A more vigorous prosecution of public works: the reforms of the Indian Public Works Department

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to extend the current knowledge and understanding of public sector accountancy and management in its historical context, through the examination of the reforms of the Indian Public Works Department (PWD) from 1858 and the founding of the Royal Indian Engineering College (RIEC) in 1870. The architect of these reforms was General Sir George Tomkyns Chesney, who was the first Accountant-General of the PWD. Chesney was influential in the founding of the RIEC, also known as Cooper's Hill College, and became its first president. The role of this College was to train civil engineers for the reformed PWD. The College synthesised management training for the public sector in India and was perhaps the first academic institution in Britain to offer a curriculum relating to engineering technology and management, including a designated course in public sector accounting.