Now, IAS Without UPSC( Lateral Entry)

This is supposed to be a big news. Modi Government, on the recommendations of ‘NITI Aayog’, did this.

What has prompted this? Over a period of time, The Indian Administrative Service has monopolized all the senior level positions. Since they are in the decision making positions with a very strong association, no politician would dare to go against any overt or covert interest of this association.

Complacency and Inefficiency have set in the system of governance.

Is there is a dearth of talent at the higher level? Certainly and it is so natural. Do you analyze the basis of selection? These individuals are selected based on the performance of a written examination and interview. Even assuming that it is the best talent available in the country at that particular time, how their performance is assessed over a period? What happens if they do not perform for whatever may be the reason? It is primarily time-bound, the seniority-based promotion because they are working in a hierarchy based organization. How and why should you expect somebody to work to produce results when all he is required to do, is to follow the process and make the hay when the sun shines. Unfortunately, this approach will not work in a country aspiring to become a global superpower.

Most of the IAS officers get the promotions to HAG if they follow this line. There is no requirement to upskill yourself, learn something new, enhance your knowledge because bureaucracy has developed themselves in such a way that decision making is confined to them, work is done as per the process at its own speed, unless personal interests get involved. No risk is taken because perks and privileges come through the system. In this system, politicians are strange bedfellows. Since they keep the decision making and discretionary powers with them, maximum privileges are enjoyed by bureaucrats with them only. The bureaucracy which was supposed to be steel frame has become compliant Aluminum frame because of this reason. Their higher positions ensure that generally they do not get caught in bribes because the collection is done by public facing subordinates who earn the maximum of grievances. You will not find bureaucrat speeding up the work unless his own personal interest is involved.

It will be fallacious to assume that all officers are comfortable with this system. Some of them are upskilling themselves, some of them are honest as well but most of them are keen to protect their turf, As an association, they will not allow anybody to enter that circle because secrets will be out in public. Even those who make it to IAS through departmental promotions are generally out of this exclusive loop.

How can you make progress with this system of working in higher administrative machinery?

Modi knows that.

Amitabh Kant of NITI Aayog knows that.

So many bureaucrats know this.

BUT who will like to be uncomfortable? The bureaucratic system of slow working ensures that system and processes if properly designed, one cannot go too wrong, though this system will ensure that once you are in, it will be very -2 difficult to put you out of the system. This is the reason why incompetents can also survive in this system and most of them become one exam wonder only. This is the reason, over a period of time, most of the bureaucrats develop a pleasure in sustaining this system. This is status quo and will not change unless somebody pushes it.

Modi has dared to do that.

Will Modi be able to surmount their pressure ….or antipathy...Unless a majority of bureaucrats support him?

Modi has taken this risk for sure?

In the majority of government departments, IAS has encroached over the senior positions. Sometimes the situation becomes so hilarious that each and everything has to be explained to them because they do not understand the basics even.

Decision making is delayed and along with the lethargically designed system, it plays havoc with our efficiency.

Let us do the benchmarking. Do the lateral entries done in other governments? There are a lot of lateral entrants in US government at the higher level, competence is the only criteria. We should include Military officers as well for the lateral entrants, especially in the relevant ministries. You will be amazed to see their efficiency to execute the projects by Army officers. The latest example is the footbridge constructed by Army engineers for Railways in Mumbai in record time. What about Aviation, PSU’s, Healthcare projects etc.

Modi should not forget the talent available within the government as well. Ministry of defense is one point where incompetence reigns supreme and bureaucrats are surviving at the cost of specialists’ defense officers by creating a phobia in the mind of politicians about the Military takeover. This phobia ensures that only IPS officers occupy the senior level positions at CAPF’s because they do not want to place Army officers in those positions. Poor performance or troops casualties does not matter to politicians.

Modi should not stop at this. Competent lateral entries must be promoted everywhere in the government and exit routes must be designed for those incompetents, who are not motivated, taking the system for the granted and dragging India down.

The upside is that we bring competent people inside with fresh ideas and fresh energy.

What is the downside? Can it not succeed without the support of bureaucrats? Can the horse be friendly with grass?

The big question indeed!

Maximum corruption is at the grass root level and there is no problem at that level to IAS supremacy. They will continue unless there is change at the policy-making level.

What happens at the policy designing level? These specialist officers from the private sector will make the difference there with their new ideas, knowledge and different work systems. If the work systems become technology driven, corruption will be minimized. One can see it in any US MNC.

I am very optimistic.

However, these lateral entrants will have to deal with the different rigid system, sleeping elephant, incompetent and corrupt subordinates, no cooperating or least cooperating IAS peers and above all corrupt power hungry politicians who will try to manipulate them. Of course, there will be the silver lining as well, maybe few and far between, especially in the beginning.

They have to be retrained and protected.

Once again, Modi has done it and he should carry it to the logical end.