continued to function till the integration of Travancore and Cochin States. In Cochin there was a Staff Selection Board constituted in 1936 to select candidates for initial recruitment to lower posts. In 1947 a three-member Cochin Public Service Commission was constituted under an Act of the State Legislature. The Travancore-Cochin State was formed on 1 July 1949 by the integration of the two Princely States of Travancore and Cochin. With the integration of the States of Travancore and Cochin on 1 July 1949 a Public Service Commission for the State of Travancore-Cochin was constituted by an Ordinance. There were three members on the Commission including the Chairman. The functions of the Travancore-Cochin Public Service Commission were generally the same as those laid down in the Government of India Act, 1935. Later, when the Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950, the Travancore-Cochin Public Service Commission continued to function under the Constitutional Provisions. The State of Kerala was formed on 1 November 1956 consequent on the Reorganisation of States. It comprises the former Travancore-Cochin State (except the present Kanyakumari District and Shencottah Taluk of the present Tamil Nadu) and the Malabar District and the Kasargod Taluk of South Kanara District of the then composite Madras State. The public service commissions of Malabar District and South Canara were separated from Madras PSC. With the formation of the State of Kerala on 1 November 1956 as a result of the reorganisation of States, the Travancore-Cochin Public Service Commission was transformed into the Kerala Public Service Commission. V.K. Velayudhan was the 1st Chairman of Kerala Public Service Commission. The number of the Members of the Commission was increased to Five in 1959, to Seven in 1971, to Eight in 1981, to Nine in 1982, to Thirteen in 1983, to Fourteen in 1984, to Fifteen in 1984 and to the present strength of Eighteen in 2005. Duties and functions The duties and functions of the Commission have been laid down in Art. 320 of the constitution of India and Kerala Public Service Commission Rules of Procedure ( come into force from 16th day of August 1976) Recruitment to services & posts under the state through conduct of competitive examinations. This is the regular mode of recruitment where an examination is conducted followed by an interview. Recruitment to services & posts under the Kerala Government by direct selection. This type of recruitment is