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Tuesday, February 17, 2026
TopicIndian Civil Services

Topic: Indian Civil Services

Nehru rejected it, Bose cracked it, RC Dutt served in it. Nationalists and the ICS

The Indian Civil Service was the British Empire’s steel frame, built to serve the Crown. Nationalists sat for the exam too — some quit, others stayed.

If you want an efficient all-India service, allow them to open their mouth freely—Sardar Patel

On 10 October 1949, during the Constituent Assembly debate, Vallabhbhai Patel strongly defended the civil services and the guarantees provided to them during the transfer of power from British rule.

A new breed of civil servants under Mission Karmayogi will take India to Amrit Kaal goals

Mission Karmayogi aims to fundamentally re-engineer the mechanisms of traditional Indian civil services to create a responsive, transparent, and accountable governance structure.

Indian civil services is short on women. It’s not the govt’s fault

Not only do fewer women apply for the Indian civil services examination, but they also tend to withdraw from the race as they age.

House panel flags surge in technocrats recruited for civil services, fewer candidates from humanities

Panel noted that above 70% of recruits in civil services nowadays are from technical streams and ‘allurement to become a civil servant’ is adversely affecting other fields.

Why has India’s steel frame turned laid back? Vinod Rai’s book talks modernising civil services

The book launch had a panel comprising decorated members from politics and civil services. And Jaishankar turned the 'specialists versus generalists' debate on its head.

Govt to form panels of retired IAS officers to probe complaints against serving ones

Committees to conduct departmental inquiries into complaints of corruption, disproportionate assets & violation of service rules that PMO & other ministries get through different channels.

Bhutan’s performance-based pay for civil servants revives debate over similar policy in India

Bhutan's Pay Structure Bill says performance-based incentives can go up to 100% of basic pay. But in India, similar policy mooted by 7th Pay Commission is still in cold storage.  

‘What Next’ for UPSC-negatives? Indians with wasted youth don’t want to return empty-handed

While the passionate preparatory struggle of India's UPSC aspirants is widely acknowledged, their years after the negative result is spent in quiet solitude, loss of esteem, even shame.

On Camera

The debate about spheres of influence reorders India’s position

New world reordering tests New Delhi’s strategic autonomy, balancing ties without succumbing to exclusive dominance zones.

Urban co-op banks doubled loan book in 5 yrs, but stuck at under 2% of credit market—Sahakar Trends

UCBs accounted for 1.8% of total industry credit in September 2025—down from 2.2% five yrs ago—showing that they are losing ground to faster PSU banks.

US military commander, envoy Sergio Gor visit Indian Army Western Command, Bengaluru next

At the Western Army Command, the American delegation was briefed on the capabilities of the formation, past operations and the path ahead.

The new Great Game—Trump’s playing for time, China for leverage & India for wiggle room

This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.