ROLE
OF CIVIL SERVICES - ETHICS
News: The transformative odyssey of civil
services in India: From colonial roots to modern challenges
What's
in the news?
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The story of India’s civil services is an
intriguing journey that spans from its colonial beginnings, shaped by British
administrative systems, to the multifaceted challenges they encounter in the
contemporary era.
Key
takeaways:
●
The article explores the historical
evolution of civil services, highlighting their significant transformation and
their pivotal role in conducting free and fair elections, thus preserving and
upholding democracy in the world’s largest democratic nation.
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From their colonial origins to recent
incidents illustrating contemporary challenges, such as the intriguing transfer
of an IAS Couple to a remote location separated by thousands of kilometres and
the subsequent compulsory retirement of the wife IAS Officer due to an unusual
incident involving walking a dog in a stadium.
●
It is evident that even minor infractions
are now viewed with heightened seriousness, emphasizing the imperative for
every civil servant to uphold a strict code of conduct and exemplary public
behaviour.
Role
of Civil Servants in Democracy:
1.
Policy formulation:
●
The civil servants are also in charge of
formulating policies.
2.
Civil service as a stabilizing force:
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In times of political unrest, the civil
service provides stability and permanence.
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While administrations and ministers come
and go, the civil service remains a constant, providing stability and
continuity to the administrative structure.
3.
Instruments of social change and economic development:
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Effective policy execution will result in
beneficial improvements in ordinary people's lives.
●
A government can only declare a scheme
successful when the promised goods and services reach the intended recipients.
4.
Welfare services:
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The services provide a variety of welfare
programs, including social security, the welfare of the weaker and more
vulnerable members of society, old-age pensions, poverty reduction, and so on.
5.
Developmental functions:
●
The services conduct a number of
developmental functions, such as encouraging new agricultural techniques,
industry, trade, financial functions, and bridging the digital gap, among
others.
6.
Administrative adjudication:
●
The civil service also provides
quasi-judicial services by resolving conflicts between the government and
citizens through tribunals and other mechanisms.
Issues
in Civil Services:
1.
Accountability Gaps:
●
Civil servants frequently escape
accountability for service delivery failures, eroding public trust. This
includes instances of poorly executed welfare programs.
2.
Skill Shortages:
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Certain sectors suffer from a shortage of
skilled personnel, impacting service quality. For instance, rural areas often
lack doctors, leading to inadequate healthcare access.
3.
Complex Regulations:
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Excessive regulatory complexity hampers
economic growth. Overly intricate tax laws, for example, create challenges for
businesses and taxpayers.
4.
Ethical Dilemmas:
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Civil servants grapple with ethical
quandaries, like obeying orders that may not serve the public interest or
risking their careers by refusing compliance.
5.
Innovation Lags:
●
Civil services tend to be slow in adapting
to technological advancements, hindering efficiency and transparency.
E-governance initiatives sometimes face resistance and can be exploited.
6.
Lingering Inequalities:
●
Despite inclusion efforts, inequalities
persist. The digital divide, for example, deprives marginalized communities of
essential services.
7.
Environmental Balancing Act:
●
Civil services face the delicate task of
balancing economic development with environmental sustainability. Issues like
air and water pollution demand effective regulation.
The recent steps like
Mission KARMAYOGI, lateral entry, e-Samiksha, Citizen charter are some slew of
reform measures taken in recent years to address the issues of civil services.
The idea of a future-ready civil service is a holistic one. A
whole-of-government and de-siloed attitude, anticipating the future,
collaborative in its method, participatory in its engagement, and innovative in
its spirit.