Meaning and features of bureaucracy
Even when the principal changes, staff keep running the timetable, attendance and exams. The permanent staff who run the day-to-day work of government are the bureaucracy.
Bureaucracy means the trained, permanent government officers and staff who actually carry out government policy and laws.
Key idea 1 : Permanent — After an election the government changes, but officers and staff do not. So the work of government carries on without a break.
Key idea 2 : Politically neutral — Officers belong to no party; under any government they work by law and serve all citizens equally.
Key idea 3 : Anonymity — Credit for success and blame for failure go to the minister, not to the officers. Officers do their work without publicity.
- Easy : Does the Collector change when the government changes? — No, Collectors are permanent officers (transfers can happen).
- Medium : Should an officer specially help one party? — No, neutrality is needed.
- Exam-type : If a scheme succeeds who gets the credit? — The minister.
In the figure: Bureaucracy is permanent, neutral and works without publicity.
What happened before the Indian Administrative Service began? Under British rule the Indian Civil Service ran the administration, and its examination was held only in London until 1922.
What happened after the Indian Administrative Service began? On 21 April 1947 Sardar Patel told the first probationers of the new Indian Administrative Service, at Metcalfe House in Delhi, that civil servants are the ‘steel frame of India’. Since 2006 this day is observed as Civil Services Day.
Governments change; bureaucracy stays.
Officers are not elected like ministers; they are selected through examinations.
Permanent – neutral – anonymous. Memory clue: ‘P-N-A’.
Spot the difference
| Point | Minister | Officer |
|---|---|---|
| Selection | By election | By examination |
| Tenure | Fixed period | Permanent |
| Party | Party member | Neutral |
Practice questions
- 1What is bureaucracy?
- 2Why is bureaucracy called permanent?
- 3What is political neutrality?
- 4Write three features of bureaucracy.
- 5State two differences between an officer and a minister.
- 6What does working without publicity mean?
- 7What trouble would citizens face if officers were not neutral?
- 8What would happen if the whole administration changed with every government? Write your opinion.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1The trained, permanent officers and staff who carry out government policy and laws.
- 2Because they do not change when the government changes.
- 3Working by law without taking the side of any party.
- 4Permanent, politically neutral, working without publicity — or selection by examination.
- 5Ministers come by election, officers by examination; ministers have a fixed term, officers are permanent.
- 6Credit or responsibility going to the minister, with officers working without publicity.
- 7Some people would be favoured and all would not get equal service.
- 8Experience and continuity would be lost and government work would be interrupted.
Importance of bureaucracy and its link with ministers
A film director decides the story, but technicians who handle camera, light and sets actually build the film. The minister and officer relate in a similar way.
Ministers decide policy, and officers provide information, advice and implementation. Government schemes succeed only through their cooperation.
Key idea 1 : Advice and information — Ministers are often not experts in the subject. Officers help by explaining laws, rules and past experience for a right decision.
Key idea 2 : Implementation — Roads, schools, hospitals, ration or crop insurance — officers carry services to the people. In disasters they also run relief work.
Key idea 3 : Minister and officer — Officers work under ministers, and ministers are responsible to the legislature. Parliament or the legislature and the courts oversee the bureaucracy.
- Easy : Who decides policy? — The minister.
- Medium : Who actually checks the scheme’s applications? — Officers.
- Exam-type : If an officer errs, who can ask for an account? — The minister, the legislature and the court.
In the figure: The minister’s policy, officers’ advice, implementation and service to the people.
On 21 April 1947 Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed probationers of the administrative services at Metcalfe House in Delhi and called civil servants the ‘steel frame of India’. Since 2006, 21 April is observed every year as Civil Services Day.
Minister = policy; officer = implementation; together they give service.
Officers do not work as they please; they work by law and the minister’s policy.
Policy = minister; action = officer. Memory clue: ‘ministers decide, officers deliver’.
Spot the difference
| Role | Minister | Officer |
|---|---|---|
| Work | Decide policy | Implement |
| Accountable to | Legislature and people | Minister and law |
Practice questions
- 1What is the difference between the work of a minister and an officer?
- 2Why is bureaucracy important?
- 3When is Civil Services Day observed?
- 4How do officers help ministers?
- 5Give one example of implementation.
- 6Who keeps watch on the bureaucracy?
- 7Why is cooperation between ministers and officers needed?
- 8What would minister and officer each do while carrying out a school-building scheme? Write your example.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Ministers decide policy; officers implement it.
- 2Because they carry government decisions to the people.
- 321 April.
- 4By giving information and advice and carrying out decisions.
- 5Ration distribution, school building, disaster relief — any one.
- 6Ministers, the legislature and the courts.
- 7Because a scheme succeeds only when both policy and implementation are right.
- 8The minister will decide the scheme and sanction funds; officers will handle land, contractor and inspection.
Types of civil services and recruitment
A school recruits teachers by an exam and interview. Likewise government officers are selected through an exam held by an independent commission.
Civil services are of three kinds: All-India Services, Union services and state services. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) at the Centre and the State Public Service Commission (MPSC in Maharashtra) conduct selection exams.
Key idea 1 : All-India Services — The Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS). Officers serve both the Centre and the states. UPSC selects them.
Key idea 2 : Union and state services — Union services serve only the Centre, such as foreign or revenue services. State services serve the state government, such as Tahsildar or Deputy Collector; MPSC selects them.
Key idea 3 : Selection and reservation — Selection is through an open competitive exam, so merit gets a chance. As per the Constitution there is provision for reservation for Scheduled Castes and Tribes and Other Backward Classes, so that all sections get representation in government.
- Easy : Who selects an IAS officer? — UPSC.
- Medium : Who selects a Tahsildar? — MPSC.
- Exam-type : What is the full form of IPS? — Indian Police Service.
In the figure: All-India, Union and state civil services.
What happened before the UPSC got constitutional status? The first Public Service Commission was set up on 1 October 1926 on the advice of the Lee Commission, but it could only advise the government.
What happened after the UPSC got constitutional status? On 26 January 1950 it became the Union Public Service Commission, an independent body protected by the Constitution (Articles 315 to 323).
UPSC = Centre; MPSC = Maharashtra state; All-India Services = IAS, IPS, IFS.
UPSC does not select state services; the state commission (MPSC in Maharashtra) does.
UPSC → IAS, IPS, IFS; MPSC → state officers. Memory clue: ‘U = Union, M = Maharashtra’.
Spot the difference
| Commission | Selects for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| UPSC | All-India and Union services | IAS, IPS |
| MPSC | Maharashtra state services | Tahsildar, Deputy Collector |
Practice questions
- 1State the types of civil services.
- 2Give the full form of UPSC.
- 3Which services does MPSC select for?
- 4Which are the All-India Services?
- 5Why are government officers selected through exams?
- 6State the difference between Union services and state services.
- 7In your words write the purpose of reservation.
- 8In which service would you like to work and why? Write your answer.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1All-India Services, Union services and state services.
- 2Union Public Service Commission.
- 3Maharashtra state services.
- 4IAS, IPS and IFS.
- 5So that merit gets a chance and selection is fair.
- 6Union services are for the Centre, state services for the state; selected by UPSC and MPSC respectively.
- 7So that all sections of society get representation in government.
- 8E.g. IAS — to carry out schemes for people; give your reason.