Civil Service

Constitutional Provisions Related to Civil Services

• Part XIV– Services under the Union and States (Article 308-323)
• Articles 53 and 154– Executive power of Union and State
• Article 309– Recruitment and conditions of service of persons serving Union or State
• Article 310 – Tenure of office of persons serving the Union or a State.
• Article 311 – Dismissal, removal, or reduction in rank of persons employed in civil capacities under the Union or a State.
• Article 312 – All India Services.
• Article 315 – PSCs for Union and State

Role of Civil Service

1. Policy Creation and Implementation: Government policies are put into action, by servants, particularly those in administrative roles. They collaborate closely with elected officials to ensure that policies are effectively implemented addressing the needs and concerns of the public.
2. Administration and Governance:  Civil servants bear the responsibility of overseeing day-to-day government operations. They manage government departments and agencies ensuring the functioning of public services and programs.
3. Lawfulness and Order: Servants, those in law enforcement agencies play a crucial part in upholding lawfulness and order. They enforce laws, prevent and investigate crimes, and strive to ensure safety.
4. Public Service Provision: Civil servants are actively involved in delivering services to the public such as education, healthcare, infrastructure development, and social welfare programs. They aim to enhance the quality and accessibility of these services for all.
5. Developmental Planning: Civil servants contribute significantly to their country’s social advancement by formulating development plans and carrying out projects accordingly. Their role is paramount, in fostering growth while addressing challenges.
6. Accountability and Transparency: High standards of accountability, transparency, and honesty are demanded of civil servants. They hold the government responsible for the use of public resources and make sure that its activities follow the law and the interests of the public.
7. Emergency Response and Crisis Management: When there are crises, natural catastrophes, or emergencies, civil personnel are frequently first to respond. They oversee resources, plan relief operations, and assist impacted communities.

Core Values of Indian Bureaucracy

1. Objectivity: Helps in unbiased decision-making 
2. Impartiality and non-partisanship:  Treat people impartially, regardless of political, social, demographic, or geographic, circumstances or biases.
3. Honesty and integrity: Set out the facts and relevant issues truthfully and correct any errors as soon as possible.
4. Empathy: Civil Servants need to have the capacity to listen to others and comprehend their thoughts, feelings, and concerns especially when it comes to the worries of the weaker and more vulnerable segments of society.
5. Transparency: It makes it possible for officials and interested parties to communicate openly.
6. Allegiance to the Constitution and the laws of the nation
7. Commitment to public service: Civil servants must maintain absolute and unstinting devotion towards their duties and responsibilities at all times.
8. Accountability: Civil servants are accountable for their decisions and actions and should be willing to subject themselves to appropriate scrutiny for this purpose.

Issues in Civil Services

1. Lack of Manpower: As the Baswan Committee Report (2016) noted, there is a general lack of personnel, particularly in mid-level and upper-level services, which causes delays in service and strain on current employees, among other issues.
2. Rule-Based Bureaucracy: Some government officials have adopted a “bureaucratic behavior” mentality as a result of rule book bureaucracy, which is associated with problems like red tape, complicated procedures, and “bureaucratic” institutions’ mismatched responses to the requirements of the public.
3. Unlawful Political Meddling: This meddling can occasionally result in problems like arbitrary transfers of honorable public personnel and corruption. Additionally, this resulted in significant inefficiencies as the brightest officers were not holding the most important positions, which eventually might have led to institutional deterioration.
4. The Absence of Specialized Knowledge Among Officials: Makes it difficult in decision-making areas that require specialized knowledge.
5. Resistance to Change: Bureaucracy has often been criticized for its resistance to change towards adopting technology and decentralization of governance.