Q - The term minimum government and maximum governance is not merely a slogan, but
an administrative philosophy. In the context of the above statement, discuss the
various measures taken by government of India In promoting minimum government and
maximum governance.
Dictated notes
Though there is no universal definition of term governance, accordingly its
parameters and its determinants vary over the period of time and space. A list of
generlised set of params for governance include
- the kind of political regime that exist in a country
- the rule of law
- citixen participation
- consensus oriented govt
- internal secutrity and public order
- market regulation
- international relations etc.
------------------------------------
Citizen Charter
CC enforces the idea of popular [Link] context of the statement, discuss
the role played by CC in effective service delivery.
Set of commitments made by a public organisation towards standards, quality,
choices, value for money etc. in the delivery of services and a grievance redressal
mechanism in case the commitments are not fulfilled.
1st time in UK 1991
components :
- maintaining the standards
- improving quality
- giving more choices
- value for taxpayers money
- transparency in rules and regulations
- grievance redressal mechanism
1997 CC --> services first
that added
- consult and evolve
- correct wrong things
in India, 1996 - conf. of chief secretaries for effective admin
1997, conf of CM formulated CC for public engagement
As per DAR&PG, a good CC include
- the vision and mission statement of the organisation
- the details of business transacted by the organisation
- the diff services provided to the client group
- the responsibility of the clients towards the clients etc.
Other directives includethat the charters
- chart shall be simple and easy to understand
- shall clearly specify various rules and regulations, and fee structure
- be formulated after conusultation with the field staff
address problems of differently abled
reviewed periodically
effective grieviance redressal mechanism for timely resolution of grievance
issues
- the charters are formulated as one time activity with no periodic review
- no statutory backing for the charter
- lack of consultation while formulating the charter
- complex design and material of charter
- absence of charter in vernacular language
- one size fix all approach in formulating the charter
- doesn't address the issues pertaining to various stakeholders
- no accountability of the head of the department if the commitments are not
fulfilled.
recommendations
- An organisation shall restructure its business process before formulating the
charters
- different charters shall be formulated for diff departments and sub departments
- periodic assessment by nodal agency
- involvement of various stakeholders while formulating the charters
- catergorization of different kinds of clients
- accountability fo the head of the department incase of nonfulfilement of
commitments
- mass level awareness campaigns with separate budget allocation for citizen
charters
- the formulation of the charters in regional languages to spread its reach and
assessability
----------------------------------------------------
role of civil services in democracy
Q - "The civil services are regarded as the steel framework of the nation". in
context of the above statement, dicuss the role played by civil services in nation
building
Q - the steel is rusted and only the framework is left. Critically examine.
Q - the bureaucracy and political examination go hand in hand. critically examine.
We adopted Max Weberian model of bureaucracy
- charismatic authority
- traditional authority
- Legal rational authority - best - backed by laws
1 officials are selected based on set of qualfications
2. arranged in order of hierarchy
3 system of promotion on basis of achievement and experiences
4 fixed salary
5 has its own sphere of competence based on specialisation and territorial
Adjudication
while addressing the first batch of civil servants, sardar patel referred them as
steel framework of the nation. as per patel, "Your predecessors are grown in an
environment where by they have been kept aloof from normal citizenry. it shall be
bound in duty to treat them as your own". Accordingly thery were entrusted with
- maintaining soverignity,unity and territorial integrity of the country.
- upholding the constitutional spirit
- social and economic development, etc.
Constitutional provisions :
1 Article 309 - regulate
2 Article 310 - pleasure of president and governor
3 Article 311 - safe gaurds subordinate authority cant remove a cs
4 Article 312 - forming All India Services
India is a country with parochial culture so the officials of all india services
are expected to serve the two masters with same loyalty and dedication. in the
process they not only maintain political neutrality but also uphold the
constitutional spirit
Issues
- generalist nature of IAS
- Against son of soil policy
- inherit the legacy of command and control rather than service motive
- state govt criticize, untamed horses, state and center conflict, subordinate
secondary cadre
- Lack of Recognition => affects morale ( ex. discrimination in empanelment
policy )
- 2nd ARC observed that the bureaucracies suffers from systematic rigidities,
needless complexities, over centralization that affects he outcome of policy
- abuse of power and nuisance vale are virtually unchecked (say instagrammer
governance)
- PC Hota committee observed frequent transfers. As per Hota committee "if the
officials of All India Services are provided with a fixed term of three years with
annual assessment targets, a quantum jump can be observed in their function." -->
T.S.R. Subramaniam
- PC Hota committee observed Rampant corruption. As per Hota Committee " The
illegally obtained property or assets of the bureaucrats shall be attached under
binami transactions prohibition act 1988.
- Nexus with politicians and business fraternity. crony capitalism is triangular
nexus between politicians/political party - bureaucrats - businessmen.
Civil Services Activism
it refers to proactive set of measures or initiatives that aim at promoting citizen
centric, honest administration and it includes set of activities like
- teaching people about their rights
- being intolerant to anti constitutional practices
- working in the spirit of the laws rather than the letter
- organising conferences to promote participatory governance
- working with the stake holders to promote good governance
Challenges wrt CSA
- complex set of laws/rules like civil services conduct rules
- As per 2nd ARC, the bureaucracy is more concerned with internal decision making
instead of being result oriented
- Red tapism, hierarchy
- evolution of technology
- patrimonialism : power flowing from political authority
Refroms or suggestions
- At the entry level, the 2nd ARC has recommended that a National Institute of
Public Administration that shall operate to offer degree courses in law, pub ad,
management to prepare for talent pool and many other recommendations like mid-
career training, 3 domain expertise; OT and Aptitude test from pc hota committee.
- 360 degree appraisal in empanelment policy - cadre is allotted based on merit and
availabity except AGMUT : holistic coverage. ( learn from the book or somewhere)
- Mission Karmayogi : aimed at transformation of bureaucracy from rule obsessed to
role oriented. DoPT started IGOT platform where training institutes present
different domain expertise training for the officials to choose their area based on
seniority.
-------------------------------
Lateral Entry
Refers to a process of bypassing the regular mode of recruitment at the top
positions.
Need for lateral entry
- Generalist nature of IAS
- shortages of IAS in BIMARU States
- positive competition promoting
- Past experience has been positive say
- not a burden because it is temporary( 3 years) and tenure extension based on
performance appraisal
limitations
- Not a Panacea
- Promotes nexus and Nepotism in removal and retention also spoil system
- It can have negative impact on morale of officers
----------------------------------------
Right to Information Act, 2005
Q - RTI enforces the idea of popular soverignity. in context of the statement,
examine the role played by RTI in bringing the administrative reforms.
Q - RTI amendment of 2019 dilutes the purposes of the law. critically examine.
As per 2nd ARC, there are 4 important components of good governance. They are
- Transparency
- participation
- accountability
- predictability
Laws like RTI, bring objectivity in functioning of public authourity by allowing
public to scrutinize on public records.
Acc to UN declaration on human rights 1948, RTI is regarded as a human right
in the words of Thomas Jefferson, "information is the currency of democracy"
in several case-laws like Ms kulwal vs JMC; Anjali Jain Case; Rajnarayan vs Indira
Gandhi
RTI is Disbursement or Dissemination of any information held by public authority
either on the voluntary basis or on the basis on demand. It is a composite right
that includes, right to inspect, right to collect samples, right to tak photographs
and right to receive the information in desired format. The information include
opinion, press release, document, files, memos etc. The Public authority is any
such authority that is raised by constitution of india, by the law of the
parliament, by the law of the state legislature, departmental or executive
resolution, any provate authority that is partially , completely or substantially
financed by the state.
Provisions of RTI act 2005
The act mandates the establishment of office of PIO/APIO who are the first point of
contact. every PIO is required to submit the response within 30 days of receiving
the application. incase of any misinformation or denial of information, the act
provides for penalty provisions (from 250/day to max 25000). The response of the
RTI is to be provided in the official language of the state. Act provides appellate
mechanism. in the