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Civil service essentially is an instrumentality of the government and is an aid, essential equipment, for operational purposes. Civil service exam by its, recruitment, training, style and culture is best suited for playing the role of adviser to politicians rather than playing the politician's role. In any democratic set-up, where the party with the mandate of majority of the people gets the controlling authority to govern, it is the politicians who have to fulfill people's demands and aspirations; they reflect nation's will. Therefore, anyone who does not represent the people cannot speak for them. Bureaucrats thus have no primacy, no supremacy, in determining such macro-level national policies. They can, at best, tender professional advice and render assistance, as may be needed from time to time, to the political policy makers in defining and refining the policies. They play, most certainly, the significant crucial role in implementing such policies and taking decisions within the overall framework of such policies. In normal circumstances, the bureaucrats, since they are professionally trained in their art of "driving under direction", have perfected the technique of 'decision-making'. But otherwise, when it comes to "discontinuity" or "uncertainty", that is, at the time of emergency, the) look for directives and seek dictates. Rule application, rule interpretation and rule- adjudication are some of the tasks better done by the bureaucrats. Politicians do not remain in power permanently as they come and go through time-bound electoral process. Political executives are temporary masters, but bureaucrats are permanent employees of the state. They are recruited for their superior merit, knowledge, professional competence, technical know-how, experience and expertise. Their primary concern is goal realization. It is only after the laws regarding the social, political and economic issues have been made that the bureaucrats come in the picture. And whatever further is required to implement these laws is taken over by the current affairs and completed. Whether it is the making of rules and regulations under the system of 'delegated legislation' or issuance of necessary directives and guidelines, the civil service performs its functions rather well. Administrative efficiency through a series of decision-making and decision- implementing activities is best topics of group discussion for civil service. If civil service is often criticized for inefficiency in administration, its deficiencies, slowness, conservatism, negativism, delays etc... it has also to be appreciated for all iris achievements in terms of socio-economic development and progress. There is no doubt that the traditional 'legal-rational' concept of civil service has undergone a change. As discussed earlier, the civil service is not just instrumental any more, waiting for orders to execute, unmoved, unconcerned by any changes. It functions with emotional and psychological involvement in executing programmes. The old time distinction and Water-tight compartmentalization between policy and execution is fast disappearing. In the present developmental administration landscape, the bureaucrat has to take the lead. In expanding arena of science and technology, the bureaucrat is everywhere, and has to administer and manage all developmental programmes. In the present times, the bureaucrat cannot afford to be a passive onlooker, and in many cases, he/she has to be pioneering, and display risk taking entrepreneurial skills. Civil service plays an instrumental role in converting the government policies into programmes, programmes into projects and projects into tasks for bringing about development. In a developing country like India, government has to act as the "regulator, mediator, underwriter, provider of services, and promoter of national standards of decent living and economic and social diagnostician and repairman". State penetration in development process is vital in a country committed towards achieving full employment, satisfactory rate of growth, stable prices. Healthy balance of payments, increased production and equitable distribution; this automatically calls for bureaucratic intervention.
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