Write a note in brief on administrative reforms undertaken by the government since independence.

 We encountered numerous obstacles following our country's independence in 1947, including poverty, starvation, illiteracy, regional inequities, economic and social backwardness, displaced people, and a depleted administrative apparatus inherited from colonial administration. To address these issues, India needed a bureaucratic system that was responsive, responsible, adaptable, and accountable. India's government is based on the parliamentary democratic form, with a welfare state ideology. With the emergence of welfare state the functionality of the government agencies also maximised. To meet all these prerequisites, the government machinery had to be revamped and reformed in response to the country’s changing scenario. Development is the potentiality of a country to implement agreed policies, programmes, and projects. Any strategy or policy's success, according to management experts, is contingent on doing the right thing and in a right way. The instrument for formulating and implementing developmental programmes, public administration, has to be reformed, corrected, and expanded.

Let us now discuss the various reform measures taken by the government of India since independence:

The Secretariat Reorganisation Committee, 1947

To look over the issue of personnel inadequacy, upgradation of methods of work and proper utilisation of available manpower in the central secretariat, the Government of India (GOI) appointed a six member committee headed by Sir Girija Shankar Bajpai. This was the first ever reform measure undertaken by the GOI on the eve of independence in July 1947.

The Ayyangar Committee, 1949

The first comprehensive review of the working of the machinery of the Central Government was undertaken by this committee. Sh. N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar in his report on ‘Reorganization of the machinery of central government’ recommended the reorganisation of the ministries grouped into four bureaus, place a limit on the number of departments in the ministries and each ministry having three categories of ministers- a Cabinet Minister, a Minister of State and a Deputy Minister.

Gorwala Report, 1951

A. D. Gorwala Committee was set up to look into the administrative machinery and methods and to assess their adequacy to meet the needs of planned development. In his report he highlighted the antagonistic relationship between the minister and his secretary and laid emphasis on proper recruitment, training, and right allocation for meeting the needs of administration generated out of planning efforts and strongly recommended the introduction Organisation and Methods in public enterprises.

Paul. H. Appleby Reports, 1953 and 1956

Government of India invited Paul. H. Appleby to suggest reforms in Indian administration. He submitted two reports. His first report namely ‘Public Administration in India: Report of a Survey, 1953”, dealt with administrative reorganisation and practices and second report namely, ‘Re-examination of India’s Administrative System with special reference to Administration of Government’s Industrial and Commercial Undertakings’ 1956 dealt with streamlining organisation, work procedures, recruitment and training in these enterprises. Two of his recommendations were implemented i.e. establishment of a professional training institute, namely The Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) at the national level and the setting up of a central office i.e. Organisation and Methods Division (O & M) in the Cabinet Secretariat for improving the quality of government business and streamlining its procedures.

Committee on Prevention of Corruption, 1962

Santhanam Committee was appointed in September 1962 to study the menace of corruption, to evaluate the available mechanism for containing corruption and to suggest measures for their improvement. The committee was also asked to suggest changes in the government servants’ conduct rules and the disciplinary rules. The report submitted on 31st March 1964 identified various socio-economic and political causes for corruption in public services. The committee gave various recommendations such as constitution of Central Vigilance Commission, amendment in Article 311 of the Constitution of India for conducting disciplinary proceedings against government servants and adoption of code of conduct for civil servants.

The Administrative Reforms Commission, 1966

The most comprehensive inquiry in administrative reforms was taken by appointing the first Administrative Reforms Commission in January 1966 under the chairmanship of Morarji Desai (succeeded by K. Hanumanthaiya).

The Kothari Committee, 1976

In 1976, the UPSC constituted a committee on Recruitment and Selection Methods, chaired by Shri Kothari, to review and report on the system of recruitment to All India Services and Central Group A and Group B Services. The central government based on its suggestions agreed to hold a single test for All India Services and Central Group A non-technical services.

National Police Commission,1977

This was set up under the Chairmanship of Sh. Dharamvira to examine the roles and functions of Police with special reference to control of crime, maintenance of public order, methods of managerial supervision, the system of investigation and prosecution, and maintenance of crime records. The report was very detailed which had nearly five hundred recommendations pertaining to police administration.

Economic Reforms Commission, 1981

This was set up by GOI under the chairmanship of L.K. Jha in March 1981 to look into the important areas of economic administration. The Commission submitted a number of reports which suggested the rationalisation and modernisation of the economic administration of the country.

Commission on Centre-State Relations, 1983-1987

GOI appointed the commission on centre-state relations in 1983 under the chairmanship of R.S. Sarkaria, a retired judge of Supreme Court to review the working of existing arrangements between centre and states regarding powers, functions and required measures. The commission gave 247 recommendations in its report in 1988, out of which 180 are implemented by the GOI like establishment of Inter-State Council in 1990 to deal with the matters other than socio-economic planning and development.

The Satish Chandra Committee, 1988-89

In 1988, an eight-member committee on the Recruitment Policy and Selection Methods for All India Services And Central Services, was set up by UPSC under the chairmanship of former UGC chairman, Satish Chandra. It recommended certain changes in the examination pattern and marks allotted to written examination and interview for Civil Services.

Conference of Chief Secretaries 1996

The Conference of Chief Secretaries of the States and Union Territories was organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances On November 20,1996. The objective was on evolving an accountable, open, and citizen-friendly government and on improving the performance and integrity of public services.

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