Evolution of Civil Services in India – Free Modern History Notes for UPSC 2025

The evolution of civil services in India is a fascinating journey that traces back to the colonial era and continues to evolve in independent India. From the early days of the British Raj to the present, civil services have played a crucial role in governance, administration, and nation-building. In this blog, we will delve into the historical context, the significant milestones, and the transformations that have shaped the civil services in India into what they are today.

By 1784, the British Government took control of the East India Company’s administration in India. They focused on serving the needs of the British economy, which shaped their policies. Initially, the Company let Indians handle administration, while it supervised. But soon realized this approach didn’t serve British interests well, so it started taking control of some administrative aspects.

Under leaders like Warren Hastings and Cornwallis, the top administration underwent significant changes, moving towards a system resembling that of England. As British influence expanded, the 19th century saw more profound changes in administration, always with the aim of furthering British interests.

The British administration in India had key elements like the Civil Service, Army, Police, and Judiciary. The rules, regulations, and reforms implemented helped solidify British control in India.

Evolution of Civil Services

• The Civil Service was established by Lord Cornwallis during his time as governor-general from 1786 to 1793. Initially, the East India Company (EIC) relied on its employees to manage trade, but as it gained control of territories, these employees became administrators.
• Unfortunately, many of these early administrators were corrupt. They exploited local weavers, artisans, merchants, and landowners, accumulating significant wealth and often retiring to England.
• Interestingly, none of the Acts of Parliament passed between 1773 and 1793 addressed the education and training of Civil Servants in India.

Cornwallis:

1. He was strict about stopping officials from taking bribes or gifts and doing private trading.
2. He raised the pay for Company employees, making them the highest-paid professionals worldwide.
3. He wanted all top positions in the government filled by British servants.
4. He promoted based on seniority.
5. He clarified the duties of different departments and linked salaries to responsibilities.

Charter Act of 1793:

1. It listed the rights of civil servants.
2. Vacancies in Indian civil offices were to be filled by civil servants from the same Presidency.
3. It stopped foreigners from joining the service.
4. The minimum age for writers was raised to 22.

Lord Wellesley:

1. He founded the College of Fort William in Calcutta to train civil servants.
2. But the Company’s directors didn’t like this, so they replaced it with the East Indian College in England.

Charter Act of 1833:

1. Suggested a limited competitive exam.
2. Until 1853, EIC directors made Civil Service appointments, with some nominations by Board of Control members.

Charter Act of 1853:

1. Made all Civil Service recruits pass a competitive exam.

Committee on the Indian Civil Service (Macaulay Committee):

1. Set age limits for admission to Haileybury College.
2. Recommended raising age restrictions to 18 and 25.
3. Wanted candidates selected based on a competitive exam.
4. Said the exam should test thorough knowledge.
5. These suggestions were accepted, and rules for exams and selection were made.

Indian Civil Service Act of 1861:

1. Reserved key positions for the Covenanted Service.
2. Allowed anyone, Indian or European, living in India for 7 years to be appointed to certain positions.
3. Required a vernacular language exam for the district where one worked.
4. Didn’t meet the Indian public’s demand for more Indianization of services.
5. Hard to implement the recruitment requirements, so the Act didn’t work well.

Statutory Civil Services (1879):

1. A law passed in 1870 allowed Indians to be appointed to civil service jobs regardless of the 1861 law that reserved some positions for the covenanted service.
2. However, it didn’t work well because people couldn’t agree on letting Indians into higher positions.
3. In 1879, new rules made the Statutory Civil Service.
4. These rules said that one-fifth of covenanted service jobs had to go to Indians.
5. Only Indians could be appointed by local government, with approval from the government and the secretary of state.
6. But this system also didn’t work as intended. Pressure for Indianization grew, especially after the Indian National Congress asked for exams in England and India in 1885.

Aitchison Commission (1886):

1. This commission was made to plan how to include Indians in all public service.
2. They didn’t want to change how covenanted civil service was recruited.
3. They suggested getting rid of Statutory Civil Service.
4. They split Civil Services into Imperial, Provincial, and Subordinate.
5. They abolished the term “covenanted Civil Service.”
6. The Secretary of State hired for top Imperial positions.

Islington Commission (1912):

1. Lord Islington led a commission in 1912 to look at Indianization.
2. They found only 5% of civil servants were Indian.
3. They supported two ways to join Indian Civil Service: one in England open to everyone, and one in India only for Indians.
4. They wanted to reserve 25% of positions for Indians.
5. They suggested Class I and II for services.
6. No big changes in how the civil service was organized.
7. It took four years for the report, and many Indians thought it wasn’t enough.

Government of India Act, 1919:

1. They split services into All India, Provincial, and Subordinate.
2. All India Services got special rights.
3. A Public Service Commission handled recruitment.
4. The first competitive exam was in 1922.
5. Chosen Indian candidates spent two years in a British university.

Lee Commission (Royal Commission, 1923):

1. In response to British reluctance to Indianization, a Royal Commission under Lord Lee was formed in 1923.
2. They suggested dividing main services into All India, Central, and Provincial.
3. The Secretary of State still controlled All India Services.

Government of India Act, 1935:

1. Gave provinces more control.
2. Civil servants’ rights were protected.
3. They couldn’t be fired by someone lower in rank.
4. Their salaries and pensions weren’t controlled by the legislature.
5. Set up Public Service Commissions.
6. Only three services remained All India. Others became provincial.

Since Cornwallis’ era, the Indian Civil Service has been marked by a strict and complete exclusion of Indians. The British believed that only English personnel could effectively establish an administration based on British principles, institutions, and practices. They doubted the competence and morality of Indians, intentionally keeping them out of the Civil Services. These services were crucial for maintaining British rule in India as the British felt Indians couldn’t be trusted to do so. The Indian Civil Service, known as the “steel frame,” played a vital role in establishing and sustaining British authority in India.

Also Read: Government of India Act 1935.