Public Service Commissions Key to Strong Governance, Says Vice President

Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Saturday highlighted the pivotal role of Public Service Commissions (PSCs) in shaping the quality, integrity, and effectiveness of governance in India. He made the remarks while addressing the valedictory session of the National Conference of Chairpersons of State PSCs in Hyderabad.

Radhakrishnan emphasised that even isolated irregularities can undermine the credibility of these constitutional institutions and called for zero tolerance towards malpractice in public examinations. Stressing the importance of ethical standards, he said impartiality is the moral foundation of public recruitment, and that transparency, anonymised evaluation, and objective marking systems are essential to eliminate bias.

As India progresses towards its ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ vision, the Vice President noted, the quality of governance depends on the calibre of individuals managing institutions. He described PSCs as vital for selecting competent, impartial, and ethical civil servants who can uphold merit, fairness, and public confidence.

Radhakrishnan also observed that recruitment alone cannot ensure lifelong excellence, and urged for performance appraisals, vigilant oversight, and periodic reviews to safeguard institutional integrity. He highlighted that character and ethical conduct are foundational to nation-building and public trust.

The Vice President further pointed out that effective governance today requires civil servants with not just academic competence, but also strong ethical judgment, emotional intelligence, leadership skills, and teamwork. He suggested that PSCs may explore structured assessments of behavioural and ethical competencies alongside traditional knowledge-based examinations. He added that merit must not only be upheld but also perceived to be upheld.

The conference was inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu on December 19 and brought together chairpersons from PSCs across the country to discuss ways to strengthen public recruitment and governance standards.