Government Services For All

There is evidence of the oldest civil service being in China. But in the modern world, civil services are a gift of France. In India, it was introduced in 1855 during the British rule. During the British rule, the officers of the civil service had extensive powers and their main job was to maintain law and order, administer justice and collect taxes. Today's civil servant works in a democratic structure whose main job is development and progress. Civil service as a career has been a subject of attraction for many youth and parents who envision a bright future for their children. Indian Civil Service is considered as a very special service which offers an ambitious, qualified and aspiring person a very challenging and attractive career opportunity which involves a variety of tasks, greater authority and power than any other service. There are three types of services-

• All India Services

• (Central Services)

• (State Services)

+ The concept of civil service in India was put forward in 1854 after the report of Lord Macaulay of the Type Committee of the British Parliament. + In 1854 itself, a 'Civil Service' Commission was established in London and competitive examinations were started from 1855. + Initially, examinations for Indian civil servants were held only in London. + In 1864, Satyendra Nath Tagore, brother of Rabindra Nath Tagore, became the first Indian civil servant. + After the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms, examinations for Indian civil servants started being held in India from 1922, before that these examinations were conducted in London.

The basic concept of civil service is considered to have started with the issuance of a civil mandate i.e. charter to give the East India Company the right to make charters for the soldiers for the purpose of maintaining civil and military order in the country. In the middle of the 19th century, there was an important beginning of implementing the system of competitive examinations under which appointments were made on the basis of merit through competitive examinations instead of hiring officers on the basis of someone's recommendation or reference. From the 'Macaulay Committee' to the 'Islington Committee' and then the "Lee Commission" were formed to reform the public services and all of them strongly recommended the formation of a constitutional Public Service Commission.

During the debates of the Constituent Assembly, the retention of Indian Civil Service officers and their role and integrity were discussed and debated in detail and it was also discussed whether "would it be wise to continue this system even after independence?" We cannot forget the contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who played the foremost role in the formation of civil services in independent India and that is why he is called the 'Iron Man of India'. The first Indian to pass the ICS examination was Satyendra Nath Tagore, who achieved this success in (1864). It is also important to remember that after the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms, till 1922, this examination was conducted only in London, due to which Indians had to face the trouble of going there to take the examination and it was beyond the reach of the common Indian. Still, the number of Indians who passed the examination was quite good. Prominent names among them are Bihari Lal Gupta and Ramesh Chandra Dutt who later became the President of the Indian National Congress in 1899. He also wrote the book "The Economic History of India" which is considered to be the first book on this subject.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose had passed the Indian Civil Service examination but he refused to work under this service, which shows his principles, values and loyalty and he took this decision during the freedom struggle. Sir Benegal Narsimha Rao was another ICS officer who was appointed as the Constitution Advisor on 1 July 1946, a little more than a year before India's independence. He later became the first Indian judge in the International Court of Justice. Some prominent Indian people who became IPS officers were- 1)Satyendra Nath Tagore. 2)Ramesh Chandra Dutt. 3)Lal Bihari Gupta. 4)B.N.Rao. 5)Subhash Chandra Bose. 6)Sukumar Sen-(First Chief Election Commissioner of India) 7)B.N.Yugandhar. Etc.--- The name of India's first Chief Election Commissioner Sukumar Sen is also prominent who later also became the first Chief Election Commissioner of Sudan.

+Articles 310, 311 and 312 of the Indian Constitution deal with services under the Centre and the State. Article 310 provides that the officers of the Central and All India Services are appointed by the President of India and the officers of the State level services are appointed by the Governors of the respective states. They hold office during the pleasure of the President and the Governor. Therefore, their tenure is assured and secure. Article 311 includes the procedure and conditions related to removal, dismissal and reduction in rank from service, which ensures that the due process of law is followed. It is also ensured that civil officers do not become victims of unnecessary political interference (pressure) or trouble. Article 312 provides that the All India Services, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the State Public Service Commissions of various states are constitutional bodies.

Civil services officers have played an important role in many activities of national importance like conducting free and fair elections, disaster management, construction and maintenance of important facilities like roads and railways and maintaining national unity and integrity. Every year 21st April is celebrated as 'Civil Service Day'. Chanakya Jan Utthan Foundation conducts the following courses free of cost at Doiwala and Bhaniyawala centers to connect the educated section of the society with government service. It does not pressurize any volunteer for any fee.

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