In the Indian administrative system, appointments to the All India Services such as the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service are formally made by which constitutional authority?

Introduction / Context:
All India Services such as the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service occupy a special place in the Indian administrative structure. Officers of these services serve both the Union and the states and are recruited through national competitive examinations. This question asks who formally makes the appointments to these All India Services. Distinguishing between the role of recruiting bodies like the Union Public Service Commission and the formal appointing authority is an important part of understanding Indian polity and administration.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about appointments to All India Services.
• The options are the Union Public Service Commission, the President of India, the Prime Minister and Parliament.
• We assume knowledge that the Union Public Service Commission conducts examinations and makes recommendations.
• The focus is on the formal constitutional authority that issues appointment orders.

Concept / Approach:
The Union Public Service Commission is responsible for conducting examinations and recommending candidates for appointment. However, under the Constitution, the formal appointment of officers to All India Services is made by the President of India. This is similar to the appointment of other constitutional office holders and senior officials in the Union executive. The Prime Minister does not directly sign appointment orders for All India Services, and Parliament as a legislative body does not make individual appointments. Therefore, the correct approach is to recognise that the President is the formal appointing authority for All India Services.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Union Public Service Commission conducts competitive examinations for recruitment to All India Services. Step 2: Understand that the Commission only recommends names based on exam performance and suitability. Step 3: The final appointment orders are issued in the name of the President of India, in accordance with constitutional provisions. Step 4: Examine option B, which states that the President of India makes the appointments. This matches the constitutional position. Step 5: Option A, the Union Public Service Commission, is a recruiting and recommending body, not the formal appointing authority. Step 6: Option C, the Prime Minister, is head of government but does not personally sign these appointment orders. Step 7: Option D, Parliament, makes laws and controls the executive but does not appoint individual officers. Step 8: Therefore, the correct answer is the President of India.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can think of the appointment letters and notifications that successful candidates receive after the Union Public Service Commission examination. These letters are issued by the Government of India and state that the President is pleased to appoint the candidate to a particular service. News releases about new batches of IAS or IPS officers also mention that they are appointed by the President. Polity textbooks reinforce this constitutional arrangement, describing the President as the formal appointing authority for All India Services. All of these sources confirm that option B is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A: The Union Public Service Commission selects and recommends candidates but does not formally appoint them to service.

Option C: The Prime Minister leads the Council of Ministers but does not individually sign appointment orders for All India Services.

Option D: Parliament is a legislative body and does not make executive appointments of individual officers.

Common Pitfalls:
A typical confusion is to equate the body that conducts exams with the body that appoints successful candidates. Because candidates interact heavily with the Union Public Service Commission during the recruitment process, they might assume that the Commission is the appointing authority. Another pitfall is to overestimate the direct role of the Prime Minister in administrative matters. Remembering the distinction between recruitment and appointment, and associating the President with formal appointment orders, will help you avoid these mistakes and answer similar questions correctly in exams.

Final Answer:
The President of India.