GS4 · 10 marks · 150 words

Why has anonymity of civil servants traditionally been seen as an important arrangement? In this context, discuss your opinion on the doctrine of facelessness in civil services.

Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2021

Civil Service ValuesAccountability and Ethical GovernanceImpartiality and ObjectivityTransparency and InformationWork Culture

Syllabus: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.

How toppers approached it

From all 8 answers · about 140 words · 25% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • A definition75%
  • No separate opening25%

Body

  • Points75%
  • Points and prose25%

Close

  • A way forward63%
  • A summary25%
  • No separate close13%

The toppers’ answers

Gamini SinglaAIR 3 · CSE 2021 · 135 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Anonymity refers to lack of information on who is behind the decision.

Body · points

Traditional principle of anonymity

  1. Civil services - an innovation of British -anonymity served their interests.
  2. To avoid public interference in sensitive decisions.
  3. To safeguard civil servants against threat to their lives from mafia. e.g. Durga Shakti Nagpal was attacked by illegal sand miners.
  4. To facilitate independent decision making - without fear or favour.

Challenges of doctrine of facelessness today

→ Against transparency and openness → Lack of accountability and answerability → Used as a ground for corrupt activities → Facilitates misuse of power and abuse of authority

Way forward

Close · a way forward

As per myself, this facelessness should only be in sensitive issues, concerned with national security issues and otherwise openness and disbursal of information must be the norm.

More on Civil Service Values

Public and civil service values and ethics in public administration: their status, and the problems of holding to them.

All GS4 questions on Civil Service Values