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Who among the following Governor-Generals created the Covenanted Civil Service of India, which later came to be known as the Indian Civil Service?

  1. Warren Hastings
  2. Wellesley
  3. Cornwallis
  4. William Bentinck

Explanation

Option (c) is correct
  • Lord Cornwallis, who served as Governor-General from 1786 to 1793, is often referred to as the “Father of Civil Service in India.
  • He introduced several key reforms:
  • Separation of Powers: He separated the revenue administration from the administration of justice.
  • Corruption Control: To curb widespread corruption, he raised the salaries of civil servants but strictly forbade them from engaging in private trade or accepting “presents” from locals.
  • The “Covenanted” System: He established the Covenanted Civil Service, which consisted of higher-level posts reserved for Europeans who signed a formal “covenant” (contract) with the East India Company.
Answer: (c) Cornwallis
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