CIVIL SERVICE PAPERS. 



m 



CIVIL SERVICE PAPERS. VII. 



THE INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE. 



THIS is a most important and lucrative branch of the Civil 

 Service. The examinations are very severe and prolonged, and 

 include special subjects connected with the languages and laws 

 of our Eastern possessions. All candidates must satisfactorily 

 pass a first examination, which adds to the subjects included 

 in the first examination for the home service, the Sanskrit and 

 Arabic languages and literature. This examination lasts about 

 sixteen days. The number of successful candidates corresponds 

 with the number of vacancies to fill which the examination is 

 held. A preliminary fee of .5 is to be paid. Those who pass 

 and are selected, then have to undergo a two years' probation, 

 in the course of which they are subjected to periodical exami- 

 nations, for the purpose of testing the progress of the candi- 

 dates in Oriental languages, the history and geography of India, 

 laws and political economy. During these two years the work 

 must be arduous and regular ; for the Final Examination will 

 test the powers to the utmost. On appointment to an Indian 

 writership, the commencing salary is j>300 a year ; and talent, 

 integrity, and perseverance may fairly look forward to appoint- 

 ments, in the course of time, worth .3,000 or even .5,000 per 

 annum- 

 It should be mentioned that all candidates are required to be 

 natural-born subjects of Her Majesty. They must bo above 

 seventeen and under nineteen years of age on the 1st of 

 January, and in addition they are expected to produce to the 

 Civil Service Commissioners satisfactory evidence as to health 

 and character. 



The names of the requisite number of candidates who have 

 obtained the greatest aggregate number of marks are set forth 

 in order of merit. Such candidates are deemed to be selected can- 

 didates for the Civil Service of India, provided they are in other 



respeoU duly qualified ; aud are permitted to choose (immedi- 

 ately after the result of the examination is announced, on a day 

 ;i|.|toint<"l by tins Commissioner*), according to the order in 

 whi'-h they stand, an long as a choice remains, the Presidency 

 (ami, in Bengal, the division of the Presidency) to which they 

 seek to be appointed. 



The result of the examination is generally communicated by 

 letter to each candidate about the beginning of May. The 

 successful candidate* are required to attend in London imme- 

 diately after thit announcement, for the purpose of being 

 medically examined, of exercising their choice of Presidency, 

 ami "f receiving instructions a* to the special studies to be 

 panned during their two years of probation. 



An allowance of jg 150 a year will be given during each of the 

 two years of their probation to all candidates who pass their 

 probation at some university to be approved beforehand by the 

 Secretary of State, provided snob candidates shall have psisml 

 the required examinations to the satisfaction of the Civil 

 Commissioners, and shall have complied with such 

 rules as may be laid down for the guidance of selected candi- 

 dates. 



In tliu general instructions issued to the probationers, after 

 the First Examination, they are reminded that they " should 

 at once commence their special preparation. They will re- 

 member that they have been selected on the ground of superior 

 proficiency in subjects which (with, perhaps, the exception of 

 Arabic and Sanskrit) are included within the ordinary range of 

 English education. The Civil Service Commissioners believe 

 that no better presumptive evidence of fitness can be obtained ; 

 but it must rest with the candidates themselves to give more 

 conclusive evidence, by showing aptitude in acquiring the 

 special knowledge necessary for them in the positions which 

 they hope to gain. They will be expected and required to 

 devote their whole time to the pursuit of this special knowledge. 

 They must bear in mind that at the several examinations which 

 they have to pass, the requirements of universities or colleges 

 will not be regarded as affording any excuse for imperfect 

 preparation ; and further, that any one who should accept the 

 position of a selected candidate without the intention of using 

 all diligence to qualify himself for the service, would be acting 

 unfairly alike to the Government of India and to the candidate 

 ' who might have been selected in his place. Each candidate, in 

 , ohoosing his place of residence, should carefully consider what 

 ' facilities will be afforded him for /the prosecution of his studies ; 

 ' and in this respect it should be remembered that London offers 

 advantages for the study of law, and also, perhaps, of some of 

 ; the vernacular languages, which can be obtained in no other 

 part of the United Kingdom." 



During the time of their probation selected candidates will 

 ' ; be examined periodically in the following subjects : 



Markt. 



1. Law 1,250 



2. Classical Languages of India 



Sanskrit 500 



Arabic 400 



Persian 400 



3. Vernacular Languages of India (each) 400 



4. The History and Geography of India 350 



5. Political Economy . . . 350 



In these examinations, as in the open competition, the merit of 

 ; the candidates examined will be estimated by marks, and the 

 i number set opposite to each subject denotes the greatest num- 



ber of marks that can be obtained in respect of it at any one 

 . examination. The examination will be conducted by means of 



printed questions and written answers, and by rtiv/ voce exami- 

 nation, as may be deemed necessary. The last of these exami- 

 nations will be held at the close of the second year of probation, 

 and will be called the " final examination," at which it will be 

 decided whether a selected candidate is qualified for the Civil 

 Service of India. At this examination candidates will be per- 

 mitted to take up any one of the following branches of Natural 

 Science, viz., Agriculture, Chemistry, Botany, Geology, and 

 Zoology, for which 350 marks will be allowed. Any candidate 

 who, at any of the periodical examinations, shall appear to have 

 wilfully neglected his studies, or to be physically incapacitated 

 for pursuing the prescribed course of training, will be liable to 

 have his name removed from the list of selected candidates. 



