The term "Indian Army" was used to collectively describe the armies serving under the presidencies, especially after the Sepoy Mutiny. However the first army officially recruited as the "Indian Army" was initiated by the government of India in 1895. In 1903 the Indian Army absorbed the three presidency armies (the Bengal Army, the Madras Army and the Bombay Army). The British Indian Army was hugely different from what the Indian Army constitutes today. Although both are colossal in their functions and operational units. As such, after the creation of the British Indian Army, top officials felt a need to raise a proper Army Commission with strict rules and regulations, outlining norms to be followed. The Indian Army Reorganisation Commission was thus structured, to wholly change the face of the armed forces.
In 1879, Sir Ashley Eden (1831-1887) accepted the appointment as Chairman of the Army Organisation Commission. General Frederick Sleigh Roberts (1832-1914) proposed the elimination of the three separate presidency armies and their amalgamation into one Indian Army.
In 1881, Lord Ripon (1827-1909) supported the concept of a centralised command over the Presidency armies, thus uniting the three separate armies.
In 1884, Lord Kimberley (1826-1902), Secretary of State for India, rejected the army unification measures. However, in subsequent years, the departments of Military Finance and Accounts, Ordinance, Commissariat, Clothing and Defence Works were amalgamated.
On 24th December, the Government of India passed Lord Lytton`s measure, creating the Statutory Civil Service to which qualified Indians could be appointed and who would eventually total one-sixth of its membership. This programme emerged as a comparative failure, because only sixty-nine Indians had received appointment when the service was terminated in 1892. In retrospect, a number of the appointees had failed due to educational deficiencies. On 8th June, Lord Ripon (1827-1909) assumed the Viceroyalty of India in Shimla.
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