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  • What is Civil Services?

What is Civil Services?

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What is Civil Services?

It’s significance in nation-building and in the society

In 2019, about 8 lakh candidates had applied for prelims. These numbers in itself show the attractiveness towards such service. Many want to become a civil servant for serving the nation, power and prestige associated with the job, being in leadership position, getting ample opportunity of problem solving, innovating, etc. but does anyone is aware about the responsibilities and functions of a civil servant and its impact on the society?

Hereby, we are narrating all about civil services and its significance. This may help the aspirants in analysing the importance of being a civil servant and “why the paper is called the toughest exam of India”.Conventionally there was a politico-administrative dichotomy in which political leaders usually determined the policies in any nation. Such leaders outline the political, economic and social directions for the country. It is important for these policies have to be properly articulated and implemented for meaningful results.

The civil service is the main instrument through which government implements and administers public policies and programmes. This function usually derives from the constitution and the laws of the land.However with the increment in the welfare activities of the government the role of administrator from just being an implementer has changed to a policy formulator also. This has increased the scope of its functions.The primary objective of administration is promoting community welfare. It is characterized by service motive.

Administration prepares the ground for development and prosperity. No development can take place without law and order, peace and tranquillity in the society. The administration establishes law and order and thus, helps maintain internal security in the country.However, the way and manner civil servants work in a particular area determines its performance.

The development achieved in many countries of the world has been due to the ability of their civil service to effectively translate the policies of their political leaders into concrete services.Thus civil servants act as indispensible part in the development of any nation.

Being a civil servant one has to maintain high standards of professionalism, responsiveness, impartiality, integrity, Accountability, Anonymity, Commitment, Discipline, Humility and Gratitude.The preparatory phase of the civil services examination too act as a training ground as it brings commitment, discipline, dedication and sense of fulfilment of one’s duty (clearing the exam) in aspirants. It helps in moulding the whole personality of an individual (obviously towards a better).As a well-functioning civil service may help to foster good policymaking, effective service delivery, accountability and responsibility in utilizing public resources which are the characteristics of good governance.

Thus the selection procedure of civil services is highly tough and time taken as it analysis the suitability of the whole personality of an individual for being civil servant.Though simply it seems to be examination of prelims, mains and interview…but it analysis whether a candidate can perform good in pressure or not, during the continuous papers of Mains it analysis whether a candidate can think rationally for such long period, his physical endurance to work continuously for about a week or presence of his mind in understanding and articulating his knowledge in such small time span (for writing each answer candidate get just 7 minutes), in interview it analyse about the whole personality by cross questioning (whether a candidate loses its tempo, politeness), how well he delivers the answers in that pressuring atmosphere and his presence of mind.

Being a civil servant an individual has to deal with common man, politicians, dignitaries and he has to maintain the discipline, politeness and integrity. He has to act as a public servant and to work for the welfare of citizens of India.

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