Bureaucracy in India

General Studies Paper-2

Context: Civil services are crucial in maintaining and strengthening democracy but there is a need for lateral entrants and greater transparency.

About

• The concept of a merit based modern Civil Service in India was introduced in 1854.
• From 1922 onwards the Indian Civil Service Examination began to be held in India.
• After independence, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) became responsible for conducting the exams.
• Civil Services Day is observed on 21st April every year to commemorate the day in 1947 when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the first batch of civil servants at the Metcalfe House, New Delhi.
• He termed civil servants as the “Steel frame of India,” emphasizing their role in maintaining unity and integrity.

Role of Civil Services in Governance

• Service delivery: They are responsible for administering welfare schemes and ensuring that public services reach the intended beneficiaries, particularly at the last mile.
• Maintaining law and order: Civil servants ensure peace, justice, and security by upholding the rule of law and coordinating with law enforcement agencies.
• Elections: They have been instrumental in the conduct of free and fair elections, and ensuring smooth transfer of power both at the Centre and States.
• Uninterrupted Administration: There have been numerous instances when States have been placed under President’s rule, with the civil servants ensuring uninterrupted administration during such times.
• Policy Making: They provide advice to governments in policy making and also implement the policies made by the political executive.

Challenges faced by civil services

• Political Bias: Neutrality as a trait is fast eroding among bureaucrats, resulting in political bias in discharge of critical functions.
• The cause and effect of this phenomenon is the increasing political interference in all aspects of bureaucracy including postings and transfers.
• Lack of Expertise: Bureaucrats who are generalists, may lack the expertise needed to address technical challenges.
• Corruption: There is also significant corruption at all levels of the bureaucracy that often goes unpunished.
• Red-tapism: Excessive procedural formalities often delay decision-making and hinder timely service delivery.
• Mental health issues: High-pressure environments, and long working hours impact the mental well-being of civil servants.
• Resistance to innovation: A rigid administrative culture discourages experimentation and adoption of new practices.
• Outdated rules and procedures: Many service regulations are colonial-era legacies that are not compatible with modern governance needs.

Governance reforms to enhance efficiency of bureaucracy

• Mission Karmayogi National Program: It is a flagship programme of Government of India launched in 2020 for training of civil servants, which intends to transform the Civil Services from ‘Rule Based’ to ‘Role Based’ way of functioning and Citizen Centric.
• Lateral Entry into Civil Services to bring domain expertise and promote competitiveness in administration.
• e-Governance Initiatives: Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) for grievance redressal, SPARROW for performance appraisal, and digitization of service records.

Conclusion

• Civil servants play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of India’s growth and governance, often known as the architects of Viksit Bharat.
• The neutral bureaucracy needs to be insulated from undue political interference to uphold the rule of law and constitutional values.
• To maintain a harmonious balance between the political and permanent executive, the autonomy of career bureaucrats is essential.
• This includes reasonable independence with respect to postings, tenures and transfers.
• Also, there needs to be a shift in the focus of bureaucrats from ‘procedure’ to ‘outcomes.’