Indian Civil Service, popularly known by its acronym ICS, was the elite civil service of the Indian Government. It was established by the British colonial rulers in India. The contemporary Civil Services of India are organised differently. A civil servant or public servant is a civilian career public sector employee working for a government department or agency. ...

History

There were two exclusive groups of civil servants during the formative stage of British rule in India. The higher employees who entered into 'covenants' with the East India Company came to be known as covenanted servants, whereas those not signing such agreements came to be known as uncovenanted. The latter group generally filled the lower positions. This distinction between the covenanted and the uncovenanted virtually came to an end with the constitution of the Imperial Civil Service of India based on the recommendations of the Public Service Commission, 1886-1887, though the phrase 'covenanted' continued to be used of anyone in a salaried position with a long term contract - including boxwallahs. The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was a joint-stock company which was granted an English Royal Charter by Elizabeth I on December 31, 1600, with the intent to favour trade privileges in India. ... 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ...

The name Imperial Civil Service was however modified to Civil Service of India. However, the term Indian Civil Service (ICS) persisted. The acronym 'ICS' continued to be used to denote the covenanted civil servants. The Provincial Civil Service was also constituted on the basis of the recommendations of the Aitchison Commission, and this Provincial Service consisted of two cadres, Provincial Civil Service and Subordinate Civil Service. Further developments took place as a result of the application of the scheme of cadre organization to the administrative departments. Thus, for example, the departments of Forest and Public Works had both the 'imperial, and 'provincial' branches. The basic pattern of the cadre system in the civil service was thus established following the recommendations of the Aitchison Commission.

By 1934, the system of administration in India came gradually to consist of seven All India Services and five Central Departments, all under the control of the secretary of state, and three Central Departments under joint Provincial and Imperial control. The ICS and the Indian Police (Service) were in the 'transferred field', that is, the authority for the control of these services and for making appointments were transferred from the Secretary of State to the provincial governments. It seems relevant to mention that the All India and class I central services were designated as Central Superior Services as early as 1924 in the Lee Commission's report. 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Indian Police Service (IPS) is one of three All India Services of the Government of India; others being the Indian Administrative Service and Indian Forest Service. ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

After the partition of India, the parts of the service was renamed Central Superior Services (CSP) in Pakistan while the Indian section retained the name Indian Civil Service.

Contemporary Indian Civil Service

In spite of relatively contemporary careers like management and IT holding sway over the country's youth, the Civil Services have still not lost the vast popularity enjoyed by them through the years, from the time of the British Raj. The British Empire at its zenith in 1919. ...

The IAS or Indian Administrative Service replaced the ICS and the pre-independence structure of all-India services, provincial or state services and central or Union government services was retained.

The Constitution provides for more Civil Services branches to be set up by giving the power to the Rajya Sabha to resolve by a two-thirds majority to establish new all-India services. The Indian Forest Service, The Indian Foreign Service and the Indian Engineering Service are three services set up under this constitutional provision. Executive President Vice-President Prime Minister Dy. ...

Running the administration of a vast and diverse country like India requires efficient management of its natural, economic and human resources. That, precisely, is the responsibility of the civil services. The country is managed through a number of Central Government agencies in accordance with the policy directions given by the ministries.

The construction of the Civil Services follows a certain pattern. The All India Services, Central Services and State Services constitute the Civil Services. All India Services are the supreme civil administrative services of India. ...

The IAS (Indian Administrative Service), IPS (Indian Police Service), and IFS (Indian Forest Service) are the three All India Services. The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is one of the three All India Services of the Government of India; others being the Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS). ... The Indian Police Service (IPS) is one of three All India Services of the Government of India; others being the Indian Administrative Service and Indian Foreign Service. ... Indian Forest Service (IFS) is one of the All India Services of the government of India; others being the Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police Service. ...

The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Revenue Service (IRS) belong to Central Services. The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) was established in September 1783 under the British Raj to conduct business with foreign European powers. ...

The State Administrative/Civil Service, State Police Service and State Forest Service are among many State services, whose examinations are conducted by individual States of India.

The UPSC Civil Services Examinations (which include Civil Services Examination, Forest Service Examination and Engineering Services Examination) are one of the toughest in the world with only about 450 candidates selected out of more than 200,000 that appear ever year. The IAS, IPS,IFS (Indian Foreign Service) and IRS are the most sought after services and only the candidates securing the top ranks make it into these.

To enter the Civil Services in India one has to appear for the civil services exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The Union Public Service Commission UPSCis a constitutional body in India to conduct examinations for appointment to the services of the Union. ...

Official info Civil Services Exams on http://www.upsc.gov.in/

External links

• UPSC Official Website
• Ias portal
• Join IAS aspirants group
• Online community IAS & UPSC Aspirants
• csgsINDIA- for excellence in Civil Services' General Studies Exam