Answer

Introduction

True deregulation is not just administrative simplification but a moral shift, moving from a culture of suspicion, where the state distrusts citizens, to a culture of trust that empowers people. Regulatory humility underpins this by constraining arbitrary power and enabling more meaningful, ethical governance.

Body

Concept of Regulatory Humility

• Limited control: Regulatory frameworks should recognise that not everything needs tight oversight. Simpler, less intrusive rules suffice.
  Eg: The Indian government claims to have removed over 39,000 compliances to reduce regulatory burden.
• Continuous review: Regulations must be periodically assessed and sunset clauses used, so rules stay relevant and are not overly rigid.
• Decriminalisation trust: By recategorising or removing criminal penalties for minor or technical defaults, the state signals faith in citizens’ good faith.

How Regulatory Humility Transforms Ethical Work Culture in Indian Bureaucracy

• Proportionate enforcement: Bureaucrats limit coercive action, intervening only where serious risks justify it.
  Eg: Uttar Pradesh’s Nivesh Mitra 3.0 reforms include risk-based inspections instead of blanket inspections. 
• Outcome-oriented mindset: The success of public servants is measured by impact, not volume of rules made.
  Eg: The Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0 decriminalised over 100 provisions to reduce legal risk and improve business confidence.
• Transparency and participation: Regulatory processes become more open, encouraging public feedback and shared ownership.
• Adaptive learning: Bureaucracy shifts from fixed mindsets to continuously learning, revising rules based on real-life feedback.
  Eg: Regulatory reforms since 2014 involve iterative simplification, with over 3,700 legal provisions decriminalised.
• Reduced corruption: By limiting discretionary powers and simplifying processes, chances for rent-seeking reduce significantly.
• Citizen-first ethics: Officials start seeing citizens and businesses as partners, not adversaries, which enhances mutual respect and service orientation.

Conclusion

Regulatory humility transforms bureaucracy into a trust-based, ethically grounded institution. By limiting intrusion, encouraging learning, and prioritising service, it nurtures a public administration that treats citizens as partners, not subjects, thus strengthening both legitimacy and integrity.

DOWNLOAD PDF