RECENT INITIATIVES TAKEN BY THE COMMISSION

1. Examination Reforms


(i) Civil Services Examination


In order to keep pace with the changing governance and citizen
expectations, Commission review on regular basis the scheme
and syllabus of its various examinations based on the advice of
the expert committees formed by them. The present scheme
for Civil Services Examination has been in vogue since 1979
(post Kothari Committee).

Based on Prof. S.K. Khanna, Ex-Vice Chairman, UGC
Committees recommendations, the scheme of Civil Services
(Prel.) Examination was changed from the year 2011 after due
approval of the Government.

Commission, subsequently formed another Committee headed
by Prof. Arun S Nigavekar, as a continuum to the
recommendations of Prof. Khanna Committee. The
Commissions recommendations on the Nigavekar Committee
for considering changes in the scheme of Civil Services (Main)
Examination was considered by the Government and
accordingly a revised format of Civil Services (Main)
Examination, is being implemented from the year 2013.

(ii) Engineering Services Examination

Commission has formed a Committee to review the present
scheme and structure of the Engineering Services Examination
and the Committee has not yet furnished its report.

(iii) Committee to decide language issue in the Interview of
Civil Services Examination

The Commission constituted an Expert Committee (headed by
Prof. B.B. Bhattacharyya, Ex. V.C, JNU, Delhi) as per
directions of Honble High Court of Bombay to look into the
language medium of Interview in the Civil Services
Examination.

Based on the recommendation of that Committee and approval
of the Government, following major changes have been
incorporated in the scheme of Civil Services Examination from
the year 2011:-

(i) The candidates, opting for the Indian Language medium
(other than Hindi) for the written part of the Civil Services
(Main) Examination, will be given a chance of opting
either the same Indian Language or English or Hindi as
the medium for the Interview.

(ii) The candidates, opting to write the Civil Services (Main)
Examination in English, will be given the option to be
interviewed either in English, or in Hindi, or in any other
Indian Language opted by them for the compulsory
Indian Language Paper in the written part of the Civil

Services (Main) Examination. The candidates, who are,
as per present policy, exempted from the compulsory
Indian Language paper, will have to appear for the
interview in English or Hindi only.

(iv) Language Committee

The Commission constituted a Committee during July, 2009
under the chairmanship of Prof. M. Anandakrishnan, Former
Chairman, IIT, Kanpur to examine the modalities of
implementing the recommendations of the Parliamentary
Resolutions on Official Language dated 18.1.1968 in a manner
consistent with the high standards of UPSC, without
compromising the quality and standard of examinations
conducted by the Commission.

The Committee submitted its report during January, 2012. The
recommendations of Prof. Anandakrishnan Committee were
sent to the Government by the Commission during March, 2012
and the Government, has accepted all the recommendations of
this Committee. However, the recommendations of Prof.
Anandakrishnan Committee which were accepted by the
Government have not been made part of rules of various
examinations so far, by the Government.

(v) Limited Competitive Examination for Indian Police Service:

The Government decided to induct officers of the Paramilitary
Forces, State Police Forces ad also from the Armed Forces in
IPS through the limited Competitive Examination.


An examination has been conducted by the Commission in the
month of May 2012 at 07 centres all over India. The final result
for this examination is yet to be declared.

2. Workload in the Commission:

The number of applicants for various posts through direct
recruitment as well as for examinations showed a tremendous
increase during the recent years.

The number of applicants has risen to 27,38,489 in the year
2012-13 as against 11,14,408 in 2007-08.

Despite such steep increase in the number of candidates, the
Commission has been able to maintain strict time schedule for
holding various examinations including Civil Services
Examination.

3. IT Initiatives

A System of On-Line Applications process has been introduced
with a view to reducing process time. It permits on-line filling of
applications by the candidates, submission of Detailed
Application Form (DAF), helps capture error free data and
downloadable E-Admit Cards.

In case of direct recruitment, the process rejects the ineligible
candidates at the admission stage itself and also helps in
determining the need for a written test before the interview.

After conducting successfully the pilot project for Computer
Based Recruitment test in 2011, Commission has been
conducting the Recruitment test on Computers only and in this

process, four RTs have already been conducted in 9 cities
throughout the country till June, 2013.

4. Achievements All India Services:

Government has approved an alternative system of induction
into the All India Services from State Services. It involves not
only assessment of service records but also assessment of
officers through an examination and interview with
consideration to the length of service. The proposed draft
amendment to the relevant regulations is presently with the
Government for final approval.

Induction to All India Services was at standstill in certain States
due to various Court Cases. On clearance of these cases, a
large number of Selection Committee meetings were held to
clear the backlog. The present position is that the induction
upto the year 2011 has been completed in almost all cadres.
5. Single Window System (SWS):

To receive various proposals for direct recruitment,
appointment by promotion/ deputation, disciplinary cases,
recruitment rules cases, Single Window System has been
introduced.

Prior to SWS, 71% DPC proposals and 90% deputation
proposals were found deficient/ incomplete and therefore,
returned to the concerned Ministries/ Departments. After
introduction of SWS, the percentage of return of such
proposals has come down to 7% and 12% respectively in
2012-13.


The average time taken for disposal has come down as under:-


Year DPC Deputation
2012-13 55 days 69 days


Considerable increase was noticed in DPC / deputation
proposals. During the year 2001-02, 574 meetings were held
wherein 4947 officials were recommended whereas in
2012 13, 601 such meetings were convened recommending
5949 officials.

The average time taken for disposal has come down as under:-

Year Direct
Rectt.
Disc.
Cases
Rectt.
Rules
DPC Deputation
2007-08 13.7
months
6.2
months
32.87
days
4.13
months

6 months
2012-13 8.5
months
3 months
& 10
days

26 days
55
days
69
days



6. Recruitment Rules :

As a measure aimed at capacity building at various levels, an
element of training has been made mandatory for promotion by
incorporating a suitable provision in this regard in the
recruitment rules of various services and posts.

To ensure that provisions relating to educational qualification
required for appointment by direct recruitment and by
deputation to various posts are specific and unambiguous, the
practice of using the term or equivalent in the recruitment rules
has been dispensed with.


Single Window System was introduced in the Commission from
1
st
September, 2011 in respect of proposals relating to
amendment/ framing of recruitment rules and for deciding the
method of recruitment as a one time measure pending
finalization of recruitment rules. Continuous and regular
interaction with the representatives of the Ministries under the
Single Window has helped to a large extent, sensitization of the
Ministries/ Departments on adherence to the guidelines of
DoP&T and about the requirements of the Commission for
considering the RR proposals.

For internal monitoring and quality improvement purposes, a
computer software called Recruitment Rules Monitoring and
Information System (RRMIS) has been installed. The RRMIS
software helps to maintain a data base of all recruitment rules
approved by the Commission and to monitor the progress of
receipt and disposal of recruitment rule proposals in the RR
Branch.

With the introduction of Single Window System and
modernization of the processing of recruitment rule proposals
through RRMIS software, it has been possible to reduce the
average time taken for disposal of proposals to an average of
26 days this year, as against 31 days during the previous
years.

7. Direct Recruitment

(i) Introduction of Online Recruitment Application (ORA) system

Online Recruitment Application (ORA) system has been
introduced in the Commission to minimize the time consumed

in processing recruitment cases right from receipt of
applications to recommendation of candidates. The
Commission, in a departure from the traditional pen and paper
mode of receipt of applications, has taken recourse exclusively
to receiving applications online through a user friendly web-
based software programme, with effect from January, 2012.

(ii) Introduction of Single Window System for receipt of
recruitment requisitions

Single Window System for receipt of recruitment requisitions has
been introduced in the Commission to reduce the time taken in
processing requisitions for filling up of vacancies by direct
recruitment by selection received from Ministries/Department,
with effect from July 2012 for accepting such requisitions. Earlier
requisitions sent by Ministries/Departments by post or by hand
were subjected to examination on file and generated voluminous
correspondence with the concerned Ministries/Departments for
seeking clarifications on various points thus leading to delays,
consequent upon introduction of the Single Window System, the
requisitions are now being scrutinized at the single Window and
are either accepted if in order or returned with observations and
advice to the representatives of the Ministries/Departments
regarding the discrepancies/deficiencies that needs to be
removed.

Introduction of Online Recruitment Application system from
January, 2012 and that of the Single Window System in July
2012, has contributed significantly in reducing the time taken in
finalisation of normal recruitment cases.


The average time taken in finalising normal recruitment cases
(from the date of receipt of requisition) for the financial year
ending 31.03.2012 was 10.3 months. As a result of introduction
of Online Recruitment Application (ORA) System for receipt of
applications and that of Single Window System for receipt of
requisitions, for the financial year 2012-13, the average time
taken for disposal of normal recruitment cases has come down
to 8.5 months.


(iii) Number of applications processed

There has been significant increase in the number of applicants
against the direct recruitment cases advertised by the
Commission. During the financial year 2012-13, 3,71,616
recruitment applications were received by the commission
whereas the corresponding figures for the financial year 2010-
11 and 2011-12 were 1,06,083 and 44,442 respectively.

8. Relations with Foreign PSCs.:

To further the idea of promoting international cooperation and
to share the best practices, Commission hosted a Conference
of Chiefs of the Public Service Commission of SAARC
countries in 2010.

The 2
nd
Conference was held in Islamabad in December, 2012
which was attended by Chairmen of Public Service
Commissions of all SAARC countries including India.

As a follow-up to the decision of the Second Conference, a
Workshop on ICT for Officers of Public Service Commissions of

SAARC Member States was organized by Union Public Service
Commission on 22
nd
March, 2013 at New Delhi.

On the recommendations/ clearance of the Ministry of External
Affairs, the Commission signed MoUs with the Public Civil
Service Commission of Canada and with the Royal Civil
Service Commission of the Royal Government of Bhutan for
exchange of expertise and sharing of experience in Civil
Service matters. Requests for signing an MoU from the
Independent Administrative Reforms and Civil Service
Commission of Afghanistan (Kabul) and the State Personnel
Service of Kyrgyz Republic is on the anvil.

9. UPSC (Members) Status:

The Government has enhanced the status of Chairman and
Members of the Commission and made them at par with Chief
Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners
respectively w.e.f. 1
st
May, 2007.
In accordance with the above decision, Honble Chairman has
been placed in Article 9A with Chief Election Commissioner
and Honble Members have been placed as Equivalents in
Article 11 alongwith Election Commissioners, in the Warrant of
Precedence.