Introduction
With the establishment of democracy in the year 2007 BS (1951 AD), the Public Service Commission was established on 1st of Ashad (15th June 1951) with the aim of appointing civil servants through an independent body. Since its inception, this commission has been engaged in the process of selecting suitable candidates for positions in the civil service. The Constitution of Nepal provides for the Public Service Commission to conduct written examinations for the recruitment of civil service positions, the Nepal Army, the Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force, and other federal government services. Article 23 of the Constitution of Nepal includes provisions regarding the Public Service Commission.
Composition
According to Article 242, Clause 1 of the Constitution of Nepal, the Public Service Commission shall consist of a Chairperson and four other members. The President appoints the Chairperson and members of the Public Service Commission based on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council. While making these appointments, at least 50% of the members must be appointed from individuals who have served in any government service for a period of twenty years or more, while the remaining members must be recognized individuals who have made significant contributions in fields such as science, technology, arts, literature, law, public administration, sociology, or other areas of national life. Prior to this appointment, a parliamentary hearing is conducted by a fifteen-member joint committee comprising members from both houses of the federal parliament.
Due to the provision of the Constitution that specifies that only five officials (including the Chairperson) shall be members, the earlier appointment of more than this number has been continued under Clause 3 of Article 301 of the Constitution of Nepal.
Functions, Duties, and Powers
According to Article 243 of the Constitution, it is the duty of the Public Service Commission to conduct examinations for the appointment of suitable candidates for civil service positions. This article clarifies that “civil service position” refers to all government service positions of the Government of Nepal except for the military, the Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force, and other specified services defined by law.
Additionally, the Public Service Commission is tasked with conducting written examinations for positions in the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and other federal government services apart from civil service positions.
In addition to this duty and responsibility, the Public Service Commission must be consulted on the following matters:
- General principles to be followed for promotions in the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and other federal government services;
- General principles for promotion and departmental action concerning employees of organized services under laws related to service conditions;
- Laws related to the conditions of federal civil service;
- Principles to be followed in appointments, promotions, and departmental actions concerning federal civil service positions;
- Regarding the suitability of candidates for appointments to federal civil service positions for a duration exceeding six months;
- Regarding the suitability of candidates for transfer or promotion from one type of federal civil service position to another or from other government services to federal civil service or vice versa;
- Regarding the transfer or promotion of employees holding positions that do not require consultation with the Public Service Commission to positions that do require such consultation; and
- Regarding the departmental penalties to be imposed on employees of the federal civil service.
Candidate Selection Process
According to the Public Service Commission Act, 2066, the Commission will select suitable candidates through one or more of the following methods:
- Written Examination,
- Practical Examination,
- Interview, and
- Any other method determined by the Commission.
The Public Service Commission prepares an annual work schedule that includes the percentage of vacant positions and details of the various stages of the selection process.
After receiving requests from relevant bodies for filling vacant positions, the Public Service Commission determines the number of posts according to the relevant laws. Once the number of positions is determined, the Commission publishes advertisements in a weekly bulletin every Wednesday and in the Gorakhapatra National Daily. When advertising for open competitive examinations, a period of 21 days is generally given for internal competitive examinations and an additional 7 days for internal documents. After the advertisement for the open and internal competitive examinations is published, applications for the advertised positions are collected online from the Commission’s regional directorates, zonal offices, and application management centers. After the applications for the advertised positions are received, they are screened and admission cards for the examination are issued to the candidates.
To maintain fairness and integrity in the selection process, the Commission has adopted a policy of keeping its officials uninformed about one another’s roles in the creation of question papers, marking of answer sheets, conducting interviews, and administering examinations.
In carrying out these tasks, the Commission has established a process for the creation, revision, and examination of question papers, interviews, psychological assessments, and curriculum development. It regularly updates a list of experts for these purposes, and they are appointed confidentially for specific selection processes.
The Commission does not determine the examination outline for each position; it ensures the confidentiality of its operations while completing tasks on time. If necessary, it may establish different procedures for conducting examinations and interviews.
Sources
Constitution of Nepal, 2072
Official website of the Public Service Commission
Federal Civil Service Conditions Act, 2070