UPSC to set up center of excellence to document best recruitment practices

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will set up a center of excellence (CoE) as part of its centenary celebrations to preserve and share best practices in recruitment, chairman Ajay Kumar said.

“The idea of the CoE will serve as a knowledge hub of standard operating procedures (SOPs), innovations, and key takeaways from UPSC and state PSCs,” Kumar said during a virtual meeting with state public service commissions (PSCs).

He explained that while UPSC will take the lead, contributions from state commissions will be crucial to building the repository.

The CoE is also expected to benefit other national recruitment agencies.

The announcement was made at a meeting attended by UPSC members Dinesh Dasa and Anuradha Prasad along with representatives from 27 state PSCs.

The session discussed preparations for UPSC’s centenary year, which will be celebrated between Oct 1, 2025, and Oct 1, 2026.

Kumar highlighted the role of India’s recruitment system in selecting lakhs of youth for civil services since UPSC’s inception on October 1, 1926.

He called the centenary a time to “reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and envision the future.”

The UPSC chairman also referred to the success of the “Pratibha Setu” portal, which connects candidates who reached the interview stage but did not make the final list with jobs in semi-government, quasi-judicial, and private organizations.

State commissions suggested greater awareness in aspirational districts, where participation in public service exams is low due to limited access to guidance and resources.

Members called for outreach and mentoring programs to address the gap.

Dasa urged state PSCs to showcase their innovations through exhibitions and awareness activities during the centenary year, saying joint participation would strengthen trust in the system and inspire aspirants nationwide.