About this quiz
50 questions covering every section of the note on the history, constitutional status, composition, functions, provincial commissions and recruitment process of the Public Service Commission of Nepal.
This Lok Sewa practice set has 50 multiple-choice questions (Subject: Administration and Law · For: Kharidar, Nayab Subba, Section Officer · Level: Medium). Take the quiz above first; after that, use the study list below to revise every question with its correct answer and a short explanation.
Study list: all 50 questions with answers and explanations
On which date was the Public Service Commission of Nepal established?
- A) 1 Asar 2008 BS ✔
- B) 1 Baisakh 2007 BS
- C) 3 Asoj 2072 BS
- D) 15 Jestha 2015 BS
Why: The Lok Sewa Aayog was set up on 1 Asar 2008 BS, which falls in June 1951 AD.
The establishment year of the PSC, 2008 BS, corresponds to which AD year?
- A) 1947
- B) 1951 ✔
- C) 1959
- D) 1962
Why: 1 Asar 2008 BS falls in June 1951 AD.
Where is the central office of the Public Service Commission located?
- A) Singha Durbar
- B) Babarmahal
- C) Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu ✔
- D) Lalitpur
Why: The central office of the PSC is at Kamalpokhari in Kathmandu.
Which Part of the Constitution of Nepal 2072 deals with the Public Service Commission?
- A) Part 3
- B) Part 21
- C) Part 25
- D) Part 23 ✔
Why: Part 23 of the Constitution, covering Articles 242 to 244, deals with the Public Service Commission.
The PSC is called a constitutional body. What does this mainly mean?
- A) It is formed by a decision of the Cabinet
- B) It is created by the Constitution itself, which gives it independence ✔
- C) It is a branch of the Ministry of Home Affairs
- D) It is registered as a company
Why: A constitutional body owes its existence to the Constitution, not to an ordinary law, which protects its independence.
Which Article of the Constitution of Nepal 2072 lays down the functions, duties and powers of the PSC?
- A) Article 243 ✔
- B) Article 242
- C) Article 244
- D) Article 27
Why: Article 242 covers composition and appointment, Article 243 covers functions, duties and powers, and Article 244 covers provincial commissions.
How many office holders does the Public Service Commission have in total?
- A) Three
- B) Seven
- C) Nine
- D) Five ✔
Why: It has a Chairperson and four other members, which makes five.
Who appoints the Chairperson and members of the PSC?
- A) The Prime Minister on the advice of the Cabinet
- B) The Speaker of the House of Representatives
- C) The President on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council ✔
- D) The Chief Justice
Why: Under Article 242 the President appoints them on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council.
At least what share of PSC members must come from people with twenty or more years of government service?
- A) Fifty percent ✔
- B) Twenty five percent
- C) One third
- D) Seventy five percent
Why: At least fifty percent of members must have served in government for twenty years or more.
What is the term of office of the Chairperson and members of the PSC?
- A) Four years
- B) Five years
- C) Six years ✔
- D) Until the age of 60
Why: The term is six years from the date of appointment.
Which statement about reappointment to the PSC is correct?
- A) A member may be reappointed for any number of terms
- B) No reappointment is allowed, but a member may be appointed as Chairperson ✔
- C) Only the Chairperson may be reappointed once
- D) Reappointment needs a two-thirds vote of Parliament
Why: Reappointment is not allowed, though a member may become Chairperson, with the time already served counted in the term.
What minimum age is required for appointment as Chairperson or member of the PSC?
- A) 35 years
- B) 40 years
- C) 50 years
- D) 45 years ✔
Why: A person must be at least 45 years old to be appointed.
Which educational qualification is required for appointment as a PSC member?
- A) School Leaving Certificate
- B) A bachelor's degree in law only
- C) A master's degree from a recognised university ✔
- D) A doctorate from a foreign university
Why: The Constitution requires a master's degree from a recognised university.
At what age does the office of a PSC Chairperson or member become vacant?
- A) 65 years ✔
- B) 58 years
- C) 60 years
- D) 70 years
Why: The office becomes vacant when the holder reaches 65 years of age.
Which of the following is NOT a ground on which the office of a PSC member becomes vacant?
- A) Resignation in writing to the President
- B) Loss of a general election held by a political party ✔
- C) Removal by impeachment
- D) Death
Why: The grounds are resignation, reaching age 65, impeachment and death; party elections have nothing to do with it.
For which of the following does the PSC conduct only the written examination?
- A) Federal civil service posts
- B) Posts of judges of the Supreme Court
- C) Members of the Provincial Assembly
- D) Posts in the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force ✔
Why: The PSC holds written examinations for the security services, while the rest of their selection follows their own laws.
The PSC must be consulted on which of the following matters?
- A) Principles of appointment, promotion and departmental action in the civil service ✔
- B) The annual budget of each ministry
- C) The foreign policy of Nepal
- D) Election of the President
Why: Article 243 requires consultation with the PSC on principles of appointment, promotion and departmental action, among other service matters.
Without the recommendation of the PSC, which of the following cannot be made?
- A) A temporary daily-wage contract
- B) Transfer of a minister
- C) Appointment of an ambassador
- D) A permanent appointment to a pensionable civil service post ✔
Why: No permanent appointment to a pensionable civil service post may be made without the PSC recommendation.
To whom does the Public Service Commission submit its annual report?
- A) The Prime Minister
- B) The President ✔
- C) The Chief Justice
- D) The Constitutional Council
Why: The PSC prepares an annual report of its work and submits it to the President.
Under the Constitution of Nepal 2072, which Article provides for a Provincial Public Service Commission in each province?
- A) Article 242
- B) Article 232
- C) Article 244 ✔
- D) Article 251
Why: Article 244 provides for a Provincial Public Service Commission in each province.
The formation and functions of a Provincial Public Service Commission are set by provincial law within the basis and standards set by what?
- A) A decision of the Chief Minister
- B) An order of the Supreme Court
- C) A rule made by the district office
- D) A federal law ✔
Why: Provincial law decides these matters, but it must follow the basis and standards laid down by federal law.
In the PSC recruitment process, what usually comes first?
- A) Advertisement of the vacant posts ✔
- B) Interview
- C) Main written examination
- D) Recommendation to the appointing body
Why: After receiving the demand of posts, the PSC first advertises them with qualifications, syllabus and deadlines.
Which is the correct general order of PSC recruitment?
- A) Interview, advertisement, written exam, recommendation
- B) Written exam, advertisement, recommendation, interview
- C) Advertisement, written exam, interview, recommendation ✔
- D) Recommendation, interview, written exam, advertisement
Why: The PSC advertises, holds written exams, interviews those who pass and then recommends candidates by merit.
After the final result is published, what does the PSC do with the successful candidates?
- A) It appoints them to posts itself
- B) It recommends them to the body that will appoint them ✔
- C) It sends them for a second written exam
- D) It forwards their names to the Constitutional Council
Why: The PSC publishes a merit list and recommends the successful candidates to the appointing body.
What is the Nepali name of the Public Service Commission?
- A) Nirwachan Aayog
- B) Lok Sewa Aayog ✔
- C) Akhtiyar Durupayog Anusandhan Aayog
- D) Rastriya Manav Adhikar Aayog
Why: The Public Service Commission is known in Nepali as Lok Sewa Aayog.
The PSC was set up soon after which political change?
- A) The political change of 2007 BS that ended Rana rule ✔
- B) The people's movement of 2046 BS
- C) The promulgation of the Constitution of 2072
- D) The people's movement of 2062/63 BS
Why: It was created soon after the change of 2007 BS, when Nepal moved away from Rana rule.
On what basis does the PSC select people for the civil service?
- A) Political recommendation
- B) Seniority in age
- C) Merit ✔
- D) Lottery
Why: The PSC selects people for the civil service on the basis of merit.
Which Article of the Constitution covers the composition, appointment, term and qualifications of the PSC?
- A) Article 243
- B) Article 244
- C) Article 241
- D) Article 242 ✔
Why: Article 242 covers the composition, appointment, term, qualifications and vacancy of office.
Who recommends the names of the PSC Chairperson and members to the President?
- A) The Prime Minister alone
- B) The Constitutional Council ✔
- C) The Federal Parliament
- D) The Chief Secretary
Why: The President appoints them on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council.
What must happen before the names of PSC office holders are finally appointed?
- A) A referendum
- B) A Cabinet vote
- C) A parliamentary hearing ✔
- D) A Supreme Court review
Why: Before appointment, the names go through a parliamentary hearing.
Apart from former civil servants, PSC members may be chosen from people with a good name in which fields?
- A) Science, technology, art, literature, law, public administration or sociology ✔
- B) Only business and trade
- C) Only sports and entertainment
- D) Only the armed forces
Why: The remaining members come from people known for research, teaching or work in such fields.
Which of these is NOT a qualification for a PSC member?
- A) A master's degree from a recognised university
- B) At least 45 years of age
- C) High moral character
- D) Active membership of a political party ✔
Why: The person must not be a member of any political party immediately before appointment.
A PSC member who has served three years is made Chairperson. How is the earlier service treated?
- A) It is ignored and a fresh six-year term begins
- B) It is counted in the six-year term ✔
- C) It is doubled
- D) The member cannot be made Chairperson
Why: A member may become Chairperson, and the time already served as member is counted in the term.
To whom does a PSC member give a written resignation?
- A) The Prime Minister
- B) The Chief Justice
- C) The President ✔
- D) The Speaker
Why: The office becomes vacant on resignation in writing to the President.
After leaving office, a former PSC Chairperson may normally be appointed to which kind of post?
- A) Any civil service post
- B) Chief Secretary
- C) Secretary of a ministry
- D) Political posts or posts of investigation, inquiry, research or advice ✔
Why: Former office holders cannot get other government service except political posts or investigation, inquiry, research or advisory posts.
For posts in government-owned companies and corporations, the PSC conducts what?
- A) The full selection including appointment
- B) Only the interview
- C) Written examinations as provided by law ✔
- D) Nothing at all
Why: The PSC conducts written examinations for posts in corporate bodies as provided by law.
For the Nepal Police, after the PSC written examination, how is the rest of the selection done?
- A) Also by the PSC
- B) Under the Nepal Police's own laws ✔
- C) By the Election Commission
- D) By the Constitutional Council
Why: The PSC conducts the written exam; the rest of the selection is done under the service's own laws.
"Departmental action" in the civil service means what?
- A) Disciplinary action against an employee ✔
- B) Transfer to another department
- C) Promotion within the department
- D) Opening a new department
Why: Departmental action means disciplinary action in the civil service.
Which of these is a matter on which the PSC must be consulted?
- A) The national budget
- B) Transfer of a candidate from one service to another ✔
- C) Foreign policy
- D) Election dates
Why: The PSC is consulted on suitability for appointment and transfer from one service to another.
The departmental punishment of which employees requires consultation with the PSC?
- A) Federal civil servants ✔
- B) Private company employees
- C) Members of Parliament
- D) Judges of the Supreme Court
Why: The PSC must be consulted on departmental punishment of federal civil servants.
Which is the legal base of a Provincial Public Service Commission?
- A) Article 242 only
- B) Article 243 only
- C) Article 244 and provincial law ✔
- D) A Cabinet directive
Why: Provincial commissions are based on Article 244 and provincial law.
Provincial Public Service Commissions select staff for which posts?
- A) Federal civil service posts
- B) Provincial civil service and local level posts ✔
- C) Nepal Army posts
- D) Supreme Court judges
Why: Provincial commissions select staff for provincial civil service and local level posts.
Why is a constitutional status important for the PSC?
- A) It lets the PSC make laws
- B) It gives independence and protection from day-to-day political pressure ✔
- C) It allows the PSC to collect taxes
- D) It makes the PSC part of a ministry
Why: Being created by the Constitution gives it independence from political pressure.
In the recruitment process, after the advertisement, how do candidates mostly apply?
- A) By post only
- B) In person at Singha Durbar
- C) Through an online system ✔
- D) Through political parties
Why: Candidates mostly apply through the PSC's online system.
Which of these is usually NOT included in a PSC advertisement notice?
- A) Posts and qualifications
- B) Syllabus
- C) Fees and deadlines
- D) Names of the selected candidates ✔
Why: The advertisement gives posts, qualifications, syllabus, fees and deadlines; names come later in the result.
What type of test is the preliminary examination often?
- A) Objective type ✔
- B) Practical driving test
- C) Oral interview only
- D) Physical fitness test
Why: Many posts have a preliminary test, often of the objective type.
A ministry needs ten Nayab Subbas. What is its first step in the PSC process?
- A) Appoint ten people directly
- B) Send the demand of posts to the PSC ✔
- C) Hold its own written exam
- D) Ask Parliament for approval
Why: Recruitment starts when the government body sends the demand of posts to the PSC.
The reservation of posts for groups such as women, Dalits and people with disabilities aims to make the civil service more what?
- A) Expensive
- B) Centralised
- C) Inclusive ✔
- D) Political
Why: Reserving a share of posts makes the civil service more inclusive.
Which principles does the PSC recruitment chain promote?
- A) Nepotism and favouritism
- B) Merit, open competition and equal opportunity ✔
- C) Seniority and family background
- D) Political loyalty
Why: The process ensures appointment based on merit, open competition and equal opportunity.
Which Part of the Constitution includes Articles 242, 243 and 244?
- A) Part 21
- B) Part 22
- C) Part 24
- D) Part 23 ✔
Why: Articles 242 to 244 on the Public Service Commission are in Part 23.