Q. Who among the following Governor Generals created the Covenanted Civil Service of India which later came to be known as the Indian Civil Service? (UPSC Prelims 2010)
Answer: Cornwallis
Notes: Lord Cornwallis, Governor-General from 1786-1793, established the Covenanted Civil Service in 1786 through the Charter Act framework, recruiting civil servants via covenanted agreements directly from Britain. This merit-based system, emphasizing Europeans in senior roles, evolved into the Indian Civil Service (ICS) by 1858. Warren Hastings created judicial services, Wellesley focused on military college, and Bentinck reformed administration later. Cornwallis's reform was a key step toward efficient British governance in India.