Union Budget 2024-25: Major Allocations for UPSC and Vigilance Bodies

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will receive over Rs 200 crore for examination and selection of civil servants as part of a total budget allocation of Rs 425.71 crore in the 2024-25 Budget. Additionally, Lokpal and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) have been allocated Rs 33.32 crore and Rs 51.31 crore respectively.

In the 2024-25 Budget announced on Tuesday, over Rs 200 crore have been allocated specifically for the expenditure on the examination and selection of civil servants by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

The UPSC, which conducts the civil services examination annually in three stages - preliminary, main, and interview - to select officers for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS), among others, has been granted a total of Rs 425.71 crore for the ongoing fiscal year.

This allocation includes Rs 208.99 crore for salaries and allowances of the chairman and members, administrative expenses, and Rs 216.72 crore for examination-related expenditures. Notably, the UPSC had received Rs 426.24 crore during 2023-24.

In addition to UPSC funding, the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal has been allocated Rs 33.32 crore, primarily for establishment and construction-related expenditures. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has been granted Rs 51.31 crore for the current financial year, up from Rs 44.46 crore allocated for 2023-24, which was later revised to Rs 47.73 crore.

The UPSC garnered significant attention following the case of probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who was accused of faking her identity to fraudulently extend her eligibility for the civil services examination.