Published Paper Details:

The term civil service in India first emerged during the administration of the East India Company. The Civil Servants were initially engaged in trade; however, as the Company commenced its territorial acquisitions, it progressively evolved from a commercial entity into an administrative government, thereby transforming its 'civil servants' from mere traders into competent administrators. This paper examines the establishment of Fort William College in 1800 and its role in transforming the East India Company's civil servants from commercial agents into administrators of a territorial empire. Founded under Richard Wellesley, the College reflected the Company's transition from trade to governance, as its officials assumed judicial, revenue, and diplomatic responsibilities across diverse Indian societies. Wellesley envisioned a structured program of education that would equip civil servants with linguistic competence, legal knowledge, and moral discipline suited to their expanded authority.