Syllabus: GS2/Governance
Context
- The Civil Services Examination (CSE), conducted by UPSC, serves as the gateway to India’s administrative services, shaping governance and policy implementation.
- However, over the years, concerns have emerged regarding its structure, fairness, and effectiveness, prompting discussions on the need for reform.
About the Civil Services in India
- The Civil Services of India form the backbone of India’s administrative system, ensuring governance, policy implementation, and public service delivery.
- Structure:
- All India Services include Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFoS).
- Central Civil Services include Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), and Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS), among others.
- State Civil Services are managed by individual states through their State Public Service Commissions (SPSC).
- India’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel coined the term ‘Steel Frame of India’ to the civil services on April 21, 1947 because of their role in nation-building, governance, and policy execution.
- India celebrates Civil Services Day on April 21 every year to honor the contributions of civil servants.
Historical Evolution and Existing Format
- Macaulay Report of 1854: It laid the foundation for merit-based selection, and post-independence.
- Kothari Committee (1975): It introduced the three-tier system—comprising a preliminary exam, main examination, and an interview.
- It has remained largely unchanged, several modifications have been made to enhance transparency and inclusivity.
- Key Reforms Over the Years:
- 2005: The Right to Information Act led to increased transparency in UPSC’s evaluation process.
- 2011: The S.K. Khanna Committee recommended replacing the optional paper in prelims with a common paper, leading to the introduction of Paper-I (General Studies) and Paper-II (Aptitude Test).
- 2013: The Arun Nigvekar Committee proposed restructuring the General Studies papers, covering diverse subjects such as Indian Polity, Governance, Economy, and Science & Technology.
| Constitutional Provisions Related To Public Services in India – Indian Constitution provides a framework under Part XIV (Services under the Union and the States). – Establishment of Public Service Commissions: 1. Article 315: Mandates the formation of a Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and State Public Service Commissions (SPSC). 2. States can also form a Joint Public Service Commission through a resolution passed by their legislatures. – Appointment and Tenure: 1. Article 316: The President appoints the UPSC Chairman and members, while State Governors appoint SPSC members.Members serve for six years or until the age of 65 (UPSC) / 62 (SPSC).Functions and Responsibilities:Article 320: Defines the duties of Public Service Commissions, including: (a). Conducting examinations for civil services. (b). Advising on recruitment, promotions, and disciplinary matters. (c). Handling claims for pension and legal expenses. – Removal and Safeguards: 1. Article 317: Members can be removed by the President on grounds of misbehavior, following an inquiry by the Supreme Court. 2. Their conditions of service cannot be altered to their disadvantage. – Financial Independence: 1. Expenses of UPSC and SPSC are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India/State, ensuring autonomy. |
Challenges in the Current System
- Preliminary Examination as a Filtering Mechanism: The prelims, originally designed to select the most deserving candidates, now function as a highly competitive elimination round, reducing over five lakh aspirants to around 10,000.
- This intense filtering process raises concerns about fairness and accessibility.
- Bias in Paper-II (CSAT): While Paper-II is now a qualifying paper, it still favors candidates with backgrounds in Science and Engineering, making it challenging for Humanities students.
- Unpredictability: Paper-I has become increasingly unpredictable, making preparation resource-intensive and high-cost, leading to concerns about equity in access.
- Issues in the Main Examination: Short-answer format in General Studies prioritizes factual recall over analytical skills, which are crucial for administrative roles.
- Absence of long-form questions limits the ability to assess critical thinking.
- Optional subjects, chosen based on scoring trends rather than aspirants’ academic backgrounds, undermine specialization.
- Issues Related To Lateral Entry: It has been challenged for conflicting with Article 309, which governs recruitment rules for public servants.
- Lateral entrants are appointed for three years, which may be insufficient for meaningful contributions.
Need for Reform
- Revising the preliminary exam structure to ensure a fairer selection process.
- Balancing Paper-II to accommodate aspirants from diverse academic backgrounds.
- Introducing long-form analytical questions in the main examination.
- Replacing optional subjects with common papers such as Governance and Policy, aligning with administrative responsibilities.
- Retaining age and attempt limits until 2030 to ensure inclusivity in bureaucratic selection.
Future Adjustments Post-2030
- Post-2030, appropriate revisions can be made based on changing demographics, education accessibility, and social advancements.
- Any modifications should ensure continued inclusivity while maintaining merit-based selection.
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