https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Satyendranath Tagore: The First Indian Civil Servant 

Indian Masterminds Stories

You might know who won the first Olympic medal for our country or who was the captain of the team who won the first cricket world cup for our country. You might also know the names of the first President or the first Prime Minister of the country. But do you know who was the first Indian to crack the civil services exam? He was Satyendranath Tagore, the second elder brother of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. 

Satyendranath Tagore cracked the civil services examination years before India got Independence. Britishers were ruling the nation and Indians were generally not allowed to sit in the civil services examination for many years. 

Let us go back in time to know more about this legend who defeated the challenges on his way to become the first Indian to join the Indian Civil Services.

THE CHALLENGES

Britishers came to India in the 17th century for trading and eventually started ruling the land. It was their government, and everything was under their control. And, for many years Indians were not allowed to work in top positions of the British government. 

In 1832, for the first time, they allowed Indians to be selected to Munsif and Sadar Amin positions. Later, they also started appointing them as Deputy Magistrate or Collector. But it was not until 1860s that Indians could sit for the civil services exam. 

In 1861, the Indian Civil Services Act was introduced, and the Indian Civil Service was established allowing Indians to compete for the exam. However, it wasn’t easy for Indians. Participants had to go to London to appear in the exam and the syllabus was vast and included the languages, Greek and Latin. The maximum age limit was 23 years only which was later reduced to 19. 

FIRST IAS 

Born in June 1842, Satyendranath Tagore was a bright student since childhood. He proved his ability by getting selected to the Presidency College, Kolkata, after getting first division. He was part of the first batch who appeared for the entrance examination of the University of Calcutta. 

After the Indian Civil Services Act was passed, Tagore, along with his friend Monomohun Ghose, decided to attempt it. 

Tagore cleared UPSC exam in 1863 and served for 30 years

They both went to London, prepared for the examination, and gave the papers. Ghose couldn’t crack the exam, but Tagore got selected in 1863. He completed his training and came back to India in 1864. 

He first got posted in Bombay Presidency and was later made an Assistant Collector/ Magistrate in Ahmedabad. He served for 30 years and retired as a judge from Satara, Maharashtra in 1896. 

WRITER AND SOCIAL WORKER

Satyendranath Tagore’s achievements are not just limited to civil services. Like his brother, he was also a poet, author and linguist. He had good knowledge of three languages, which were English, Bengali and Sanskrit. 

He was also an active participant in Bramho Samaj Movement and was president of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad in 1900-01. He translated Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s Geetarahasya into Bengali and wrote many literary works. 

However, the most prominent work of his life was his tireless efforts for the upliftment of women in society. He actively supported women to adjust to a more liberal lifestyle and worked towards eradicating the purdahsystem from society. He initiated the change from his own family, and in the process became an inspiration for all. 


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
IPS Manoj Kumar Sharma
Real-Life Hero Honoured Onscreen: IPS Manoj Kumar Sharma Applauds ‘12th Fail’ After National Award Triumph
Department of Post
Banking Made Simpler: IPPB Rolls Out Aadhaar-Based Face Authentication for Inclusive Digital Access
Govt of West Bengal
West Bengal Govt Transfers 34 IFS Officers in Major Reshuffle; New Directors Appointed at Alipore & Darjeeling Zoos - Details Inside
himachal-pradesh
Himachal Govt Transfers 16 IAS Officers in Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle, C. Paulrasu Appointed Secy, Cooperatives, Horticulture & Agriculture
Tamilnadu-police-resized
PIL Filed in Madras High Court Seeking Timely Appointment of New Tamil Nadu DGP - Details Inside
IRS Officers ndian revenue Services
CBDT Announces Promotions of 5 Senior IRS Officers to Chief Commissioner Grade - Details Inside
CM mohan yadav
CM Dr. Mohan Yadav to Lay Foundation Stone for Four Industrial Units in Sehore on August 2
Reserve-Bank-of-India_RBI_resized
Two Years After Withdrawal, Rs2,000 Notes Worth Rs6,017 Cr Still with Public: RBI
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
How IAS Karn Satyarthi Transformed Gumla Through Empathy and Innovation
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi’s Take on Corruption, Reform, and Duty
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
What Most Indians Don't Know About Jim Corbett
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
BPSC Bihar police
From Lantern Light to Police Uniform: How Praveen Kumar from a Small Bihar Village Cracked BPSC to Become SDPO
From a lantern-lit village in Bihar to becoming an SDPO, Praveen Kumar's journey is a testament to resilience,...
IAS Priyansha Garg
Why Mindset Matters: IAS Priyansha Garg’s Mental Health Mantra for UPSC
After two failed prelims, Priyansha Garg cracked UPSC with AIR 31 in her fourth attempt, proving how...
Ashish Akshat
From Setback to State Topper: How Ashish Akshat Topped JPSC While Working Full-Time
Ashish Akshat from Dhanbad topped JPSC 2023, proving that resilience, discipline, and family support...
Social Media
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: From India’s First Sanctuary to a Tiger Conservation Success Story | International Tiger Day Special
IAS Supriya Sahu Hails Mudumalai's Role in Tiger Conservation on Tiger Day. Declared in 1940, Now Among...
Mangroves
Mangroves: Nature’s Shield Against Disasters, Says Officer Parveen Kaswan on Mangroves Day - Watch His Post Here
Mangroves, with their dense, interlaced root systems, form a mesh-like structure that serves as a buffer...
Retired IPS Inderjit Singh Sidhu
Purpose Doesn’t Retire: How 88-Year-Old Retired DIG Becomes Chandigarh’s ‘Quiet Warrior’ of Cleanliness
Inderjit Singh Sidhu’s Dawn Patrol Earns Applause, Mahindra’s Praise for a Man Who Chose Action Over...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
IPS Manoj Kumar Sharma
Real-Life Hero Honoured Onscreen: IPS Manoj Kumar Sharma Applauds ‘12th Fail’ After National Award Triumph
Department of Post
Banking Made Simpler: IPPB Rolls Out Aadhaar-Based Face Authentication for Inclusive Digital Access
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT