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Summary
Governance Class 13

A BRIEF DISCUSSION ON THE PREVIOUS CLASS (5:04 P.M.)

VALUE NEUTRALITY AND POLITICAL NEUTRALITY (5:12 P.M.)

  • Max Weber defined rationality in terms of political neutrality and value neutrality.
  • According to Weber, in a democracy political executive is responsible for the policy formulation and bureaucracy for its implementation as part of a balanced polity.
  • Political executives will take into consideration the values while formulating policies, whereas bureaucracy is expected to implement those policies strictly by rules and regulations.
  • They are expected to provide unbiased, meritorious, rational, and impartial suggestions to political executives in policy formulation.
  • They can do so only when they are both politically and value-neutral.
  • The balanced polity demands that the political executive shouldn't interfere in the functioning of the bureaucracy while implementing the policies.
  • Bureaucracy should not dominate political executive in their functioning using their skills and knowledge.
  • Political neutrality is needed as bureaucrats are expected to provide suggestions to political executives purely based on merit.
  • Value neutrality is essential as it is required to implement the rule of law in both letter and spirit.
  • The absence of political neutrality can result in the politicization of civil services whereas the absence of value neutrality can lead to nepotism, favouritism, prejudices, and biasedness in the functioning of civil servants.
  • It may ultimately result in corruption, misuse of power, and abuse of authority. 

OTHER FEATURES OF WEBERIAN BUREAUCRACY (5:45 P.M.)

  • (a) Hierarchy
  • It defines the physical structure of the organization.
  • It defines the relationship between the superior and the subordinate.
  • The superior has the authority to give orders whereas the subordinate has the responsibility to implement them.
  • It also defines the authority and responsibility at every level in the organization.
  • Hierarchy is necessary to ensure coordination, resolve conflicts, ensure discipline, and overall improve the efficiency of the organization.
  • (b) Written communication
  • According to Max Weber, written communication will ensure the continuity and stability of the administrative process.
  • It is also necessary to fix accountability on the part of people working in the organization.
  • It will help in reducing corruption and will eliminate the scope for misuse and abuse of power.
  • (c) Rules and Regulation
  • Weber gave a lot of importance to rules and regulations.
  • These are necessary to prevent anti-organizational behaviour.
  • These are also important to ensure discipline within the organization.
  • (d) Secrecy
  • Max Weber believed that the bureaucracy can efficiently perform its functions only when it is isolated from external influences.
  • Political systems, economic systems, and social and cultural systems should not influence the functioning of the bureaucracy.
  • They must always work in a highly secretive environment.   
  • (e) Sphere of competence
  • Administration is a highly technical activity and bureaucrats can become efficient only when they develop specialized skills in the technical aspects of the administration.
  • Weber believed that by working for a long period, bureaucrats can develop the sphere of competence, i.e. they can acquire the necessary technical knowledge and competence so that they can become efficient.
  • (f) Impartiality
  • As the bureaucrats are expected to implement the rule of law in both letter and spirit, bureaucrats should be completely impartial in terms of their outlook, behaviour, and actions.
  • They should not be partial or biased towards any section of society.
  • In India, there is more constitutional formalism, than constitutionalism.
  • This is because of the absence of impartial bureaucracy.
  • (g) Discipline
  • Since the bureaucracy is a very large organization, it is prone to multiple value systems and behaviours.
  • The coordination could be very difficult, due to individual prejudices and biases.
  • It is the only discipline that can ensure unity of purpose and direction within the larger organization.
  • Discipline can be ensured through a strict code of conduct and the necessary reward and punishment mechanism. 
  • For example, civil services conduct rules and regulations, in 1957, 1959, and 1964 to ensure discipline within the functioning of our bureaucracy.

CRITICISM OF WEBER (6:23 P.M.)

  • (a) Too much of the focus on written communication and hierarchy may lead to Red Tapism.
  • (b) The focus on secrecy leads to corruption.
  • (c) In the bureaucracy, the conduct rules and disciplines may lead to a loss in innovation.
  • (d) Bureaucrats are not instruments, and hence they should have values like compassion towards weaker sections, honesty, integrity, etc. 

NEED FOR CIVIL SERVICES REFORMS (6:55 P.M.)

  • According to the Second ARC, civil services in India have performed very well in terms of regulatory functions like the conduct of elections, generation of revenue, and maintenance of law and order.
  • However, they have failed to live up to the expectations of people while performing developmental functions.
  • They couldn't bring in the much-needed socio-economic transformation.
  • They also failed to empower the weaker sections of society, realize the objectives of inclusive and equitable growth, and ensure good governance.
  • Civil services in India suffer from the following weaknesses:
  • (a) Excessive concentration of power in the hands of people at the top.
  • (b) Continuation of the colonial attitudes.
  • (c) High level of secrecy in their functioning.
  • (d) Politicization of the civil services.
  • (e) Red Tapism which often results in time and cost overruns.
  • (f) Complete absence of accountability and grievance redressal mechanism.
  • (g) Absence of serious participation in governance due to bureaucracy-centric administration. 

CIVIL SERVICES REFORMS (7:12 P.M.)

  • Recruitment
  • Issues
  • (a) We are recruiting the generalists in the present day era.
  • (b) The age limit is 32 years with the age relaxation for various sections. By this time the personality is fully developed.
  • (c) There is no level playing field when it comes to optional exams.
  • Reforms Suggested
  • (a) Different exams should be conducted for all the services. (Baswan Committee)
  • The skill sets for all the services are different.
  • Hence, testing them using the same exam is not fair.
  • (b) The age limit for the exam should be reduced so that their personality can be moulded. The number of attempts should also be reduced. (Baswan Committee)
  • (c) The Baswan committee has recommended replacing the optional subjects with two compulsory papers.
  • Training
  • Issues
  • Service and cadre are decided before the training. That's why officers don't take it seriously.
  • Reforms Suggested
  • The service and cadre should be decided after the training.
  • The training should be given prominence while deciding on the transfers and deployment.
  • Other Reforms
  • (a) Depoliticisation of civil services by the setting up of the Civil Services Board.
  • (b) Articles 310 and 311 should be repealed.
  • (* The dictation will be given in the next class.)

MISSION KARAMYOGI (7:50 P.M.)

  • Mission Karmayogi is a flagship program initiated by the Government of India. It aims to transform the functioning of the government by focusing on capacity building and skill development for civil servants.
  • The objective is to make the bureaucrats, risk-takers, proactive, innovative, creative, etc.
  • It will make the bureaucrats ready to meet the challenges that the present-day era poses.

THE TOPIC FOR THE NEXT CLASS: CIVIL SERVICES REFORMS (CONTINUED)