Note4Students:

India’s civil services, long considered the “steel frame” of governance, are now under increased scrutiny for their ability to adapt to contemporary challenges. This article equips you with a robust framework to address such questions by covering critical themes like politicization, inefficiency, and centralized governance, supported by case studies, Supreme Court judgments, and government initiatives. While aspirants typically mention reforms like Mission Karmayogi or lateral entry, they often neglect analysis of deeper systemic issues such as Politicization and Frequent Transfers. The Back2Basics section serves as a quick reference for essential components of civil services reforms. It breaks down critical aspects like recruitment, performance appraisals, capacity building, and accountability, along with the initiatives undertaken by the government (e.g., 360-degree appraisals, Citizen Charters, and Digital India). This concise and structured content helps aspirants connect static and current dimensions effortlessly.

PYQ Anchoring

GS 2: “Institutional quality is a crucial driver of economic performance”. In this con text suggest reforms in Civil Service for strengthening democracy. (2020)
GS 2: Initially Civil Services in India were designed to achieve the goals of neutrality and effectiveness, which seems to be lacking in the present context. Do you agree with the view that drastic reforms are required in Civil Services. Comment. (2017)

Microthemes: Civil Services

The government has launched initiatives such as Mission Karmayogi, highlighting efforts to reform India’s bureaucratic system, often referred to as the “steel frame” of governance.

Critical challenges of India’s bureaucratic structure

India’s bureaucratic framework, particularly the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), faces several critical challenges:

Politicization: Frequent transfers and promotions based on political loyalty rather than merit have eroded professionalism and morale. Lack of time to specialize due to frequent departmental rotations hampers the development of domain expertise.
Corruption and Inefficiency: India ranks moderately on the World Bank’s Government Effectiveness Index, signaling persistent issues in policy implementation and governance.
Centralized Governance: Power has increasingly been centralized in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), reducing the autonomy of civil servants and creating implementation bottlenecks.

Impact of Centralized Governance

• Reduced Autonomy: Senior bureaucrats lose independence, leading to a culture of compliance over innovation.

• Implementation Bottlenecks: Concentrating decisions at the top slows responses to emerging challenges and reduces efficiency.

• Neglect of Expertise: Over-reliance on top-down directives sidelines bureaucratic insights, impacting policymaking and governance outcomes.

Ancient Indic Principles for Enhancing Modern Governance

Ancient Indic principles provide timeless wisdom that can address contemporary governance challenges. These principles emphasize ethical leadership, inclusivity, sustainability, and active citizen participation. By integrating these values into modern frameworks, governance can become more effective, equitable, and aligned with the needs of society.

Principle	Description	Contemporary Examples
Ethical Leadership and Accountability (Raj Dharma)	Leaders must prioritize justice, fairness, and the public good, upholding values of transparency and responsibility.	Implementation of Lokpal and Lokayukta Acts to tackle corruption; PM’s emphasis on “minimum government, maximum governance.”
Inclusive Development (Antyodaya)	Ensures the upliftment of the most marginalized, promoting equity in resource distribution and opportunities.	Ayushman Bharat for healthcare access; Aspirational Districts Programme targeting backward regions.
Sustainability and Environmental Harmony (LiFE & Karmayogi)	Advocates sustainable practices and continuous skill development among public servants to address environmental and societal challenges.	India’s “Mission LiFE” for sustainable lifestyles; National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB).
Participative Governance (Sab Ka Prayas)	Encourages citizen involvement in policymaking and implementation through collective effort and shared responsibility.	Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’s success through community participation; MyGov platform for public policy feedback.
Empathy and Responsibility (P2G2)	Promotes a governance model based on empathy, inclusiveness, and shared responsibility between the state and citizens.	COVID-19 crisis management with active public participation; “Har Ghar Jal” campaign for clean water access.

Efforts taken to reform the bureaucracy in India

Commission Recommendations:
- 1st Administrative Reforms Commission (1966): Advocated specialization within the IAS for efficiency.
- 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission (2005): Suggested lateral entry for domain experts, mandatory training, and establishing a National Institute of Public Administration.
Central Government Initiatives:
- Mission Karmayogi (2020): Aims to create a future-ready civil service with continuous learning through digital platforms.
- Lateral Entry Reforms: Introduced to bring domain expertise into senior roles.
Supreme Court Judgments:
- T.S.R. Subramanian v. Union of India (2013): Prohibited civil servants from following oral political directives; mandated a Civil Services Board.
- Delhi Government Services Case (2023): Reinforced federalism by upholding Delhi’s legislative authority over services.

Way Forward

Empower Decentralized Governance: Strengthen local and state-level administrative autonomy to reduce over-centralization.
Implement Performance-Based Reforms: Institutionalize meritocracy with performance-linked promotions and lateral entry mechanisms.
Adopt Global Best Practices:Learn from initiatives like the proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the USA to streamline India’s bureaucracy.
Efficient Capacity Building: Expand programs like Mission Karmayogi to ensure civil servants are equipped with modern governance skills.

#BACK2BASICS : CIVIL SERVICES REFORMS

Components of Civil Services Reforms and Indian Government Initiatives

Component	Key Aspects	Reforms Undertaken by Indian Government
1. Size and Structure	– Rationalize ministries, departments, and officials to reduce redundancy.	– Rightsizing of Ministries: Streamlining ministries to avoid overlaps.
	– Focus on core governance functions and eliminate duplication.	– Creation of Mission Karmayogi (2020) to redefine roles and responsibilities.
2. Recruitment	– Merit-based recruitment with reduced political patronage.	– Adoption of Lateral Entry: Specialists from the private sector inducted into senior positions.
	– Incorporate specialized skills and foster public-private mobility.	– Simplification of UPSC Syllabus to focus on domain expertise and leadership skills.
3. Capacity Building	– Upgrade training programs to align with emerging challenges in technology and governance.	– Mission Karmayogi Digital Platform: Continuous learning and skill-building for civil servants.
	– Emphasize HR development and advanced training modules.	– Induction Programs for IAS, IPS, and IFS officers to introduce modern governance tools.
4. Performance and Promotion	– Reform appraisal systems like ACR to make them transparent and performance-driven.	– Introduction of 360-Degree Appraisal Mechanism to ensure holistic evaluation of officers’ performance.
	– Link promotions and incentives to quantifiable outcomes.	– Mid-Career Training Programs introduced to encourage specialization and leadership skills.
5. Professionalism and Modernity	– Ensure neutrality and reduce political interference.	– Ethics Training Modules introduced as part of IAS training to instill impartiality and integrity.
	– Promote e-governance for transparency and accountability.	– Digital India Program leveraged to introduce e-governance across ministries.
6. Accountability	– Strengthen reporting mechanisms and ensure transparency through legislation.	– Implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act for citizen empowerment.
	– Introduce citizen charters and grievance redressal systems.	– Introduction of Citizen Charters in key government departments for service delivery standards.