Civil services refers to the permanent executive branch of the State’s administration, excluding the military and the judicial branch. The Indian civil services are modelled on the pre-independence administrative system of the British which is essentially a hierarchical and merit-based career system with accountability to the political executive. It acts as the backbone of entire machinery of the government and is important for a democracy like India because:

• Instrumental in policy formulation: It helps identifying policy areas, analyzing solutions, designing policies, determining programmes of action and suggesting policy modification.
• Provides policy continuity: The governments change after every five years, however, it is the civil servants who provide continuity to programs and policies and a stable administration without any political bias.
• Public Service Delivery: They perform the welfare and regulatory functions of the government by delivering the promised goods and services to the intended beneficiaries.
• Implementation of Laws: Civil servants uphold the rule of law and secure public order in the society.
• Facilitating participatory democracy: Civil servants secure the support of the people for developmental activities by involving them in the process. E.g. formulation of citizens charter.
• Role in exigencies: They are the first official responders to any calamity or hazard. E.g. role played in management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• National binding force: The civil services with its national character, have been a strong binding force and it has greatly contributed to national development.

However, Indian civil services are alleged to be status quoist, bound by rigid rules, filled-up with generalists and marred by corruption and political interference. In that context, several committees such as Hota Committee, Santhanam Committee, Surinder Nath Committee and 2nd ARC etc. have recommended following reforms:

• Enhancing accountability and transparency in the system:

• A statutory Central Civil Services Authority to deal with matters of assignment of domain, preparing panels for posting of officers at different levels, fixing tenures and determining which posts should be advertised for lateral entry.
• A fixed minimum tenure and an annual performance target along with a three-member Ombudsman for grievance redressal in case of early transfer.
• Lateral entry to be done through an institutionalized and transparent process at both the Central and state levels.

• Capacity building: Successful completion of a mandatory training at the induction stage and periodically during service, as a minimum necessary condition for confirmation in service and subsequent promotions. Mission Karmayogi’ the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) is a significant step in this direction.
• Use of technology: Technology could be leveraged for seamless coordination between centre and states e.g. instituting Online Probity Management System’ in all central and state cadres and strengthening the implementation of online Centralized Public Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS).
• Code of Ethics: A comprehensive code incorporating the core values of integrity, merit and excellence in public service should be drawn up for civil servants.

These reforms not only strengthen the administrative capacity to perform core government functions to raise the quality of governance but also contribute to macroeconomic stabilization, improved development performance and effective implementation of social development programs.