100 Years of UPSC : the guardian of meritocracy

Syllabus: GS2/Polity and Governance

Context

• The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) marks a century of its establishment on October 1.

About

• Establishment: The Government of India Act, 1919, first provided for such a body, and in October 1926, the Public Service Commission was set up, following the recommendations of the Lee Commission (1924).
  • Later named the Federal Public Service Commission (1937), it was renamed the Union Public Service Commission with the adoption of India’s Constitution on 26th January 1950.
• The UPSC conducts civil services examinations to select officers for the Indian Administrative Service , Indian Foreign Service and the Indian Police Service , among others. 
• Members: Besides the chairman, it can have a maximum of 10 members.
  • A UPSC chairman is appointed for a term of six years or until attaining 65 years of age, all members have the same term.
• Reappointment: The UPSC Chairman is not eligible for reappointment after completing their term.
• Removal (317): Removal by President:
  • Can only be done on the ground of misbehaviour.
  • Requires a Supreme Court inquiry and report confirming the misbehaviour.
  • Reference to the Supreme Court is made by the President.
  • Can remove without Supreme Court inquiry if the person: Is adjudged insolvent, engages in paid employment outside office duties, is unfit due to mental or physical infirmity.

History of Civil Services in India

• Lord Cornwallis is considered as ‘Father of Civil Services in India’.
• Lord Wellesley founded the College of Fort William in Calcutta in 1800 to educate young recruits for the Civil Services.
  • But the directors of the Company, in 1806, replaced it with their own East Indian College at Haileybury in England.
• The Charter Act of 1853 abolished the patronage system and introduced open competitive examinations.
• The first competitive exams for the Indian Civil Services (ICS) were held in London in 1855.
• Satyendranath Tagore was the first Indian to clear ICS in 1864.
• From 1922 onwards the Indian Civil Service Examination began to be held in India.

Constitutional Provisions

• Article 309 empowers Parliament and State Legislatures to regulate recruitment and conditions of service.
• Article 310 of the Constitution states that civil servants of the Union and the States hold office during the pleasure of the President or the Governor, respectively.
• Article 311 provides safeguards for civil servants against arbitrary dismissal.
• Article 312 outlines the process for creating All India Services, such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Police Service (IPS), and the Indian Forest Service (IFS).
• Articles 315 to 323 of the Indian Constitution establish Public Service Commissions (PSCs) for both the Union (UPSC) and each state (SPSC).

Role of Civil Services in Governance

• Service delivery: They are responsible for administering welfare schemes and ensuring that public services reach the intended beneficiaries, particularly at the last mile.
• Maintaining law and order: Civil servants ensure peace, justice, and security by upholding the rule of law and coordinating with law enforcement agencies.
• Elections: They have been instrumental in the conduct of free and fair elections, and ensuring smooth transfer of power both at the Centre and States.
• Uninterrupted Administration: There have been numerous instances when States have been placed under President’s rule, with the civil services ensuring uninterrupted administration during such times.
• Policy Making: They provide advice to governments in policy making and also implement the policies made by the political executive.

Challenges faced by civil services

• Political Bias: At times lack of neutrality of Civil servants result in political bias in discharge of critical functions.
  • The cause and effect of this phenomenon is the increasing political interference in all aspects of bureaucracy including postings and transfers.
• Lack of Expertise: Career bureaucrats who are generalists, may lack the expertise needed to address technical challenges. 
• Red-tapism: Excessive procedural formalities often delay decision-making and hinder timely service delivery.
• Mental health issues: High-pressure environments, and long working hours impact the mental well-being of civil servants.
• Resistance to innovation: A rigid administrative culture discourages experimentation and adoption of new practices.
• Outdated rules and procedures: Many service regulations are colonial-era legacies that are not compatible with modern governance needs.

Governance reforms to enhance efficiency of bureaucracy

• Mission Karmayogi National Program: It is a flagship programme of Government of India launched in 2020 for training of civil servants, which intends to transform the Civil Services from ‘Rule Based’ to ‘Role Based’ way of functioning and Citizen Centric. 
• Lateral Entry into Civil Services to bring domain expertise and promote competitiveness in administration.
• e-Governance Initiatives: Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) for grievance redressal, SPARROW for performance appraisal, and digitization of service records.

Conclusion

• Civil servants play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of India’s growth and governance, often known as the architects of Viksit Bharat.
• While it has been praised for its professionalism and institutional stability, it also faces challenges such as delays, procedural rigidity, and adaptability to modern needs. 
• Strengthening transparency, efficiency, and accountability can help the bureaucracy continue to serve as an effective pillar of India’s democratic system.

Source: TH