State Public Service Commissions: Maharashtra sets up a paper-leak inquiry

Prelims pointers

• Article 315: a Public Service Commission for the Union and one for each State; two or more States may share a Joint State Public Service Commission.
• Joint State Public Service Commission: created by an Act of Parliament after the legislatures of the States concerned pass resolutions; the President appoints its members.
• Article 316: as nearly as may be, half of a commission's members must have held government office for at least ten years; no reappointment to the same office.
• Article 317(3): the President may remove a member for insolvency, paid work outside the office, or infirmity of mind or body, without a Supreme Court inquiry.
• Article 319: a former State PSC chairman may become chairman or member of the UPSC, or chairman of another State PSC, but is barred from other government employment.
• Articles 322 and 323: expenses charged on the Consolidated Fund of the State; the annual report goes to the Governor, who lays it before the State Legislature.
• UPSC and State PSC: UPSC members are appointed by the President and serve until 65; State PSC members by the Governor, until 62. The President removes both.
• Background: the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 covers examinations by UPSC, SSC, RRBs, IBPS and NTA, not State Public Service Commissions.