Manoj Soni to take oath as UPSC chairman

Manoj Soni to take oath as UPSC chairman

Subject: Polity

Section: National Body

Concept :

• Educationist Manoj Soni will take oath as the chairman of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Soni, who joined the Commission as the member on June 28, 2017, has been performing the duties of the UPSC chairman since April 5, 2022.

About Union Public Service Commission

• The UPSC was established on 1 October 1926 by the Government of India under the Government of India Act, 1919.
• The Commission is headquartered in New Delhi and has regional offices in Allahabad, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Patna.
• It is an independent constitutional body.
• The provisions regarding the composition of UPSC, appointment and removal of its members and the powers and functions of UPSC are provided in Part XIV of the Indian Constitution under Article 315 to Article 323.

Composition of Union Public Service Commission

• Appointment of Members: The Chairman and other members of the UPSC are appointed by the President of India.
• Term of Office: Any member of the UPSC shall hold office for a term of six years or till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• Reappointment: Any person who has once held the office as a member of a Public Service Commission is ineligible for reappointment to that office.
• Resignation: A member of the Union Public Service Commission may resign from his/her office by submitting the written resignation to the President of India.
• Removal/Suspension of Members: The Chairman or any other member of UPSC shall only be removed from his/her office by order of the President of India.
• The President can remove the Chairman or any other member from his/her office( on grounds of Misbehaviour) in respect of whom a reference has been made to the Supreme Court.
• Advice of Supreme Court is binding.
• Conditions for Removal: The Chairman or any other member of UPSC may be removed if he/she:
• is adjudged an insolvent.
• engages during his/her term of office in any paid employment outside the duties of his/her office.
• is, in the opinion of the President, unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body.
• Regulating the Conditions of Service: In the case of the UPSC, the President of India shall:
• Determine the number of members of the Commission and their conditions of service.
• Make provisions with respect to the number of members of the staff of the Commission and their conditions of service.
• Restriction of Power: The conditions of service of a member of UPSC shall not be amended after his/her appointment that may lead to his/her disadvantage.
• Power to Extend Functions: The Legislature of a State may provide for the exercise of additional functions by the UPSC or the SPSC as respects the services of the Union or the State and also as respects the services of any local authority or other body corporate constituted by law or of any public institution.
• Expenses of UPSC: The expenses of the UPSC including salaries, allowances and pensions of the members or staff of the Commission are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India.
• Submission of Reports: The UPSC shall present an annual report to the President of India containing the work done by the Commission.
• The President shall provide a memorandum explaining the cases where the advice of the Commission was not accepted.
• The reasons for such non-acceptance are presented before each House of Parliament.