Transforming bureaucracy: Theoretical underpinnings of the national programme for civil services capacity building (Mission Karmayogi)
- IIPA Digest: Building capacity for governance
- 4(1), Jan-Mar, 2022: p.6-15
The bureaucracy in India is often criticised, and not wrongly so, for its insular and inflexible outlook. The other prominent groups in society including politicians, professionals and businessmen have conveniently used this criticism to deflect the blame on to the bureaucracy for any sub-optimality in our efforts for development and progress while masking their own failings in the process. Admittedly, society is an organic entity and all its constituent groups, classes and individuals must perform their duties diligently while making claims on its resources to sustain a healthy collective life. Such an effort requires re-evaluation and recalibration on the part of power holders, whether groups or individuals, from time to time so as to align their actions in the pursuit of nation building. ‘Bureaucracy’ is only one powerful group in the spectrum and by no means an omnipotent one. Being part of the system of public administration, its performance takes shape in response to the events and happenings in the wider political environment. Nevertheless, it too requires soul searching as to what has gone wrong and how the situation can be improved. In this context, the recent launch of National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) with an aim to professionalise the bureaucracy to meet our developmental needs in future brings a wave of fresh air. – Reproduced
Bureaucracy, National programme, Civil services capacity building, Mission Karmayogi