The Indian Civil Services and Bureaucracy is a foundational institution and concept that forms the permanent executive branch of the government, tasked with implementing policies and managing public administration. Its origins trace back to the East India Company after 1757, which established the Covenanted Civil Services (CCS). Lord Cornwallis is often called the "Father of Civil Service in India" for reforming the structure. The service evolved into the Indian Civil Service (ICS), which was the higher civil service of the British Raj between 1858 and 1947. Post-independence, the ICS was succeeded by the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and other services.
The framework for the modern Civil Services is enshrined in Part XIV of the Constitution of India, covering Articles 308 to 323. Article 310 stipulates that civil servants hold office during the Doctrine of Pleasure of the President or Governor. However, this power is limited by the safeguards in Article 311, which protects civil servants from arbitrary dismissal or removal without a proper inquiry. The system connects to the All India Services (AIS), such as the IAS and Indian Police Service (IPS), which Parliament can create under Article 312. Recruitment for the All India Services and Central Civil Services is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
A significant recent change is the launch of Mission Karmayogi in 2020, a reform aimed at shifting the system from a 'Rules-based' to a 'Roles-based' approach through continuous online learning and capacity building. Earlier, the 28th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1972, repealed Article 314, removing the special privileges and service conditions of former ICS officers. The push for lateral entry of domain specialists into senior bureaucratic roles is also a recent development.