Home The Constitution Part XIV Article 321

Art. 321 Part XIV: Services Under the Union and the States

Power to Extend Functions of Public Service Commissions

Exact text — Constitution of India

An Act made by Parliament or, as the case may be, the Legislature of a State may provide for the exercise of additional functions by the Union Commission or the State Commission as respects the services of the Union or the State respectively and also as respects the services of any local authority or other body corporate constituted by law or of any public institution.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article lets Parliament or a State Legislature expand a Public Service Commission's functions beyond the core Article 320 role, to also cover recruitment or advisory functions for local authorities, statutory bodies, or public institutions — a flexible mechanism for extending the Commission's expertise to a wider range of public bodies.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why some public sector undertakings or statutory bodies' recruitment sometimes involves the Public Service Commission's involvement, even though they're not, strictly speaking, direct 'Union' or 'State' civil services in the narrowest sense.

Read alongside this one

Art. 320 — Functions of Public Service Commissions

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 321

Can a Public Service Commission's role be extended to a specific public sector company's recruitment?

Yes, in principle, if the relevant Legislature passes a law under this Article specifically providing for that extension.

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The text above reproduces Article 321 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.