The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the apex recruiting body in India responsible for selecting candidates for various prestigious civil services positions. In 2015, the General Studies Paper 4, also known as the Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude paper, presented candidates with a challenging array of questions aimed at evaluating their ethical and moral reasoning, decision-making abilities, and overall aptitude. This paper, a critical component of the UPSC examination, tests not only the knowledge but also the character and judgment of aspiring civil servants. Let’s delve into the solved questions of the UPSC 2015 GS 4 paper to gain insight into the rigorous standards expected of future administrators and leaders in India.
Q4 (b) Some recent developments such as introduction of RTI Act, media and judicial activism, etc. are proving helpful in bringing about greater transparency and accountability in the functioning of the government. However, it is also being observed that at times the mechanisms are misused. Another negative effect is that the officers are now afraid to take prompt decisions. Analyse the situation in detail and suggest how the dichotomy can be resolved. Suggest how these negative impacts can be minimised. (150 Words, 10 Marks)
Tags: Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.
Decoding the Question:
- In Intro, try to give an introduction to the recent developments for greater transparency and accountability in the functioning of the government.
- In Body,
- Success stories because of these advancements.
- Negative Repercussions because of misuse of these provisions.
- In Conclusion, try to give steps to resolve the dichotomy mentioned above.
Answer:
The Right to Information Act, of 2005 was enacted to bring in transparency and accountability and to ensure sufficient steps are taken to bring the information into public domains. However, it has been observed in some of the cases that the act has been flawlessly misused by asking for large voluminous information. Such large numbers of unnecessary applications at times hamper the work in the organization and delay decision-making.
The RTI Act brings the two most important tools – transparency and accountability – together for eradicating the corruption that becomes a hindrance to good governance:
- The second ARC suggests RTI as the master key to good governance. The RTI ensures accountability in governance, and minimizes rampant corruption and also inefficiency in public offices. It enables people’s participation in governance and decision-making.
- The Act empowers the common man to know his entitlement to avail a particular public service, and redress the grievance, if any. It also includes the ‘Right to be Heard and Consumer Education’, i.e. educating the consumer about her rights. It is based on the rationale of “participatory, transparent, and accountable governance”. Under the Right to Information Act public servants can also be questioned on their conduct and thus made accountable.
- The RTI has become a tool for promoting participatory development, strengthening democratic governance, and facilitating effective delivery of public services. In the knowledge society, in which we live today, the acquisition of information and its application have a pervasive impact on processes of making informed decisions, resulting in overall productivity gains. Therefore, the purpose of the act is to promote openness, transparency and accountability in the Administration.
Critical evaluation of the RTI:
- It is making civil servants timid thus hampering the process of development as civil servants play a pivotal role in policy formulation, implementation and public welfare.
- This dichotomy can be resolved when it is judiciously used and one does not go overboard over getting information or it will otherwise become a mockery. Any citizen should file RTI only if the information can be used to reach the rightful end.
- The public authorities should also make sure to display the information by suo-moto disclosure so that the large numbers of applications are not there.
- A proper environment in any organization is very crucial to ensure that the employees are not hesitant to take decisions and pass their responsibility to others.
Negative Repercussions because of misuse of these provisions:
- Misuse of these provisions for vested interests.
- Interference and pessimism in the decision making process of public servants.
- Reluctance on part of officers to take bold decisions.
The following steps can be followed to resolve the contradiction between the need for transparency and accountability and protecting honest public servants from undue harassment:
- Defining Standard Operating Procedures and the Code of Conduct for officers.
- Encouraging voluntary disclosure of information.
- Promoting e-Governance initiatives which is a 2-way communication.
- Encouraging public participation in governance through trust building measures.
- Taking media under regulations through propagating positive values and success stories.
- The judiciary can restrict itself in crossing the boundaries by coming out with norms for judicial activism.
Hence, Providing adequate Safeguards to officers such that autonomy and accountability may be balanced and ensuring to encourage officers to make decisions by rewarding them for the right decisions.
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