Question

Who is called the “Father of Indian Civil Service”?
A) Lord Cornwallis
B) Warren Hastings
C) Robert Clive
D) Lord Mountbatten

Answer 1

Hint:
He was appointed to serve both as Commander-in-Chief of British India and as well as the Governor of the Fort William Presidency in 1786.

Complete step by step solution:
The correct option is A) Lord Cornwallis
While Warren Hastings laid the foundation of Civil Services in India, Lord Cornwallis rationalised and modernised the same. Therefore, Lord Cornwallis is known as the “Father of Indian Civil Service”.
The Indian civil service of India is based on the former pattern of civil services in British India. There were two types of civil services-covenanted and uncovenanted. The Civil Service Covenant consisted of only Europeans (i.e. English personnel) holding the higher government posts. To encourage the entry of Indians at the lower rung of the government, the uncovenanted civil service was only implemented.

Additional information:
Separation of tax administration from the judicial administration was the underlying concept. The Collector was stripped of judicial and magisterial powers and only became the head of the administration of revenue. To look after judicial administration, the posts of district judges were created.
There were several reforms in India after the rebellion of 1857 that shifted all powers to the crown. There have also been changes in civil service appointments to increase support among elites and educated communities for the British government in India.

Note:
Lord Cornwallis introduced covenanted Civil Services, while the uncovenanted Civil Services were introduced by the Law of the Company.