Indian Political Service

The Indian Political Service was a department during the British Raj.

The political officers assigned to the service - many of whom were British Army and British Indian Army officers on secondment - were responsible for the civil administration of frontier districts, and also served as British agents to rulers of Princely states.

Employees of the political service were predominantly racially European, although small numbers of Indians were employed. Following Indian independence in 1947 a small number of British officers continued to serve as employees of the Union of India.