Administrators- All services need more officers, not just IFS.

Source: The post is based on the article “Administrators- All services need more officers, not just IFS. So do local govts. And recruit more specialists” published in “The Times of India” on 13th October 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Governance- Role of civil services in a democracy.

News: The article discusses the need for strengthening the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) due to increased global engagement. It highlights that, contrary to popular belief, India’s bureaucracy isn’t overly large but requires enhancement and specialization to manage complex, modern tasks and international affairs effectively, comparing practices with the USA and China.

What is the issue with the Indian foreign service?

Understaffed: The IFS don’t have enough members. A parliamentary panel highlighted this after comparing it to foreign services in other countries.

Recruitment Process: There are questions about whether the current recruitment process brings in people with the right skills for today’s complex world.

Need for Specialization: Modern challenges, like managing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), require more domain expertise. The IFS needs people with specific skills and knowledge.

How does India’s bureaucratic strength compare internationally?

Peak in 1986: India had 19,000 government officials per million people at its bureaucratic peak in 1986.

Below Asian Average in 1990s: Government employment was about 2% of the population, under the Asian average of 2.6%.

Local vs. State and Central: Unlike the U.S. and China, India’s local governments have fewer bureaucrats than state and central governments. In contrast, the U.S. and China have a larger bureaucratic presence at the local government level, which hasn’t hindered their state capacity.