To further the creation of a highly effective and responsible civil service, a revised system of hiring, training, and evaluation must be implemented. Talk about it in relation to India. (250 words)
Model Answer Introduction India’s traditional bureaucratic structure and culture have been criticized for hampering the country’s socio-economic development. Characterized by complex procedures, lack of transparency, and prevalent corruption, the bureaucracy often impedes the effective implementatioRead more
Model Answer
Introduction
India’s traditional bureaucratic structure and culture have been criticized for hampering the country’s socio-economic development. Characterized by complex procedures, lack of transparency, and prevalent corruption, the bureaucracy often impedes the effective implementation of development policies and programs.
Body
Red Tape and Inefficiency
The bureaucratic system in India is notorious for red tape, which involves excessive regulation and rigid adherence to rules. This results in significant delays in decision-making and policy implementation. For instance, setting up a new business can take several months due to the multitude of clearances and permits required, discouraging potential entrepreneurs and investors (Source: World Bank).
Corruption
Corruption within the traditional bureaucratic framework has led to resource misallocation and diminished efficiency. High-profile scandals, such as the 2G spectrum scam (2008) and the Commonwealth Games scandal (2010), exemplify how corruption can result in substantial financial losses and tarnish India’s global image (Source: The Hindu).
Centralized Decision-Making
India’s bureaucratic structure is characterized by centralized decision-making, limiting innovation and adaptability. The earlier centralized power structure of the Planning Commission (now replaced by NITI Aayog) often employed a one-size-fits-all approach to development that failed to address regional disparities effectively (Source: NITI Aayog).
Insufficient Coordination Among Departments
Poor inter-departmental coordination hampers effective governance. For example, the lack of collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Water Resources has led to inefficient water resource management, adversely affecting sustainable agricultural practices (Source: Economic and Political Weekly).
Resistance to Change
There has been slow adoption of e-governance initiatives, which has hindered improvements in public service delivery. The reluctance to embrace digitization limits the potential benefits of information technology in governance (Source: NASSCOM).
Conclusion
The traditional bureaucratic system in India has significantly hindered socio-economic development. While reforms like e-governance, the Right to Information Act, and NITI Aayog show promise, further systemic changes are required to accelerate development and improve governance in the country.
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Answer: Reforms in civil services are a continuous process and several initiatives have been taken in recent years such as the introduction of a multi-stakeholder feedback (MSF) performance evaluation, dispensing with interviews for lower-level positions, introduction of online mechanisms for appraiRead more
Answer: Reforms in civil services are a continuous process and several initiatives have been taken in recent years such as the introduction of a multi-stakeholder feedback (MSF) performance evaluation, dispensing with interviews for lower-level positions, introduction of online mechanisms for appraisals and filing of various returns by employees, implementation of e-office, etc. Several constraints impede the development of a highly efficient, transparent and accountable civil service, as explained below: Size and Structure of bureaucracy: Since independence, the number of ministries and the size of associated bureaucracy have increased considerably, due to which:
Recruitment:
Human Resource Management:
Reform measures that needs to be taken: Recruitment Level
Training Level
Evaluation Level
A paradigm shift in the nature of civil service/servants is required to cope up with the emerging demands and the changes in society and economy and to reorient them into a dynamic, efficient and accountable apparatus for public service delivery.
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