For Civil Services, HR lessons from Military

For Civil Services, HR lessons from Military
 

News: The editorial explains the need for adopting HR practices from the military to reform civil services.
 

What are best HR practices in armed forces that need to be imbibed by Civil services?
 Specialization - In a democracy’s generalists are politicians. Civil servants are technocrats whose mandate is assisting in governance. The ideal administrator is not the gifted layman who frequently moves from job to job within service and can take a practical view of any problem. Young military recruits pick an area of expertise early. Our civil services must replicate this.
 Tenure - The Agniveer revamp will reduce an average soldier’s age, ensure motivation for continuing in service, and gradually raise military capital expenditure. This allows organisations to renew themselves without complications, court cases or a huge pool of promotable but not postable. The government must hire all new civil servants for a fixed 10-year tenure with rollover percentages decided by a hard-coded organisational structure.
 Structure (performance management forced via a frozen pyramid) - Civil servant selection is highly meritocratic, but their careers are adversely influenced by outdated HR practices that don’t punish bad performers and therefore punish good performers. The performance management system in the military (promotions with honest appraisals) has been more disciplined.
 

Way Forward:
 Such reforms in Indian civil services will raise competition, accountability and uncertainty. It will raise moral courage.
 Better HR practices in civil services are needed because wars are fought with weapons but won by people.