Civil Services: Crucial in Maintaining and Strengthening Democracy

Context

Civil services are important in preserving and strengthening democracy but there’s a need for lateral entrants and more transparency.

About

• The idea of a benefit based current Civil Service in India was brought in 1854.
• From 1922 onwards the Indian Civil Service Examination commenced to be held in India.
• After independence, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) became accountable for conducting the assessments.
• Civil Services Day is celebrated on 21st April every year  to commemorate the day in 1947 while 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 function in preserving cohesion and integrity.

History of Civil Services in India

• Lord Cornwallis is considered as ‘Father of Civil Services in India’.
• Lord Wellesley based the College of Fort William in Calcutta in 1800 to train young recruits for the Civil Services. 
  • But the administrators of the Company, in 1806, replaced it with their personal East Indian College at Haileybury in England.
• Before 1853 East India Company administrators used to hire Civil Servants. Board of Control members were allowed to make some nominations.
• The Charter Act of 1853 abolished the patronage gadget and introduced open competitive examinations.
• The first competitive exams for the Indian Civil Services (ICS) were held in London in 1855.
• Satyendranath Tagore turned into the first Indian to clear ICS in 1864.

Role of Civil Services in Governance

• Service delivery: They are chargeable for administering welfare schemes and making sure that public services attain the supposed beneficiaries, specially on the remaining mile.
• Maintaining law and order: Civil servants ensure peace, justice, and protection by upholding the guideline of law and coordinating with regulation enforcement corporations.
• Elections: They have been instrumental in the conduct of unfastened and truthful elections, and ensuring easy transfer of power both at the Centre and States.
• Uninterrupted Administration: There were several times while States had been positioned beneath President’s rule, with the civil servants ensuring uninterrupted management throughout such instances.
• Policy Making: They provide recommendations to governments in policy making and additionally enforce the rules 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 vital capabilities.
• Lack of Expertise: Bureaucrats who are generalists, may lack the knowledge needed to address technical challenges. 
• Corruption: There is also enormous corruption in any respect degrees of the bureaucracy that often is going unpunished.
• Red-tapism: Excessive procedural formalities often put off decision-making and avoid timely service transport.
• Mental fitness issues: High-pressure environments, and long running hours impact the mental well-being of civil servants.
• Resistance to innovation: A rigid administrative subculture discourages experimentation and adoption of recent practices.
• Outdated policies and tactics: Many service policies are colonial-era legacies that aren’t well matched with current governance desires.

Governance reforms to enhance performance of bureaucracy

• Mission Karmayogi National Program: It is a flagship programme of Government of India launched in 2020 for education of civil servants, which intends to transform the Civil Services from ‘Rule Based’ to ‘Role Based’ manner of functioning and Citizen Centric. 
• E-Governance Initiatives: Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) for criticism redressal, SPARROW for performance appraisal, and digitization of service facts.

Conclusion

• Civil servants play a pivotal function in shaping the trajectory of India’s growth and governance, frequently known as the architects of Viksit Bharat.
• The neutral bureaucracy needs to be insulated from undue political interference to uphold the guideline of regulation and constitutional values. 
• To keep a harmonious balance among the political and permanent govt, the autonomy of professional bureaucrats is important.

Source: The Hindu

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. “Institutional quality is a crucial driver of economic performance”. In this context suggest reforms in the Civil Service for strengthening democracy. (2020)

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