Indian Civil Service Act, 1861, Statutory Civil Service and the Aitchison Committee

At a Glance

• ICS Act 1861; examination in London, in English
• First Indian Satyendra Nath Tagore, 1863
• Statutory Civil Service Lytton, 1878-79; one-sixth of covenanted posts; failed
• Aitchison Committee 1886; Imperial, Provincial and Subordinate services
• Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Administrative and Judicial Developments Under British Rule

Where Does It Fit?

This is the second topic of the category on administrative and judicial developments under British rule. The previous topic covered the civil services up to the Charter Act of 1853. This topic covers the ICS Act of 1861, the Statutory Civil Service and the Aitchison Committee. The next topic covers the Montford reforms, the Lee Commission and an evaluation. Previous topic: Evolution of the Civil Services: Cornwallis to the Charter Act of 1853.

What Did the Indian Civil Service Act of 1861 Provide?

The Act reserved certain offices for covenanted civil servants. The examination was held in England, in the English language, and was based on classical learning in Greek and Latin. The maximum permissible age was gradually reduced.

In 1863 Satyendra Nath Tagore became the first Indian to qualify for the Indian Civil Service. The earlier exclusion of Indians is in Evolution of the Civil Services: Cornwallis to the Charter Act of 1853.

What Was the Statutory Civil Service?

In 1878-79 Lytton introduced the Statutory Civil Service, in which one-sixth of the covenanted posts were to be filled by Indians of high families, nominated by local governments subject to the approval of the Secretary of State and the Viceroy. The system failed and was abolished.

What Did the Congress Demand and What Did the Aitchison Committee Recommend?

After its foundation in 1885, the Indian National Congress demanded a lower age limit for recruitment and the holding of the examination simultaneously in India and Britain. The Aitchison Committee on Public Services, set up in 1886 by Dufferin, made recommendations.

In 1893 the House of Commons passed a resolution in support of holding the examination simultaneously in India and England, but it was never implemented. The Secretary of State, Kimberley, said that it was indispensable that an adequate number of civil service members should always be Europeans. The Congress’s early demands are in Evaluation of the Early Nationalists.

As an analytical point, the pattern of the 1860s to the 1890s is that every reform addressed the form of entry but kept its main condition: the cost and place of the examination, the Greek and Latin syllabus and the falling age limit meant that very few Indians could compete, while the nominated Statutory Service was dropped when it did not suit British interests. The later reforms are in Montford Reforms, Lee Commission and Evaluation of the Civil Services.

Why Did the Age Limit Matter?

Lowering the maximum age from 23 to 19 made it hard for Indian candidates, who had to learn the English language and classical subjects and then travel to London for the examination, to compete with British candidates who had trained for it at school. A young Indian candidate had also to bear the cost of travel and stay abroad. The age was thus a barrier even though the examination was in principle open to all British subjects, which is why the Congress made its reduction one of its first demands.

Why Is This Topic Important?

• Barriers to Indians The age limit and place of the exam are Prelims facts
• Statutory Civil Service A frequently asked failed experiment
• Aitchison Committee Its three-tier classification is a stock Mains point

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the Montford reforms, the Lee Commission and an evaluation of the civil services. Next topic: Montford Reforms, Lee Commission and Evaluation of the Civil Services.

Key People and Terms

• ICS The Indian Civil Service
• Statutory Civil Service Lytton’s nominated service of 1878-79
• Aitchison Committee The 1886 committee on public services
• Simultaneous examination Holding the examination in India and England at the same time
• Covenanted The higher service reserved for the Company’s covenanted servants
• Kimberley Secretary of State who said Europeans must always be adequate

Exam Corner

Mains Angle

Questions ask about the Indianisation of the civil service. These points add depth.

• Barriers Examination place, syllabus and age
• Experiments Statutory Civil Service
• Reform proposals Aitchison and the Commons resolution