By Jatin Gupta Sir

Aptitude & Foundational Values in Civil Services

• Sources

  1. Reading Newspaper → Real Life Example from Newspaper
  2. Awards
     1. Govt of India Awards
        1. Padma Awardees Etc
        2. PM Award Excellence in Pub Ad
  3. Second ARC : 10th Report on Personal Administration
  4. Value Added Material by Vision IAS
  5. Lexicon - for Basic Terms
  6. Previous Year Questions Since 2013

• Values

  • Introduction

    1. Values are intrinsic beliefs

       of an individual that

       guide and motivate one’s behavior

    2. It could be Truthfulness, Respect for Others, Courage, Loyalty, Sincerity, Helpfulness

    3. It can come from many varied sources like teachers, scriptures,

  • Examples

    • Conflicting Values 1

      

    • Conflicting Values 2

      TT Old Lady No Ticket, Or Fine Her or De Board Her

    • Conflicting Values 3

      Boss Says lathi charge, Mob MAY turn violent, Mob haven’t yet

  • Ethical Dilemma

    Its a tough situation to chose one value over another where neither of one is outrightly wrong than another

  • Foundational Values for Civil Services

    1. These are those values or principles that form the very basis of an Organization
    2. In other words, they formed the core identity of any organization
    3. These values are given the highest priority in the functioning of an organization

  • Sample Foundational Values of Some Organisation

    1. Tata - Employ Centric Policies
    2. Maruti - Focuses on Safety & Security of Employees
    3. Vision IAS - Innovation
    4. Apples - Quality

    Home Work : Foundational Values of Bug Business Houses

  • Importance/Significance of the Foundational Values of the Civil Services

    What is the Importance of Foundational Values to be studies and understood for Civil Servants ?

    1. Civil Servants possess wide discretionary powers and by following the foundational values they can maximise public goods

       To Minimise Exploitation of Power for Personal Gains for CS

    2. Often Civil Servants end up in ethical dilemmas, in such situations foundational values can help them make decisions

    3. These foundational Values help in establishing trust between the citizens and the civil servants

    4. Foundational Values help in ensuring consistency in decision making

    5. It helps in ensuring the maximum utilisation of limited resources for the well-being of society

  • Sources of the Foundational values

    1. Constitution : It is the most important source for civil servants and citizens. It could be Preamble, Fundamental Rights, DPSPs.
    2. Laws : Made by the Legislature
    3. Scriptures : Spiritual and Religious Texts
    4. Leaders :
       1. Steadfast Adherence of Gandhi Ji towards Non Violence in withdrawal of NCM after Chauri Chaura
    5. History : Historical Events and Precedents
       1. Ashoka
       2. Resignation of Ambedkar for not being able to Pass Hindu Code Bill
    6. Memoirs : Memoirs of the Retired Civil Servants
       1. Kiran Bedi - Chalan of PM Convoy
       2. Shastri - Resigned after Train Accident
       3. T N Seshan
       4. P S R Subramanyam
    7. Reports & Rules
       1. Nolan Committee Report
       2. UN Code of Conduct for the Public Officials 1996
       3. All India Civil Services Conduct Rules, 1964
       4. Central Civil Services Conduct Rules, 1968

  • Values are not always universal and are varying in nature depending on space and time

    • Example of the American soldiers wearing underwear made with American Flag

      The symbolic value of patriotism is not prevalent in America

      They are not Edged in Time & Place

      

    • Example of PDA in India && PDA in Metro && PDA in France

    • Example of Choice of Vaccine in India and Vaccine in USA

    • Hence it is important to understand, that Foundational Value of Civil Services is different from values of other Organisations

• Sympathy/Empathy/Compassion

  They are generally used in similar context, but they are different. In increasing order of the complexity

  • Example

    Old Lady in Cold Winters of Delhi

  • Sympathy

    1. It refers to a situation where an individual recognises the pain or agony of other individuals
    2. But it stops there, there is no action

  • Empathy

    1. Its a Step Ahead of Sympathy, What would I feel like if i were in her situation
    2. Here you involved your thoughts, mind and cognitive senses
    3. Empathy on the other hand is putting one’s self in the position of someone who is in pain and relating to the same.

  • Compassion

    Compassion is feeling the Pain of an Individual && taking actions to relieve someone from the pain and suffering one is experiencing

  • How to Reach Compassion

    

  • Compassion is a Four-Step Process

    1. Being aware of someone’s feelings
    2. Being emotionally moved by someone’s suffering
    3. developing a desire to resolve the suffering
    4. Taking necessary steps to resolve the suffering

  • Example

    1. Avanish Sharan admitted his child to the government school of his district and ate mid day meals
    2. Swati Bhadoria admitted her child to Anganwadi Centre
    3. DM Gopalganj went to eat Mid Day Meal cooked by a Dalit

  • Home Work for Abdal

    Find examples from the lives of Civil Servants, Public Servants, those who showed compassion

    Find examples in your life where you exemplified compassion

  • The Importance of Compassion in Civil Services

    1. All the other values are meaningless without compassion

       Application of Laws with Feelings and Emotions is a Must

    2. The end goal of civil service is to serve the people and that cannot be achieved without compassion

    3. It helps in winning the trust of the people and bridging the trust deficit that exists between citizens and civil servants

    4. It helps in ensuring Citizen Centric Administration

    5. We are often victims of various stereotypes in society which can be addressed by empathy and compassion

       Example : Police Stereotype that fault is of Small Cloth and She went out at midnight

    6. Compassion is often referred to as the mother of all the values in civil services

  • Methods to Inculcate Compassion in Civil Services/Civil Servants

    1. Organising regular field visits
    2. Organization of the “Janta Darbar”
    3. Role Play Activities
    4. Bharat Darshan during IAS Training
    5. Organising sensitivity training for the civil servants

  • Home Work for Abdal

    Find other examples that how to Inculcate Compassion

• Objectivity

  • Meaning of Objectivity

    1. Being objective means taking decisions or actions on the basis of analysis and critical thinking. It also means not being influenced by one’s personal feelings and opinions
    2. One can also say that objectivity is a lack of biases, prejudices, and stereotypes in taking decisions
    3. Decisions are taken in a rational manner
    4. Takes decisions on the basis of the facts, evidence, figures, and analysis of these facts and figures
    5. Subjectivity is opposite of the objectivity. Subjectivity means the decisions made on the basis of the biases you suffer

  • Importance of the Objectivity for Civil Services

    1. To give a fair chance and to ensure the principle of equality

    2. It promotes merit

    3. It also gives a sense of fairness to the citizens

    4. Protect the trust of the citizens in Civil Services or the entire democratic system

    5. It prevents corruption

       Whom to Award Tenders To ?

    6. It can prevent biases from creeping into decision-making

    7. It reduces errors in decision-making.

  • Methods to Inculcate Objectivity in Civil Services

    1. By deploying technology such as data analytic tools
    2. By providing a decision-making framework to the civil servants
    3. By SWOT Analysis - Strength Weakness & Opportunity & Threats
    4. By Pros and Cons Listing
    5. By increasing the open debates, deliberation, and discussions
    6. By promoting critical analysis
    7. By Promoting Social Audits
    8. By soliciting citizens' feedback through surveys, consultations, Citizen's report cards

  • Absence of Objectivity Leads to

    Sadhu Dream of Buried Gold, ASI Starts Digging

• Courage and Fearlessness

  • Meaning

    1. Courage is the ability to make decisions, take actions, and stick to one’s values and principles even when there is a possibility of unfavourable outcomes.

    2. Example :

       Sam Manik Shaw opposed the order of then PM Indira Gandhi of attacking East Pakistan and Sam Manik Shaw Resigned

       By the Time we mobilise troops in East Pakistan, there will be Monsoon by then

    3. It means to speak truth to power and not to fear the outcome

  • Home Work : Examples of Courage by Civil Services and Public Life

    1. Ashok Khemka

    2. T N Sheshan

       Head of Election Comission of India

    3. Vikram Batra

    4. Satyendra Dubey

       Killed by Mafia

    5. S C Manjunath

    6. Mahatama Gandhi

       Going to Dandi and Making Salt    

    7. Mangal Pandey      

    8. Justice H R Khanna - KSN Bharti Case

    9. BSF Jawan : Talking About Bad Quality of Food

  • Importance of Courage and Fearlessness in Civil Services
    1. Helps in decision making however tough the situations/Circumstances are
    2. It helps in standing against the irregular activities in the government
    3. Helps the civil servants in taking quick decisions as they do not have the benefit of hindsight
    4. It helps the civil servants to stick to their core values and principles
  • How to inculcate Courage and Fearlessness in Civil Services
    1. Rewarding and recognising the act of courage by Civil Servants
    2. A code of Ethics should be introduced for the Civil Services
    3. Enacting a strong Whistleblower mechanism within the Civil Services. Proper Functioning of Such Grievance Redressal Mechanisms is also Important
    4. Making the process of appointments/promotion/transfers Apolitical in nature
    5. Creating an internal grievance redressal mechanism

• Tolerance

  • Meaning

    Respecting Views/Opinions of Others

    Acknowledgment of Differences

    Defintion

    Tolerance is giving respect to the views/opinions of others even though they may be in conflict with one's own views

  • Importance of the value of tolerance in the context of Indian Civil Services

    1. To protect the multi-religious, multi-ethnic Indian society with varying practices, traditions and beliefs.

       There is intra-religious diversity as well

       For example: In some cultures, Ravana is worshipped

    2. Helps in giving a voice to the opinion of minorities, marginalised and backward communities

       Helps Protect the Minority from Majoritarian Dominance

    3. Helps in upholding the fundamental right of the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19

    4. A long-lasting solution to a problem can only be achieved through discussion, deliberation and a consensus-building approach. This is possible by means of values of Intolerance

  • Is Indian society Intolerant in nature?

    There have been instances in the past where cases of intolerances have emerged.

    however, if we look at the differences in cultures, religions, languages, India has still existed and has maintained its unity. Thus broadly we have to argue that India is a tolerant society.

    Thus the very existence of India as the most diverse country of the world, is the testament to the fact that India is tolerant

    However, one can mention:

  • Threats to tolerance in Indian Society

    1. Political parties try to use religion, caste, beliefs in order to get petty political gains.

       Attempts are made by political parties to polarise Indian Masses

    2. Social media is used to circulate fake news, instances trying to divide the people, create outrage & disturb communal harmony

       For example, the Muzaffarnagar Riots

    3. Threat to tolerance from Traditional Media sometimes deliberately manufactures hate, outrage, etc.

       It tries to inflammate Feelings unnecessarily by fabricated News

  • Developing tolerance among civil servants

    1. Exposure to different cultures, traditions, etc through Bharat Darshan, field visits, books, etc

    2. Encouraging a culture of debate & discussions in a respectful and structured manner

    3. Celebration of different festivals, organising cultural events,

       Example : India Day at LBSNAA Example : According to R C Guha, India is a Salad Bowl Example : 26 January Tableau

    4. Organising sports and related events / activities

       Example : Cricket Binds India Example : To Encourage Spirit of Esprit De Corps

• Dedication to Public Service

  • Dedication

    1. To Put Ones Mind, Body and Soul to a specific thing or activity
    2. It should not be external, it should be internal
    3. Putting Ones Soul into an Act

    ---

    1. Dedication is the quality of being able to give or apply one's time, attention or self entirely to a particular activity, cause or an objective
    2. It is a commitment with passion and personal urge to do something without any external force or power to enforce that urge
    3. Hence, Dedication should come from within a person. This helps in being consistent to dedication

  • Dedication to public service

    Dedication to public service refers to committing oneself to the cause of the public and perseverance to serve the public interest despite obstacles and challenges

  • Significance/Importance of dedication in public service

    1. The very purpose of civil services is to improve the lives of the people to contribute to society which would get defeated in case there is no dedication to public service

    2. To deal with adverse situations like when there is a lack of resources when the work environment is not conducive

       For Example : Armstrong Pame, an IAS officer, earned the nickname “Miracle Man” for creating a 100-kilometre road connecting Manipur to Nagaland and Assam in a remote part of the hills state of Manipur without any government assistance

    3. To always put the public interest over one's own interest. Civil servants enjoy huge discretionary powers which can be used for personal gains. Thus the value of dedication is a must in civil services

    4. Without this value, a Civil service will eventually run out of motivation. This helps to work without the opium of External Motivation

    5. A Civil Servant has a lot of Discretion, with dedication its misuse can be prevented

    6. A civil servant encounters several social obstructions in the implementation of a programme

       In such a situation, without dedication to public service, one may never be able to achieve the desired objectives

       For Example : Vaccine hesitancy was observed during the Covid vaccination drive. The public servants had to personally reach out to people to clear their doubts

       For Example : DM Gopalganj

    7. A job of a civil servant is a 24*7 job and the will to continue for long hours can come only when one is dedicated to the public service

       For Example : SDM from Tonk in Rajasthan, on time

       For Example : Officers Working during Covid and Responding

       For Example : IFS Paris and India PMO Time Mismatch

  • Way to Inculcate Dedication to public service in the civil servants

    1. Reward and Recognition to the best performing officers so that it will encourage even other officers to work hard
    2. Conduct regular training sessions to sensitise civil servants towards the challenges faced by the citizens
    3. Volunteer Sundays can be used to address some specific issues of the masses
    4. Teaching civil servants through inspiring stories and examples
    5. Teaching through Religious Scriptures
    6. Performance linked appraisals like given in private sectors
    7. Setting objective targets like KRA(Key result areas)/KRI(Key Result Indicators)
    8. Feedback about Performance of Civil Servants

• Impartiality and Non-Partisanship

  • Impartiality

    1. It refers to the act of not supporting one person or a group over the other. In simple words, it means not taking any sides
    2. Essentially it means taking decisions on the basis of merit without any personal biases and prejudices

  • Non-Partisanship

    1. It refers to not allowing personal political ideology to come in the way of taking decisions
    2. A civil servant is expected to remain politically neutral and implement the policies irrespective of who is in power

  • Special Note

    Even though impartiality and non-partisanship are used interchangeably with each other, non-partisanship has a special meaning that connotes apolitical / Political Neutrality behaviour by a civil servant

    Because Civil Servants are responsible for Implementation of Policy Implementation and this has to been done by the policy formulators (political representatives who are chosen by the will of people)

    Note :

    You can have your own political ideology because you are also a citizen of India but that you cannot allow that ideology to interfere in you Work

  • Importance and significance of impartiality and non-partisanship

    1. It helps in maintaining the trust of people in democracy.
    2. Civil servants have wide discretionary powers and they should be used only in the public interest
    3. It helps in upholding the value of civil services neutrality.
    4. Only when a civil servant is non-partisan can he/she show courage to suggest alternative policies to the ministers
    5. Transformations in society can not be introduced with a biased mind
    6. India is a diverse society with varying interests. Therefore, civil servants are expected to be neutral while implementing the policies

  • Inculcation of the values of impartiality and non-partisanship

    1. Creation of Civil Services Board to decide appointments and transfers so as to make them politically neutral

       Example : CSR Subramaniam v/s Union of India SC Suggested Creation of Civil Services Board

    2. An objective criteria should be created while deciding promotions in the services like KRA & KRI

    3. Defining the minimum duration of posting and a fixed tenure for important appointments and posts

       This allows them to take bold decision

    4. Mandatory cooling-off period for civil servants resigning from the job

       Example : To Prevent Joining a Political Party Immediately after resigning

    5. A strong emphasis should be created on inculcating values of neutrality among the civil servants by training them under retired and senior civil servants of repute

       In Simple Words, Assign a Mentor to Civil Servants

       Example : Lectures in LBSNAA

• Honesty & Integrity

  • Meaning

    Often honesty and integrity are considered synonymous with each other but there is a basic difference between the two values.

    1. Honesty refers to the quality of being truthful and sincere in one's conduct It is an external concept and does not guarantee the highest standards of behaviour

       Not having any rouge intentions. Having Values of Truthfulness

    2. Integrity comes from the Word Integer meaning Wholesome

       On the other hand, Integrity is the mother of all values.

       It refers to steadfast adherence to the highest standards of behaviour and consistency in one's actions, thoughts and behaviour irrespective of time, place and circumstances.

    3. Relations between Honesty and Integrity

       a person of integrity is always honest

       a honest person may or may not be a person of integrity

       Integrity is the quality of being honest even when no one is watching

       consistency in ones actions, thoughts and behaviours

       Honesty is a sub value of integrity

  • Integrity is a 3 step process that involves the following:

    1. Choosing the right course of conduct
    2. Acting consistently with the choice even when it is inconvenient or unprofitable to do so
    3. Openly declaring one's stance on issues

  • Honesty as a subset of integrity

    1. Integrity implies a number of values including reliability, consistency in one's principles and values and honesty.

       Therefore, one can say honesty is a necessary though not a sufficient criterion for integrity.

       For Examples: Committed a Murder / Committed Steal

       1. Honesty : You Accept You Did it
       2. Integrity : You don’t even think about doing this

    2. To be a person of integrity, one has to be honest, but merely being honest does not make an individual a person of integrity.

       For Examples: Accepting that one has taken a bribe will come under honesty whereas an integral person will not even think of taking a bribe.

    3. Your brother has committed a murder, someone might start justifying the act that certain circumstances led to the act however, an integral person will consider it wrong irrespective of the circumstances.

    4. When you hold yourself to the same standards as you hold the others to, then you are an integral person.

       For Examples:

       1. Lal Bahadur Shashtri did not use the ink of his government office to write his personal letters
       2. Kiran Bedi Gave ticket to PM Convoy Car in Khan Market Delhi. This showed indifference to any person in power or not in it
       3. Kalam’s Refusal of NASA’s Offer
       4. Dhoni calling back Ian Bell after being given out
       5. Sachin Tendulkar Moving Out of Stadium when he was out himself
       6. Traffic Light at Mid Night
          1. Honesty : Stops when a Camera or Police is there
          2. Integrity : Stops no matter theres camera or anyone else or not
       7. Self Example
          1. Mother Said No Sweets, Papa Said Eat, I will bring New Box, Saying No

       Homework: Need to find examples of each value discussed from your own life or from people who are involved in public life.

  • Significance of Integrity for Civil Servants

    1. Civil servants enjoy wide discretionary powers and in the absence of integrity, they may end up using the same for their personal benefits
    2. It helps in building the trust of the citizens in the functioning of the system
    3. Without integrity, corruption thrives in society and other values also get compromised in adverse and challenging situations
    4. Civil servants are role models for society and therefore it is expected that they will show staunch adherence to various values and principles
    5. For efficient and effective utilisation of limited resources, it is important that civil servants show integrity

  • Ways to Inculcate integrity - General

    1. Assigning mentors to young civil servants at early stages of their career so that they know how to react in adverse situations.
    2. Appropriate punishment and reward mechanism for civil servants embroiled in corruption and showing exemplary behaviour.
    3. Enactment and adherence to a strict code of conduct.
    4. Creating a code of ethics that should guide the behaviour of civil servants in situations where the law is silent.
    5. Reforms should be introduced in the recruitment process so that candidates are checked with respect to their moral standing and values.
    6. Inclusion of value-based training and curriculum in the training methodology of young officers

• Nolan Committee's Recommended Values (United Kingdom)

  This committee gave the Seven Principles of Public Life

  👨‍🏫 SAHILOO - Self, Acc, Honesty, Integrity, Leadership, Openness, Objectivity

  • Selflessness

    Holders of public office should take decisions solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends.

  • Integrity

    Nolan committee has defined integrity in a very narrow sense.

    The committee says that holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties.

  • Objectivity

    In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.

  • Accountability

    Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.

    Accountability is not just about being answerable for one's actions but includes the component of scrutiny or punishment in case of any violations.

    Responsibility is completing the Work. Accountability includes accepting future questions, if arbitrary actions is done punishment should be allowed

    Ex : Social Audit, Lok Pal,

  • Openness

    Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.

    This can be improved in the case of India where secrecy is preferred over open dissemination of information.

    Example : Sealed Envelope Culture

  • Honesty

    Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.

    Example : Declaring Conflict of Interests, Recusing Yourself Example : When Public & Self Interests are at Logger Heads

  • Leadership

    Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.

  Homework:

  1. Try to find examples for each of the values stated above
  2. Write These in You Own Words

Ethics in Public Administration

Introduction

• Governance
  1. Governance as a Process refers to
  2. It refers to the decision-making process in running a nation.
  3. It can relate to
     1. internal security
     2. welfare measures
     3. foreign relations
• Ethical Governance
  1. It is the governance that is carried out with ethical concerns in the mind.
  2. It is a step ahead of the concept of “good governance” elaborated upon by the World Bank
  3. Ethical governance seeks to realise certain universal desirable values, and not merely values of administrative efficiency.
  4. It includes both efficiencies of administration and universal human values.
• Key elements of ethical governance are based on some basic values such as
  1. Probity (the quality of being incorruptible)
  2. integrity
  3. compassion
  4. responsibility
  5. social justice
  6. rule of law etc
• Importance of ethical governance - Real Life & Current Affairs to be added for Each Point

  1. To Accommodate the Increased expectations of citizenry due to the forces of globalisation.

     India v/s Scandinavian Nature of Delivery of Governance

  2. To ensure effective utilisation of resources.

  3. To bridge the trust deficit that exists between the government and the citizens.

  4. To protect the interests of the weak and the marginalised.

  5. To ensure a citizen-centric model of governance.

  6. To overcome issues such as corruption, nepotism, favouritism, etc

     1. Example : Jet Airways, Axis Bank Case

Ethical Issues and Dilemma

• Ethical Issues in the Indian administration - Real Life & Current Affairs to be added for Each Point

  1. Excessive political interference

  2. Bribe taking

  3. Complacency in civil services

     Career Based Civil Services

  4. Excessive use of discretionary powers for personal gains

  5. Secrecy is the norm and transparency is an exception

  6. Nepotism and favoritism

  7. Delay in the decision-making process

     Example of March Rush

     Psychology of Govt Services - Psychology of Evasion

  8. Lack of empathy and compassion in public dealing

     Example of Use of Physical Force(Slap) during Corona Epidemic

  9. Lack of Due Care and Negligent Attitude towards Implementation Rule

     1. Collapse of Building
     2. Instance of Fire in Market

  10. Excessive Political Interference in Functioning of Bureaucracy

• Ethical Dilemma

  1. It is a situation of conflict among two or more values where a decision is to be made.

  2. An ethical dilemma usually gets created where all the available options are in conflict with each other.

     For Example:

     During Covid 19, a migrant worker walks on foot to reach his hometown where a strict lockdown has been put in place by the administrative authorities.

• Various Ethical Dilemmas faced by public servants in India

  Where One Value is Compromised at the cost of another

  It is fight between tow good Values

  1. Efficiency v/s Accountability

  2. Conflict between Personal values v/s Directive of a Senior

     Lathi Charge on Angry Mob

  3. Professional Ethics v/s following an unjustified order by a supervisor

  4. Compassion & empathy v/s Objectivity

  5. Compassion & empathy v/s Principle of Legality

     No Ration w/o Aadhar Card

  6. Truthfulness v/s Secrecy

  7. Privacy v/s National Security

     On Suspicion Tapping of Phone

  8. Code of Conduct v/s Accepting an Award

  9. Urgency v/s Legality

  10. Urgency v/s Accountability

  11. Environmental Sustainability v/s Livelihood of People

      IFoS v/s Villagers of Forests

Homework : From Previous Year Questions of case studies of UPSC

Probity in Governance

• Meaning of Probity

  1. It is the quality of having strong moral values and principles such as honesty and integrity in governance processes.
  2. Probity as a term is used in the context of institutions in the same way integrity is used in the context of individuals.
  3. Probity in governance automatically means the absence of corruption from public life.
  4. The other requirement of ensuring probity in governance is effective implementation of rules and regulations and adherence to such principles that ensure public interest & priority
  5. Probity in Governance
     1. Absence of Complacency
     2. Rule of Law
     3. Decisions will be on Public Interests

• Importance of Probity in Governance

  1. Effective utilisation of resources

  2. Helps in building public trust in institutions

     Opposite Example : CBI being a Cage Parrot according to SC

  3. Helps in fulfilling the expectations of society

  4. It helps in ensuring accountability of the institutions to the citizens

     Example : UPSC

  5. It prevents misuse of the wide discretionary powers provided to public institutions in India

  6. Setting an example of right conduct for citizens as well as for public servants

  7. To attract the best talent to administration

     For Example : CAG played a very major role in unearthing scams like- Coal Scam, CWG Scam, 2G spectrum Scam, etc.

• Measures to ensure Probity in Governance

  1. RTI and Suo-Motu disclosure in information

  2. Citizen Charter - Detail from Governance

     For Example : of Punjab

  3. Social audit, which ensures vertical accountability

     For Example : of MGNREGA

  4. Code of conduct and code of ethics

  5. Deployment of technology to reduce human interface.

     For Example : Online registration at RTO & Passport offices - Reduced the Corruption, Entire System has been moved online

  6. 2nd ARC’s Integrity Pacts

     For Example : It is a vigilance tool signed by government with various vigilante people

  7. Strengthening of Lokpal & Lokayukta

  8. Citizens Report Card

  9. Deployment of Technology

     For Example : Biometric & GPS Tracking - PDS

Bucketing of Issues

• Legal Measures
• Institutional Measures
• Internal Measures

Code of Conduct & Code of Ethics

• Meaning of Code of Conduct

  1. Code of Conduct refers to a specific set of guidelines provided to members of an organization with the objective of providing the do’s and the don’ts
  2. For Example : Code of conduct for central civil services prescribes that civil servants should not accept gifts from outsiders above a certain value and should report the same to the concerned authorities

• Meaning of Code of Ethics

  1. Code of Ethics refers to a general set of values and principles that should be adhered to by members of an organization
  2. They do not have any legal backing but rather a moral force
  3. For Example : Civil servants are expected to uphold the principle of transparency in governance even though it does not have any legal sanction

• Differences between code of ethics and code of conduct

  1. Code of ethics is generic in nature, as compared to code of conduct which is specific.
  2. Code of conduct is legally enforceable whereas code of ethics does not have any legal backing.
  3. Code of conduct is explicit in nature whereas code of ethics is implicit in nature.
  4. Code of conduct focuses on the compliance of rules and regulations whereas the code of ethics focuses on values and principles

  | Code of Conduct | Code of Ethics | | --- | --- | | Specific | General | | Legally Enforceable | No Legal Backing | | Explicit in Nature | Implicit in Nature | | Focus on Compliance of Rules & Regulations | Focus on Values and Principles |

• Significance/Importance/Need of Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct

  1. IT can help in resolving ethical dilemmas

     For Example : Politician calls you up to provide preference to a candidate for a govt job

  2. They prevent unethical behavior on the part of civil servants

  3. Civil servants are entrusted with the resources of the community. Following Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics, it can help in maintaining public trust and preventing misuse and inefficient utilisation of resources

  4. Adherence to the code of conduct and code of ethics would result in a better work culture in public organisation

  5. Adherence to the code of conduct and code of ethics can help in ensuring the sustainability of government institutions

  6. It can help in ensuring uniformity in the actions of civil servants

  7. Can help in reducing Stress on Civil Servants

  8. To Resolve Ethical Dilemmas

  9. Decision Making in Adverse Situations

• Limitations of Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics

  • Code of Conduct
    1. They may not be able to in all situations
    2. In most cases, they are not legally enforceable and their enforcement is dependent on departmental discretion
    3. Often Mechanism to Enforce Accountability in Implementation of Code of Conduct are missing
  • Code of Ethics
    1. There is no possibility of even departmental discretion
    2. They are at times too ambitious to achieve
    3. They are generally vague in nature
    4. Adherence to the Code of Ethics boils down to an individual civil servant
    5. There is no incentive for following the code of ethics
    6. They can be very difficult to adhere to in the prevailing circumstances where excessive political interference is there in routine administrative matters
  • Both Together
    1. The dwindling of moral values has happened to such an extent in pub services already that Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics have a negligible impact on probity in governance

• Steps to Improve th effectivity of Code of Conduct & Code of Ethics

  1. The enforcement of the code of ethics and code of conduct should not be left upon the discretion of an individual
  2. Code of ethics and code of conduct should be supported by commensurate service delivery standards, strong accountability, and transparency mechanisms
  3. The code of conduct should be made legally binding and the code should lay down the course of action in case of violation
  4. There is a need to learn from the private organization as many of them have effectively implemented the code of ethics creating an environment where employees identify themselves with the organization and its objectives
  5. The 2nd ARC has recommended that the code of ethics and code of conduct should only be drawn up after consulting with multiple stakeholders
  6. To make the code of conduct and the code of ethics effective, public service values should be inculcated in young civil servants at the early stages of their careers
  7. Creating Incentive Mechanism for Adherence to Code of Ethics like in Private Sector

Aptitude of Civil Services

• Framework Mind Map

  

  

• Meaning

  1. It is the innate ability of the person to acquire a skill after training and practice

  2. Aptitude refers to natural ability or innate potential to learn or acquire a skill. In other words, aptitude is a natural talent or inborn ability that makes it easier for a person to learn or to do certain tasks

     For Example: Having an aptitude for music is the basic requirement for becoming a musician

  3. Learning or acquiring certain skills comes more easily and naturally to some people whereas others require great effort and practice

  4. Aptitude as a concept focuses on the future potential of an individual to acquire certain specific skills

  5. Varies from Person to Person

     1. Scientist - to have aptitude for solving scientific questions
     2. Cricketer - to have aptitude for sports and its pointers

• Importance of Aptitude for Civil Services

  1. With the increasing complexity of governance, a civil servant needs to possess the requisite aptitude to be able to perform his duties effectively and efficiently.
  2. Only when aptitude is coupled with interest/desire to be trained and acquire capability, a person becomes skilled

• A civil servant must possess the following aptitudes

  • 1. Intellectual Aptitude

    A person should possess the intellectual capability to think logically and rationally and must also possess the desired knowledge level

    Whether one has the aptitude to be able to identify the right solutions

  • 2. Emotional Aptitude

    Emotional Aptitude is very important as the civil servant has to undergo an emotional roller coaster ride during his tenure

    For Example : During the Covid pandemic, many civil servants were not able to provide the desired facilities to the people due to a lack of resources, adequate knowledge, etc.

    However, a civil servant must be able to handle his emotions well.

    It is also about analysing one's emotions and knowing oneself fully

    To handle disappointment or dejection during course of work

    To handle and control anger

    How to be Not Very Happy & Not Very Sad

    To Connect Better with Society & Empathise with them

  • 3. Moral Aptitude

    Moral aptitude that a civil servant possesses plays a very important role in determining the future potential as an administrator

    Moral aptitude includes the ability of a person to develop and imbibe values such as empathy, compassion, etc

    Example : Hitler had good knowledge but not a Good Moral Aptitude

    Example : Osama Bin Laden

• Kinds of aptitude desirable in a civil servant

  1. Critical Thinking
  2. Ability to be a good listener
  3. Ability to create collaborative networks and ability to work and lead in teams
  4. Should possess an ability to negotiate in difficult circumstances
  5. Ability to become a good leader
  6. Ability to develop communication and interpersonal skills
  7. Ability to manage limited resources in an efficient manner
  8. Ability to think on one's feet

Corruption

• Meaning

  1. As per World Bank, corruption refers to the abuse of public funds and/or public office for private gains
  2. The private/personal gains can be monetary or non-monetary in nature. It does not have to necessarily involve money

  For Example: When an officer takes money from a particular vendor to award a contract for procurement by the government to that particular vendor, it would be considered as a case of corruption

• Categorisation of Corruption

  • Corruption is

    a Process of Keeping the Mechanism Greased

  • Mind Map

    

  • On the basis of value/amount involved in corruption

    1. Petty Corruptions - Generally Coercive

       is done by the lower-level officials of the government. It includes the day to day corruption in government offices.

    2. The big-ticket Corruptions - Generally Collusive

       like CWG scam, Bofors scam where huge sums of money are involved.

  • Coercive vs Collusive corruption

    • Coercive corruption
      1. It is very close to petty corruption
      2. It is faced by citizens on a day to day basis
      3. It is a bottom-up corruption
    • Collusive corruption
      1. Here multiple stakeholders collide with each other for monetary gain at the expense of the state exchequer.
      2. It is top-down corruption
      3. Collusive corruption is a by-product of the growth of the private sector as one private player wants to grow at the expense of others. This type of corruption has been observed in many countries
      4. However, it is the presence of coercive corruption in India, that directly impacts the citizenry on a day to day basis
    • Collusive corruption is more harmful as
      1. The amount of money and resources involved in collusive corruption is huge
      2. It is more harmful in the longer run
      3. Public representatives and officials are involved in such corruptions and therefore diminish the trust of people in a democracy and its basic principles
      4. Because it affects the public spending on various welfare programmes
    • Coercive corruption is more harmful as
      1. It erodes the faith in governance processes and government
      2. The lowest strata of the society get affected directly
      3. Coercive corruption makes corruption a way of life
      4. Coercive corruption is extremely difficult to control
      5. It demotivated the citizen to approach the government in case of any problems

  • Rank of India in Corruption

    1. India Ranks
    2. Corruption Perception Index by Transparency International. India has been rated as the most corrupt bureaucracy

  • Causes of corruption in India

    • Framework Mind Map

      

    • Historical Reasons

      1. India has a colonial legacy. Since the British were draining India economically
      2. Indians were told that it was fine to steal from the British
      3. also, the British administration in India was extremely corrupt where personal corruption by officials was rampant
      4. Hence, the culture of bribes became common and was carried forward
      5. It was a matter of pride to steal from British. For Example: Kakori Kaand

    • Structural Reasons

      1. Information Asymmetry

         exists in India between the officials and the citizenry which is used to scare, threaten and extract money from the people

         Arises due to not knowing our Rights and Laws

      2. Power Asymmetry

         also exists where the officials have wide discretionary powers

      3. Nature of Laws

         which are overlapping and become increasingly complex.

         Numerous and Complex Laws

      4. Prevalence of License Raj

         In certain industries, there is still a prevalence of license raj which promotes the rent-seeking attitude in bureaucracy

         Example: Giving Money to be SHO of Karol Bagh would want to be seek the money back with profit

      5. In India, corruption is seen as low risk and high reward activity

      6. The laws are not implemented effectively. The criminal justice system is weak and inefficient

    • Political Reasons

      1. The increased role of money and muscle power in electoral politics

      2. The criminalisation of Politics. For example, the Winnability of candidates with a criminal record is higher as compared to candidates with a clean record

      3. Lack of transparency in electoral funding as a result of which crony capitalism is promoted

         Example: If Business House has given you donation, it will want to have some returns on it

    • Social Reasons

      1. Overall dwindling of moral values in society. There is acceptance of corruption as a way of life.

      2. Social inequality that exists in Indian society is cited as justification for corruption

         Two Wrongs Don’t Make One Right

• Impacts of corruption

  • Economic impact of corruption
    1. Corruption leads to inflation in the economy
    2. It affects the spending on social welfare schemes and programmes.
    3. Tax collection also suffers in the economy.
    4. It discourages the ease of doing business and therefore dissuades the investors in the economy.
    5. It leads to time and cost overruns in various projects that have economic implications associated with it
  • Societal impact of corruption

    1. Corruption develops the “attitude of indifference” → "chalta hai" attitude

       They started accepting it as a way of life

    2. It reduces or impacts the social capital in society.

       Social capital is the relationship and trust between the members of society among themselves and between members and the institutions

    3. It demotivates individuals from carrying on with an ethical conduct. It has a ripple effect on other people of society

  • Political impact of corruption

    1. It affects the faith and trust in democratic institutions

    2. Corruption in society promotes the entry of criminals into politics

       Rakshak Bhakshak Syndrome is developed where

       the protector of the law becomes the violator of the law

• Ways to Curb Corruption → Can be used in Probity in Governance

  • Societal Measures
    1. Need to emphasise value education
    2. Try to address inequalities
    3. Awareness campaigns highlighting the ill effects of corruption and pushing for an attitudinal level among the people
  • Legal Measures

    1. Strict laws need to be passed.

    2. Focus on enforcement of the laws with reform of the criminal justice system

       Example: Fast track courts should be made for cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988

    3. Simplification of rules and procedures by repealing irrelevant and archaic laws

    4. Introduce a single-window clearance system so that people can get all the related work done in one place

       People shouldn't have to run Pillar to Post

    5. Exemplary punishments so that a civil servant thinks twice before indulging in any act of corruption

    6. Introducing transparency in governance especially decision making

    7. Accountability measures with the experiment of social audits in the various government initiatives

    8. Need to inculcate moral values in civil services at an early age via training modules

    9. Enactment of strong whistleblower law. Protection to Whistleblower. Whistleblower

  • Technological Measures

    1. Introduction of e-Governance tools to provide services to the people. Reduces Human Interface and Interaction

       Example: GPS Tracking of PDS in CG

    2. Government must take feedback from the citizens on policies and citizens

  • Political Measures
    1. RTI Act must be further strengthened.
    2. Dinesh Goswami Committee on electoral reforms has recommended that there should be state funding for elections in India
    3. Public Electoral Funding in India should be introduced
    4. Representation of People Act, disqualification from election when charges are framed/FIR is registered rather than waiting for conviction
    5. Reform in Anti Defection Law

Work Culture

• Meaning

  1. The work culture of an organisation refers to the collective values, beliefs and principles of an organisation and its employees

  2. The work culture of an organisation decides the way in which employees of an organisation interact with each other as well as their interaction with the clients

  3. An organisation is said to possess a strong work culture when the employees follow and adhere to the rules and regulations and the values and principles of the organisation

  4. Work culture not only determines attitude within the organisation but an organisation's attitude towards other stakeholders as well

     For Example: Google promotes the work culture of innovation, risk-taking and providing the best customer experience

     For Example: On the other hand, BSNL is a slow-moving organisation with undue emphasis on procedures, rules and protocols

     Therefore, one can say that the work culture of an organisation reflects the philosophy and the character of an organisation

  5. Examples of Good Work Culture around the World

     For Example: Balance of Work Life in Europe

     For Example: Strict Laws for punishing Boss or the Employer after reaching them out after working hours by means of Mail, Message or Call

  Factors that determine the work culture of an organisation:

• Factors that determine the work culture of an organisation

  1. History of an organisation : Under what circumstances was the organisation made.

     For Example: the TATA's have a work culture of employee-centric system which got inculcated at its inception.

  2. The aims or objectives of an organisation also determine the work culture of an organisation.

     For Example: if an organisation is solely focused upon profit-making, then it will be reflected in the work culture of the organisation.

  3. The senior leadership and the management also play a crucial role in determining the work culture

     For Example: Values of Ratan Tata is seen in the work culture of Tata

  4. National culture determines the work culture as well

     For Example: Difference between Work Culture of India and Europe

  5. The output and the results shown by an organisation can also play a very crucial role in determining the work culture of an organisation.

• Characteristics/traits of a good/healthy work culture

  1. Appreciation for the best performers where the best in the organisation are made to feel that they are indispensable

  2. Adequate work-life balance should be present

  3. Organisations should have employee-friendly & employee-centric policies

  4. A work culture that promotes mutual respect for fellow workers and encourages discussions and deliberations instead of contempt for each other

     There should be a collaborative environment

  5. Employees must be encouraged(not forced) to be cheerful, polite and punctual at work

  6. A work culture that promotes inclusiveness. People from all walks of levels should be given inclusion

  7. An organisation that promotes democratic decision making

  8. Employees should be judged only on the basis of their work and there should be no bias shown by the management

• Benefits / Advantages of a Good/Ethical Work Culture

  1. Promotes trust for employees in the organisation

  2. Repercussions of non-ethical work culture can lead to the demise of organisations

     For Example : Kingfisher

  3. It promotes healthy competition between the employees as a result employees do not look at each other with jealousy, contempt

  4. Good work culture ensures and promotes discipline within the organization

  5. It creates a conducive working relationship between the leadership and the employees

  6. It reduces attrition and helps in attracting the best talent

     Example: Apple Attrition Rate is very Low

  7. Employee satisfaction is very high in organisations that have a healthy and ethical good work culture

  8. Promotes risk-taking behaviours and allows the employee of the organisation innovative thinking

     Example: Google

  9. Promotes customer-centric behaviour and encourages customer-centric behaviour. It thus promotes customer satisfaction

  10. Drives the financial performance of the organisation, makes the organisation effective and efficient

  11. Good work culture is focused on promoting the well-being of employees, It helps in employee development

      Example: TATA

• Importance of Ethical Work Culture (EWC)

  1. Good ethics are synonymous with good business, only those organisations that show ethical traits are able to achieve success for longer periods

     Example: TATA

     Find an Example of Govt Department

  2. EWC promotes employee satisfaction because it ensures consistency in actions and thoughts

  3. EWC Promotes trust in the workplace

  4. EWC It promotes transparency and accountability in the organisation

  5. EWC ensures legal compliance and lowers the regulatory risk

  Counter Example : Unethical work culture can often lead to creating risk for the business itself

  For Example: Demise and Fall of Kingfisher Airlines

• Traits of healthy work culture in bureaucracy or civil services

  1. It should reflect the administrative hierarchy and there should be a clear-cut division of functions, work & responsibility

  2. There should exist a system of rules and regulations to be followed within the organisation

  3. Bureaucracy should try to be rule-bound, It should follow rules and regulations

  4. A healthy work culture should focus upon process simplification

  5. It should promote Citizen-Centric Administration

  6. Bureaucracy should promote responsiveness through modern means as well.

     For Example: Responses of the Ministry of External affairs on Twitter/Social media so as to help the people stuck in certain circumstances.

  7. It should always try to promote the adoption of technology to keep pace with the development of the 21st century.

     For Example: Ministry of Corporate Affairs

  8. Bureaucracy should try and promote transparency in its functioning

• Challenges associated with the work culture in bureaucracy or civil services

  1. Too Much emphasis on rules and regulation in bureaucracy often at the expense of compassion and empathy
  2. The civil services are Secretive in nature, It creates distrust
  3. Inefficiency and Ineffectiveness especially at Lower Levels of Bureaucracy
  4. Processes are very complex and strenuous because if which citizens have to face Red-Tapism
  5. Apathy towards the sentiments of the citizens
  6. It does not promote out-of-the-box thinking
  7. Too rigid in their approach where they are not ready to adjust with the change with time
  8. Excessive Political Interference in day to day administration, hinders administrative funtioning

• Challenges associated with the work culture private organisations

  1. Profit oriented, innovative
  2. They aren't rigid, they adopt according to time or else they would run out of relevance of market
  3. They observe Flat structure, No Levels of Hierarchy
  4. Flexible policies with respect to work from Home
  5. Priority usually is customer satisfaction
  6. Lack of work-life balance

• Summarised Comparison between the Two

  

• How to establish/create a good work culture in organisations

  1. It is Required to promote transparency in govt

     Transparency should not be force fed, it should be more Suo Motu

  2. Promote and award the best performers in civil services

  3. Exemplary punishment for habitual offenders

  4. Promoting bonhomie by conducting team-building exercises so as to promote the spirit of the team in bureaucracy

  5. Constantly undergoing training programs

  6. Encourage discussions, debate & even dissents in a safe space

  7. Reforms in the evaluation system/appraisal of the organisation are also very crucial in order to promote

  8. Exposure visits to other countries and other geographies

  9. We should have a mentorship program for the new recruits to civil services

     This mentorship program should be conducted under senior or retired civil servants of repute & inspiration

• Important Example : Karmayogi Platform by LBSNAA

  1. A Platform with Modules to Track Progress
  2. Modules on Ethics

Corporate Governance

• Who are the Stakeholders in an organisation ?

  1. Board of directors
  2. auditors
  3. Employees
  4. Management
  5. Shareholders & investors
  6. Customers
  7. Society

• Meaning

  Corporate governance is defined as set of systems, principles, and processes which ensure that a company is governed in the best interest of all the stakeholders

  For Example: Tata Son would be paying salary upto 60 Years if some Tata Employee Dies this is to contrary to the Myopic View of Corporates who tend to focus only on profits

• Importance of Corporate Governance

  1. It Promotes sustainability and is able to run in the longer run

  2. It ensures lawful and ethical conduct of the company, hence the lawful and legal conduct violation is reduced

  3. It ensures the empowerment of minority shareholders as well, thus promoting inclusiveness

  4. It helps in establishing a greater brand value for the organisation

     Example: Google

  5. Ensure Compliance of rules and regulations by the Board of Directors

  6. It ensures that private organisation do not work blindly with the motive of being “for-profit” only

• Need for Corporate Governance Norms in India

  1. The effect of LPG reforms(1991/1992) has led to the increased role of the private sector in the Indian economy.

     Due to Withdrawal of State from Economy, 70 to 80 percent production in India is by Private Players

  2. The increased role of retail investors in various publicly listed companies in India

  3. A majority of big businesses in India are family-owned

  4. It is to protect and ensure that the companies operate for the benefit of all the stakeholders and not just particular families

     Example : Ambani’s after going public

  5. To improve the confidence of institutional investors, especially foreign institutional investors to attract investment into Indian businesses (FDI)

  6. India has a history of several high-profile scams related to the functioning of companies; in order to avoid such scams in the future, it becomes important to have Corporate Governance scams in the future

     For Example: Harshad Mehta Scam, Satyam Scam, UTI Scam

     For Example: Leadership of NSE was taking help from Himalayas, thus compromising on important data

     HomeWork : Find out Statistics of Retail Investors in India

• Principles of Corporate Governance

  1. Equity
     1. There should be diverse representation in the organization from all sections of the society.
     2. It should promote inclusivity such as women directors/SCs/STs/OBCs. Representation of Various Sections
     3. Example : Recently Passed Companies Act says that at least 33% companies should have women directors
  2. Ethics
     1. An organisation should follow ethics in the decision-making process with values such as → fairness, transparency, accountability, participative decision-making
     2. Timely disclosures to all stakeholders about important decisions
     3. Should Promote Duty-Based ethics: Board of Directors, management should know their role clearly
     4. The organization should promote effective functioning and participation of an Independent Board of Directors (According to Companies Act) → They are the Conscience of Board of Directors because they have no vested interest
     5. Protection of interests of minority shareholders
     6. A strong and independent audit process is the very essential principle and requirement of Corporate governance → To Maintain Clean Books
     7. A separate CEO and Chairman
     8. Robust Grievance redressal mechanism
     9. The company should involve itself in Corporate Social Responsibility work.

• Challenges / Impediments to Corporate Governance

  1. Often auditors are compromised due to the lure of money

     the audit committee is often compromised

  2. Questionable independence of independent directors

     often the autonomy of independent directors come into question → Either not appointed and if appointed not allowed to function

  3. Lack of adherence to transparency norms and disclosure requirements

  4. Insider trading when material information related to a company that is not public in nature who may then use it to their advantage

     Insider Trading → Material Info related to a company that is ot in public nature is know to some persons who may then use it to their advantage

     Example : Rajat Gupta Case in USA

  5. Lack of adherence to regulatory framework and norms

  6. Bad debts/NPAs are increasing → Connivance of various banking authorities is a major impediments

     Bad Debt Track Records are still being given loan

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

• Introduction

  Add Kotak Committee from Value Added Material

  1. CSR is referred to as a Corporate initiative to assess and take responsibility for the effect of companies work on the environment and impact on social welfare.
  2. In India, the concept of CSR is governed by section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013.
  3. In fact India is the first country in the world to provide mandatory CSR spending by companies of a certain size and scale along with a framework to identify potential CSR activities
  4. The CSR provisions under the Act are mandatory for companies with
     1. an annual turnover of 1000 crores or
     2. more or a net worth of rupees 500 crores and more or
     3. a net profit of rupees 5 crores or more
  5. The act makes it mandatory for such companies to spend 2% of percent of their average annual profit of the last 3 years on CSR activities

• Should CSR be Forcefully or be completely on prerogative of the company is separate debate in which we don’t have to get into

• Advantages in indulging in the CSR Activities

  1. It helps in building a brand as a responsible entity in the eyes of the customers and the shareholders

  2. It helps in creating a healthy work environment in the organisation as the employees feel that they are able to contribute positively to society

  3. It is of mutual benefits to the society and to the corporate entity, as the society is able to gain through better development opportunities.

     the entity benefits in the form of better availability of workforce as well as an enlarged market for its products

  4. CSR activities can initiate a chain reaction. Therefore, leading to several other organisations as well initiating similar steps, Thus creating a culture of philanthropy in society

  5. It promotes inclusive growth in society and helps in filling the gaps not addressed by the government

  6. CSR activities have made the corporate sector an important partner in India's developmental story

     For Example: The e-Chaupal Initiative of ITC → for Technical Help for Farmers

     For Example: From 2013 to 2018 → Increase in CSR Activity from 33 Billion Rupees to 250 Billion Rupees

• Problems associated with CSR activities in India

  1. Organisations are more concerned about their branding vis-a-vis promoting social interest

  2. Mandatory CSR has dissuaded several investors from investing in Indian companies

  3. Geographical inequality occurs due to money being spent in the vicinity of big corporates

  4. As per a report published by Oxfam more than 85% of CSR spending is restricted to three sectors that are Education, Health, and Livelihood

     Subjects / Fields / areas in which CSR is spent is Lopsided

  5. A significant portion of the CSR scheme is being spent on Government Schemes, thus promoting Crony Capitalism in India

  6. Several corporates have set up their own NGOs or foundations where most CSR money is routed towards their own employees

     It often acts as Extended Arm for the Company

  7. Often Companies indulge in CSR to avoid tax liabilities and avail tax exemptions

• Way Ahead of CSR - From Value Added Material of Vision IAS

  1. Ethics Index like Stock Exchange Index

Public Service Delivery

• Introduction

  1. Public Service Delivery is the most critical aspect of Governance as success of every policy and program of the government is dependent on its effective delivery

  2. Public service refers to a service which is provided by the government to its people

  3. This can happen through two modes

     1. Directly through the government machinery

     2. Indirectly through various partners and agencies who work along with the government

        Agencies - Private Agencies → for Profit or NGO’s

  4. Some of the key public services delivered by the government include- Healthcare, education, waste management, sanitation, law enforcement and infrastructural development.

• Various challenges in ensuring effective public service delivery are:

  • Red Tapism

    Government machinery is often obsessed with regulations, paperwork and tedious procedure. Thereby hindering the implementation of various programmes initiated by the government

  • Excessive Interference & Attitude of the bureaucracy

    Often officials tend to have an obstructionist attitude where they show considerable apathy towards the problems of the citizens.

    This leads to bureaucracy becoming a hindrance in effective public service delivery.

  • Various Leakages and Corruption

    Delivery of services by the government is marred with leakages and corruption, therefore reducing the trust of citizens in the public service delivery mechanism

    Government schemes are often initiated in a top-down manner where the focus is on spending allocated funds rather than achieving the desired outcomes

    Example: Meghalaya’s Insurgency in 1980’s ; Cattle was being given to families of agriculture in other parts of country by planning commission of India

    Like for : Other Works, Milk Produce can be consumed and May be a Source for Extra Income

    In Meghalaya, Garo Khasi Jayantiya, Khasi don’t consume milk, Because Govt was unaware of the ground realities

    Because the policy was made on the whims and fancies of a babu in Meghalaya

  • Lack of public participation

    Citizens are often unaware and ignorant about their rights and obligations, therefore, restricting their participation in the implementation of schemes and programmes

    As a result, citizens are not able to demand rightful services from the government

  • Quality of service delivery provided by the government

    Often it has been found that services provided by the government machinery is not up to the mark, therefore, creating circumstances under which citizens prefer accessing services from private agencies which is significantly costly as compared to the public sector

  ---

  Sample Sector - Health Sector - Public Service Delivery

  Public Service Delivery in the Health Sector - taken as a sample to make the approach clear to students

  Think about more examples from various sectors

  • Challenges to Public Delivery in Health Sector

    1. Excessive pressure on the resources in public institutions

    2. Despite the presence of the best doctors in the public sector, government hospitals suffer on account of poor management and support staff

    3. Housekeeping and Sanitation are often neglected in government hospitals

    4. Equipment is either defective or absent in several good hospitals

       Example : Evasive Ventilator is there but no anaesthesia

    5. There are ownership and accountability issues as well

  • Examples to ensure effective public service delivery in the health sector

    No of Dialysis Care << Demand of Dialysis Patients in Andhra Pradesh

    Setup, Own, People Will be Installed → Govt will pay Braun

    Braun will now transfer this project to Government Once it become functioning and working as a pilot model

    The state government of Andhra Pradesh entered into a PPP arrangement (BOOT Model - Build, Own, Operate and Transfer Model) with a company called Braun for dialysis care

  • Principles to Ensure quality public service delivery

    1. Government schemes and programmes should be demand-driven rather than allocation based

    2. The government should try and ensure awareness amongst the citizens about their rights and obligations so as to empower the citizens to ask questions to those in power

    3. Establishing effective accountability mechanisms such as Citizen's Charter, Public service delivery acts

    4. Introduction of e-technology in public service delivery

       For Example: Delhi Govt “Sarkar Aapke Dwaar”

    5. Increasing the participation of private sector organisations through various innovative models.

       For Example: BOOT model discussed above

    6. Government should try and ensure continuity in governance and administration

       For Example: civil services should be given a minimum tenure in a particular location

    7. Strengthening the feedback mechanism

       For Example: the citizen report card initiative of the Bangalore Municipal Corporation

  • Examples of Initiatives taken to improve public service delivery in India

    1. Sevottam Model

       Prepared by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG)

       It is considered as a gold standard in the citizen charter

    2. Prime Minister's Award for excellence in Public Administration

       It has created an incentive for various government functionaries to outperform themselves

    3. Introduction of technology to ensure SMART delivery of services

       S - Simple M - Measurable A - Accountable R - Responsive T - Transparency

       Common Service Centres(CSC) Mobile Payment of Subsidies

    4. Conduct Regular Field Visits

       Requirement of mid-career training for civil servants so as to upgrade their skill sets to suit the needs of the time

    5. PM Modi in his speech in the graduation day of LBSNAA talked about Data Governance & Certificate Courses

Utilisation of Public Funds

Explained with the help of Handout No 1 in Red Pen Printed in folder

• Importance of Effective Utilisation of Funds ?

  1. It is important that the money the government earns is spent for the benefit of the people and is only spent under the authority of law.
  2. The government is only the custodian of public funds and not the owner and therefore it has a responsibility to ensure judicious and effective utilisation of public funds
  3. It is one of the key tenets to ensure social and economic justice and meet developmental goals
  4. It is their moral and legal responsibility to spend the money judicially

• How do we ensure that Public Funds are used Optimally ?

  Public funds are optimally utilised if:

  1. the spending is in accordance with the law
  2. conforms to conventionally accepted standards
  3. deemed well worth the money spent on something
  4. conforms to accountability and financial control valuing the most effective use of resources and operational inputs.

• Causes of ineffective utilisation of public funds in India

  • Political Reasons

    • Irrational Freebies Distribution: and signing off loans for electoral popularity

      Example: The Govt was providing electricity for free of cost in India in Punjab and Haryana

      This led to Two things :

      1. DISCOMS ran into massive losses in Punjab and Haryana because of T&D Losses & Theft of Electricity
      2. To Counter this Debt, Govt will Pay Money or Banks will accumulate NPA’s
      3. Because Electricity was for free, people dug up bore and started wasting water
      4. Due to deep water scavenging, heavy minerals like copper and arsenic came up due to capillary action. this led to health hazards
      5. When Water Level Went Down, People Further Dug up depleting water level
      6. The Further Capillary Coming of Heavy Metals led to Infertility & Loosing of Nutrients from Soil
      7. In Longer Run, the Sugarcane & Rice used more water leading to failure of crops and filed irrigation system (Agro Eco Conditions were Ignored)

    • Politicised Protests: including bandhs increase the incurred costs due to delay in the public works undertaken

      These also leads to widespread destruction of property

  • Administrative Reasons

    • Policy Paralysis

      Delays, inaction and inability to take policy decisions by the government cause inefficiency in public fund utilisation

      Loss Due to Delayed Decision Making

      For Example: Procurement of Defence Equipments from Outside India generally takes 4 to 5 Years, this leading to Increase in Cost because of delays in decision making

      Loss Due to Delayed Implementation

      For Example: GST implementation took several years owing to which India lost huge revenues

      According to Scholars, India was loosing 2% of GDP Every Year

    • Red Tapism

      Due to over-regulation the implementation of schemes and projects gets affected thereby impacting the effective public fund utilisation

    • Lack of Public Participation

      With a high level of illiteracy and ignorance prevalent among the masses, many citizens especially the poor can not demand their rightful financial liabilities from the government.

    • Lack of Autonomy of Public Watchdogs

      CVC, Lokpal, Lokayukta

      For Example: Central Vigilance Commission lacks powers to take decisions itself as it is treated as an advisory body only and it has no power to register criminal cases against government officials

  • Economic Reasons

    • Expenditure Rush

      Expenditure rush during the month of March, which leads to inefficient fund expenditure

      Example:

      We Don’t Need → 1000 Crores have been Spent

      We Need → What is New No of School? Increase in Gross Enrolment Ratio?

  • Social Reasons

    1. Social apathy towards corruption so much so that people are calling corruption to be the Grease of Indian Economy
    2. Inequality
    3. Lack of institutional and social accounting

• Implications of ineffective utilisation of funds

  • Social

    1. Violation of the rights and entitlements of the masses.
    2. Leads to social problems like inequality, illiteracy, poor health and sanitation

  • Political

    1. Unequal development in the country and inequality within different states
    2. Increased corruption - Regionalism, Naxalism, Separatism etc

  • Economic

    1. Non Utilisation of India’s Demographic Dividend
    2. We Could have a Double Digit Growth but we are limited up and until 7%, conditioned has worsened after corona

  • Ethical

    Breach of “Doctrine of Public Trust”

• Principles underpin trust in Public Finances

  1. Transparency: Accurate records that show where money is raised and spent
  2. Accountability: decision-makers should be subject to strict rules and review of performance and outcomes
  3. Objectivity: Policies should be based on accurate information and rigorous analysis
  4. Integrity: the most cardinal virtue that holders of public office must adhere to
  5. Fairness: ensures non-partiality

Ethics in International Relations

Explained with the help of Handout No 2 in Red Pen Printed in folder

• Definition

  Application of principles of morality and ethics in solving the various ethical dilemmas that a country faces in the conduct of its international relations with various countries

  For Example: India is currently facing an ethical dilemma with respect to the Russia-Ukraine war and how to balance its national interests

• Some Sources of International Ethics

  1. UN Declaration of Human rights
  2. Geneva Convention for Humanitarian Treatment in War
  3. The Paris Climate Deal under UNFCCC
  4. WTO and its TRIPS Agreement etc

• Importance of ethics in international relations

  1. It helps in avoiding the "ego clash" and "ideological clash" between two or more nations

     For Example: USSR & USA Russia could have worked with Ethics

     For Example: WW2 would have been avoided

  2. Ethics aim at a peaceful world and respect for all and equality

  3. They help in the resolution of international conflicts such as terrorism, territorial disputes, and refugee crisis

     For Example: If US wouldn't have harboured ISIS

  4. They help in international environmental efforts to fight against ozone depletion, global warming, etc

  5. Collective security efforts such as economic sanctions and military sanctions against an aggressor state

     For Example: No One Spoke against Russias Invasion of Ukraine

  6. Contrasting Examples from Handout - Berlin Crisis & America First

• 3 major approaches to resolving ethical dilemmas in International Relations(IR)

  Every Method has its own Pros and Cons

  1. Realism

     According to this approach, morality is not an important consideration in a nation's action

     It assumes IR is guided by national self-interest

     For Example: Indian can justify Abstaining on the Idea of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

  2. Idealism

     1. The goals and means of foreign policy should be based on morality
     2. It should be based on ideals such as peace, human rights, and global justice
     3. Pandit Nehru adopted this approach

  3. Principled Realism

     1. Based upon a combination of the first 2 approaches

     2. Foreign policy involves the pursuit of interests based on power as well as fundamental moral values

        For Example: The approach adopted by India during the current Ukraine crisis. We Abstained against them, but we criticised Russia Invasion of Ukraine

• Incorporating morality while making decisions serving national interests

  1. End based approach/consequentialism

     1. Action should be judged by its outcomes
     2. It is based on the consequences/end based

     For Example: Reliance of US on Nuclear During Civil War

     For Example: Debate on Indian Nuclear Weaponry and Civil Nuclear Programs was debated.

  2. Rule-based approach/ deontological approach

     Morality is fulfilled when action is aspired by fundamental moral obligation

     For Example: From Handout

  3. Tri-Dimensional Ethics / Principle Realism Approach

     This approach seeks to overcome end based and rule-based decision making by integrating both the approaches

     This is difficult to maintain, marrying both of them may lead to problems too

     For Example: From Handout

• Elements of Ethics in IR

  1. Human rights at the heart of foreign policy
  2. Commitment to multilateralism, prosperity and environmentalism
  3. Global Justice and Responsibility to protect
  4. Principle of Sacrifice

• Ethical challenges/issues in IR

  1. Neocolonialism in the name of international ais rather than aiming at uplifting poverty.

     For Example: China invested heavily in Africa with ulterior motives.

  2. Issues of human rights violations are being ignored by countries at their convenience.

     For Example: the Rohingya crisis and other atrocities in Myanmar were ignored by countries and in Sri Lanka

  3. Lack of Responsibilities by the developed countries regarding Global Commons

  4. International Diplomacy is guided by narrow national interests rather than common global agendas.

     For Example: Terrorism is still not defined internationally.

     For Example: China opposed naming Maulana Masood Azhar as terrorist

• Dilemma in IR - Add from Value Added Material

  1. Ethical Belief vs National Interest

     For Example: India's concerns vis a vis Myanmar

  2. Commercial interest vs Bilateral Obligation

     For Example: Investing in profitable petroleum extraction of Myanmar or in loss-making but strategically important Sri Lankan Port