The Indian National Congress (INC) was formed on December 28, 1885 as the first modern nationalist movement in the British Empire . It played a pivotal role in India’s independence movement by dominating Indian politics for over five decades.The introduction of the Indian National Congress in 1885 played a significant role in shaping the evolution of civil services in India. One of the primary demands of the Indian National Congress was the Indianisation of civil services which meant allowing Indians to hold higher positions in the government .

• Prior to this, the British East India Company had introduced the Civil Service System in India but it was largely reserved for Europeans. The Indian National Congress’s demand for Indianisation led to increased pressure on the British government to open up civil services to Indians.
• The Congress’s efforts led to the establishment of the Aitchison Commission in 1886 which recommended the division of civil services into three categories Imperial, Provincial and Subordinate. Although the commission’s recommendations were not fully implemented, they marked a significant step towards Indianisation .
• The Indian National Congress’s influence also led to the introduction of competitive exams for civil services in India. The first exam was held in 1883 in Allahabad and it marked a significant shift towards merit based recruitment.

In summary the introduction of the Indian National Congress played a crucial role in shaping the evolution of civil services in India leading to increased Indianisation, competitive exams and merit based recruitment.