Governance, TLP-UPSC Mains Answer Writing
Analyze the role of civil services in promoting democratic values and practices and suggest ways to improve their performance in this regard.
लोकतांत्रिक मूल्यों और प्रथाओं को बढ़ावा देने में सिविल सेवाओं की भूमिका का विश्लेषण करें और इस संबंध में उनके प्रदर्शन को बेहतर बनाने के तरीके सुझाएं।
Approach
Candidates can start the answer with giving basic idea about election process and the involvement of the technology in it then highlight some measures to improve with use of technology.
Introduction
The important role of civil services in a democracy are administration, policy formulation, and policy implementation for the betterment of society and the nation.
Body
Civil service promoting democratic values:
- Implementing Policies and Programs: Civil servants are responsible for implementing policies and programs that are in line with democratic values and practices, such as ensuring equal treatment for all citizens and protecting individual rights and freedoms.
- Ensuring Transparency and Accountability: Civil servants play a critical role in promoting transparency and accountability in government operations, including providing access to information and responding to public inquiries.
- Upholding the Rule of Law: Civil servants are expected to uphold the rule of law and ensure that all citizens, including those in positions of power, are held accountable to the same legal standards.
- Providing Neutral and Impartial Services: Civil servants are required to provide neutral and impartial services to all citizens, without regard to political beliefs or affiliations.
- Promoting Public Trust: Civil servants must act in the public interest and demonstrate integrity, impartiality, and a commitment to serving all citizens, in order to promote public trust in government and democratic institutions.
- Instruments of Social Change and Economic Development: Effective policy execution will result in beneficial improvements in ordinary people’s lives. A government can only declare a scheme successful when the promised goods and services reach the intended recipients.
- Welfare Services: The services provide a variety of welfare programs, including social security, the welfare of the weaker and more vulnerable members of society, old-age pensions, poverty reduction, and so on.
Measures to improve the role of civil services:
- Encouraging Public Engagement: Encouraging civil servants to engage with the public and actively seek out public input in policy and program development, to ensure that government services are responsive to citizens’ needs and expectations.
- Fostering a Culture of Service: Promoting a culture of service within the civil service, encouraging civil servants to view their role as serving the public, rather than just following orders.
- Ensuring Diversity and Inclusiveness: Encouraging diversity and inclusiveness within the civil service, and ensuring that all citizens, regardless of background or beliefs, are treated fairly and equitably.
- Professional Development and Training: Providing ongoing professional development and training programs to civil servants, including training in democratic values and practices, to ensure they are equipped to serve the public effectively.
- Encouraging Political Neutrality: Implementing measures to ensure that civil servants maintain political neutrality and impartiality, including strict codes of conduct and measures to prevent political interference in their work.
- Strengthening Transparency and Accountability: Implementing measures to increase transparency and accountability in government operations, including regular reporting and monitoring mechanisms, and providing citizens with access to information and opportunities to provide feedback.
- Protecting Whistleblowers: Providing protection for whistleblowers and ensuring that civil servants are able to report unethical or illegal behavior without fear of retaliation.
Conclusion
Improving the role of civil services in promoting democratic values requires a combination of policy and cultural changes, as well as ongoing training and support for civil servants. It is important to create an environment in which civil servants are empowered to serve the public effectively and in line with democratic values and practices.
