Home The Constitution Part XIV Article 315

Art. 315 Part XIV: Services Under the Union and the States

Public Service Commissions for the Union and for the States

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) Subject to the provisions of this article, there shall be a Public Service Commission for the Union and a Public Service Commission for each State. (2) Two or more States may agree that there shall be one Public Service Commission for that group of States... (4) The Public Service Commission for the Union, if requested so to do by the Governor of a State, may, with the approval of the President, agree to serve all or any of the needs of the State.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article establishes the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) and a State Public Service Commission (SPSC) for each state — the independent bodies responsible for recruiting into civil services — while also allowing flexible arrangements: two or more states can share a single Joint Commission, or a state can even ask the UPSC to handle some of its own recruitment needs.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why UPSC conducts the famous Civil Services Examination (for IAS, IPS, and other central services) while your own state has a separate SPSC handling state government job recruitment — two distinct, independently constituted bodies serving different (though sometimes overlapping) recruitment needs.

Read alongside this one

Art. 316 — Appointment and Term of Office of Members

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 315

Can a state choose not to have its own Public Service Commission?

A state could, under clause (4), request UPSC to handle some or all of its recruitment needs instead of maintaining a fully separate SPSC, subject to the President's approval — though most states do maintain their own dedicated Commission.

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The text above reproduces Article 315 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.