Every year, thousands of candidates apply for different government jobs through various competitive exams. These exams are organized by different departments depending on the type of job. Two key departments are the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the State Public Service Commission. Each state in India has its own State Public Service Commission, which hires candidates for jobs within that state. Now, let’s explore what these organizations mean, how they work, and the main differences UPSC Exam vs the SPSC Exam.
UPSC (Union Public Service Commission)
- Full-Form: Union Public Service Commission
- Description
- A constitutional body in India is responsible for recruiting officers for the All India Services and the Central Civil Services.
- Conducts the prestigious Civil Services Examination (CSE), popularly known as the IAS exam, to select candidates for various top government positions such as IAS (Indian Administrative Service), IPS (Indian Police Service), IFS (Indian Foreign Service), and many others.
2. SPSC (State Public Service Commission)
- Full-Form: State Public Service Commission
- Description:
- Each state in India has its own SPSC.
- These commissions are responsible for recruiting officers for various state government services, such as state civil services, police services, and other state-level administrative positions.
- The specific roles and responsibilities of each SPSC vary from state to state.
Differences Between UPSC and SPSC Exam
| Feature | UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) | SPSC (State Public Service Commission) |
| Scope | Nationwide | State-specific |
| Competitiveness | Higher | Lower (generally) |
| Job Opportunities | All-India Services (IAS, IPS, IFS, etc.), Central Government Departments | State Government Services (State Civil Services, Police Services, etc.) |
| Language of Exam | English and Hindi | English, Hindi, and often Regional Languages |
| Syllabus | Broad and comprehensive, covering a wide range of subjects | The state-specific syllabus may include regional language and state-specific history |
| Number of Applicants | Significantly higher | Lower than UPSC |
| Selection Process | Three-stage process: Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and Interview | Three-stage process, similar to UPSC, but with variations in specific stages and subjects |
| Focus | National and international issues, broader perspective | State-specific issues, local knowledge, and understanding of state-specific policies |
| Postings | All over India | Primarily within the respective state |
| Prestige | Generally considered more prestigious due to the national level and the scope of responsibilities | Highly respected within the state, providing opportunities to serve the local community |
Duties and Functions of UPSC Exam Vs SPSC Exam
| Duties and Functions | UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) | SPSC (State Public Service Commission) |
| Conducts Exams for | Services of the Union (Indian, Central, UT) | Services of a particular state |
| Assists States | In joint recruitment schemes | N/A |
| Annual Report to | President (laid before Parliament) | Governor (laid before State Legislature) |
| Additional Functions | Granted by Parliament | Granted by State Legislature |
| Focus | Examinations | Examinations |
| Other Personnel Matters | Handled by DoPT | Handled by State Government |
Also Read: Government Job vs Private Jobs – Which One is Better?
