Quick answer
The Uttarakhand Public Service Commission (UKPSC) came into being on 15 May 2001 at Gurukul Kangri, Haridwar. Also, N. P. Nawani was its first Chairman. Since then, the UKPSC chairman list has 10 regular chairmen and two acting chairmen. Moreover, Lt Gen Gajendra Joshi (Retd), appointed in July 2026, is the present Chairman. Thus, he heads the Commission as on 29 October 2026.
Key facts at a glance
- Constitutional basis: Article 315
- Came into being: 15 May 2001
- Location: Gurukul Kangri, Haridwar
- Composition: Chairman and six members
- Term: six years or age 62 (Article 316)
- Annual report: to the Governor (Article 323)
- First Chairman: N. P. Nawani; first woman member Sudha Rani Pande
- Present Chairman: Lt Gen Gajendra Joshi (Retd), since July 2026
UKPSC chairman list (2001–2026)
First, the table below gives every Chairman in order. Also, it shows the two acting chairmen between 2023 and 2026.
| No. | Chairman | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | N. P. Nawani | 15 May 2001 – 14 Aug 2001 |
| 2 | K. Arya | 21 Sep 2001 – 6 Jan 2005 |
| 3 | Lt Gen G. S. Negi | 7 Jan 2005 – 23 Nov 2006 |
| 4 | Lt Gen M. C. Bhandari | 24 Nov 2006 – 11 Aug 2008 |
| 5 | S. K. Das | 12 Aug 2008 – Feb 2011 |
| 6 | Dr D. P. Joshi | 11 May 2011 – 31 Dec 2016 |
| 7 | Prof. N. S. Bisht | 2 Jan 2017 – 1 Jan 2018 |
| 8 | Maj Gen Anand Singh Rawat | 2 Jan 2018 – 23 Dec 2021 |
| 9 | Dr Rakesh Kumar | 24 Dec 2021 – 11 Jun 2023 |
| — | Prof. J. M. S. Rana (acting) | 12 Jun 2023 – 31 Oct 2023 |
| — | Dr Ravi Datt Godiyal (acting) | 1 Nov 2023 – May 2026 |
| 10 | Lt Gen Gajendra Joshi (Retd) | July 2026 – present |
Reading the list
Notably, the first tenure was very short. For example, N. P. Nawani served only from May to August 2001. In contrast, Dr D. P. Joshi served from May 2011 to December 2016.
Similarly, four names in the UKPSC chairman list carry army ranks. These are G. S. Negi, M. C. Bhandari, Anand Singh Rawat and Gajendra Joshi. Meanwhile, the Commission ran under acting chairmen from June 2023 to May 2026.
Constitutional basis of UKPSC
UKPSC is a constitutional body, not a statutory one. Therefore, its basis lies in the Articles below.
| Article | Provision |
|---|---|
| 315 | A Public Service Commission for each State |
| 316 | Term of six years or age 62 |
| 323 | Annual report to the Governor, who lays it before the Legislature |
Also, the Governor appoints the Chairman and the members. For the Governor’s other appointing powers, also see the list of Governors of Uttarakhand.
Composition, location and firsts
In addition, the Commission has a Chairman and six members. Moreover, it works from Gurukul Kangri in Haridwar, not from Dehradun.
- First Chairman: N. P. Nawani (2001).
- First woman member: Sudha Rani Pande.
- Annual report: goes to the Governor, not to the Chief Minister or the President.
- Present Chairman: Lt Gen Gajendra Joshi (Retd), as on 29 October 2026.
For more such records, also read the firsts of Uttarakhand polity.
UKSSSC: the second recruitment body
The UKSSSC is a separate recruitment body. However, students often mix it up with UKPSC.
| Point | UKPSC | UKSSSC |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Constitution (Article 315) | State Act |
| Set up | 15 May 2001 | 17 September 2014 |
| Location | Gurukul Kangri, Haridwar | Dehradun |
| Head (Oct 2026) | Lt Gen Gajendra Joshi (Retd) | G. S. Martolia (retd IPS), since 13 October 2022 |
Thus, UKSSSC is statutory, while UKPSC is constitutional. Also, UKSSSC handles Group C recruitment.
Do not confuse with other commissions
Several other State bodies also appear in such questions. For example, the Governor constitutes the State Finance Commission every five years. Similarly, the Governor appoints the State Election Commissioner.
- First State Finance Commission Chairman: R. K. Dhar (2001–2006).
- First State Election Commissioner: Durgesh Joshi.
- First Chief Information Commissioner: Dr R. S. Tolia.
Finally, read about these bodies in Constitutional and Statutory Bodies of Uttarakhand.
Exam corner: common traps
- Location: UKPSC is at Gurukul Kangri, Haridwar; UKSSSC is in Dehradun.
- Date: UKPSC came into being on 15 May 2001, not in January 2001 or 2002.
- Report: the annual report goes to the Governor under Article 323.
- Acting vs regular: J. M. S. Rana and Ravi Datt Godiyal were acting chairmen only.
- Constitutional vs statutory: UKPSC rests on Article 315; UKSSSC rests on a State Act.
What UKPSC has asked
- Who was the first Chairman of the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission? N. P. Nawani (printed as ‘Navani’) (UKPSC AFO (Pre), 2015)
- When was UKPSC formed: 31 Jan 2001, 31 Jan 2002, 21 Jan 2001 or none of these? None of these; it came into being on 15 May 2001 (UKPSC AE, 2007)
- To whom does the Public Service Commission of Uttarakhand hand over its annual report? Governor of the State (UKPSC High Court ARO Screening, 2026)
- Who constitutes the State Finance Commission to review the finances of panchayats? Governor (UKPSC Lower (Pre), 2021)
- Which pair of firsts is correctly matched (four pairs given)? Only first woman Governor – Margaret Alva (UKPSC Upper PCS (Pre), 2025)
Revise in one page
UKPSC: Article 315; came into being 15 May 2001; at Gurukul Kangri, Haridwar. It has a Chairman and six members, with a term of six years or age 62 (Article 316). The Governor appoints them and also receives the annual report (Article 323). First Chairman: N. P. Nawani (May–August 2001). First woman member: Sudha Rani Pande. Then came K. Arya, G. S. Negi, M. C. Bhandari and S. K. Das. Later, D. P. Joshi, N. S. Bisht, Anand Singh Rawat and Rakesh Kumar served. Acting: J. M. S. Rana and Ravi Datt Godiyal (2023–26). Present: Lt Gen Gajendra Joshi (Retd), since July 2026. UKSSSC: State Act, 17 September 2014, Dehradun, Group C.
In the news
- Lt Gen Gajendra Joshi named UKPSC Chairman, Hem Chandra Pandey member — ends the long run of acting chairmen.
- Yogendra Rawat appointed UKPSC member — also changes the Commission’s membership.
- UKPSC launches a new objection module for recruitment exams — matters to every candidate who disputes an answer key.
Practise Uttarakhand Polity
- Daily 25 free practice questions — UKPSC previous-year questions, every morning.
- UKPSC previous year papers — bilingual PDFs of Upper PCS, Lower PCS, RO/ARO and more.
- UKPSC 2026 Prelims Test Series — full-length tests with detailed solutions.
Preparing for UKPSC Upper PCS, Lower PCS or RO/ARO? Join SAMVEG IAS, Dehradun. For batch details, call or WhatsApp +91 84759 04943.
Uttarakhand Polity Notes series
Frequently Asked Questions
Lt Gen Gajendra Joshi (Retd) is the present Chairman of the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission. He was appointed in July 2026, and the position is as on 29 October 2026.
N. P. Nawani was the first Chairman of UKPSC. He served from 15 May 2001 to 14 August 2001.
The Uttarakhand Public Service Commission is located at Gurukul Kangri, Haridwar. The UKSSSC, by contrast, is in Dehradun.
The Uttarakhand Public Service Commission came into being on 15 May 2001. It is a constitutional body under Article 315.
Lt Gen Gajendra Joshi (Retd) UKPSC ke adhyaksh hain. Unki niyukti July 2026 mein hui.
UKPSC submits its annual report to the Governor under Article 323. The Governor then lays it before the State Legislature.
Facts as on 29 October 2026. Sources: Lok Bhavan (Raj Bhavan) Uttarakhand, High Court of Uttarakhand, Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha, Election Commission of India, State departments, India Code and PIB.