Administrative reforms in India

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Administrative reforms in India

Administrative reforms in India

Context: We will discuss about administrative reforms India has seen over the past decade and also discuss the next generation administrative reforms that awaits a Viksit Bharat.

What were major administrative reforms brought in the last decade?
In the last decade, the administrative reforms were driven by the government’s maxim of “Minimum GovernmentMaximum Governance”.

Administrative Reform	Key Details
E-Governance Model	The Central Government’s e-Governance models like Digital India, Aadhar, BHIM, UMANG, E-NAM, Ayushman Bharat, PM’s Jan Arogya Yojana, PM Jan Dhan Yojana have been successful in bringing transparency and openness to government processes
e-Samiksha	A real time online system for monitoring and follow-up action on the decisions taken by the Government at the Apex level in respect of implementation of important Government programmes/projects. The Government has been using this platform to remove inefficient officers through premature retirement.
Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS)	The CPGRAMS is an online platform available to citizens 24x7 to lodge their grievances to public authorities on any subject related to service delivery. It is a single portal connected to all the Ministries/Departments of the Government of India and States.
National Conference on eGovernance	It provides a platform for the government to engage with experts in context of experiences relating to e-Governance initiatives
Mission Karmayogi	Mission Karmayogi is part of National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB). It aims to build a future-ready civil service with the right attitude, skills and knowledge which is aligned to the vision of New India.

What are the next generation administrative reforms proposed for Vikshit Bharat?
• Chintan Shivir - Every Ministry should conduct internal, in house deliberations to take a fresh look at their working through organizing Chintan Shivir’s.
• Benchmarking Governance – In future, Good Governance Index,National e-governance service delivery Assessment(NeSDA) Framework etc should be expanded to all the states, UTs to benchmark governance.
• Secretariat Reforms - Increasing efficiency in decision-making of secretariat.

What are advantages of Administrative reforms in the country?
• In modern times, people’s expectations and aspirations concerning service delivery has changed and administrative reforms are necessary to improve public service delivery and meet expectations of people.
• They ensure transparency, accountability and rule of law.
• Administrative reforms enhance the capacity of government to carry out core functions and they are especially important in times of natural calamities, hazard, epidemic and pandemic management.
• They facilitate quick decision making, eliminate corruption, build trust among citizens and ensure removal of Red tapism thereby propelling economic development in the country.

What are challenges in administrative reforms in India?
• Excessive political interference
• Being honest and not being a ‘YES MAN’ can often lead to transfers. In most of the states, the principle of three years’ regular tenure of civil servants is not followed. These frequent transfers hamper the implementation of any comprehensive reforms.
• Only 4% of India’s workforce comprise public servants as compare to 22. 5% in the UK and 13.5% in the US.
• Corruption nexus
• Resistance to change

Way Forward
• Mid-career appraisals to remove incapable, inefficient officers
• Training and Capacity Building - Regular training programs can help update the skills of civil servants and equip them to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing environment.
• Citizen Participation - Involving citizens in the reform process can ensure that reforms are responsive to their needs and increase their acceptance.