[UPPSC-UP Special Syllabus Decoded] Public Service, Public Service Commission, Auditing, Advocate General, High Court and its jurisdiction in UP

1. Public Service in Uttar Pradesh

Trend: Questions focusing on “Mission Karmayogi,” “Lateral Entry,” and “Technology in Administration.”

A. Structure & Training

• State Civil Services:
  • Provincial Civil Service (PCS): Executive, Police (PPS), and Judicial branches.
  • Secretariat Service: Role of Review Officers (RO/ARO) in policy formulation.
• Training Institutes:
  • UPAM (UP Academy of Administration & Management): The apex training institute in Lucknow.
  • Reform: Introduction of common foundation courses and “Mid-Career Training” linked to promotions.

B. Reforms & Issues

• Mission Karmayogi UP:
  • Objective: Shifting from “Rule-based” to “Role-based” administration.
  • iGOT Platform: Digital training modules for state employees.
• Issues:
  • Politicization: Frequent transfers of IAS/IPS officers (Average tenure < 1 year in some districts).
  • Corruption: Recent crackdowns on ” दागदार ” (tainted) officers leading to forced retirement (Compulsory Retirement under Rule 56(j)).

 Current Affairs Linkage (2025):

• Digital Attendance (2025): The strict implementation of Facial Recognition Attendance in all government offices (including Block/Tehsil levels) to curb absenteeism.
• “Anytime-Anywhere” Transfer Policy: The 2025-26 transfer policy emphasized performance-based transfers rather than routine shuffling, using the Manav Sampada portal.

2. Public Service Commission (UPPSC)

Trend: Critical analysis of “Exam Integrity” (Paper Leaks) and “Calendar Regularity.”

A. Constitutional Framework

• Article 315-323: Composition, Appointment, and Removal of members.
• Independence: Charged expenditure on the Consolidated Fund of the State; Security of tenure.

B. Functions & Challenges

• Recruitment: Conducting PCS, RO/ARO, and specialized exams (Engineering/Medical).
• Advisory Role: Advising the Governor on disciplinary matters affecting civil servants.
• Current Challenges:
  • Paper Leaks: The credibility crisis following the RO/ARO and Police Constable exam leaks (2024).
  • Normalization Debate: Protests against the “Percentile System” in multi-shift exams.

C. Recent Reforms

• One Time Registration (OTR): Mandatory registration to streamline applications and create a permanent candidate database.
• Anti-Paper Leak Ordinance: (See details below).

 Current Affairs Linkage (2025):

• UP Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Ordinance/Act: Implemented in full force during 2025 exams.
  • Penalties: Up to Life Imprisonment and ₹1 Crore Fine for organized solver gangs.
  • Impact: High-security protocols including AI-based CCTV monitoring in exam centers.
• Exam Calendar 2025: UPPSC aimed to restore the “Zero Session” lag by conducting pending exams in a compressed timeline.

3. Auditing in Uttar Pradesh

Trend: Shift from financial audit to “Social Audit” and “Performance Audit.”

A. Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in State

• Role: Audits the Appropriation Accounts and Finance Accounts of UP.
• Reports: Placed before the Governor (Art 151) -> Vidhan Sabha -> Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for scrutiny.
• Key Focus: Debt sustainability (Debt/GSDP ratio) and “Unspent Balances” in welfare schemes.

B. Local Fund Audit

• Directorate of Local Fund Audit: Responsible for auditing Urban Local Bodies (Nagar Nigams) and Panchayati Raj Institutions.
• Issue: huge backlog in auditing Gram Panchayat accounts due to staff shortage.

C. Social Audit

• Social Audit Directorate: Institutionalized under MGNREGA.
• Expansion: Now covers PMAY, Mid-Day Meal (PM Poshan), and Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.

 Current Affairs Linkage (2025):

• Social Audit Training (April 2025): The UP Government launched a massive statewide training program for Cluster Social Auditors (CSAs) to audit education schemes (Samagra Shiksha) for transparency.
• Kumbh Audit: A special Concurrent Audit mechanism was set up by CAG/State Finance Dept for Mahakumbh 2025 expenditures to prevent financial leakage in real-time.

4. Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh

Trend: Role in defending “State Policies” (Bulldozer action, Conversion laws) in Constitutional Courts.

A. Constitutional Office

• Article 165: Appointed by the Governor; Highest Law Officer of the State.
• Qualifications: Same as a High Court Judge.
• Rights: Can participate in Vidhan Sabha proceedings (Article 177) but cannot vote.

B. Role & Functions

• Advisory: Advising the Governor on legal matters (e.g., Ordinances).
• Litigation: Representing the State in the High Court and Supreme Court in crucial matters.

 Current Affairs Linkage (2025):

• Key Cases: The Advocate General played a pivotal role in defending the UP Board of Madarsa Education Act (which was struck down by HC but stayed by SC) and the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act in 2024-25.
• Current AG: Ajay Kumar Mishra (Contextual reference as of late 2025/early 2026).

5. High Court and its Jurisdiction in UP

Trend: “Judicial Activism” in religious matters and “Pendency of Cases.”

A. Allahabad High Court

• Significance: One of the oldest (Est. 1866) and the largest High Court in India (Max judge strength: 160).
• Lucknow Bench: Established for administrative convenience; jurisdiction over Awadh region districts.

B. Jurisdiction & Powers

• Original Jurisdiction: Matters related to Wills, Divorces, Company Law, and Contempt of Court.
• Writ Jurisdiction (Article 226): Power to issue writs for enforcement of Fundamental Rights and other legal rights (Wider than SC’s Art 32).
• Supervisory Jurisdiction (Article 227): Control over all subordinate courts and tribunals in UP.

C. Key Issues

• Pendency: Highest number of pending cases in India (over 10 Lakh).
• Vacancies: High number of judicial vacancies affecting disposal rate.

D. Recent Landmark Judgments (2024-2025 Context)

• Madarsa Act Case: The HC declared the UP Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004 unconstitutional (violative of secularism), leading to a major political and legal debate (Stayed by SC).
• Gyanvapi & Mathura Idgah: The HC consolidated all suits related to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute, transferring them from lower courts to itself for faster adjudication.
• Conversion Laws: Strict interpretation of the Anti-Conversion Act, denying bail in cases of “Mass Conversion.”

 Current Affairs Linkage (2025):

• Hindi in Judgments: In 2025, the Allahabad HC significantly increased the delivery of judgments in Hindi to make justice accessible to the rural litigant.
• Virtual Courts: Expansion of Virtual Benches in district courts to allow lawyers to argue bail matters without traveling to Allahabad/Lucknow.