As retired IPS Hasmukh Patel takes charge of the Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC), the new chief has to grapple with staff shortage at the recruitment commission. GPSC is severely understaffed currently, running only at approximately 50% of the required staff.

Against the sanctioned staff of 211, only 111 people have been recruited by the commission.

Hasmukh Patel, a senior IPS officer from Gujarat, resigned before his scheduled retirement and took charge as the chairman of the commission on Saturday.

Although there are seven members in the commission, the commission is working with only three members along with the newly-appointed Hasmukh Patel, but there is no announcement about when the other four members will be appointed.

As of June 2024,  the sanctioned posts of Class 1 officials in the Commission are 22, of which 14 are filled; for Class 2, 22 posts are filled against sanctioned posts of 32; in Class 3, 73 posts are filled against 130; and in class 4, only 2 posts out of 27 sanctioned posts have been filled.

The recruitment in GPSC is done by direct recruitment with preliminary tests and face-to-face interviews, where the commission advertises the requirement. In another way, competitive examinations are also held, consisting of preliminary test, written test, and face-to-face interview.

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