Role of Civil Services in a Democracy · UPPCS (Uttar Pradesh)

What the official syllabus says

Main Examination, General Studies II:

Role of Civil Services in a democracy in the context of emerging trends.

Indian Civil Service under British rule: open competition from 1853, the Macaulay Committee (1854), the Lee Commission (1924) and the Public Service Commission (1926)
Sardar Patel's view of the All India Services as the "steel frame" of the administration
Part XIV of the Constitution (Articles 308 to 323): recruitment and conditions of service (Article 309), doctrine of pleasure (Article 310), safeguards (Article 311), All India Services (Article 312)
All India Services Act, 1951; Union and State Public Service Commissions
Article 311: no dismissal or removal by an authority below the appointing authority, and only after an inquiry with a reasonable opportunity of being heard, subject to the exceptions in Article 311(2)
The Indian Forest Service (1966) as the third All India Service; state civil services, such as the posts filled through this examination, and their promotion into the All India Services

Policy advice to the political executive and implementation of policy
Continuity and stability of administration; maintenance of law and order
Delivery of welfare and development programmes; regulation; disaster and crisis management
Neutrality, anonymity and impartiality; the relationship between ministers and civil servants
Accountability to the political executive, legislature, courts and citizens
The District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police as the face of the State in a district; development administration at district and block levels
Neutrality versus the idea of a "committed bureaucracy" debated in the 1970s

From administration to governance; New Public Management and citizen-centric administration
Digital governance and data-based decisions
Lateral entry of specialists; generalist versus specialist debate
Mission Karmayogi (2020): competency-based capacity building
Performance appraisal and 360-degree evaluation; outcome-based monitoring
Greater role of the private sector, civil society and local bodies in delivery
Citizen expectations shaped by the right to information, social media and online services
New tasks: climate adaptation, disaster and pandemic management, cyber security

Politicisation, frequent transfers, red tape, corruption, resistance to change
T. S. R. Subramanian v Union of India (2013): fixed tenure, civil services boards, written instructions; Prakash Singh (2006) on police reform
Committees and reports: Kothari Committee (1976) on recruitment, Hota Committee (2004), Second ARC report on personnel administration
Codes of conduct: All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968

General Studies IV: aptitude and foundational values for civil service.
General Studies V: public service and the Public Service Commission of Uttar Pradesh.