Archive · 24 Jul 2025
History of Indian Civil Services: From London to UPSC
Imagine a super-hard test in India, like the hardest one you can think of.
It's called the UPSC exam, and it's like a golden ticket to a good job in the government.
But long ago, this test wasn't even in India!
It started in London during British rule, and only the British could take it.
At first, the test was hard for Indians because it was all about European stuff.
Eventually, after some Indians passed the test, the test started being given in India.
After India became independent, the test was renamed the UPSC exam.
Now, every year, lots of people take the UPSC exam, hoping to get a good government job.
The Indian Civil Services (ICS) exam, now the UPSC Civil Services Exam, originated in London.
Introduced in 1854, the exam initially favored European literature, hindering Indian candidates.
Satyendranath Tagore became the first Indian to pass the ICS exam in 1864.
Demand led to the exam being held in India from 1922, with Allahabad and Delhi as centers.
The Public Service Commission was established in 1926, evolving into the UPSC post-independence.
- Who
- The British government, Indian aspirants, and the UPSC.
- What
- The evolution of the Indian Civil Services (ICS) exam into the modern Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam.
- When
- The ICS exam began in London in 1855 and the UPSC was formed on January 26, 1950.
- Where
- Initially held in London, then in Allahabad and Delhi in India.
- Why
- To establish a merit-based system for selecting civil servants in India.
- Original Exam Name
- Indian Civil Services (ICS)
- First Year in London
- 1855
- First Indian to pass
- Satyendranath Tagore
- Year of exam in India
- 1922
- Original Exam Centers in India
- Allahabad, Delhi
- Current Exam Name
- Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)