Topic: Role of civil services in a democracy
Q3. “India’s bureaucratic apparatus faces criticism for inefficiency and a reluctance to adapt to change”. Discuss the barriers to implementing administrative reforms and the strategies to overcome these challenges. (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: TH
Why the question
Persistent challenges within the Indian Administrative Service and the wider bureaucracy have highlighted the urgent need for administrative reforms
Key demand of the question
The key demand is to analyze the criticisms of India’s bureaucratic apparatus, identify barriers to implementing reforms, and suggest strategies to overcome them.
Structure of the answer
Introduction
Briefly introduce the role of bureaucracy in governance and the criticism it faces for inefficiency and resistance to change.Body
- Highlight the major criticisms of the Indian bureaucracy, such as red-tapism, lack of accountability, and politicization.
- Discuss the barriers to implementing reforms, focusing on institutional inertia, political interference, and capacity deficits.
- Suggest strategies to address these challenges, emphasizing institutional frameworks, technology adoption, and capacity building.
Conclusion
Conclude by emphasizing the need for a responsive and efficient bureaucracy to achieve India’s governance and development goals, with a focus on transparency and accountability.
