Unlike the UPSC, the Staff Selection Commission is relatively new and came into existence only in 1975. Though something called the Subordinate Services Commission was there from the 50s itself. The SSC came into being solely to cater to the ever-increasing demand for recruitment of substantial numbers non-technical personnel for the various Government of India Ministries and its subordinate bodies. Later, the Grade B employees also came under its purview. This kind of gradual progress continued. And is continuing even today.
In its quest to recruit quality non-technical personnel to fill up the various Government ministries and departments, the SSC conducts annually 12 what are termed as Open Examinations every year.
These are – Combined Graduate Level Examination, Tax Assistant Examination,. Statistical Investigators (SSS) Grade IV Examination, Junior Engineers (Civil & Elect) Examination, Junior Translators (CSOLS) Examination, Section Office Examination), Deputy Field Officer Examination, Data Entry Operator Examination(DEO), Sub Inspector in CPO Examination, Section Officer (Audit) Examination, Combined Metric Level Examination, Section Officer (Accounts) Examination.
While the UPSC has been responsible for the excellent performance of the top level Personnel who constitute our Civil Services, Defence, Railways, Forest Department, Foreign Services, etc., it is the SSC that has ensured only the right people are employed in the lower cadres also.