New Indian Administrators’ School to Open in February 1947
The Government of India plans to establish a new Indian Administrative Services Training School in February, with Mr. N. M. Desai as Principal-designate. The school will provide training for probationers under 25, adapting to the needs of a self-governing India, reflecting changes from previous overseas training practices.
UNOFFICIAL NOTE PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Date: 23/01/1947
(Unofficial notes are issued on the understanding that their source will not be referred to in any way in what is published.)
NEW INDIAN ADMINISTRATORS’ SCHOOL MAY OPEN IN FEBRUARY
Mr. N. M. Desai, a senior I.C.S. officer of Bombay, has just joined duty as Principal-designate of the Indian Administrative Services Training School.
He is at present engaged in assisting the Home Department in working out the details of the training which would be necessary for probationers selected for the future “I.C.S.” of India.
Until 1941, probationers for the Indian Civil Service received one year’s training in England while being attached to various British universities. On passing the tests, which were held at the end of this period, they were posted to districts in India.
Since 1941, owing to war conditions, initial training for probationers was given at Dehra Dun, where a special school was run under a senior Civil Service officer. There, probationers studied law and other subjects necessary for their work in the service. Arrangements were also made from time to time for extension lectures by senior officers of the service on problems of general administration.
It has been decided that newly appointed probationers to the All-Indian Administrative Service who are under the age of 25 should also be trained in India, and it is hoped that the new training school will open in February.
The training syllabus, which is under preparation, will endeavour to take account of the functions which the new Administrative Service will be expected to perform in a self-governing India.
Mr. Desai was educated at Bombay and the School of Oriental Studies, London. He joined the Indian Civil Service in 1928, and served as Assistant Collector, Collector and Director of Land Records and Settlement Commissioner. Until recently, he was Secretary to the Bombay Government in the Revenue and Reconstruction Departments.
