SHIKHAR MAINS 2022 - DAY 12 Model Answer English

Q1. भारतीय नागरिक सेवाओ की विशेषताओ का उल्लेख करते हुए लोक तंत्र मे नागरिक सेवाओ की भूमिका को स्पष्ट कीजिए?

Mentioning the characteristics of Indian civil services, explain the role of civil services in the democracy.

Approach:

• Introduce the answer with importance of Civil Services in Indian democracy. 

• Describe the features and challenges of Indian Civil Services. 

• Conclude the answer with way forward.

Answer:

       Since Indian system of governance is based on democratic system, every pillar of democracy is very important and plays an important role in maintaining democracy. The role of public servants in this direction is quite sensitive, as they act as the link between the public and the government.  Civil servants are the backbone of a political system, who work as an advisor and as implementing agency for government policies and laws.

Features of Indian Civil Service:

•      Unlike many western countries, civil service has been given constitutional status in India. However, there is no single procedure laid down for the appointment of civil servants nor does the appointment process enjoy constitutional protection.

•      Although the appointment and functioning of civil servants has based on the principle of pleasure in the Constitution, they have also been given constitutional protection through Article 311.

•      In view of the diversity of India, the provinces also have the right to appoint provincial level civil servants, but at the same time administrative integration has also been arranged by providing for All India Services (Article 312).

•      The comprehensive responsibility principle has been accepted in India. That is, where a minister is responsible to parliament (Lok Sabha), a civil servant is accountable to the minister. However, a fair civil service is not only answerable to the immediate Government but it is also responsible to the Constitution of the country.

•      The civil service in India is permanent executive unlike the spoil system of the US, this is done to insulate civil services from the politicisation of services.

•      The nature of civil service is integrated.

•      Civil services conduct their functions based on "long-term social benefits" of the people. (While the political executive works on the basis of short-term gains).

•      The Indian Constitution expects morality from a civil servant.

Benefits of Civil Service:

•      They are instrumental in implementing laws and policies and schemes formulated by the Government.

•      On the one hand, it cooperates with the Council of Ministers and on the other hand, it gives practicality to the decisions taken by the Council of Ministers (since they keep in mind the Long-term benefits of policies and not short term).

•      In India, civil service is the pillar of social change and economic development, that is, social change is driven by changes in administrative procedures.

•      Civil services embody welfare services.

•      They rationalize the equality, capacity and differentiation of governance, and also help in catalysing development.

Challenges before civil service:

•      In India, civil servants lack professionalism, which keeps their performance and ability low.

•      Ineffective incentive system: It discourages hardworking, meritorious and honest civil servants.

•      Rigidity and discipline hinder civil servants from making creative and innovative decisions, hence they are not able to perform up to their skills.

•      Lack of adequate protection to the Whistle blower officers hampers the transparency and accountability of the administration.

•      Arbitrary transfer and suspension of civil servants due to political interference.

To tackle corruption at the cutting edge Anti-Corruption laws needs to be strengthened, transparency and accountability needs to be increased, and Civil servants need to maintain the integrity and uphold the ideals in the constitution, and To tackle the challenge of human resource related issues in Civil services Mission Karamyogi is need to be implemented in letter and spirit.

 Q2. उत्तर प्रदेश राज्य में पंचायती राज व्यवस्था के विकास पर चर्चा कीजिये।  

Discuss the evolution of Panchayati Raj Institution in the state of Uttar Pradesh. (8 Marks)

Approach:

• In introduction highlight the importance of Panchayati Raj Institution at the local level.
• Further discuss the development of Panchayati Raj in the State of Uttar Pradesh.
• Conclude appropriately. 

Answer:

Through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, constitutional status was given to the decentralized system of governance at the local level. In which there is Gram Panchayat at the village level, Panchayat Samiti at the Block (Taluka) level, and Panchayat Samiti of the district level. The system which was formed to run the local level (rural and urban) governance smoothly and to increase the participation of the people in governance is known as Panchayati Raj system.

• Panchayati Raj system is the basic element of the democratic system of our country. In Uttar Pradesh, the Panchayati Raj system has developed continuously in the last 23 years after the passing of the Amendment Act.
• The development of Panchayati Raj Institutions in Uttar Pradesh can be studied as follows:
• Uttar Pradesh adopted Panchayati Raj soon after independence with the Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1947.
•  Following the recommendations of the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, a three-tier system of Panchayats was established through the enactment of the Uttar Pradesh Kshetra Panchayats and District Panchayats Act, 1961.
• In order to bring it in conformity with the provisions of the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992, the State Government amended both the above Acts along with the Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Laws (Amendment) Act, 1994.
• The three tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions in Uttar Pradesh have been named as Zila Panchayat at the district level, Kshetra Panchayat at the intermediate (block) level, and Gram Panchayat at the village level.
• The Administrative Reforms and Decentralization Commission (Bajaj Aayog) was appointed by the state government in the year 1994, which recommended elaborately regarding the devolution of functions to the Panchayats.
• Since 1997-98 with the recommendations of the Tenth Finance Commission (TFC) and State Finance Commission (SFC), the financial resources of the Gram Panchayat have been augmented.
• According to the Fourth State Finance Commission (SFC), 15% of the net revenue is shared with local governments, of which 40% is in the ratio 15:10:75 (Zilla Panchayat: Kshetra Panchayat: Gram Panchayat). allotted to the Panchayats. In 1999, steps were taken to permanently transfer village level functionaries of eight departments to Panchayats. As a result, the personnel like Gram Panchayat Adhikari, Village Development Officer, etc. were brought under the control of Gram Panchayat.

In 2015, the state government constituted the fifth State Finance Commission (SFC), which is yet to submit its report to the government.

In April-May 2021, Panchayat elections were held in Uttar Pradesh for the fifth time, which was a remarkable success. It was a massive election among just under 13 lakh candidates for some 8 lakh posts, including 3,050 zila panchayat wards, over 75,000 kshetra panchayat wards and over 7 lakh gram panchayat wards.