§ 2. Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for India whether subjects of ruling chiefs in India have at present exactly the same rights as are possessed by British-Indian subjects in respect of competition for the Indian Civil Service; and whether any declaration of eligibility by the Governor-General of India in Council will in future be necessary in respect of such subjects of ruling chiefs?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe eligibility of subjects of ruling chiefs in India is governed by Section 3 of the Government of India (Amendment) Act of 1916, which lays down that a notification of the Governor-General in Council is required to make any such person eligible.
If the hon. Member has in mind a proposed Amendment of the Regulations for the examination of candidates for the Indian Civil Service, which was published in draft in the "London Gazette" of the 24th ult., I may explain that the Amendment does not refer to candidates who are subjects of native States, but provides for the special case of a candidate who being himself a British subject was born, or whose father or mother was born, outside His Majesty's Dominions.