The Civil Services in India—Oxford India Short Introductions

The Oxford India Short Introductions are concise, stimulating, and accessible guides to different aspects of India. Combining authoritative analysis, new ideas, and diverse perspectives, they discuss subjects which are topical yet enduring, as also emerging areas of study and debate.

An efficient and competent bureaucracy is indispensable to any modern state. This short introduction identifies the importance of civil services in nation-building and governance, and puts forth its varied roles in the current polity: as a regulator, a facilitator, and an executer of development policies. Presenting a clear and concise introduction to the civil services in India, the book engages with:

its evolution, size, and structure against a brief historical background
the processes of recruitment, training, and performance assessment
the managerial, political, social, and judicial mechanisms of accountability; and
the relationship between civil servants and the political executive
Through in-depth theoretical analyses, it captures the various contributions and drawbacks of the services; and advocates reforms in the existing set-up towards a cleaner, more efficient and performance-based structure in keeping with India's influence as an emerging superpower.

S.K. Das is Honorary Advisor, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Department of Space, Government of India. Prior to this, he was Member (Finance), Space Commission and Atomic Energy Commission, and Ex-officio Secretary, Government of India.