THE POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. THE SEAT BELTS, HEAD RESTRAINTS AND SAFETY REGULATIONS

THE CONTEXT: The recent death of Cyrus P. Mistry, former Chairman of Tata Sons, in a car crash in Maharashtra’s Palghar district on September 4 has turned the focus on whether compulsory use of seat belts in cars — including by passengers in the rear seat — can save lives during such accidents.
THE EXPLANATION:
HOW IS A SEAT BELT A LIFE SAVER?
• In a car crash, particularly at moderate to high speeds, the driver or passenger who has no seat belt continues to move forward at the speed of the vehicle, until some object stops the occupant. This could be the steering wheel, dashboard or windscreen for those in front, and the front seat, dashboard or windscreen for those in the rear.
• Without an airbag, and no seat belt restraint, a severe crash leads to the occupant of the rear seat striking the seat in front with such force that “it is sufficient for the seat mountings and seat structures to fail”.
• The seat belt performs many functions, notably slowing the occupant at the same rate as the vehicle, distributing the physical force in a crash across the stronger parts of the body such as the pelvis and chest, preventing collisions with objects within the vehicle and sudden ejection. Newer technologies to “pretension” the belt, sense sudden pull forces and apply only as much force as is necessary to safely hit the airbags. Absence of seat belts could lead to rear seat occupants colliding with internal objects in the car, or even being ejected through the front windscreen during the collision.

What role do head restraints play?
• Head restraints, which are found either as adjustable models or molded into the seats, prevent a whiplash injury. This type of injury occurs mostly when the vehicle is struck from behind, leading to sudden extreme movement of the neck backwards and then forwards. It could also happen vice versa in other circumstances. The injury involves the muscles, vertebral discs, nerves and tendons of the neck, says Johns Hopkins Medicine, and is manifested as neck stiffness, pain, numbness, ringing in the ears, blurred vision and sleeplessness among others.
• The head restraint built into the seat must be properly placed and aligned with the neck, to prevent the injury in a vehicle accident. A study done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the U.S. estimated that claims for neck injuries were lower by 11% when the seats and restraints were rated good by it, compared to those rated poor. The ratings system has resulted in newer models, since 2015, almost fully getting a good rating.

Mechanisms to prevent death in a car accident?
• The three-point seat belt is a low-cost restraint system that prevents occupants of a vehicle from being thrown forward in a crash.
• Seat belt: slows the occupant at the same rate as the vehicle, distributing the physical force in a crash across the stronger parts of the body such as the pelvis and chest.
• The Road Transport Ministry said that during 2017, a shocking 26,896 people lost their lives due to the non-use of seat belts with 16,876 of them being passengers.
• Seat Belt+ Airbag: Even if the vehicle is fitted with an airbag, the force at which an unrestrained occupant strikes the airbag can cause serious injuries. So, the seatbelt works in tandem with the airbag.
• The air-bag deployment reduced mortality by 63% (IIT Delhi Study)
• Head restraints, which are found either as adjustable models or moulded into the seats, prevent a whiplash injury (sudden backwards and forward movement of head-on collision).

Status (as per the latest NCRB data)
• Deaths in road accidents up by 17%
• In 2021, 1.55 lakh people died in accidents on Indian roads, up from 21.33 lakh in 2020
• A maximum number of cases were reported in Tamil Nadu.
• Reasons: Speeding accounted for over half of all deaths, while dangerous and careless driving caused over 42000 deaths.

India’s regulation:
• Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a draft notification providing for three-point seat belts to be provided in all vehicles (up to 8-seater vehicles)
• The Amended Motor Vehicles Act of 2019 requires the occupants of a passenger vehicle to wear a seat belt for driver and passenger or else there’s a fine.
• Evidently, although cars are equipped with seat belts, the enforcement for rear seat occupants is virtually absent in India.

POINTS TO REMEMBER: BRASILIA DECLARATION is related to Road Safety.

2. THE PREVENTIVE DETENTIONS ROSE IN 2021

THE CONTEXT: According to statistics released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Preventive detentions in 2021 saw a rise by over 23.7% compared with the year before, with over 1.1 lakh people being placed under preventive detention.
THE EXPLANATION:
• Of these, 483 were detentions under the National Security Act, of which almost half (241) were either in custody or still detained as of 2021-end. Over 24,500 people placed under preventive detention were either in custody or still detained as of 2021-end — the highest since 2017 when the NCRB started recording this data.
• In 2017, the NCRB’s Crime in India report found that 67,084 persons had been detained as a preventive measure that year. Of these, 48,815 were released between one and six months of their detention and 18,269 were either in custody or still in preventive detention as of the end of the year.

• The number of persons placed under detention has been increasing since 2017 — to over 98,700 in 2018 and over 1.06 lakh in 2019 — before dipping to 89,405 in 2020. Data pertaining to 2021 showed that 1,10,683 persons were placed under preventive detention last year, of which 24,525 were either in custody or still detained as of the end of the year and the rest were let go within one to six months.
• While the number of persons placed under preventive detention has seen an increase in 2021, the NCRB data showed that the number of people arrested in such a manner under the National Security Act had dipped significantly compared with the year before.
• Preventive detentions under the NSA increased to 741 in 2020. This number dropped to 483 in 2021.

Use of provision
• Among other laws under which the NCRB has recorded data on preventive detentions are the Goonda Act (State and Central) (29,306), Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 (1,331), and a category classified as “Other Detention Acts”, under which most of the detentions were registered (79,514). Since 2017, the highest number of persons to be placed under preventive detention has consistently been under the “Other Detention Acts” category.
• According to Section 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the police are empowered to make preventive arrests if they believe they must do so to prevent the commission of “any cognizable offence”. This detention can be extended beyond 24 hours if required “under any other provisions of this Code or of any other law”.

VALUE ADDITION:
About NCRB:
• In 1986 (based on recommendations of the Tandon Committee, MHA Taskforce and National Police Commission (1977))
• It acts under the Ministry of Home Affairs and functions as a repository of information on crime and criminals so as to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators.
• NCRB looks after CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems) and Central Finger Print Bureau
• It released reports: Crimes in India, Prison Statistics in India and Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India.

THE HEALTH ISSUES

3. WHO-UNICEF REPORT ON PROGRESS ON WASH IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

THE CONTEXT: Recently WHO and UNICEF released a report titled “Progress on Wash in Health Care Facilities 2000-2021”.
THE EXPLANATION:
• According to this report, while the world is battling the threat of diseases like the Covid-19 epidemic and monkeypox, on the other hand 51 percent of the world’s health centres are providing basic facilities. There is no facility like water, soap, sanitizer.
• According to this report, 385 crore people are dependent on health centres due to lack of basic facilities, where there are no facilities like water, soap, sanitizer, while 688 crore people are dependent on such health centres where there is no cleanliness and hygiene. There is no connected infrastructure available.
• Talking about the availability of water, about 170 million people in the world are still dependent on water scarce health facilities. At the same time, out of these, 857 crore people are such, who are not used at all in health centres.
• The situation is worst in sub-Saharan Africa, where only 52 percent have access to health facilities, compared to 90 percent in East and Southeast Asia. On the other hand, if we talk about the most backward countries, then this figure is only 47 percent.
VALUE ADDITION:
About UNICEF
• UNICEF is also known as “United Nations Children’s Fund”. It is a United Nations agency, which is responsible to provide humanitarian and developmental aid to children across the world. It is among the most widespread and recognizable social welfare organizations of the world. It is present in 192 countries and territories.
Activities of UNICEF
Main activities of UNICEF include:
1. To provide immunizations and disease prevention
2. To administer treatment for children and mothers with HIV
3. To enhance childhood and maternal nutrition
4. To improve sanitation, promote education, and provide emergency relief in response to disasters.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

4. LADAKH NIGHT SKY SANCTUARY

THE CONTEXT: In a unique and first of its kind initiative, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has decided to set up India’s first Night Sky Sanctuary in Ladakh.
THE EXPLANATION:
Located at: Hanle in Ladakh as a part of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary.
To be Developed by: Ladakh administration will work with Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council(LAHDC) and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) for developing this reserve.
Significance: The reserve will boost Astro tourism in India and will be one of the world’s highest-located sites for optical, infrared, and gamma-ray telescopes.
What is Dark Sky Reserve?
• A Dark Sky Reserve is a designation given to a place that has policies in place to ensure that a tract of land or region has minimal artificial light interference.
• The International Dark Sky Association is a U.S.-based non-profit that designates places as International Dark Sky Places, Parks, Sanctuaries and Reserves depending on the criteria they meet. Several such reserves exist around the world but none so far in India.
Why was Hanle chosen for setting up Dark Sky Reserve?
Hanle is best suited for the project as it is located in Ladakh’s cold desert region with clear sky and dry weather conditions throughout the year and away from human disturbance.
Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary
• Located in the Changthang Plateau in the Leh district of Ladakh, Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most popular sanctuaries in the Ladakh region. With its picturesque landscape, this sanctuary has a huge variety of flora and fauna.
• Spread over an area of about 4000 sq km, this sanctuary also houses the highest lake on earth, Lake Tso Moriri. It is considered to be the second largest nature reserve after Northeast Greenland National Park. The sanctuary is situated at an altitude of 14,000–19000 feet.
• Korzok village is located near Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, which is considered to be the highest village in the world. The main attraction of this village is the Korzok Monastery. Other places around Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary are Pangong Tso Lake, Tso Kar Lake, Khardung La Pass and Shanti Stupa.

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

5. NGT FINES WEST BENGAL FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT FAILURE

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed environmental compensation of Rs 3,500 crore on West Bengal for failing to manage solid and liquid waste.
THE EXPLANATION:
• In the budget of the financial year 2022-23, the West Bengal government had made a provision to spend about Rs 12818 crore on matters related to urban development and municipalities. But the state government did not do any special work in this direction.
• According to the NGT, urban areas of West Bengal generate 2758 million sewage per day while the treatment capacity through 44 sewage treatment plants is only 1505.85 MLD. Therefore, only 1268 MLD of sewage is treated and 1490 MLD of sewage remains untreated.
• The West Bengal government will have to deposit this 3500 crore fine within two months. At the same time, the National Green Tribunal said that if such violations of environmental matters continue, then more fines will be imposed.
VALUE ADDITION:
National Green Tribunal (NGT)
• NGT was established on October 18, 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010. It was established for effective and expeditious disposal of cases related to conservation of forests, environmental protection and conservation of other natural resources besides enforcement of any legal right related to environment. This Tribunal is not bound by the procedure laid down under “Code of Civil Procedure, 1908”. It is guided by principles of natural justice.
National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
• It is an Act of the Parliament that lead to the creation of a special tribunal for handling the expeditious disposal of cases related to environmental issues. It was inspired from constitutional provision of Article 21.
Function of the Tribunal
• The Tribunal is having a dedicated jurisdiction in environmental matters. Thus, it provides speedy environmental justice and help in reducing the burden of higher courts. It is mandated to make and endeavour for disposal of applications or appeals within 6 months.

THE SECURITY AFFAIRS

6. THE BSF DRONE TEAR SMOKE LAUNCHER

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Tear Smoke Unit of the Border Security Force (BSF) has developed an indigenous drone Tear Smoke Launcher. This launcher will be used to control the crowd and to release tear gas shells during riots and unrest.
THE EXPLANATION:
• It can be used to launch shells from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones and will be a potential force multiplier for security forces operating in the law and order management sector.”
• In this, tear gas shells can be fired within a radius of 250-300 meters through drones. A drone can be loaded with 2 to 6 tear gas shells and dropped on the target area.
• Most security certifications have also been obtained for the use of this technology. This drone technology will soon be handed over to all police departments and armed police forces.
Tear Smoke Unit (TSU)
The tear gas unit at the Border Security Force (BSF) Academy was set up in 1976. Earlier, tear gas shells were imported into the country from abroad. In 46 years, this unit has made India self-reliant in this sector by increasing the capacity of manufacturing tear gas material in the country by 12 times.
About Border Security Force (BSF)
It is one of 7 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) of India. It was raised in wake of 1965 War on 1 December 1965.
It is country’s largest border guarding force with a present strength of about 2.5 lakh personnel. Being a primary border defence organisation of India, it is tasked to secure two of India’s most important and sensitive fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

1. Let’s celebrate interdependence day READ MORE
2. Be sensitive to life, not ego READ MORE

1. Sri Lanka’s devastating fuel shortage has put its wildlife at risk READ MORE
2. Loss and damage: 2022 Pakistan floods heighten need for climate reparations READ MORE
3. Want To Win the Climate Fight? Tackle Inequality, Among Others. READ MORE

1. Public health need not be led by doctors alone: It is a separate profession requiring a specific set of competencies READ MORE
2. Funding public education: The idea that higher education could be funded fully by students or their parents is grossly misplaced READ MORE
3. Learning standards READ MORE
4. Overcoming Hiring Bias: Substantive Equality in Employment for Muslim Women Needed READ MORE

1. A matter of trust: The Governor must end the uncertainty over the unseating of Hemant Soren READ MORE
2. Four years after landmark LGBT verdict: The march to full citizenship READ MORE
3. AIFF ban: Lack of coherent policy marks Indian sports governance READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Explained | The ban on conversion therapy for the LGBTQIA+ community READ MORE
2. Liz Truss to take over as U.K.’s next Prime Minister
3. India’s services activity rebounds in August, hiring at over 14-year high READ MORE
4. Ladakh to have India’s first ‘Dark Sky Reserve’ to promote astronomy tourism READ MORE
5. Quake of 6.8-magnitude kills over 46 in China, leaves trail of destruction READ MORE
6. PM Modi announces PM-SHRI scheme to develop 14,500 schools across the country READ MORE
7. Do away with forest clearance to explore mining activities: Mines ministry to MoEF&CC READ MORE
8. As the Fish Move Away, the New Zealand Māori Face an Uncertain Future READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. Overcoming Hiring Bias: Substantive Equality in Employment for Muslim Women Needed READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. A matter of trust: The Governor must end the uncertainty over the unseating of Hemant Soren READ MORE
2. Four years after landmark LGBT verdict: The march to full citizenship READ MORE
3. AIFF ban: Lack of coherent policy marks Indian sports governance READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Public health need not be led by doctors alone: It is a separate profession requiring a specific set of competencies READ MORE
2. Funding public education: The idea that higher education could be funded fully by students or their parents is grossly misplaced READ MORE
3. Learning standards READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The difficult path to India-Pakistan peace: The failure to manage the domestic audience in Pakistan is a recurrent trope that has overwhelmed peace attempts READ MORE  
2. Oil prices & war profiteering: US wants to impose price cap on Russian oil in innovative weaponisation of curbs READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Should charges be levied on digital transactions? READ MORE
2. India and US must build a high-trust ecosystem READ MORE
3. Exports down, imports up: How India can solve its agricultural trade paradox READ MORE
4. The undeserving must not get food subsidy READ MORE
5. Dangerous divergence: Growing regional inequality must be addressed READ MORE
6. Shaping our digital future READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Sri Lanka’s devastating fuel shortage has put its wildlife at risk READ MORE
2. Loss and damage: 2022 Pakistan floods heighten need for climate reparations READ MORE
3. Want To Win the Climate Fight? Tackle Inequality, Among Others. READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Drones can play a critical role in smart farm era READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. The floods in Pakistan highlight the imminent need for friendlier relations with our neighbour READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Let’s celebrate interdependence day READ MORE
2. Be sensitive to life, not ego READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Sports governance needs concrete reforms based on well-designed and actionable policies’. Comment on the statement in light of recent developments.
2. How far do you agree with this view that government should focus on public spending to build up human capital rather than consumption subsidies to address the issue of inequality? Justify your view with the help of suitable examples.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• A good leader leads the people from above them. A great leader leads the people from within them.
• Sports governance needs concrete reforms based on well-designed and actionable policies.
• Sports are no longer looked at as the abode of the useless; they are now being approached with a lot of seriousness across the world. Thus, the State must establish a mechanism to adapt to the increased aspirations of the public and its sportspersons.
• The most significant driver of digital transformation is business research and its development and adoption of frontier technologies.
• Internal migration acts as a safety valve and equalises labour and human capital allocation returns across regions.
• Drones can bring in quantitative and qualitative changes in agriculture, though cost still remains a deterrence.
• Drones can deliver substantial value to farmers. But it is high time to look at a larger collaboration among all stakeholders to derive maximum benefits out of its usage to take Indian agriculture to a higher altitude.
• Financial burden to implement the national food security law has clearly become a major burden for the Government.
• If we are not ready to put our talent and economic weight toward free enterprise and free people, the rules of the 21st-century economy will be written by regimes inimical to both.
• India has made commendable progress in the digital space, particularly in the retail segment of the payment and settlement system, following several initiatives by the RBI and the government.
• A Governor has no reason to try to tilt the scales in favour of or against any political party, through acts of omission or commission.

5O-WORD TALK

• CM MK Stalin’s demand to make Tamil the official language of the Madras High Court can adversely affect the efficiency of the judicial system. The legal profession has no geographical boundaries. Judges, and lawyers may not be familiar with all Indian languages. It would become difficult to deliver justice without using a common language.
• Liz Truss has become Prime Minister as the United Kingdom confronts a once-in-a-generation crisis. Truss gambling with massive tax cuts will re-energise the economy. But her plan risks growing the fiscal deficit and forcing brutal cuts to public services. As she toasts victory, Truss knows she’s been handed a poisoned chalice.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

[WpProQuiz 325]

THE CONTEXT: In June 2022 the Government of India came up with the Agnipath Scheme for the armed forces of the country with a view to make these leaner forces without compromising their combat abilities. Voices from various segments of the society have also iterated their concurrence with the idea and even demanded a similar kind of scheme with regard to the civil services especially the All India Services (AIS).This article analyses this debate from the UPSC perspective.

THE ISSUE: Rapid changes are taking place around the world in terms of economy, urbanisation, climate change, pandemic, technological advancements (shock), and increased emphasis on local awareness and identity etc. The response time to adapt to such changes is much shorter now than it used to be. As instruments of public service, civil servants have to be ready to manage such changes. On the one hand, the perception is that they are wedded to the status-quoist approach and resist change while on the other hand, we see various examples where the civil servants have taken initiatives to bring the desired change in the positive direction. But such one-off incidents is not sufficient and we need to comprehensively remould our services to make them performance oriented without losing the welfarist side of the services.

WHAT AILS THE CIVIL SERVICES?

INDIAN BUREAUCRACY IS ALLEGED TO BE STATUS QUOIST

• As instruments of public service, civil servants have to be ready for change. The common experience, however, is that they resist changes as they are wedded to their privileges and prospects and thereby, have become ends in themselves

o   For example, the 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution have brought about major changes. Rural and urban local governments have been enabled to become institutions of self-government.

However, the intended vision has not been achieved, due to the reluctance on the part of the civil servants to accept the changes in control and accountability as well as the altered roles and responsibilities.

RULE-BOOK BUREAUCRACY

• By the rule book bureaucracy, it meant mainly following the rules and laws of the book without taking care of the actual needs of the people.
• Due to rule book bureaucracy, some civil servants have developed the attitude of’ bureaucratic behaviour’, which evokes issues like red-tapism, the complication of procedures, and the mal-adapted responses of ‘bureaucratic’ organisations to the needs of the people.

POLITICAL INTERFERENCE

• Civil servants at the regional level work in coordination with the political representative. They both are required to serve the common people by bringing development, welfare, well-being and peace to society.
• The political representative for the sake of fulfilling the populist demand influences the functioning of administrative officials. Hence, an administrative official has to adhere to the will of the political master.
• This interference sometimes leads to issues like corruption, and arbitrary transfers of honest civil servants. Also, this led to substantial inefficiency where the vital positions are not held by the best officers and ultimately this can lead to institutional decline.

STRUCTURAL ISSUES

Civil services have been facing many structural issues

• Generalist officers: Civil Service is conceived primarily to deliver the core functions of the state such as maintenance of law and order and implementation of government orders.
• However, with changing needs with the advent of globalisation, and economic reforms, the role of the state has changed. Therefore, there are new challenges due to technological evolution (for example cyber security). Thus, there is a higher demand (of specialist officers) for domain knowledge at the policy level.
• Ensuring transparency and accountability along with participatory and representative decision-making are some issues that need to be addressed.
• There are instances of lack of employment opportunities in some public services, while there are many vacancies in others.

COMPETING NOT COLLABORATING

• Contrary to public perception, most AIS officers do not collaborate as professionals. They are often competing with each other, questioning almost everything that the other AIS officer brings to them. This is indeed strange, but that is how it is. This has led to enormous delays, and decision-making has suffered. Moreover, an AIS officer rarely sticks his neck out to defend a junior colleague.
• Quite a few are protecting their backsides and looking at a post-retirement job in the government. The AIS could have evolved as a group with a distinctive ethos wherein the constituents understood and helped each other. But it has not happened.

HYBRID ROLE IDENTITY

• In recent years the notion of identity has given rise to a rich debate in nearly every share of life. The focus has been, for instance, on the desire of individuals to conform to shared norms in society, the cognitive aspects of norms or the sense of belonging.
• In such a case, a bureaucrat is a part of (sometimes large) organizations and he gets accustomed and exposed to certain perceptions and preferences of the organization. Hence, he acts not only as a rational actor on his own account but also as an en-cultured actor, whose perception of a supposed “good policy” is deeply influenced by the social context that he is part.

STEPS TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE

RECRUITMENT

• Rationalization and harmonization of services: The existing 60 plus separate civil services at the central and state level needs to be reduced through rationalization and harmonization of services. [Recruits should be placed in a central talent pool, which would then allocate candidates by matching their competencies and the job description of the post. Concomitantly, the number of exams for civil services should ideally be brought down to one with all India ranking. States may also be encouraged to use this pool for recruitments.]
• Encourage lateral entry: Inducting specialists at higher levels of government will provide much-needed expertise.
• Outsource service delivery: Efforts need to be made to outsource service delivery to reduce dependence on the administrative machinery. Research is needed to identify possible services to be outsourced; various PPP models should be explored to determine the best possible mode of outsourcing.

TRAINING

• Training is the critical component of human resource development. The current systems of training for civil services do not adequately reflect changes in the socio-economic scenario and the emerging new challenges.  The reform agenda should comprise mandatory training for all civil servants at the induction stage combined with mid-career training imparting them with the required domain knowledge.
• There is also a need to inculcate ethical underpinning in the civil servants by implementing the Code of Ethics.
• Mid-career exams/skill assessments might be undertaken to evaluate and decide on future postings.
• Monitoring and overseeing mechanisms shall also be revitalised reaping the knowledge and experience of various institutes, the corporate sector, civil society etc.

EVALUATION

• Institute goal setting and tracking: There is an inherent need to set key responsibility/focus areas and progressively reduce discretionary aspects to evaluate civil servants.
• Institute the online Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window (SPARROW) template in all central and state cadres. [The online portal was introduced for the Indian Administrative Service Officers in 2011. Through this portal, the IAS officers could record their performance appraisals on time and without delay. Now it has been extended to Group B and C officers also. Most recently in June 2022, the newly merged Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) also announced to adopt a comprehensive online system for its employees to file annual performance appraisal reports.]
• Compulsory retirement for underperforming officers: Develop benchmarks to assess the performance of officers and compulsorily retire those deemed unable to meet the benchmarks.
• Incentivization: Review existing schemes and introduce new schemes of incentives for extraordinary performance.

E-INITIATIVES

• Robust Vigilant Mechanism: Strengthen institutional mechanisms for prevention and detection of corruption. Thus, there is a need to review existing vigilance mechanisms.
• There is a need to strengthen the implementation of a Centralized Public Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System (CPGRAMs).
• Implementation of e-Office: Implementation of e-Office may be expedited in all ministries/ departments; all states/UTs may also be encouraged to adopt it.
• Prompt delivery of services: Every department should seek to simplify their processes to cut administrative delays and ensure participatory feedback mechanisms for efficient service delivery.

REFORMS IN THE RECENT PAST TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF CIVIL SERVICES

REFORM

BENEFITS

LATERAL ENTRY

• Lateral recruitment is aimed at achieving the objective of bringing in fresh talent into the system, which will create new energy to the system.
• The Second Administrative Reforms Commission too had recommended lateral entry at senior positions.
• Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers have little expertise in subjects like civil aviation, defence, coal, shipping, etc., as the states where the IAS officers spend most of their early career do not deal with these subjects. Lateral entry will make the Indian administration also match the global standards.
• The US has a system of lateral entry, where about 4000 new officers are appointed as “political appointees” with the inauguration of a new president, allowing incoming presidents to work on their agenda more effectively. India had rejected the USA model – adopting the British model of lifetime ‘neutral’ civil service where civil servants remain politically neutral and formulate technically sound policies according to the will of the political executive within the framework of the constitution.
• Lateral entry opens a small window to get the best from the American and British systems and puts pressure on the system to reform and perform.

NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR CIVIL SERVICE CAPACITY BUILDING  – MISSION KARMAYOGI

• It is aimed at better service delivery to the public “governance, performance, and accountability”. lt promises a shift from rules to roles, silos to coordination, interdisciplinary movements, and a continuous capacity-building exercise.
• The focus of the reform is the creation of a ‘citizen-centric civil service’ capable of creating and delivering services conducive to economic growth and public welfare.
• It aims for learning resources from the best institutions and practices from across the world while retaining Indian sensibilities and culture.
• The mid-career training will now be available to all government staff instead of the top officers alone, and their profile and assessment will be continuous.
• If there is a need for some special appointment, then authorities can do so by looking at the profile of the officers with the help of technology instead of depending on perceptions.
• Accordingly, Mission Karmayogi shifts the focus from “Rule-based training to Role-based training”. Greater thrust has been laid on behavioural change.

THE PRESENT DEBATE OF THE AGNIVEER TYPE OF SCHEME FOR ALL INDIA SERVICES

WHY AGNIPATH LIKE SCHEME FOR AIS

• There is a huge sense of dissatisfaction over the performance of the civil services, particularly AIS. For example, the people are generally dissatisfied with the performance of the police and there are credible complaints about its brutality, third-degree methods and extra-judicial killings.
• It has been noticed that once an officer is selected for the AIS, he/she develops a smug attitude that his/her career for the next 30/35 years is now secure. Therefore, there is a lack of pressure to perform, an incentive to innovate, and a desire to excel.
• Senior officers of the IAS and IPS have gone to the Supreme Court for reforms in the civil services and the police.
• The judiciary has, from time to time, given directions for reforms but these have not been implemented in letter and spirit.
• In the last few decades, the AIS have grown in size and have become very, very top-heavy. There are a number of officers who are holding top positions but have very little work to do. Therefore, they are frustrated and look for politicians to get a top posts in the bureaucratic mainstream.

WHAT SHOULD BE KEPT IN MIND

• The law-and-order problems have become far more complex and people are not happy with the police. But, still, abolition of police or rather an infusion of trained civilians in the police force is not an option as it might result in lawlessness and chaos. Thus, it is imperative to not only just increase the efficiency of trained police personnel but also increase their strength.
• The AIS have rendered excellent services to the country despite the severe constraints under which the officers function.
• To cope with the increasing responsibilities, there has been a steady expansion of civil services. More training and reorientation in the service approach is more needed than to have Agniveer kind of entrants.
• Government activities today cover a much wider spectrum. Now the welfare schemes are being undertaken on a massive scale. To cope with the increasing responsibilities, there has been a steady expansion of the civil services and reducing the strength in not going to be much useful, we need both the strength and quality of service personnel.

PROPOSED STRUCTURE OF AGNIPATH IN AIS

• Strict review of the performance of AIS officers: The objective of the reviews should be to weed out 25 per cent of officers at the first stage (after 15 years of service), 10 per cent of officers at the second stage (after 25 years of service) and 5 per cent of officers at the third stage (after 30 years of service)
• Reason for Weeding out: Weeding out should be for
• poor performance,
• charges of corruption,
• any other misconduct of a serious nature, or
• For being physically unfit.
• Impartial Screening: Screening at each stage will have to be very rigorous and the mechanism to do so must be impartial. It will have to be doubly ensured that the officers are not victimised for political reasons.
• The officers may be given copper/silver/golden handshakes at the three stages.

Benefits of this scheme for AIS

• The periodic trimming of services would ensure that officers become performance-oriented, and acquire new skills and a flair for innovation in administration. The complacency and smugness would disappear in a majority of cases.
• The bureaucratic top would become lighter leading to efficiency and better coordination.

OTHER SUGGESTED REFORMS

1.  The paper, titled “The Indian Administrative Service Meets Big Data” in 2016 recommended: (South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

• Data: The DoPT should use data on civil servants’ abilities, education, and training when placing officers early in their careers. As officers gain experience, performance metrics can inform key decisions about promotion and allocation.
• Lateral Exit: officers deemed unfit for further service at certain career benchmarks are compulsorily retired through a transparent and uniform system of performance review.

2. Sarkaria Commission recommended:

• Generalists should yield place to greater specialization in areas of public administration.
• The minimum period of deputation under union government should be laid down
• Set up Advisory council for Personnel Administration: for regular consultation between Union and state on AIS management.

3. 2nd ARC recommendations:

• A system of two intensive reviews one at 14 years of service and the other at 20 years. And for a new appointment, the period of employment shall be for 20 years
• It has identified 12 domains for specialization: general administration, urban development, etc.
• Establish National institutes of Public Administration and graduates from it and other selected universities will be eligible to appear for the Civil service examination.
• It can create a large pool of aspiring civil servants as well as enable serving bureaucrats to attain a deep knowledge of the country’s political economy, increased domain expertise, and improved managerial skills
• The age of entry for general candidates is 21-25 years and a maximum of three attempts.

4. Hota committee has recommended:

• Fixed tenure of at least 3 years for an officer of higher civil service along with annual performance targets.
• A civil service board for all decisions regarding transfer posting and promotions

5.  Supreme court in 2013(TSR Subramanian case): All actions must be taken on basis of written communication as oral directives undermine the credibility of the order

6.  A Parliamentary panel has recommended the deputation of IAS and IPS officers in the private sector to bring in domain expertise and competition.

THE ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUE

Present day training/learning landscape for AIS is diverse and fragmented with inconsistencies in training priorities by various training institutions with a multiplicity of training curricula, leading civil servants to think departmentally and in silos. Due to this, there is a lack of a shared understanding of India’s national developmental aspirations and needs. While courses are offered in patches for civil servants, there’s an absolute lack of a life-long learning environment. There is a need to view training and learning as a continuous process. As the Indian economy grows it will get more complex to govern. Also, there is increasing use of complex technologies in governance and public service delivery. Therefore, governance capacities and technical competencies of government employees will have to be enhanced proportionately. Starting with lateral entry to Mission Karmyogi to now much talked about Agniveer kind of scheme for AIS is a welcome step in the right direction but the tagged complexities and concerns with each of the initiatives must be addressed to keep the relevance of the schemes intact.

THE CONCLUSION: Capacity augmentation of Civil Servants plays a vital role in rendering a wide variety of services, implementing welfare programs, and performing core governance functions. A transformational change in Civil Service Capacity is proposed to be affected by organically linking the transformation of work culture, strengthening public institutions, and adopting modern technology to build civil service capacity with the overall aim of ensuring efficient delivery of services to citizens. The future of the country cannot be progressive without a reformed bureaucracy. Civil servants are uniquely positioned to play a role in lifting more than 170 million out of poverty into prosperity and the new suggested Agniveer kind of scheme might help in bringing the much-needed behavioural change in the serving officers and foster a sense of responsible service in the aspiring ones.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1. An Agnipath scheme for the AIS will help to remove complacency and inefficiency in bureaucracy. Comment
2. It has been noticed that once an officer is selected for the AIS, he develops a smug attitude. How can the proposed Agniveer kind of reforms for AIS can help in bringing behavioural changes in the serving officers?