Defining Civil Service Activism

Civil service activism involves the proactive measures taken by civil servants to transform the system into a more transparent, people-centric, and efficient one. Furthermore, they ensure that the administration adheres to the constitutional values and established rules.

Civil service activism encompasses a range of activities such as:

• Regular public meetings organised by civil servants,
• Solicitation of public feedback,
• Spreading awareness about public rights,
• Ensuring the quality of goods and services provided by the Government,
• Vigilant functioning, monitoring, and inspection, and
• Taking a strong stance against decisions or actions by ministers, political leaders, seniors, or colleagues that contradict their constitutional duties and values.

Challenges Faced by Civil Service Activism in India

The Indian Civil Services faces various challenges. Here are some key details about the specific problems of civil service activism for UPSC and other exams.

• Resistance to Change by Indian Bureaucracy

As an instrument of Indian administration, civil servants should be open to changes. However, they often resist and defy changes as they are intertwined with their prospects and privileges.

For example, the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments brought about significant changes. These amendments empowered rural and local urban governments to become institutions of self-government. However, the reluctance and timidity of bureaucrats in accepting the altered role, accountability, and responsibility obstructed the intended vision.

• Bureaucratic Red Tape

Rule book bureaucracy refers to following the rules and laws of the book without considering the actual needs of the people. This leads to the development of a bureaucratic attitude in many civil servants. Consequently, red-tapism, complex procedures, and inadequate responses to people's needs by bureaucratic organisations occur.

• Political Interference

In numerous instances, civil servants have to collaborate with local political representatives to carry out regional level operations. Both parties should work together to serve the commoners through development, wellbeing, and welfare.

However, political representatives often influence administrative functions to fulfil populist interests. This compels the officials to adhere to the political leader's will. Such interference leads to corruption, arbitrary transfers, and substantial inefficiency due to a lack of competent and honest officers.

• Structural Problems

Civil service activism has been facing several structural issues due to the advent of changes like globalisation and economic reforms. These have also significantly altered the fundamental role of the State and administration.

The administrative role is no longer limited to maintaining law and order and implementing government rules. Instead, technological advancements such as cyber security demand specialist officers with domain knowledge at a policy level.

Another issue in the administration is ensuring accountability and transparency along with representative and participatory decision-making. Finally, limited employment opportunities in certain public services and recruitment corruption are major structural issues.

Examples of Civil Service Activism

• The former Comptroller and Auditor General, Rajiv Mehrishi, openly criticised the inefficient process of coal block allocations.
• A former Chief Election Commissioner, S. Y. Quraishi, led a tough fight against electoral malpractices. He made significant contributions to making the Election Commission a transparent, efficient, and influential body. As a result, India witnessed some clean elections under his leadership after the rigid implementation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
• Prakash Singh, a retired Indian Police Service officer, brought about reforms in jails by introducing innovative measures such as vocational courses, meditation, yoga etc.
• Durga Shakti Nagpal, a young IAS officer, was suspended for taking on the sand mafia in Uttar Pradesh. However, she stood her ground and continued to fight against corruption.

Civil services are known to be the tool for bringing change to the system. Therefore, civil servant activists often go against some conduct rules to serve long-term democratic interests and the rule of law. Such activism acts as a beacon of hope for the common people in India.

That concludes our discussion on civil service activism, a topic that could be useful for civil services aspirants.

Aspirants can visit the linked article and get details about the upcoming government exams that include current affairs and general awareness as an important topic in the syllabus.

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