National Civil Service Day 2023: History, Significance, Reforms & Challenges

In million living dreams, an Indian youngster runs sleepless behind the dream ‘UPSC’. The web series Aspirants truly showcased the enthusiasm of all the young minds aspiring to become an IAS officer. The zeal of becoming the part of system is not new, it has been coming as a rich legacy. 

Bureaucracy is not only a major but a whole sole component that runs a district to the country. Commemorating the magnitude and prominence of this service, Civil Services Day is celebrated every year on 21 April, that is encouraging several young aspirants to achieve their dream to serve the nation. The theme of Civil Service Day 2023 is 'Empowering Citizens and Reaching the Last Mile'.

History

In 1947, on the same day first Home Minister of Independent India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the first batch of trainee civil servants at Metcalf House, Delhi. Sardar also known as the ‘Iron Man’ of India referred to the bureaucracy as the ‘Steel Frame of India’. During the colonial period, the Indian Administrative Services known as Indian Imperial Services was founded by Lord Cornwallis. 

Intimidating the fact of involvement of Indians in the system would lead to the end of British rule, Initially British did not allow the Indians to take part in Civil Service Exam.  Gradually further reforms changed the fundamental structure of the service.

Reforms 

In 1854, Thomas Babington Macaulay, who played a crucial role in transforming the Indian education system, headed a committee which recommended merit-based appointment to the service. Earlier the appointment to this service was based on the company’s patronage. Further, after 1857 the name of the service also changed to Imperial Civil Service. 

The recommendation of Macaulay committe provided it with a form of competitive examination like present days, one has to pass the competitive exams to get recruited in Imperial civil service. However, till then the service was still restricted for Indians. 

In the year 1886, one more committee under Charles Umpherston Aitchison recommended removing the restriction for the Indians, and they should also get employed in public service. Till then the public service examination and recruitment processes used to get done in England only. 

While in 1912, a committee of Lord Islington, suggested to fill up 25 per cent of the higher post by the Indians. And from 1922 onwards, the civil service exam started to be held in India. On 1 October 1926, under the leadership of Ross Barker, the Public Service Commission of India was established. 

Significance 

As Steel Frame of India, bureaucracy never sleeps, it is the nuclei of every state and centre's functioning. Along with the government’s objective and promises to the public,, the civil servants have to perform accordingly. After the exit of English authority from India, it consistently evolved to fulfil the vision of Indian citizens. 

Armstrong Pame who is also known as ‘Miracle Man’ has been posted as Sub-divisional Magistrate. Pame built a road without any government support and transformed the locals’ lives by giving connectivity to the region, which further enhance the quality of healthcare and other basic amenities. 

D Subbarao is again not a new name. He served as the 22nd RBI governor and also been a 1972 batch IAS officer from Andhra Pradesh cadre. Subbarao is known for his economic brilliance, and there he made reforms for financial literacy and economic reforms for villages and remote areas. 

These names have proven the true aspect of accountability the service hold for the citizen and nation. Apart from them, several young trainee IAS officers are bringing revolutionary reforms to their end with utmost loyalty and honesty. 

Challenges 

Being the toughest and biggest examination in the country, Indian Administrative Service is a matter of having the chance for national service for several youths. Million of youngsters attempt every year to get selected for the service. Few reach the personal interview round but fail to get posted while few do not get succeeded in the prelims because the approach of the examination is way different from other exams. 

According to the data, nearly 10.6 lakh students appear for this exam and 5 lakh appeared for prelims. Among them, 10,000 candidates qualify for the main exam and only 1,992 students get shortlisted for the personal interview round. At last, only 800 candidates were selected for different services, which implies 0.2 per cent of students succeeded in the exam. 

This does not indicate the pessimistic side of the service but rather the realistic ground, the success rate in the civil service examination is low but youngsters should not lose their all capability to only one examination. Authorities dealing with this examination need to bring a provision to compensate for the effort and time of students so that their morale does not go down.