Civil Services Reforms

Civil Services Reforms

- A futuristic agenda

The recent decision of the Union cabinet to introduce ‘Civil services aptitude test’ (CSAT) in place of old and obsolete Preliminary examination could hardly come a day sooner. It marks a welcome initiative towards the more substantive goal of reforming our Civil services on modern lines. It is secret to none that the successful functioning of any government depends heavily on the professional competence and appropriate behavioral orientation of bureaucracy in ‘sync’ with the costantantly changing realities of time.Accordingly, the nature and pattern of examination including the content of the syllabus needs to be designed and calibrated to impart a competitive edge to our administrative apparatus in an increasingly globalizing world. Although, the ‘UPA’ government has set the wheel in motion yet the journey ahead towards the ‘overhauling’ of the entire machinery to reconcile the conflicting interests of ‘Bharat’ and ‘India’ and then India vis-à-vis the rest of the world is going to be too challenging to afford us a self defeating dogmatism. The multi- factor and multi variable contextual backdrop of civil services (encompassing social, economic, political and cultural attributes) make sure that any reform in structural and behavioral profile of our civil services will not succeed unless it is accompanied ‘inter alia’ by a set of corresponding reforms in our political and judicial system as well, fuelled by a pro-active civil society and a responsible media. No doubt, a ‘multi- pronged’ reformative approach is the need of the hour.

Further on the political front, the government would need to display unwavering resolve against the ‘status quoist’ bureaucracy to dismantle the colonial legacy of the past and to improvise a radical vision for the progressive transformation of our society. In the wake of consistently increasing challenges as well as opportunities orchestrated by the forces of globalization, any reformative agenda on civil services must go beyond the hackneyed suggestions encapsulated by the expression ‘debureaucratization’.The shock therapy administered by the global economic crisis has convinced the policy makers all over the world regarding the imperativeness of strengthening the intervention of state even in the business of steering business to keep the ecological settings of development in order. By implication, Civil services as an instrument in the hands of state deserves to occupy center stage in any macro-level scheme of reforms being pursued by the government.

Apart from rationalizing the structure, operational methods and procedures pertaining to civil services ,what is needed the most is protection against undesirable political interference.Therefore,as long as bureaucrats remain liable to be shunted out of their esteemed positions on account of failure to check adverse publicity of acceptance of currency note garlands by their political masters (to mention one of the many similarly preposterous cases),any set of reforms will keep struggling to prove its worth.

The ‘jaws-dropping’ diversity of India in every conceivable sphere of life finds an equally valid manifestation in the world of ‘isms’.In simpler words, the compulsive charm of capitalism engages the constitutionally ordained ‘soul’ of socialism in India to reconcile the claims of have’s and have nots’.To that much extent, any endeavour aimed at reforming our civil services must reflect sensitivity to needs of the masses and achieving at the same time a globally competitive professionalism and orientation.

Even after more than sixty year of independence, the much esteemed ‘steel frame’still remains committed to its literal meaning showing only trivial and ‘cosmetological’ responsiveness to the stupendous changes witnessed in the contemporary realities. The statement of reality appears more disappointing particularly in the context of ever improving definitions of development emphasizing ‘distributive justice’

and environmental sustainability. Consequently, the restructuring of civil services would require selective incorporation of principles and practices inspired by the realities of market based economy on the one hand and the inculcation of democratic dynamism to address the peculiar problems confronting our ‘prismatic’ and ‘poly normative’ society. Although, we need to expand the role and significance of ‘specialists’ in civil services yet the multi dimensional character of planning, policy making and implementation emanating from the core of ‘hydra-headed’ heterogeneity justifies the continuance with generalists but in a new form as specialized generalists. In nut shell,a harmonious inter blending of universal and situation-triggered design is needed.

Sajjan Singh

(Senior Faculty, Public Administration

Rau’s IAS)