Civil services play a vital role in upholding and reinforcing democracy, yet there is a necessity for lateral entry and increased transparency

The idea of a merit-based contemporary Civil Service in India was established in 1854. Starting in 1922, the Indian Civil Service Examination was conducted in India. Post-independence, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) assumed the role of conducting the examinations.

Civil Services Day is celebrated annually on 21st April to honor the day in 1947 when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel spoke to the inaugural group of civil servants at Metcalfe House, New Delhi.

He described civil servants as the "Steel frame of India," highlighting their importance in preserving unity and integrity.

Evolution of Civil Services in India

– Lord Cornwallis is regarded as the 'Father of Civil Services in India'.

– In 1800, Lord Wellesley established the College of Fort William in Calcutta to train young recruits for the Civil Services.

However, in 1806, the Company's directors substituted it with their own East Indian College located in Haileybury, England.

– Prior to 1853, directors of the East India Company were responsible for appointing Civil Servants. Members of the Board of Control were permitted to submit certain nominations.

– The Charter Act of 1853 eliminated the patronage system and established open competitive exams.

The initial competitive examinations for the Indian Civil Services (ICS) took place in London in 1855.

– Satyendranath Tagore became the first Indian to pass the ICS examination in 1864.

Function of Civil Services in Administration

Service provision: They are tasked with managing welfare programs and making certain that public services reach the desired recipients, especially at the final stages.

Upholding law and order: Civil servants maintain peace, justice, and safety by enforcing the rule of law and collaborating with law enforcement organizations.

Elections: They have played a crucial role in facilitating free and fair elections, as well as ensuring a seamless transition of power at both the national and state levels.

Continuous Governance: There have been many occasions when States have been put under President’s rule, with civil servants maintaining continuous governance during those periods.

Policy Development: They offer recommendations to governments in the development of policies and also carry out the policies established by the political leadership.

Obstacles encountered by civil services

Political Bias: The characteristic of neutrality is rapidly diminishing among bureaucrats, leading to political bias in the execution of essential duties.

The reason and consequence of this phenomenon is the growing political influence in every area of bureaucracy, including assignments and relocations.

Insufficient Expertise: Generalist bureaucrats may not possess the specialized knowledge required to tackle technical issues.

Corruption: There exists considerable corruption throughout all levels of the bureaucracy that frequently remains unpunished.

Red-tapism: An abundance of procedural formalities frequently slows down decision-making and obstructs prompt service provision.

Mental health concerns: Stressful settings and extended hours affect the psychological well-being of public employees.

Opposition to innovation: A strict administrative culture inhibits experimentation and the implementation of new methods.

Obsolete rules and procedures: Numerous service regulations are remnants from the colonial era that do not align with current governance requirements.

Reforms in governance to improve bureaucratic efficiency

Mission Karmayogi National Program: This is a premier initiative of the Government of India introduced in 2020 aimed at training civil servants, with the goal of shifting the Civil Services from a ‘Rule Based’ to a ‘Role Based’ functioning approach that focuses on citizens.

Lateral Entry into Civil Services aims to infuse domain knowledge and enhance competitiveness within the administration.

e-Governance Initiatives: Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) for addressing grievances, SPARROW for evaluating performance, and the digitization of service records.

Summary

Civil servants are crucial in determining the course of India's development and governance, frequently referred to as the builders of Viksit Bharat.

The impartial bureaucracy must be shielded from inappropriate political influence to maintain the rule of law and constitutional principles.

To ensure a harmonious equilibrium between the political and permanent executive, the independence of career bureaucrats is crucial. This entails a sensible level of autonomy regarding assignments, durations, and relocations. Furthermore, bureaucrats must change their emphasis from 'procedure' to 'results.'