India’s Bureaucracy: A Call for Transformation   

Context

India faces pressing governance challenges that necessitate reforms in its bureaucratic system, particularly the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). As the cornerstone of the nation’s administrative structure, the IAS must evolve to meet modern demands.

Overview

The IAS, often referred to as India’s “steel frame,” has played a pivotal role in governance since its inception. Despite its critical function in policy implementation, the service grapples with inefficiencies, politicisation, and lack of specialisation. Addressing these issues is essential for unlocking India’s economic potential and enhancing administrative efficiency.

Historical Background

Evolving from the Colonial Indian Civil Service (ICS), the IAS has symbolised governance in post-Independence India. However, its legacy is increasingly strained by systemic challenges that hinder its effectiveness in a rapidly modernising society.

Key Challenges

1. Politicisation: Frequent politically motivated transfers, promotions, and suspensions erode morale and professionalism.
2. Lack of Specialisation: Generalist training and rotations limit the development of domain expertise essential for addressing complex policy issues.
3. Corruption and Inefficiency: India’s moderate standing on the World Bank’s government effectiveness index reflects persistent inefficiencies and a lack of administrative independence.
4. Centralised Governance: Growing power concentration in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) sidelines bureaucratic insights, diminishing their role in policymaking.

Previous Reform Efforts

1. Administrative Reforms Commissions (ARCs):
   • The First ARC (1966) and Second ARC (2005) proposed significant changes, such as:
     • Reducing the entry age for civil services.
     • Instituting performance-based promotions.
     • Introducing lateral entry for domain expertise.
     • Protecting against arbitrary transfers.
   • Implementation has been inconsistent due to political resistance and bureaucratic inertia.
2. Supreme Court Directive (2013):
   • Mandated civil services boards to oversee transfers and postings. Enforcement, however, remains weak.
3. Lateral Entry:
   • Aimed at addressing the limitations of an IAS-centric model, the government began recruiting domain experts from the private sector and academia.
   • By 2023, 33% of Joint Secretaries at the Centre were non-IAS professionals, compared to near-total IAS dominance earlier.
   • Despite its potential, lateral entry faces resistance within the IAS and criticism for lacking reservation provisions for marginalised groups.
4. Accountability Measures:
   • Initiatives include data-driven performance metrics and efforts to curb politicised transfers, though challenges persist.

Lessons from Global Models

The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) offers valuable insights for reforming India’s administrative framework:

1. Streamlining Operations: Eliminate redundancies and inefficiencies.
2. Accountability: Introduce performance metrics and data-driven decision-making.
3. Expert Leadership: Leverage expertise from diverse industries.

India could adopt similar measures by:

• Establishing a time-bound commission to identify inefficiencies.
• Using performance metrics to assess bureaucratic effectiveness.
• Setting clear deadlines for actionable reforms.

Challenges to Reform

1. Resistance Within the IAS:
   • Institutionalised seniority-based progression and generalist approaches impede change.
   • Concerns over diminished influence due to lateral entries.
2. Political Interference:
   • Politically motivated actions undermine reform efforts.
   • Legislative proposals like the Civil Services Standards, Performance, and Accountability Bill (2010) have stalled due to lack of consensus.
3. Implementation Gaps:
   • Many ARC recommendations remain unimplemented due to bureaucratic inertia and enforcement challenges.

Way Forward

Reforming India’s bureaucracy requires a comprehensive approach to address structural, operational, and cultural issues:

1. Merit-Based Recruitment and Promotions:
   • Prioritise domain expertise and tie promotions to measurable performance metrics.
2. Specialised Training:
   • Equip officers with sector-specific knowledge for effective governance.
3. Expand Lateral Entry:
   • Institutionalise transparent processes with inclusivity measures, including reservations for underrepresented groups.
4. Safeguards Against Politicisation:
   • Strengthen civil services boards to protect against arbitrary transfers and ensure tenure stability.
5. Data-Driven Governance:
   • Build robust data infrastructure to track performance and inform decisions.
6. Streamlined Structure:
   • Rationalise overlapping roles and responsibilities across ministries and departments to reduce redundancy.

By addressing these challenges, India’s “steel frame” can be revitalised to meet the demands of a modern, dynamic economy.