelled from Calcutta to England. He cleared the ICS examination in 1863 and joined the service in 1864, becoming the first Indian to qualify for the ICS through the competitive examination. Other Indians, including Surendranath Banerjee, Behari Lal Gupta and Romesh Chunder Dutt, followed later.

Indian representation in the service remained limited for several decades. By 1919, only 78 of 1,255 ICS officers were Indian. A major change came in 1922, when the ICS examination was conducted in India for the first time at Allahabad, alongside London. The examination centre was later shifted to Delhi in 1928.

On October 1, 1926, the first Public Service Commission was established in India. It initially functioned as an advisory body, but its role developed further after Independence. With the Constitution coming into force in 1950, it became the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and took its place within India’s democratic administrative framework.

What Does the Constitution Say About UPSC?

The constitutional framework for Public Service Commissions is contained in Part XIV, Chapter II, Articles 315 to 323 of the Constitution of India. 

Article 315 provides for a Public Service Commission for the Union and for each State, establishing the constitutional basis of UPSC. Among these provisions, Article 320 is particularly important because it lays down the functions of Public Service Commissions, including conducting examinations for appointments to Union and State services and advising on various recruitment-related matters.

Thus, the journey from an examination that once required Indian aspirants to travel to London to a constitutional institution governed by Articles 315–323 reflects the transformation of India’s public-service recruitment system over the past century.