Assertion (A) : The number of the Members of the Union Public Service Commission is prescribed in the Constitution of India. Reason (R) : The Union Public Service Commission was constituted under the provisions in the Constitution of India.

1. Establishment and Nature of Public Service Commissions (basic)

To understand the backbone of the Indian bureaucracy, we must first look at the Public Service Commissions (PSCs). These are the "watchdogs of the merit system," ensuring that civil service appointments are based on talent rather than political patronage. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the State Public Service Commissions (SPSCs) are independent Constitutional bodies, meaning they are created directly by the Constitution of India under Articles 315 to 323 in Part XIV Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Union Public Service Commission, p.423.

While the UPSC and SPSC are constitutional in nature, there is a third variant called the Joint State Public Service Commission (JSPSC). If two or more states want a common commission, the Parliament can establish a JSPSC by an act. Because it is created by a law passed by Parliament (and not by the Constitution itself), a JSPSC is a statutory body, not a constitutional one Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), State Public Service Commission, p.430. This distinction is vital for your exams!

Commission Type	Nature	Established By
UPSC	Constitutional	Constitution (Art. 315)
SPSC	Constitutional	Constitution (Art. 315)
JSPSC	Statutory	Act of Parliament

Interestingly, the Constitution does not specify the exact number of members for the UPSC. You won't find a line saying "the UPSC shall have 10 members." Instead, Article 318 gives the power to the President (in the case of the UPSC) and the Governor (in the case of an SPSC) to determine the number of members and their conditions of service Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Union Public Service Commission, p.426. This allows the executive branch flexibility to adjust the commission's size based on the workload.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 44: Union Public Service Commission, p.423, 426; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 45: State Public Service Commission, p.430

2. Appointment, Tenure, and Qualifications (basic)

When we look at the foundational structure of Constitutional bodies, the rules governing their appointment, tenure, and qualifications are designed to ensure independence and impartiality. For a body like the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the power of appointment rests with the President of India. Interestingly, unlike many other offices, the Constitution does not fix the exact number of members for the Commission. Instead, under Article 318, it leaves the discretion to the President to determine the Commission's strength and their conditions of service Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Chapter 44, p.423.

Regarding qualifications, the Constitution is remarkably flexible. It does not prescribe specific educational or professional degrees for UPSC members. However, it does include one significant proviso: at least one-half of the members must be persons who have held office for at least ten years under either the Government of India or the Government of a State. This ensures that the Commission possesses deep administrative experience. In contrast, for legislative roles such as members of Parliament or State Legislatures, the Constitution is much more specific about age (25 or 30 years) and the requirement of being a citizen of India Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Chapter 22, p.226.

The Tenure of these members is strictly defined to prevent political interference. For the UPSC, members hold office for a term of six years or until they reach the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. This "fixed tenure" is a hallmark of constitutional bodies, providing the security needed to function without fear of arbitrary removal. While the President appoints them, they can only be removed under specific circumstances (like proved misbehaviour or incapacity) following an inquiry by the Supreme Court.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Union Public Service Commission, p.423; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Parliament, p.226

3. Independence and Removal Mechanisms (intermediate)

To ensure that constitutional bodies like the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and State Public Service Commissions (SPSC) act as the "watchdogs of the merit system," the Constitution provides them with a robust shield of independence. The core philosophy here is simple: if a member is worried about their job security or future salary, they might be tempted to favor the government of the day. To prevent this, the Constitution ensures security of tenure. While the Chairman and members of a SPSC are appointed by the Governor, they can only be removed by the President M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Chapter 45, p. 427. This creates a vital check, ensuring that the state executive cannot arbitrarily dismiss those tasked with neutral recruitment.

The grounds for removal are strictly defined. The President can remove a member immediately if they are adjudged insolvent, engage in paid employment outside their official duties, or are deemed unfit due to infirmity of mind or body M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Chapter 44, p. 424. However, for removals based on "misbehaviour," the President must refer the matter to the Supreme Court for an inquiry. The advice of the Supreme Court is binding on the President, acting as a judicial safeguard against political vendettas.

Beyond removal, independence is maintained through financial and administrative autonomy. For both UPSC and SPSC, the conditions of service (like salary and allowances) are determined at the time of appointment and cannot be varied to their disadvantage afterward M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Chapter 45, p. 428. Furthermore, their entire expenses—including salaries and pensions—are charged on the Consolidated Fund (of India for UPSC; of the State for SPSC). This means these expenses are not subject to the annual vote of the Parliament or State Legislature, protecting the bodies from "power of the purse" pressure.

Finally, to prevent the lure of "post-retirement favors," the Constitution imposes strict prohibitions on further employment. For instance, the Chairman of the UPSC is ineligible for any further employment under the Government of India or any State D. D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, THE SERVICES AND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONS, p. 441. A member of a Commission can only be promoted (e.g., to Chairman of the same or another Commission) but cannot take up typical government jobs, ensuring they remain impartial during their tenure.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 44: Union Public Service Commission, p.424; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 45: State Public Service Commission, p.427-428; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), THE SERVICES AND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONS, p.441

4. State and Joint Public Service Commissions (intermediate)

In the architecture of the Indian administrative system, the State Public Service Commission (SPSC) serves as the state-level equivalent of the UPSC. Both bodies derive their authority from Articles 315 to 323 in Part XIV of the Constitution. While the SPSC is a constitutional body created directly by the Constitution for each state, its internal composition is flexible. Much like the UPSC, the Constitution does not fix the specific number of members for an SPSC; instead, it empowers the Governor of the state to determine the commission's strength and the conditions of service for its members Indian Polity, State Public Service Commission, p.427. One of the most critical aspects of the SPSC's independence is the appointment and removal paradox. Although the Chairman and members are appointed by the Governor, they can only be removed by the President of India. This ensures that the state executive cannot exert undue pressure on the commission by threatening removal. Their functions mirror the UPSC's at the state level: they conduct examinations for state services and must be consulted on matters of recruitment, promotions, and disciplinary actions concerning civil servants Indian Polity, State Public Service Commission, p.428. Beyond individual state commissions, the Constitution allows for a Joint State Public Service Commission (JSPSC). If two or more states agree that a common commission would be more efficient, their legislatures can pass a resolution requesting Parliament to establish one. It is vital to note that a JSPSC is a statutory body, not a constitutional one, because it is created by an Act of Parliament. For a JSPSC, the President handles both the appointment and the removal of members Indian Polity, State Public Service Commission, p.430.

Feature	SPSC	JSPSC
Status	Constitutional Body	Statutory Body
Appointed by	Governor of the State	President of India
Removed by	President of India	President of India
Retirement Age	62 years	62 years

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, State Public Service Commission, p.427; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, State Public Service Commission, p.428; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, State Public Service Commission, p.430

5. Functions and Limitations of the Commission (intermediate)

To understand the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), we must view it as the 'watchdog of the merit system' in India. Established under Article 315, it is a permanent, independent constitutional body designed to ensure that the civil service remains professional and free from political patronage. However, while its status is high, its powers are carefully balanced by the executive's discretion.

The functions of the UPSC are primarily centered on recruitment and personnel management. According to Article 320, the Commission's primary duty is to conduct examinations for appointments to the services of the Union. Beyond exams, it must be consulted on matters relating to methods of recruitment, principles of promotions, and even disciplinary actions against civil servants. It also serves a collaborative role: if a Governor requests it and the President approves, the UPSC can assist a State with its recruitment needs D. D. Basu, THE SERVICES AND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONS, p.442. Every year, the Commission presents a report to the President, detailing its work and highlighting instances where its advice was not followed.

However, we must also address the limitations that define the UPSC's actual influence. A common misconception is that the UPSC is a decision-making body; in reality, it is an advisory body. Its recommendations are not binding on the government M. Laxmikanth, Union Public Service Commission, p.426. While the government is answerable to Parliament if it rejects the UPSC's advice, it ultimately holds the power to say 'no'. Furthermore, the President has the authority to exclude certain posts or matters from the UPSC's purview through specific regulations.

Feature	Function/Strength	Limitation/Constraint
Nature of Advice	Consulted on all disciplinary matters and recruitment methods.	Recommendations are advisory only and not binding on the Government.
Scope of Work	Conducts exams for All-India and Central Services.	The President can remove certain services or posts from the Commission's jurisdiction.
Disciplinary Role	Protects civil servants from arbitrary executive action.	Role is shared/affected by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in disciplinary cases.

One critical structural nuance often tested is the composition of the Commission. Unlike some other bodies where the number of members is specified in the Constitution, Article 318 leaves this to the discretion of the President. The Constitution provides the framework for independence, but the executive determines the exact strength and conditions of service M. Laxmikanth, Union Public Service Commission, p.423.

Sources: Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), THE SERVICES AND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONS, p.442; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Union Public Service Commission, p.426; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Union Public Service Commission, p.423

6. Power to Determine Strength and Service Conditions (exam-level)

To ensure that constitutional bodies like the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) can function with flexibility and independence, the Constitution of India adopts a unique approach toward their internal composition. Unlike the State Legislative Assemblies, where the Constitution explicitly fixes a maximum and minimum strength Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Chapter 33, p. 335, it remains silent on the exact number of members for the UPSC. Instead, Article 316 specifies that the Chairman and other members are appointed by the President, but the specific 'strength' or size of the Commission is left entirely to the discretion of the President Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Chapter 44, p. 423.

This executive discretion is further expanded by Article 318. This article empowers the President to frame regulations to determine two critical aspects: first, the number of members of the Commission and their conditions of service; and second, the provisions concerning the number and service conditions of the Commission's staff Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Chapter 44, p. 426. It is important to note that while the President (the Executive) determines these conditions, they cannot be varied to a member's disadvantage after their appointment, which is a key safeguard for their independence.

The following table clarifies how this power is distributed between the Union and State levels:

Body	Appointing Authority	Power to Determine Strength & Service Conditions
UPSC	President of India	President (under Article 318)
SPSC	Governor of the State	Governor (under Article 318)

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Chapter 33: State Legislature, p.335; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Chapter 44: Union Public Service Commission, p.423; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Chapter 44: Union Public Service Commission, p.426

7. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

You have just mastered the framework of Constitutional Bodies, and this question perfectly tests your ability to distinguish between a body's existence and its specific administrative details. While you know the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is a constitutional entity, the building blocks here involve Article 315 (which creates the Commission) and Article 318 (which delegates power). As noted in Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth, the Constitution does not fix the strength of the Commission; instead, it empowers the President to determine the number of members. This is a crucial nuance: the Constitution provides the authority for the structure, but not the specific number itself.

To arrive at the correct answer, let's look at the logic flow. Assertion (A) claims the number of members is "prescribed in the Constitution," which is factually false because the document leaves this to executive discretion. Reason (R) claims the UPSC was "constituted under the provisions in the Constitution," which is true as it is an independent body established by Article 315. In the UPSC's Assertion-Reasoning format, if the Assertion is false, you can immediately bypass the complex task of checking the "correct explanation" link and head straight to Option (D).

The trap here lies in Option (A). Candidates often assume that because a body is "Constitutional," every detail about it—including its size—must be written in the text of the Constitution. UPSC frequently uses this generalization trap to see if you can differentiate between enabling provisions (like Article 318) and fixed mandates. Remember: the Constitution often provides a skeleton, while executive discretion or parliamentary law provides the flesh. Because the Assertion is factually incorrect, the only logical choice is Option (D): A is false but R is true.