As India moves towards becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047, the vision of Sardar Patel and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar for an ethical and efficient civil service continues to guide the nation.

Views regarding Civil Services in India

• Steel Frame’ of Governance: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, known as the Iron Man of India, famously referred to the civil service as the ‘steel frame’ of governance. 
  • This metaphor reflected his belief in the necessity of a robust and resilient administrative structure to support the newly independent nation. He believed that a strong civil service was essential to:
    • Maintain order
    • Implement public policies
    • Ensure stable governance,  especially during the tumultuous period of independence and partition.
• Nation Building: In Sardar Patel’s view, a merit-based and powerful civil service was crucial for playing a foundational role in nation-building, uniting the diverse citizenry of India, and maintaining stability, integrity, and governance effectiveness across the newly independent nation.
• Impartial and Professional: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, viewed an independent civil service as a cornerstone of democratic governance. 
  • Drawing from his deep understanding of India’s socio-political landscape, Ambedkar emphasized the importance of impartiality, accountability, and professionalism in ensuring a fair and effective administrative system.
• Overcoming Colonial Legacy: Dr. Ambedkar observed that the colonial administrative system was plagued by rampant corruption, lack of accountability, and an erosion of public trust. 
  • In response, he advocated for a civil service answerable to the Constitution and lawful authority—one that is free from political retribution and committed to the public interest.
• Ensuring Competence: To ensure that competent individuals were attracted to and retained in the civil service, Dr. Ambedkar stressed the need for job security and protection against arbitrary dismissal. 
  • He believed this framework would promote greater public confidence in governance by empowering civil servants to take unpopular but necessary decisions in the public interest.
• Ethical Civil Service: Ambedkar famously said “History shows that where ethics and economics come in conflict, victory is always with economics. Vested interests have never been known to have willingly divested themselves unless there was sufficient force to compel them.”
  • This quote underscores the need for a strong and ethical civil service—capable of resisting undue influence and remaining steadfastly committed to public welfare and constitutional values.
• Dedicated Public servants: Sardar Patel envisioned civil servants as dedicated public servants who would prioritise citizens’ needs, cultivate a spirit of nationalism and duty, and demonstrate unwavering commitment to public welfare. 
  • This vision aimed to foster a culture of integrity and responsibility in governance, ensuring that civil servants remained focused on the common good and national progress.
• Addressing Disparities: Sardar Patel was deeply aware of the socio-economic inequalities in Indian society, and his model of nationalism emphasized enhancing productive forces, ensuring equitable distribution of resources, and promoting respect for local self-government, particularly through village panchayats. 
  • He believed that civil servants should foster a symbiotic relationship between agriculture and industry, while remaining sensitive to social justice and championing inclusive development.
• Capacity Building: Sardar Patel emphasised the need to continuously enhance the capacity of civil servants, ensuring they are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and training necessary to meet evolving challenges.
  • While promoting a love for the nation that fuels their energy and commitment towards achieving socially desired outcomes.

Constitutional Provisions

• Article 310: Civil servants hold office during the pleasure of the President, subject to constitutional safeguards.
• Article 311: Protects civil servants from arbitrary dismissal by mandating a departmental inquiry and right to be heard.
• Article 312: Empowers Parliament to create new All-India Services, ensuring uniformity and professional standards across the country.
• Living Constitution: This institutional framework aligns with Ambedkar’s view of the Constitution as a dynamic document: “Constitution is not a mere lawyers document, it is a vehicle of Life, and its spirit is always the spirit of Age.”

Evolution of Civil services in India

• Role of Civil services: The All India Civil Services—such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFoS)—along with Central Civil Services (dealing with taxation, railways, etc.), provide a platform for individuals from diverse backgrounds to play a key role in governance.
• Public service commissions: The visionary political leadership institutionalised the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and State Public Service Commissions to ensure a transparent, fair, and merit-based recruitment process.
  • Conducting examinations and selecting candidates based on educational qualifications and competence, rather than connections—thus upholding the impartiality and professionalism envisioned by Patel and Ambedkar.
• Vision Ahead of Its Time: The time-specific vision of the ‘steel frame’ by Sardar Patel and Dr. Ambedkar remains deeply relevant even today. 
  • They were acutely aware of evolving challenges, and their ideas for civil services were designed to be flexible, resilient, and forward-looking.
• Challenges: Despite the presence of constitutional safeguards and institutional mechanisms, the civil service continues to face persistent challenges such as interference by powerful private interests, a diminishing passion for uplifting marginalised communities, and a decline in administrative integrity. 
  • These issues significantly hinder the realisation of the founding vision for a competent, ethical, and people-centric civil service envisioned by Patel and Ambedkar.

Conclusion

As India progresses towards becoming a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) by 2047, the vision of Patel and Ambedkar for an ethical, efficient, inclusive, and committed civil service continues to serve as a guiding light. 

DOWNLOAD PDF