Who was the first Indian to qualify for Covenanted service?

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (c) Satyendra Nath Tagore.
 Satyendra Nath Tagore was the first Indian to qualify for the Indian Civil Service (ICS) in 1863.
 The Indian Civil Service was a prestigious service under British rule, later becoming the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) post-independence.
 Tagore's entry into the ICS marked a crucial step towards greater Indian participation in the administration under British rule.
 He was the elder brother of Rabindranath Tagore, the renowned poet and Nobel laureate.
History of Indian Civil Service (ICS) in India:
 The ICS was established by the British East India Company in the 1850s and later taken over by the British Crown after the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
 Initially, the ICS was an all-European service, with exams held only in London, making it difficult for Indians to compete.
 The first Indian to join the ICS was Satyendra Nath Tagore in 1863, followed by several other Indians in the subsequent years.
 The ICS played a crucial role in administering British India and was known for its high standards of governance and efficiency.
 Over time, Indian representation in the ICS increased, especially after the introduction of open competitive exams in India in 1922.
 Post-independence, the ICS was restructured and renamed the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1947.