<–2/”>a >Values are the standards on which, we evaluate things. For every situation we don’t have time to ‘test’ the case on ethics theories such as utilitarianism. Values provide time saving short-cut in such situation.
Under New public management (NPM), the concept of public Services is fast changing. Bureaucrat has become directly accountable to citizen-customer. He has to respond to moral universe of the citizens. He has discretionary powers, therefore he must be provided with guiding principles to prevent abuse of power. The Foundational Values provide these guiding principles.
Some important Foundational values for civil services are as follows:
- Neutrality
- Anonymity
- Commitment and Dedication to Public Service
- Civil Activism
- Important Commandment for Civil Servants
- Civil Services Accountability
- Ethical Conduct of a Civil Servant
- Responsibility
- Courage
- Discipline
- Integrity
- Humility
- Impartiality
Neutrality
Neutrality is the tendency of not to side in a conflict (physical or ideological), which may not suggest neutral parties do not have a side or are not a side themselves. In colloquial use neutral can be synonymous with unbiased. However, bias is a favoritism for some side,distinct of the tendency to act on that favoritism. Neutrality is distinct (though not exclusive) from apathy, ignorance, indifference, doublethink, Equality, agreement, and Objectivity. Objectivity suggests siding with the more reasonable position (except journalistic objectivity), where reasonableness is judged by some common basis between the sides, such as logic (thereby avoiding the problem of incommensurability). Neutrality implies Tolerance regardless of how disagreeable, deplorable, or unusual a perspective might be.Advocating neutrality is non-neutral.
Sardar Patel had made the following observations in the Constituent Assembly to s
upport the continuance of the pre-independence civil service structure:
“It needs hardly to be emphasized that an effi cient, discipline and contended civil service assured of its prospects as a result of diligent and honest work, is a sine-quanon of Sound administration under democratic regime even more than under an authoritarian rule. Th e service must be above party and we should ensure that political considerations, either in its recruitment or in its discipline and control, are reduced to the minimum if not eliminated altogether.”
Unfortunately, this vision of civil service neutrality no longer holds good. Changes in governments particularly at the state level often lead to wholesale transfer of civil servants. Political neutrality is no longer the accepted norm with many civil servants getting identifi ed, rightly or wrongly, with a particular political dispensation. Th ere is a perception that offi cers have to cultivate and seek patronage from politicians for obtaining suitable positions even in the Union Government. As a result, the civil services in public perception are often seen as increasingly politicized.
As observed by Paul Appleby civil servants should not confuse ‘political neutrality’ with ‘programme neutrality’. At the stage of policy formulation, the role of civil servants is to render free and frank advice which should not be coloured by any political considerations. Once a policy or programme has been approved by the elected government, it is the duty of the civil servant to faithfully and enthusiastically see to its implementation. Not carrying out this task in the right spirit would amount to misconduct inviting appropriate sanctions.
Anonymity
The anonymity of the civil service is linked to two concepts: permanence and neutrality. Civil servants, many of whom remain in their jobs whilst serving numerous governments, are thus likely to have to give advice to governments of different Political Parties, who may have different attitudes to policy. The advice they give needs to be given to ministers both freely and also without fear of adverse public or political reactions and without fear of future career damage. This is tied into the concept of ministerial responsibility, whereby the convention is for the minister to accept responsibility for their actions and decisions and those of their departments.
Commitment and dedication to public service
Dedication means quality of involving oneself completely or applying one’s attention, time to a particular activity, cause or a person. Dedication in public service is required as civil servants in India, a developing country need to perform the regular administrative and also play an important role in socio-Economic Development of the nation. In carrying out these activities he may be faced with several obstructions like social opposition against any programme which is against their deep rooted belief, lack of support from political executive. Schemes for promoting family planning are generally opposed in rural as they consider contraceptives as taboos here dedication is required to fulfil the goal of healthy Society. One’s employees and superiors may be involved in Corruption. These obstacles can only be overcome when one has perseverance and dedication.
Integrity
Integrity is the fundamental moral concept in civil services. It is an important basis of ethical behaviour and ethical competency. It is associated with the value of being honest and maintain strong moral principles. Integrity includes financial integrity, professional integrity and intellectual integrity. Ethics and integrity are closely related. An ethical person having strong moral values is bound to be a man of integrity. Those people who have experience of working in the government know that integrity is evaluated every year through their Annual Performance Report. The assessment takes place on the basis of decisions/performance of the individual Civil Servants throughout the year. In conducting interview for testing Personality of the candidates, the board carefully observes the approach of the answer of individual candidate while assessing their integrity. In written examination, the examiner will obviously look into moral stand of the candidates especially on issues and conflicts faced by them while dealing with various glitches.,
Foundational Values of Democracy
Democracy is a form of government in which the people hold power. This means that the people have a say in how they are governed. They do this by electing representatives to make decisions on their behalf. Democracy is based on the idea that all people are equal and have the right to participate in government.
There are many foundational values that are essential to democracy. These values include:
- Rule of Law: The rule of law means that everyone is subject to the law, including the government. This means that the government cannot arbitrarily arrest or imprison people, and that it must follow the same laws as everyone else.
- Equality: Equality means that all people are equal under the law. This means that everyone has the same rights and opportunities, regardless of their race, religion, gender, or social status.
- Liberty: Liberty means freedom from government interference. This means that people are free to speak their minds, practice their religion, and assemble peacefully.
- Sovereignty of the people: Sovereignty of the people means that the people are the ultimate source of power in a democracy. This means that the government is accountable to the people, and that the people have the right to change or remove the government if they are not satisfied with it.
- Participation: Participation means that people have a say in how they are governed. This means that people have the right to vote, to hold office, and to participate in government decision-making.
- Accountability: Accountability means that the government is answerable to the people. This means that the government must be transparent in its decision-making, and that it must be held accountable for its actions.
- Transparency: Transparency means that the government must be open and honest in its dealings with the people. This means that the government must release information about its activities, and that it must allow the people to participate in decision-making.
Role of Civil Services in Democracy
The civil service is a group of people who work for the government. They are responsible for carrying out the policies of the government and providing services to the people. The civil service is an important part of democracy because it helps to ensure that the government is accountable to the people.
The civil service has a number of roles in democracy. These roles include:
- Implementing the policies of the government: The civil service is responsible for implementing the policies of the government. This means that they are responsible for carrying out the laws and regulations that are passed by the government.
- Providing services to the people: The civil service is also responsible for providing services to the people. This includes services such as Education, healthcare, and social security.
- Protecting the rights of the people: The civil service is also responsible for protecting the rights of the people. This includes protecting the right to life, liberty, and property.
- Maintaining law and order: The civil service is also responsible for maintaining law and order. This includes enforcing the law and protecting the public from crime.
- Promoting Good Governance: The civil service is also responsible for promoting good governance. This includes ensuring that the government is transparent and accountable, and that it is responsive to the needs of the people.
- Fighting corruption: The civil service is also responsible for fighting corruption. This includes investigating and prosecuting corruption, and promoting ethical behavior in government.
- Ensuring Transparency and Accountability: The civil service is also responsible for ensuring transparency and accountability in government. This includes releasing information about government activities, and allowing the people to participate in decision-making.
- Building a strong and prosperous nation: The civil service is also responsible for building a strong and prosperous nation. This includes promoting economic development, and providing a safe and secure Environment for businesses to operate.
The civil service is an important part of democracy. It helps to ensure that the government is accountable to the people, and that it provides services to the people. The civil service also plays a role in promoting good governance, fighting corruption, and ensuring transparency and accountability.
What is a civil service?
A civil service is a body of non-elected public servants who are employed in the administration of a state. They are responsible for carrying out the policies of the government and providing services to the public.
What are the foundational values of a civil service?
The foundational values of a civil service are:
- Accountability: Civil servants are accountable to the public for their actions. They must act in the public interest and be transparent in their decision-making.
- Impartiality: Civil servants must be impartial in their dealings with the public. They must not discriminate against any individual or group.
- Professionalism: Civil servants must be professional in their conduct. They must be competent and efficient in their work.
- Integrity: Civil servants must act with integrity. They must be honest and trustworthy.
What is the role of a civil service in a democracy?
The role of a civil service in a democracy is to provide a neutral and impartial Bureaucracy that can implement the policies of the government. The civil service is also responsible for providing essential services to the public, such as education, healthcare, and social security.
What are the challenges facing civil services today?
The civil services are facing a number of challenges today, including:
- Political interference: Civil servants are often subject to political interference, which can undermine their impartiality and professionalism.
- Budget cuts: Civil services are often subject to budget cuts, which can make it difficult for them to provide essential services to the public.
- Technological change: Technological change is making it difficult for civil services to keep up with the latest trends.
- Recruitment and retention: Civil services are facing difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified staff.
What are the reforms that are needed to improve civil services?
The following reforms are needed to improve civil services:
- Strengthening the independence of the civil service: The civil service must be free from political interference.
- Investing in human Resources: Civil services must invest in human resources to attract and retain qualified staff.
- Modernizing the civil service: Civil services must modernize their operations to keep up with the latest trends.
- Building public trust: Civil services must build public trust by acting in the public interest and being transparent in their decision-making.
- The civil service is a group of people who are employed by the government to carry out its day-to-day operations.
- The civil service is responsible for a wide range of tasks, including providing public services, collecting taxes, and enforcing laws.
- The civil service is supposed to be impartial and non-partisan, meaning that it should not favor any particular political party or ideology.
- The civil service is supposed to be efficient and effective, meaning that it should use its resources wisely and achieve its goals in a timely manner.
- The civil service is supposed to be accountable to the public, meaning that it should be transparent in its operations and responsive to the needs of the people.
Here are some MCQs about the civil service:
-
Which of the following is not a responsibility of the civil service?
(A) Providing public services
(B) Collecting taxes
(C) Enforcing laws
(D) Promoting a particular political party or ideology -
Which of the following is a characteristic of the civil service?
(A) It is impartial and non-partisan.
(B) It is efficient and effective.
(C) It is accountable to the public.
(D) All of the above. -
Which of the following is not a way to improve the civil service?
(A) Increasing salaries
(B) Providing more training
(C) Making it more transparent
(D) Making it more responsive to the needs of the people -
Which of the following is a benefit of having a strong civil service?
(A) It can help to ensure that the government is run efficiently and effectively.
(B) It can help to protect the rights of citizens.
(C) It can help to promote economic development.
(D) All of the above. -
Which of the following is a challenge facing the civil service in many countries?
(A) Corruption
(B) Bureaucracy
(C) Inefficiency
(D) All of the above. -
Which of the following is a way to reduce corruption in the civil service?
(A) Increasing salaries
(B) Providing more training
(C) Making it more transparent
(D) Making it more responsive to the needs of the people -
Which of the following is a way to reduce bureaucracy in the civil service?
(A) Decentralizing decision-making
(B) Streamlining procedures
(C) Reducing the number of regulations
(D) All of the above. -
Which of the following is a way to improve the efficiency of the civil service?
(A) Investing in technology
(B) Reorganizing departments
(C) Training employees
(D) All of the above. -
Which of the following is a way to improve the effectiveness of the civil service?
(A) Setting clear goals
(B) Measuring performance
(C) Providing feedback
(D) All of the above. -
Which of the following is a way to make the civil service more responsive to the needs of the people?
(A) Conducting surveys
(B) Holding public hearings
(C) Creating ombudsmen
(D) All of the above.