IES - Indian Education Service

Indian Education Service (IES)

10.51 The Commission has throughout been aware of the lack of an Indian Educational Service at the National level. We noted that such a service did exist some time ago but was discontinued later. The IES was first constituted in India as a result of the recommendations contained in the Report of the Public Service Commission of 1886, and was further reconstituted in 1896-97 in the form of Superior Educational Service comprising two divisions-the Indian Educational Service and the Provincial Educational, Service. However, recruitment to the service was discontinued in 1924 as a result of the fact that education had become a "transferred" subject.
10.52 The IES from its very inception suffered from low status in comparison with the Indian Civil Service and other allied services and faced discontent among its incumbents. Although attempts were made from time to time to upgrade the position of the Service, it ended to remain somewhat unpopular because of lack of equality of rank and status vis-a-vis other all-India Services. The top positions in the field of education continued to be held by ICS personnel with higher, benefits and status. Considerable disparity existed between members of the Service at the provincial levels as well. General discontent on these accounts and financial considerations led to the progressive extinction of the Indian Education Service.
10.53 While noting the reasons for the discontinuation of the IES, the Commission is in no doubt that it had made a distinct contribution by way of giving
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status to educational profession and improving its influence and quality. That, in fact, is the main reason why various Commissions on Education have from time to time been stressing the, needs for its reinstatement. In 1965 a Resolution was passed in the Rajya Sabha for the creation of the IEs (General and Technical Education). The resolution was reiterated by the conference of Education Ministers held in 1966. But matter was not pursued further. The Commission feels that the time, has come when the revival of the IES must not be postponed any further. The IES will be a healthy check on the narrow parochialism and divisive tendencies within the national system of education. The Commission is convinced that the process of educational improvement at all levels, would be speeded up considerably with the help of the Indian Education Service.
10.54 We also feel that the Institution of Indian Education Service will contribute materially to national integration. Since the service would be common to the centre and the States, there would be movement of officers between; them and this mobility and inter change of experience would be of advantage, both to the Central as well as the State administrations.

from
http://www.education.nic.in/cd50years/r/2Q/41/2Q410B03.htm