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The Chairperson, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Smt. Alka Sirohi inaugurated the Commission’s Museum here today.  

Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Alka Sirohi said that the process of setting up this Museum had started when the Commission approved, in-principle, the setting up of an Archive-cum-Museum in UPSC on the ground floor of the Examination Hall building. It has taken a lot of effort in collection and collation of material for the vision to be translated into reality, she mentioned.

The UPSC Chairperson said that museums are the sacred shrines of the rich heritage of a country. She said that they are also a bridge and a medium of communication between the past and the present. She also said that museums render a great public service to their diverse audience, engaging them in an enjoyable and enlightening experience even while enriching the learning opportunities for all. She said that the museum showcases rare reports, files, photographs, pamphlets and maps from 1916 to the present day. She also hoped that this will be a unique opportunity for students of history and candidates appearing for the various examinations conducted by the Commission. The Museum also mirrors the history, development and growth of administration in India, she added.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. David R. Syiemlieh, Member, UPSC hoped the Museum will inspire students and Civil Service aspirants and appreciate the history of this great institution.

The UPSC is a Constitutional Body established under Article 315 of the Constitution of India. The functions of the UPSC, scope, jurisdiction, immunities, term of office of Chairman and Members, their rights and privileges, and other related matters are governed by Articles 315-323 of the Constitution of India.

The Union Public Service Commission has in its possession a rich treasure of archival material like original Pamphlets, Documents, Reports and other records. The material covers the period since the founding of the Commission in 1916, upto 2015. This collection would be of interest to a wide cross section of people.  The items would be displayed in the Museum on a rotational basis. Presently 147 such articles have been displayed aesthetically, under one roof.

The outstanding objects on display at present are:-

(i)                  Pamphlets of the Civil Service of India, 1916 and 1918 Examination

(ii)               Indian Imperial Police Service Examination, 1926

(iii)             Combined Competitive Examination 1938

(iv)             Pamphlets of various other examinations

(v)                Reports of the Islington Commission (1913)

(vi)             The Lee Commission (1924)

(vii)           The J.R. Cylines Commission (1931)

(viii)         Composition of Public Service Commission, 1924

(ix)              Notification of India Civil Service Commission, 1935

(x)               Regulations relating to Indian Police Service, 1937

(xi)             Books authored by bureaucrats

(xii)            Mementos received from different organizations

(xiii)         Panels showing lists of the Toppers of Civil Services Examination, Engineering Services Examination, Indian Forest Services Examination, Indian Statistical Services Examination, Geologist Examination, and Combined Defence Services Examination.

In the Museum, state-of-art technology has been leveraged for displaying several documents of archival value digitally, through e-kiosks. Braille Panel has been fixed to facilitate the visits  of  visually impaired.

Entry to the Museum is free and will be open to public from 10 am to 2 pm (Monday to Saturday).   A Brochure about the Museum is available both in Hindi and English on the UPSC  website: upsc.gov.in. 

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