The Lee Commission was established in 1923 under the chairmanship of Lord Lee, with an equal number of Indian and British members, with the goal of studying the racial composition of the government of India's superior public service. In 1924, it submitted its report. The commission reviewed the existing position of two groups of services, the All-India Services and the Central Services, as well as the recommendations of the Islington Commission report (1912). Provincial Services were not considered because they had already been taken over by provincial governments. In this article, we will discuss the Lee Commission which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Lee Commission - Background

• In the midst of a great political uproar in India over the negative British response to Indianisation of services, and in light of several complicated issues concerning public service matters, Lord Lee appointed a Royal Commission on Superior Civil Services in India in 1923.
• The Lee Commission was established in 1923 under the chairmanship of Lord Lee, with an equal number of Indian and British members, to study the racial composition of the superior public service of the government of India.
• The commission examined the recommendations of the Islington Commission report (1912) and reviewed the existing position of two groups of services, the All-India Services and the Central Services.
• The Islington Commission proposed that 25% of positions in the superior civil service be filled by Indians, partly through direct recruitment and partly through promotion. In addition, the civil service examination should be held in India.
• This was done in accordance with the spirit of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms Policy (1919), which placed special emphasis on the problem of Indianisation of higher services.
• The Montagu-Chelmsford reforms proposed that one-third of total appointments to higher posts go to Indians, effectively rendering the Islington Commission's recommendation of only 25% posts for Indians obsolete.
• In this context, the Lee Commission's main recommendation was that 20% of the superior posts be filled by promotions from provincial civil services, and the remaining 80% of future entrants be British and 40% Indians directly recruited.
• Overall, Indians were dissatisfied with the rate at which ICS and other superior services were being Indianized.
• The Indian Statutory Commission of 1930 was the next important commission that investigated India's superior services problems after the Lee Commission.

Lee Commission - Features

• Lee Commission, a body appointed by the British government in 1923 to examine the ethnic composition of the government of India's superior Indian public services.
• Lord Lee of Fareham presided over the committee, which had an equal number of Indian and British members.
• In 1924, the Lee Commission proposed that 40% of future entrants be British, 40% be directly recruited Indians, and 20% be promoted from the provincial service.
• Because it was only concerned with the Superior Civil Services, it was dubbed the Royal Commission or the Superior Civil Services in India.
• The Commission believed that establishing a Public Service Commission was necessary to assist the government in carrying out its responsibilities.
• It saw its recommendation to establish the Public Service Commission as "one of the cardinal features" of its report, "and as forming an integral and essential part of the whole structure" of its proposals for the future of the services.
• By the time India gained independence in 1947, more than half of the service's approximately 1,000 members were Indians, many of whom had extensive experience and held high positions.

Lee Commission - Recommendations

• The Commission proposed categorizing main services into three categories: (a) all India, (b) central, and (c) provincial.
• The secretary of state should continue to recruit for the ICS, the Service of Engineers' Irrigation Branch, the Indian Forest Service, and so on.
• Provincial governments recruit for transferred fields such as education and civil medical service.
• In 15 years, direct recruitment to ICS on the basis of 50:50 parity between Europeans and Indians will be achieved.
• The Public Service Commission should be established right away (as laid down in the Government of India Act, 1919).
• The central services dealt with Indian states and foreign affairs, as well as the administration of state railways, posts and telegraphs, customs, audit and accounts, and scientific and technological departments.
• The Commission recommended that the Secretary of State retain appointment and control of All India Services (primarily the Indian Civil Service, the Indian Police Service, the Indian Medical Service, the Indian Forest Service, and the Indian Service of Engineers) operating in reserved fields of administration.
• The Lee Commission's most important recommendation concerning services operating in transferred fields (e.g., Indian Educational Service, Indian Agricultural Service, Indian Veterinary Services, etc.), the recruitment and appointment of which were to be made by the respective local governments. As a result, those services were to be decentralised.
• Existing members of the All India Services were to retain all rights of officers in the All India Services, but the provincial governments were to be given appointment powers only when new vacancies arose.

Conclusion

The Lee Commission's recommendations were accepted by the British government. With the discontinuance of the All India Services in the transferred departments, the Indian Civil Service, Indian Police, Indian Service of Engineers (Irrigation Branch), Indian Medical Service (Civil Branch), and Indian Forest Service were the only All India Services that survived (except in the provinces of Burma and Bombay). The Public Service Commission of India was established in 1926, and it oversaw the examination for civil service recruitment in 1927 on behalf of the Civil Service Commission of England.

FAQs

MCQs

1. What year was the Lee Commission established?

A) 1920
B) 1924
C) 1929
D) 1935

2. Who chaired the Lee Commission?

A) Lord Wavell
B) Sir William Lee
C) Mahatma Gandhi
D) Lord Curzon

3. Which of the following was a recommendation of the Lee Commission?

A) Abolishment of civil services
B) Increased Indian representation in civil services
C) Mandatory military training for civil servants
D) Centralization of administration

4. What was one of the main challenges faced by the Lee Commission?

A) Lack of funding
B) Resistance from British officials
C) Insufficient candidates
D) Overwhelming public support

5. Which Act incorporated some of the recommendations of the Lee Commission?

A) Government of India Act 1919
B) Government of India Act 1935
C) Indian Independence Act 1947
D) Government of India Act 1949

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Evaluate the significance of the Lee Commission in the context of British India’s administrative reforms.

Answer: The Lee Commission of 1924 marked a significant step in the evolution of administrative reforms in British India, particularly concerning the civil service structure. Established to address the inadequacies of the existing administrative framework, the commission emphasized the need for increased Indian participation in governance. By advocating for competitive examinations and the Indianization of civil services, the commission aimed to enhance representation and accountability. Its recommendations laid the groundwork for subsequent reforms, such as the Government of India Act of 1935, which expanded the role of Indians in administrative roles. Furthermore, the commission's work highlighted the growing demand for self-governance and the recognition of Indian talents, contributing to the larger nationalist movement. Overall, the Lee Commission's recommendations were pivotal in reshaping the administrative landscape of India, fostering a transition towards a more inclusive governance model.

Q2: Discuss the implications of the Lee Commission's recommendations on the recruitment and training of civil servants in India.

Answer: The Lee Commission's recommendations had profound implications for the recruitment and training of civil servants in India. By suggesting that a significant proportion of civil service vacancies be filled through competitive examinations open to Indians, the commission initiated a shift from a predominantly British bureaucracy to a more representative one. This move was aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of administration by incorporating local knowledge and understanding of the socio-political landscape. Additionally, the emphasis on structured training programs for civil servants ensured that the new recruits were better equipped to handle the complexities of governance. This professionalization of civil service laid the foundation for a more competent and responsive administrative system, ultimately contributing to better governance in India.

Q3: Analyze the challenges encountered by the Lee Commission in the context of political and social dynamics in India at the time.

Answer: The Lee Commission encountered various challenges shaped by the political and social dynamics of India in the early 20th century. The nationalist movement was gaining momentum, leading to increased scrutiny and opposition to British rule. Many Indian leaders and political groups were skeptical of the commission's ability to bring about genuine reform, fearing that it might be more of a façade than a commitment to true representation. Additionally, the complexities of regional identities and interests posed challenges in formulating a uniform policy for civil service recruitment and training. The prevailing caste system and social stratifications also influenced public perceptions and expectations of government service, complicating the commission's mandate to create a more inclusive administrative framework. Despite these challenges, the commission's recommendations represented a significant acknowledgment of the need for reform and set the stage for future developments in India's civil service.

Previous Year Questions on the Lee Commission

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2021:

Question: What was the primary objective of the Lee Commission established in 1924?

A) To promote trade
B) To reform the civil services
C) To address agricultural issues
D) To strengthen military presence

Answer: (B)

Explanation: The primary objective of the Lee Commission was to reform the civil services in India by increasing Indian representation and improving administrative efficiency.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2019 (GS Paper 1):

Question: Assess the impact of the Lee Commission's recommendations on the civil service structure in British India.

Answer: The recommendations of the Lee Commission significantly impacted the civil service structure in British India by advocating for the Indianization of the bureaucracy and introducing competitive examinations for recruitment. This shift aimed to enhance the representation of Indians in administrative roles, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability within governance. The commission's findings also led to increased training and professional development for civil servants, improving administrative capacity and effectiveness. Ultimately, the Lee Commission set the stage for subsequent reforms, aligning the civil service with the growing demands for self-governance and contributing to the evolution of a more representative and efficient administrative framework in India.