2 Important Principles

Split System

  • work of govt broadly split into policy formulation and implementation
  • policy formulation responsibility of staff organizations
  • implementation are domain of line agencies
Staff OrganizationsLine Organizations
responsible for policy formulationresponsible for policy implementation
Central Secretariat, Cabinet Secretariat, PM Office, NITI Aayogdepartments, directorates
headed by generalist civil servantsheaded by specialists
advisory powermandatory power
can control functioning of line agenciesmustfunction under staff agencies

Tenure System

  • IAS officers allotted state based cadres at time of recruitment
    • cadre based civil service
  • expected to work for rest of life in particular cadre
  • central secretariat orgs responsible for policy formulation
  • India diverse countries: policy must reflect ground level realities to ensure diversity
    • civil servants from different states expected to come on deputation to central secretariat orgs for 5 yr tenure
    • expected to use field level experience to formulate better policies
    • once tenure over, must go back to state