The historical figure often associated with the founding of the UPSC is Lord Cornwallis, who established the modern administrative framework in India during the British colonial period. The Public Service Commission was first constituted in 1926 under the Government of India Act, which later evolved into the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Lord Cornwallis aimed to create a merit-based civil service to improve governance and efficiency. His reforms laid the groundwork for the examination system that continues to govern the selection of civil servants in India today.