Challenges with the IAS and Bureaucracy
The IAS, once the backbone of India’s administration, faces issues like political interference, lack of specialisation, and outdated personnel practices.
Frequent transfers and politicisation hinder officers from gaining expertise, affecting governance efficiency.
Corruption and inefficiency persist, limiting India’s economic growth and quality of policy implementation.
Government Efforts for Reform
The Modi government has attempted reforms like lateral entry to bring in domain experts from outside the IAS.
Lateral entry has introduced 57 officers from the private sector, diversifying the administration and challenging the IAS’s dominance.
However, these reforms face resistance from within the bureaucracy and political concerns, especially regarding marginalised group reservations.
The Need for Broader Administrative Reforms
Over 50 commissions since Independence have recommended reforms, but progress has been slow.
Recommendations include performance-based promotions, merit-based recruitment, and protection from arbitrary transfers, but many remain unimplemented due to inertia and political resistance.
A new approach, incorporating data-driven decision-making and performance tracking, is needed to address inefficiencies and improve governance.
Challenges to Reform Implementation
Resistance to reforms like lateral entry, merit-based promotions, and specialisation within the IAS is strong, with entrenched seniority-based practices.
Political interference and delayed legislation complicate the process, and judicial recommendations have had limited impact.
A multifaceted approach, focusing on merit-based recruitment, specialisation, and data infrastructure, is essential for effective bureaucratic reform.
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