GM Friend,
Bureaucracy In India - A distinction is made bet'n bureaucracy in the sense of superior officials & bureaucracy in the sense of the whole body of government servants.
Bureaucracy In India - Bureaucracy, meaning 'desk (writing table) Government' consists of permanent officials running the government of the day.
In the ordinary sense, Bureaucracy is the body of regular government servants.
Often, the term is used in derogatory sense, indicating an organisation of Government with bad manage- ment or an arm of the Government interfering with pepole's liberties and rights.
This differentiation has to be borne in mind while answering questions on Bureaucracy.
There are several other terms which have to be carefully differentiated one from the other depending on the context.
The term 'public servant' in India refers to all civil ser- vants, defence employees, judges and executive non-officials like President, Governor, Ministers etc.
Generally, members of legis- lature do not fall within the scope of public servants but office-bearers and employees of local administration do come within its puriew.
The term 'government servants' will cover all permanent employees and officials of the Central and State Governments, exclu- ding Ministers, Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts and the like.
The term 'civil servant' gener lly excludes defence officers and ranks.
Article 311 of the Constitution identi- fies five different categories of civil servants- members of All India Services, members of Central Services, members of State Services, holders of Central Government posts (clerical and other non-officer cadres), holders of State Governments posts.
Characteristics Of Bureaucracy In India
According to Max Weber, a sociologist, certain essential characteristics of bureaucracy are:
- (i) Separation of office and the incumbent so that the decision is made by the official, not in his individual capacity, but in his official capacity.
- (ii) Hierarchy of officies.
- (iii) Clear allocation of activities and responsibilities and the allocation of authority which goes with it.
- (iv) Security of tenure and definite remunera- tion-the official has a career with a system of promotions according to seniority or merit, depending on the judgement of superiors.
- (v) The official conduct is subject to discipline and control according to the rules.
- (vi) Appoint- ment or selection by merit and on contractual basis.
Roll Of Bureaucracy in Democracy & Qualities Expected of The Bureaucracy
- Commitment to service: An official is expec- ted to treat his office as the primary occupa- tion.
- Honesty and integrity: The civil servant is expected not to seek remuneration for his official work outside the official payments paid to him.
- Efficiency: A civil servant is expected to carry out official duties to the best of his ability and according to the norms prescribed.
- Neutrality: A civil servant is expected to be non-political in the secrecy discharge of his official duties. He should not be actively involved in politics nor should be display his political affiliation.
- Discretion: aspects of An important quality expected of higher civil servants is discretion, i.e. maintaining of state matters. There are several administration which require utmost secrecy to be maintained, at least for certain periods, Jeg. the budget formulation, question paper- setting etc.
- Espirit de Corps: The spirit of Commodarie or Comradeship which closely knits members of a higher civil service and which acts as a shield against politicians vindictive actions against individual civil servants.
Functions Or Examples Of Bureaucracy in Democracy
Traditionally four functions are assigned to the bureaucracy.
(i) The civil servants help the Minister in the formulation of executive policy on the basis of their expertise.
It is for the civil servants to help the Minister in divising schemes and policies to realise in practice the feasible promises made by the ruling party to the electorate at the time of elections and later.
They should collect the information and background data required by the Minister and should tender free and frank advice while formulating poli- cies or programmes.
(ii) Delegated Legislation and Administrative Adjudication: Using the quasi-legislative powers, the official formulate rules and regulations which constitute the executive legislation.
Many officials also exer- cise quasi-judicial powers vested in them through laws.
(iii) Implementation of Govern ment Policies: The government is run through numerous offices and departments spread out throughout the length and breadth of the country.
The civil servants are expected to perform their normal duties and implement the new policies, programmes and schemes of Dovernment. They are also responsible for the implementation of legislative enactments
(i) Continuity of Administration: Public administration (bureaucracy) is essential to provide continuity of administration during periods when the government is changing.
The security of tenure provided to civil servants enables them to run the government in a routine fashion when the ministry is changing or is uncertain about its prospects.
Since, in a democracy, the Governments are expected to change periodically, it is for the civil servants to maintain the normal administration during periods of change.
(v) Civil servants some- times have to perform public relations work.
The officials may be expected to explain the government policy to the people and to secure popular participation in the implementation of policies and programmes.
Bureaucracy in Indian Constitution & Relations Between the Civil Servant and the Minister
The type of relationship that should prevail between the Minister and the higher civil servants who frequently come into contact with the Minister directly is a matter which has been discussed from various angles.
While differences of opinion are possible, traditionally certain aspects of this relation- ship are well-known.
(i) Master-servant, employer-employee relations should normally prevail between the bureaucrat and the Minister.
A civil servant, however high, has to function and work according to the instruc- tions and direction of the Minister concerned.
It is in this context that loyalty of the civil servant to the Government of the day becomes important.
Although the Minister may be in- experienced, non-expert and sometimes non- competent, it is for the civil servant to get along with the Minister and to place his ser- vices at the disposal of the Minister.
(ii) Formulation stage: He should discuss with the Minister, the practical problems and facts while tendering free and frank advice.
The Merits of Bureaucracy: (i) The chief merit of the bureaucracy is that it has some to stay. In modern times it is unthinkable to have a Government without bureaucracy.
Public administration has become the arm of the Government in democracy and under dictator- ships-rightist and leftist.
The bureaucracy in democracy, particularly parliamentary democracy, is expected to ensure the best administration.
(ii) In a parliamentary demo- cracy, civil service is a sine qua non for maintaining the countinuity of administration during periods of change.
(iii) Even in the context of modern economic development, bureaucracy has a crucial role to play.
Demerits Or Criticism Of Bureaucray
Several maladies are associated with bureaucracy in its working. Some of them are:
- Redtapism-insistence on undue formality, unnecessary delay and obstruc- tionist tactics.
- Unresponsiveness to public demands and desires.
- The self-perpetuat- ting or proliferating nature of bureaucracy- Parkinson's Law 'Cfficials make work for cach other proves it.
- Tendency to increase power and to exercise it arbitrarily.
- Conservatism is the hall-mark of bureaucracy and stands in the way of new ideas and approaches.
Conclusion :-
At the end, it all comes down to how much you can tolerate the bureaucracy.
This is because while certain aspects of bureaucracy are now better, there are still a lot of areas where people have no choice but to put their trust in its system.
In case this doesn’t suit your working style, remember that you can always go for private education or even offshore schooling. No one will be able to stop you from getting what you want if you hide your head and walk slowly!