UPSC Mains 2019 · GS IV · Q10 · 20 marks · 250 words · Case study

In a modern democratic polity, there is the concept of political executive and permanent executive. Elected people’s representatives form the political executive and bureaucracy forms the permanent executive. Ministers frame policy decisions and bureaucrats execute these. In the initial decades after independence, relationship between the permanent executive and the political executive were characterized by mutual understanding, respect and co-operation, without encroaching upon each others domain. However, in the subsequent decades, the situation has changed. There are instances of the political executive insisting upon the permanent executive to follow its agenda. Respect for and appreciation of upright bureaucrats has declined. There is an increasing tendency among the political executive to get involved in routine administrative matters such as transfers, postings etc. Under this scenario, there is a difinitive trend towards ‘politicization of bureaucracy’. The rising materialism and acquisitiveness in social life has also adversely impacted upon the ethical values of both the permanent executive and the political executive.

What are the consequences of this ‘politicization of bureaucracy’ ? Discuss.

हिन्दी में

आधुनिक लोकतांत्रिक राज्य व्यवस्था में, राजनीतिक कार्यपालिका और स्थायी कार्यपालिका की संकल्पना होती है । निर्वाचित जन प्रतिनिधि राजनीतिक कार्यपालिका का गठन करते हैं और अधिकारीतंत्र स्थायी कार्यपालिका का गठन करती है । मंत्रीगण नीति निर्माण करते हैं और अधिकारी उन नीतियों को क्रियान्वित करते हैं । स्वतंत्रता के पश्चात् प्रारंभिक दशकों में, राजनीतिक कार्यपालिका और स्थायी कार्यपालिका के बीच अंतर्सम्बन्ध, एक दूसरे के क्षेत्र में हस्तक्षेप किए बिना, परस्पर समझ, सम्मान और सहयोग पर आधारित थे । लेकिन बाद के दशकों में स्थिति में परिवर्तन आया है । ऐसे प्रकरण आए हैं जहाँ राजनीतिक कार्यपालिका ने स्थायी कार्यपालिका पर अपनी कार्यसूची का अनुसरण करने का दबाव बनाया है । सत्यनिष्ठ अधिकारियों के प्रति सम्मान और सराहना में गिरावट आई है । इस प्रवृत्ति में उत्तरोत्तर वृद्धि हुई है कि राजनीतिक कार्यपालिका में नैत्यिक प्रशासनिक प्रसंगों में जैसे कि स्थानान्तरण, प्रस्थापन आदि में अंतर्ग्रस्त होने की प्रवृत्ति बढ़ती जा रही है । इस परिदृश्य में ‘अधिकारीतंत्र के राजनीतिकरण’ की ओर एक निश्चित प्रवृत्ति है । सामाजिक जीवन में बढ़ती भौतिकवाद और संग्रहवृत्ति ने राजनीतिक कार्यपालिका और स्थायी कार्यपालिका पर प्रतिकूल प्रभाव डाला है ।

‘अधिकारीतंत्र के इस राजनीतिकरण’ के क्या-क्या परिणाम हैं ? विवेचना कीजिए ।

Impartiality and Objectivity Pressure and Loyalty

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “In context of the relationship between political executive and civil servants in India, highlight the significance of neutrality in the civil service.”

Waseem Ahmad BhatAIR 7 · CSE 2022 · 107 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Non-partisanship is the quality of not favouring one political party over the other.

⇒ Significance

Body · points

(1) Ensuring best policy advice : e.g: Civil servant would provide the advice based on facts and not ideology

(2) Ensuring civil servants serve every government effectively : will ensure proper implementation of all policies e.g: NRC to Farm laws.

(3) Ensures civil servants uphold public service

values — integrity, honesty, etc

Due diligence in decision making :
- e.g.: EIA
Uphold public trust :
- e.g.: T.N. Seshan, Ashok Khemka, etc.

Neutrality is essential for the civil service to remain the 'steel frame' of Indian government & not crumble.

Close · no separate close

None written.

1 more topper’s answer 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 2019, General Studies Paper IV, Q10. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.