Q. Should being impartial and being non-partisan be considered as indispensable qualities to make a successful civil servant? Discuss with illustrations. (150 words, 10 Marks)

July 24, 2023 13

GS Paper IV Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

Answer:

Approach:

Introduction: Write about the civil services and values linked.
Body:
1. Mention the importance of impartiality and nonpartisanship
2. Illustrate your points with relevant examples.
Conclusion: Conclude accordingly with some suggestion or importance.

Introduction:

The civil service plays a critical role in the functioning of any government. Civil servants are responsible for the implementation of government policies and programs, and their decisions can have a significant impact on society. Therefore, it is important that civil servants remain impartial and non-partisan in their work to ensure that their decisions are based on merit and not influenced by personal biases or political affiliations.

Body:

Significance of impartiality and nonpartisan in civil service:-

Impartiality refers to the ability of a civil servant to make decisions based on merit and without any bias or prejudice. It means treating all individuals and groups equally, regardless of their personal characteristics, social status, or political affiliations.
Non-partisanship, on the other hand, refers to the ability of a civil servant to remain neutral and unbiased in political matters. It means that civil servants should not be aligned with any political party or ideology and should work for the benefit of the entire society, rather than a particular group or party.

Illustrations of the importance of impartiality and nonpartisanship can be seen in various countries.

For example, in India, the Election Commission is responsible for conducting free and fair elections. The Election Commission is known for its impartiality and non-partisanship, as it ensures that all political parties and candidates are treated equally, and there is no discrimination based on political affiliations. This ensures that elections are conducted in a fair and transparent manner, and the results reflect the true will of the people.
Similarly, in the United States, the Federal Reserve is responsible for monetary policy. The Federal Reserve is known for its independence and impartiality, as it makes decisions based on economic data and analysis, without any political interference. This ensures that monetary policy decisions are made in the best interest of the economy, rather than any particular political agenda.
In both these examples, impartiality and non-partisanship are critical to ensuring the effective functioning of government institutions.
Civil servants who remain impartial and non-partisan in their work can earn the trust and respect of the public and make decisions that benefit society as a whole. This, in turn, can help to build a strong and stable democracy, where government institutions work for the common good, rather than any particular group or party.

Conclusion:

Civil servants who remain impartial and non-partisan in their work can earn the trust and respect of the public and make decisions that benefit society as a whole, thereby helping to build a strong and stable democracy.