Rajasthan Public Service Commission

Rajasthan Public Service Commission is an important topic under Rajasthan Polity that deals with the recruitment and selection of candidates for various state government services. It explains the structure, functions, and role of the Commission in ensuring transparent and merit-based appointments. Understanding this topic helps in analyzing the administrative framework and the functioning of civil services recruitment in Rajasthan.

Role and Functions of RPSC

• In the year 1923, the Lee Commission recommended the establishment of the Union Public Service Commission in India.
• This Commission did not make any recommendation regarding the establishment of Provincial Public Service Commissions.
• At that time, the provincial governments were free to make appointments and formulate service rules as per their needs.
• The Rajasthan Public Service Commission is a constitutional commission, mentioned in Chapter II (Articles 315-323) of Part XIV (Articles 308-323) of the Constitution.
• At the time of formation of Rajasthan state, out of total 22 princely states, only 3 had Public Service Commissions functioning:
  1. Jaipur (1940)
  2. Jodhpur (1939)
  3. Bikaner (1946)
• After the merger of the princely states, on August 16, 1949, the then Chief of Rajasthan issued the 28th ordinance for the establishment of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission, which was published on August 20, 1949.
• In this ordinance, it was provided that the Commission would come into effect from the day the notification for appointment of members to the Commission would be published.
• The Commission came into effect with the publication of a notification appointing members in the Rajasthan Gazette on December 22, 1949. That is, the Rajasthan Public Service Commission was established on December 22, 1949.
• Key rules related to the Commission –
  • In 1951, the Rajpramukh made rules to regulate the functions of the Commission:
    1. Rajasthan Public Service Commission Service Conditions Rules 1951
    2. Rajasthan Public Service Commission Limitation of Functions Rules, 1951
  • Amendments to these rules:
    • 1961
    • 1983
  • Other rules
    • Rajasthan Public Service Commission (Conditions of Service) Regulations, 1974
      • Made by Governor Sardar Joginder Singh.
  • Articles 16, 234, 315 to 323 deal specifically with the functions and jurisdiction of the Public Service Commissions.
  • Procedural rules
    • The functioning of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission is governed by the following rules:
      1. Rajasthan Public Service Commission Rules and Conditions 1963
      2. Rajasthan Public Service Commission (Validation of Conditions and Procedure) Ordinance 1975
      3. Rajasthan Public Service Commission Act 1976
  • After the state reorganization in 1957, it was shifted to Ajmer on the basis of the recommendation of Satyanarayan Rao Committee.
  • 21 August 1958 – Headquarters shifted from Jaipur to Ajmer.
  • From 21 October 2000 – Office is functioning at Ghughra Ghati, Ajmer.
  • The Secretary of the Commission is an Indian Administrative Service officer. He handles all administrative and financial work.

Articles related to Public Service Commission

Article	Subject matter
315	Constitution of Public Service Commissions for the Union and the States
316	Appointment and tenure of members
317	Removal and suspension of a member of the Public Service Commission
318	Power to make regulations regarding the conditions of service of members and staff of the Commission
319	Prohibition on holding other office by members of the Commission while they are not in office
320	Functions of Public Service Commissions
321	Power to extend the functions of Public Service Commissions
322	Expenses of Public Service Commissions
323	Reports of Public Service Commissions

Article 315: Public Service Commissions for the Union and for the States

1. 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 to establish a single Joint Public Service Commission if their legislatures pass resolutions to that effect. Parliament shall then provide by law for its appointment.
3. Such law may contain such incidental and consequential provisions as may be necessary to give it effect.
4. If the Governor of a State requests the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), it may agree to meet the requirements of that State with the approval of the President.
5. The term ‘Public Service Commission’ in the Constitution shall have the same meaning as it provides for the needs of the particular subject (Union or State).

Article 316 Appointment and term of office of members

1. The Chairman and Members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President for the Union/Joint Commission and by the Governor for the State Commission. Provided that approximately half of the members shall have at least 10 years’ experience in working under the Government of India or a State Government.
   • (1A) If the office of the Chairman is vacant or he is absent, The President or the Governor shall be entitled to the powers conferred by the President or any one of the other members of the Commission. may be appointed as acting President.
2. The term of office of a member shall be six years from the date of assumption of office. Age Limit:
   • Union Commission: 65 years.
   • State/Joint Commission: 62 Years.
     • Note :-41st Constitutional Amendment (1976) – Age limit was increased from 60 to 62 years.
   • Resignation: A member may resign by writing addressed to the President (Union) or the Governor (State).
   • Removal: He may be removed from office by the procedure provided in Article 317.
3. No member shall be eligible for reappointment to the same post after the expiry of his term.

Article 317: Removal and suspension from office

1. The Chairperson or a Member shall be removed only by order of the President on the ground of ‘misbehaviour’ if the Supreme Court has, after an inquiry, recommended such removal.
2. During the investigation, the President in the case of Union/Joint Commission and the Governor in the case of State Commission can suspend the member.
   • Note-The Governor appoints the Chairman and members of the RPSC, but cannot remove them from office. The President has the power to remove the Chairman and members from office.
3. The President can also remove a member without inquiry if:
   • (a) Becomes insolvent.
   • (b) During the tenure, do a paid job somewhere outside.
   • (c) is, in the opinion of the President, mentally or physically unfit.
4. If a member participates in a government contract or profit, he will be deemed to be guilty of ‘misconduct’.

Article 318: Power to make regulations as to conditions of service

• By the President for the Union/Joint Commission and the Governor for the State Commission by regulations:
  • (a) Determine the number of members and their conditions of service.
  • (b) Provide for the number of staff and their conditions of service.
• Provided that no adverse change in the service conditions shall be made after appointment.

Article 319: Bar to hold office when he ceases to hold it

• (a) UPSC Chairman: They will not be eligible for any government job in the future.
• (b) The SPSC Chairperson: One can become Chairman/Member of UPSC or Chairman of other SPSC, but cannot get job anywhere else.
• (c) UPSC Member: One can become the Chairman of UPSC or SPSC, not anywhere else.
• (d) SPSC Member: The Chairman/Member of UPSC can become the Chairman of the same/other SPSC and not elsewhere.

Article 320: Functions of the Commission

1. To conduct examinations for appointment to the services of the Union and the States.
2. To plan and assist in joint recruitment at the request of the States.
3. The Commission will be consulted on the following matters:
   • (a) Methods of recruitment.
   • (b) Principles of appointment, promotion and transfer.
   • (c) Disciplinary matters.
   • (d) Claims for reimbursement of legal expenses.
   • (e) Pension claims for injuries sustained during service.
4. Consultation is not necessary in cases under Article 16(4) (reservation) and Article 335 (SC/ST claims).
5. The rules made in relation to consultation shall be laid before Parliament or the Legislature for at least 14 days.

Article 321: Power to extend functions

• Parliament or the State Legislature may, by law, assign additional functions (connected with local bodies or public institutions) to the Commission.

Article 322: Expenses of the Commission

• All expenses of the Commission, including salaries, allowances and pensions, shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund of India for the Union and on the Consolidated Fund of the States for the States.

Article 323: Report of the Commission

1. The Union Commission will submit its annual report to the President, who will cause it to be laid before each House of Parliament.
2. State Commission: Submits its report to the Governor, who shall cause it to be laid before the State Legislature.

If the Commission’s advice is not accepted, the government will have to give reasons for it in writing.

Structure of RPSC

Initial structure-

• The Commission at the time of its establishment consisted of:
  • 1 President
  • 2 members
• First Chairman – S. K. Ghosh (then Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court)
• First member
  • Devishankar Tiwari
  • N. R. Chandorkar
• Later S.C. Tripathi (former member, UPSC) was appointed as the Chairman.

Change in the number of members

Year	member number
Installation	2 members + 1 chairman
1962	3 + 1
1965	4 + 1
1985	5 + 1
2011	7 + 1
July 18, 2025	10+1 (11 in total)

Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC): Present Structure

Sr. No.	Name
1.	Shri Utkal Ranjan Sahu (Chairman)
2.	Shri Babu Lal Katara (suspended)
3.	Lieutenant Colonel Kesari Singh Rathore
4.	Shri Kailash Chand Meena
5.	Prof. Ayub Khan
6.	Dr. Sushil Kumar Bissu
7.	Dr. Ashok Kumar Kalwar
8.	Hemant Priyadarshi (Retired IPS)
9.	Empty
10.	Empty
11.	Empty
Current Secretary:- Shri Ram Niwas Mehta (IAS)

List of Chairmen of Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC)

Secretary:

• First Secretary: Shri Shyam Sundar Sharma.
• First Acting Secretary: Mr. Daljit Singh.
• Current Secretary:- Shri Ram Niwas Mehta (IAS)
• First woman Secretary: Ottima Bordia (also a member of UPSC).
• Mrs. Roli Singh, Mrs. Mugdha Sinha, Miss Renu Jaipal and Shubham Chaudhary were also secretaries.

Special facts related to Rajasthan Public Service Commission

Women as RPSC Chairperson and Members –

• Till now not a single woman has become the President.
• Till now there have been a total of 7 women as RPSC members –
  1. Smt. Kanta Khaturia (First woman member, also a member of UPSC)
  2. Smt. Kamla Bhil (Former Minister of State)
  3. Mrs. Prakashvati Sharma (Former UPSC Member)
  4. Smt. Divya Singh
  5. Smt. Rajkumari Gurjar
  6. Mrs. Sangeeta Arya
  7. Mrs. Manju Sharma

Members of RPSC who later became members of UPSC-

1. Kanta Khaturia (also served as Chairperson of Rajasthan Women’s Commission)
2. Prakashvati Sharma

Resigned as a member of the RPSC.

1. Kanta Khaturia (became a member of UPSC)
2. Shivpal Singh Nangal
3. Smt. Divya Singh
4. Shyam Sundar Sharma (resigned as member and became President)

Minimum tenure as Chairman

1. B.L. Rawat (1.08.1966 to 3.09.1966) – 34 days
2. S. K. Ghosh (22.12.1949 – 25.01.1950) – 35 days
3. P.S. Yadav (1.10.1997 to 6.11.1997) – 37 days

Members of the RPSC who were from other services-

1. Shri Raghukul Tilak (Vice Chancellor and Governor of Rajasthan)
2. Shri N.L. Jain (Former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly)
3. Smt. Kamla Bhil (Former Minister of State in Rajasthan Government)
4. Shri Dhuleshwar Meena (Former Member of Parliament)
5. Smt. Kanta Khaturia (Ex. Member of Assembly)
6. Shri O.P. Gupta (Former Chief Whip, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly)

Acting Presidents (8 so far)

1. L. L. Joshi
2. S. C. Singharia
3. S. S. Tak
4. H.L. Meena
5. R. D. Saini
6. Shiv Singh Rathore
7. Jaswant Singh Rathi (shortest tenure as acting president, 15 days)
8. Kailash Chand Meena (presently)

Other facts-

• First woman member – Kanta Khaturia
• State Chief Secretary who was a member of the RPSC-  SD Ujjwal
• The current secretary of RPSC is Ram Niwas Mehta.
• State Chief Secretary who was a member of the RPSC- SD Ujjwal
• The Chairman of the Commission who was the Director of College Education – Shri R.S. Kapoor
• First Chairman who belonged to the Indian Police Service (IPS) – Shri P.S. Yadav
• The member of the Commission who was also a former member of the Lok Sabha – Shri Dhuleshwar Meena
• The member of the Commission who was formerly the Chief Whip in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly – Shri O.P. Gupta

Secretariat of the State Public Service Commission

• Structure: The Commission has a Secretary and other officers.
• Role: The Secretary is the practical executive of the Commission administration.
• Appointment: The Secretary is either an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer or can be appointed as Secretary by promotion from the post of Deputy Secretary of the Commission.
• Role of the Governor: Any appointment of a Secretary requires the Governor’s approval. The Governor also determines the salary and allowances.
• Tenure: It is usually 5 years, but this rule is not generally followed.
• Disciplinary Action: The Chairman of the Commission has the right to take any action against the Secretary, but the Secretary has the right to appeal against such action before the Governor.
• Appointment of Staff: The Gazetted employees of the Commission Secretariat are appointed by the Secretary with the approval of the Chairman of the Commission.

RPSC Constituent Structure

• For smooth functioning of the Commission, it has been divided into 06 parts:
  1. Administrative divisions
  2. Recruitment Division
  3. Examination Division
  4. Accounts Division
  5. Law Division
  6. Research Division

Important Committees and Financial Provisions

• Expenses of the Commission (Article 322): All expenses of the State Public Service Commission shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund of the State.
• Standing Pre-Litigation Committee of RPSC:
  • Formed: 1 March 2019
  • Chairman: Hon’ble Member (nominated by RPSC Chairman)
  • Members: Secretary (RPSC) and Legal Adviser.
  • Member Secretary: Joint Secretary RPSC.
  • Work: To solve the problems of the candidates and reduce litigation.
• Committees formed for reforms:
  • M.L. Kumawat Committee (2021)
  • Vijay Vyas Committee
  • Vasudev Devnani Study Group (2024): They studied the Haryana Public Service Commission.
  • After their report, the number of members (including the Chairman) has been increased from 8 to 11.

Innovations in Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC)

Year	Major Reforms/Initiatives
1984	Scrutiny examination for Rajasthan State and Subordinate Services begins
2011	Starting of online application
2011	Commencement of online examination
2013	Memory Online Test Review Software
2014	Facility to raise objections online
2016	Online marking system
2016	Facility to download answer sheet online
2017	Divyangjan Analog Portal
2018	State Recruitment Portal
2022	One Time Registration (OTR)