A march towards effective and responsive administration
- 1998
- p.1-17
- Jul-Sep
The administrative system, India inherited in 1947, was designed to serve the interest of the ruling power. The dominant features of administration were a strong hierarchical system, strict adherence to rules without questioning their veracity, lack of transparency in decision-making process, complex sets of rules whose interpretation needed reference to expert bodies in case of dispute, centralisation of decision-making process and lack of responsiveness to public needs and aspirations. These features were aimed at maintaining a distance between the ruling class and the public. The insistence on obedience to rules and regulations took care of the accountability of the administrators but at the same time reduced transparency in the decision making process as many levels had to be crossed before a decision was made. This also increased the scope of use of discretionary power by the ruling class when it suited their interest - political or economic. The state, generally, did not concern itself much with the welfare of the people. In this paper, an attempt has been made to highlight systemic reforms undertaken in administration since Independence. Some examples of reforms/innovations have also been cited to show how the country is marching towards `Effective and Responsive Administration' slowly and steadily. - Reproduced
Public administration - India Public administration