Which one of the following statements about the British Indian Medical Service (IMS) is not correct ?

The Indian Medical Service (IMS) traces its origins to the establishment of the Bengal Medical Service in 1763 (formally 1764) by the East India Company. Initially, the service was primarily military in nature, designed to look after the health of the Company's troops. Recruitment was later formalized through competitive examinations held in London. Statement 3 is incorrect because Indians were not 'never' admitted; while the higher ranks were initially a European preserve, Indians began entering the IMS in the mid-19th century. For instance, Surya Kumar Goodeve Chuckerbutty became the first Indian to join the IMS in 1855 after passing the competitive exam. While the Subordinate Medical Service (SMS) was largely composed of Indians who served as apothecaries or dressers, the IMS itself eventually opened to Indian candidates, particularly after the 1850s reforms, making the claim of total exclusion false.

Sources

1. [1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5290754/