UPSC Mains 2017 · GS II · Q18 · 15 marks · 250 words

Initially Civil Services in India were designed to achieve the goals of neutrality and effectiveness, which seems to be lacking in the present context. Do you agree with the view that drastic reforms are required in Civil Services? Comment.

हिन्दी में

प्रारंभिक तौर पर भारत में लोक सेवाएँ तटस्थता और प्रभावशीलता के लक्ष्यों को प्राप्त करने के लिए अभिकल्पित की गई थीं, जिनका वर्तमान संदर्भ में अभाव दिखाई देता है। क्या आप इस मत से सहमत हैं कि लोक सेवाओं में कड़े सुधारों की आवश्यकता है? टिप्पणी कीजिए।

Civil Services

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “"Civil services in India were envisioned as instruments of neutrality and efficiency, yet they are increasingly perceived as rigid and politicised." Examine the issues responsible for this perception and suggest corrective measures.”

Pakshal SecretryAIR 8 · CSE 2025 · 276 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a quotation

" Politicisation of Civil services will lead to fossilisation of services " — JL Nehru —

Civil servant as instrument of

Body · points and prose

Neutrality & Efficiency

① Ingrained values of non-partisanship in services [CCS Rules, 1968]

② Brings innovative solution to improve efficiency [IAS Armstrong Pame → Crowd funding for roads]

③ Permanent Nature & Protection (Art 312) → ensure neutrality

Increasingly percieved

④ As Rigid : [KC Wheare] calls Indian civil service as stuck in "colonial rigidity" & non adaptive

Issues Responsible

  1. Weberian Model → status quoism, Rules oriented, Rigid
  2. Lack of Adaptability & Responsiveness
  3. Ivory-Tower Mentality
  4. "Chalta-hai" attitude among bureaucracy
  5. Job security & stability → Rigid outlook
  6. No competition in services

B) As politicised : Rise in number of civil servant joining politics e.g. OP chaudhary (IAS) → joined BJP

Issues Responsible

  1. "politician-bureaucrat" nexus → mutual connivance among them
  2. Dependence of civil servant on politician for posting, assignment
  3. "Punishment postings" given to

uncooperative civil servants eg Ashok Khemka (IAS) ④ Rising Ambition of civil servant eg Joining politics for more position ⑤ Lack of safeguards → Against politicisation of office

Corrective Measure

Close · a way forward

RigidityPoliticisation
① NITI Aayog → lateral entry① cooling off period for civil servant
② 2nd ARC → Domain Assignment② TSR Subramium Comm → Formation of Civil service Board
③ Mid Term Review③ guidelines to prevent politicisation
④ 360° Appraisal of civil servant

This need of hour is to turn civil servant to "Karmayogi" to ensure P2G2 : Pro People Good governance

2 more toppers’ answers to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper II, Q18. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.