Hyderabad: Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Saturday described Public Service Commissions (PSCs) as the “constitutional guardians of merit,” stating that they play a vital role in nation building. He was speaking at the valedictory session of the National Conference of PSC Chairpersons in Hyderabad.
As India works toward its Viksit Bharat@2047 vision, he said the future of governance depends on selecting the right civil servants today. According to him, PSCs must ensure the recruitment of individuals who are not only capable but also ethical and impartial.
PSCs key to nation building through ethical recruitment
Radhakrishnan emphasized that PSCs must remain independent to maintain fairness and trust in public hiring. Even a single irregularity, he warned, can weaken public confidence. Therefore, he suggested using anonymous evaluations and clear, objective scoring methods to remove bias from the process.
He pointed out that today’s civil servants need more than academic knowledge. They must also demonstrate integrity, leadership, emotional intelligence, and the ability to work in teams. For this reason, he encouraged PSCs to add structured tests for ethics and behavior along with traditional exams.
Speaking on accountability, he called for regular reviews and performance checks to ensure ongoing integrity in public institutions. Moreover, he urged commissions to adopt new ideas like talent mapping systems such as Pratibha Setu to better match skills to roles.
Concluding his address, Radhakrishnan said he believes PSCs will continue to strengthen governance in India. With transparency and strong recruitment practices, they can help realize the vision of a Viksit and Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.