At first, the state of Karnataka operated without a hiring agency. On May 16, 1921, however, the Central Recruitment Board was established by the government. When it was governed by the British on January 19, 1940, it was led by a commissioner secretary. Following five years of independence, the Public Service Commission was established on May 18, 1951, in accordance with the Public Service Commission Regulations 1950 and the Indian Constitution. In May 1951, H.B. Gundappa Gowda was named the Commission's first Chairman, and George Matthan and H.M. Mallikarjunappa were named Members. The government has selected 13 Chairmen and 67 Members to the Commission, beginning with Sri H.B. Gundappa Gowda.
The Government of India Act of 1935 and Article 320 both govern how the commission carries out its tasks. It is the commission's responsibility to follow the legal process in order to ascertain and enforce legal rights in the event that it lacks openness in its recruitment process or performs its tasks arbitrarily.