The evolution of the Public Service Commission in India can be traced back to the persistent demands raised by the educated Indians for admission into the Indian Civil Service. The Montagu-Chelmsford report incorporated a provision regarding this demand of the Indian Youth and ultimately the Govt. of India Act, 1919 saved the path for the formation of the Public Service Commissions Section 96C of the Govt. of India Act, 1919 provided for the establishment of a Public Service Commission in India to regulate the recruitment and control the public services in India and perform such functions as may be assigned thereto by Rules made by the Secretary of State in Council.
The passing of the Govt. of India Act, 1919 was followed by a protracted correspondence stretching over four years between the Secretary of State, the Govt. of India and local Governments regarding the framework of the body to be constituted. Subsequently, the Lee Commission in its report dated 27th March, 1924, recommended the establishment of the Public Service Commission as suggested by the Government of India Act, 1919 without any further delay.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Section 96(C) of the Govt. of India Act, 1919 and the recommendation of the Lee Commission, Central Public Service Commission was set up for the first time in India in October, 1926. It was formed in accordance with the traditions of the British Civil Service Commission. The functions of the Public Service Commission were regulated by the Public Service Commission (Functions) Rules, 1926 framed under Sub-Section (2) of Section 96(C) of the Government of India Act, 1919. These rules provided for consultation with the Commission in respect of recruitment to All India Services, Central Services Class I and Class II, on questions of drawing up of syllabi for examinations and of qualifications for recruitment by selection, on promotion to these services, on disciplinary cases, on questions connected with pay and allowances, pension, provident funds, leave rules and conditions of service.
The next significant development in the history of Public Service Commission in India was the issuance of a White Paper in December, 1931 delineating proposals for Indian Constitutional Reforms. The White Paper also contained a blue print of the Public Service Commissions for the proposed Federation and the provinces. The report of the Joint Committee on Indian Constitutional Reforms (1934) further reiterated the need for setting up a federal PSC and a PSC for each province the Govt. of India Act, 1935 envisaged a Public Service Commission for the federation and a Provincial Public Service Commission for each Province or Group of Provinces.
In terms of the provisions of this Act and its coming into effect on 1st April, 1937, a Public Service Commission was formed in each province except in cases of certain provinces which formed the Joint Public Service Commissions. This is the background for the emergence of Bengal Public Service Commission in 1937 and its continuance as the PSC, West Bengal.
The Constituent Assembly realized the importance of giving a secure and autonomous status to the Public Service Commissions both at Federal and Provincial levels for ensuring recruitment to Civil Services without any prejudiced and protection of service interests. With the promulgation of the new Constitution for independent India on 26th January, 1950, Public Service Commissions in the States were accorded a Constitutional Status in terms of Article 315.
After its formation, the PSC, W.B. started functioning from Bhabani Bhavan, Alipore. Subsequently, Examination Section of the office shifted to Town Hall, Kolkata while rest of the office operated from Bhabani Bhavan. After several years, the Town Hall was vacated and the Examination Section was accommodated in a building adjacent to Bhabani Bhavan. At that time, 2 floors of a building near Sealdah were used as examination venue. In the year 1989, the entire office of the PSC, W.B. was shifted to a newly constructed building at 161-A, S.P. Mukherjee Road, Mudiali, Kolkata-700026, Near Tollygunge Rly. Bridge. All the sections of the P.S.C., W.B. as well as exam. halls are at present located in this building.