Spurred on by an aspirant’s suicide earlier this year, the officers have started a Facebook page to share stories of civil servants’ struggles to make it.
Despite growing passenger volume, 11 out of 14 carriers reported losses in 2023-24. IndiGo recorded profit of Rs 8,167 crore, which reduced to Rs 7.253 crore in 2024-25.
Dubai airshow crash & pilot death have rekindled concerns over pilot safety, and need for smarter automated systems that can step in when G-forces, temporary loss of consciousness hit the pilot.
None of Pakistan’s PMs has lasted 5 years. That the current PM has given Asim Munir 5 years shows that of all military dictatorships history has seen, Pakistan’s is most creative.
One couldn’t agree more with the author. However such self deprecating and introspectionary pieces serve little purpose. Much more is expected from a senior IAS officer who has ‘been there done that’.
I am glad that many of our readers have found value in this piece. It has generated a meaningful debate, and I am sure that by itself serves the purpose.
Just in case you missed it, I am including below a link to another article of mine which as published on The Print. It is captioned “IAS is here to stay because it suits the political executive”
A case of painting with the same brush. Too general a comment. Its like saying my days were better than what it is today. Pre 90s, it was unending bureaucracy hampering the country’s growth. Post, they were supposed to be customer friendly, for the public is the customer of a service provided by the Government. Too easy to criticise isolated acts as general rule. Where does the much maligned babu go? Damned if he appears to be rule bound and damned if he tries to be “customer friendly “!
Aryan, I think Mr. Sidhu is referring to selectively serving certain customers – the ones that have power. Rest of us are not even considered customers. Worst these days is that they pretend to serve any ordinary citizen but in reality serve the vested interest. Just today morning, I followed a Municipal Corporation (MC) garbage collection tractor and I saw a man sitting on the pile of garbage on the truck. Our minister here is the son of the chief minister and is trigger happy with the twitter but he does not seem to see or know about the reality how an ordinary Indian is treated. MC is office is less than 2 kms from the junction where I saw the tractor. I am sure it was on a regular beat. Other day, some one came to our colony and told us that we should buy bio-digesters of certain make and install in our colony and when we told them that the MC is allowing garbage to be dumped just outside the colony, the MC person backed off. I see new slums coming up in our area (it is so called IT hub) every now and then, the Minister and the Corporation staff can’t see it. Admin and Politics are hand in glove and the only objective seems to be to fool and loot the Indian public – whatever it takes.
Absolutely right , Pradhan sevak has taken all the duties of civil services hence the IAS AND IPS rank officers have their reins at the hand’s of the sevak and one word is enough “BEHAVE else look at the condition of IPS official of Gujarat who is being punished again and again for taking on upfront the sevak.
It is going to be worst in the days ahead as long as the Pradhan sevak is at the helm of power and further more the same fate is going to be meted to the ranks of IPS because one IPS official is getting punished again and again for taking on powerful SEVAKS. THIS IS THE MESSAGE SENT ACROSS ” BEHAVE ELSE ……….. good governce. Jai ho Indian democracy.
The type of professional hazards brought out by the writer are common to all services. The pressure groups vary for each service as per their role in decision making process. Still the upright officers are able to prove their worth to the highest competent authorities by virtue of their intelligence and consistent approach in decision making.
Sir you have rightly anf correctly adjudged today’s working of sn IAS. Sir due to their behavior of ignorsnce and aerogance general poor prople are suffering even to.their small work. They have got the power to deliver judtice as per law and to please politician beyond law. Thanks for pointing out factual position of IAS.
wonderful article and it reveals the trap which politicians and elite class brought our high calibrate civil servents into a mere custer service supervicer. kunjuchem@gmail.com
Sir,
The opinion expressed by you is truly bold & honest.
Now due to fast changing globalisation whether Indian National Service like body may serve better purpose for our country where large numbers of population are still remained under below poverty line and at the same time required economic growth to match the developed countries , instead of continuing All India & central services which appears to be almost obsolete at this junctures.Perhaps this need to be reviewed.
Yes. True precisely. What is the remedy? Indian Adament Service IAS, Egocentric bureaucracy, unaccountable, flairy. Scrap IAS, change it to Bharat Peoples Service. Close British style Mussorie Institute and make it into a elstwhile museum of Imperialism. Close egocentric training, rather train new civil service aspirants in military first, then Border security force to know the patriotic feeling for this country, train them in continuous development without ego. Promote team work. Train them in Japanese type of Administration, care for the country is the need. Then corruption will go from this country.
Though issues with the bureaucracy are very true, but your solutions are not just ludicrous but decisively idiotic.
Military training, border training, patriotism blah blah blah. By your dimwit logic every doctor must serve on border to be a better one, every professor must first teach in a foxhole to be more pedagogic.
Ah! to be frank, Intellectually disabled people like you are bigger issue for the country that the sodden bureaucracy.
All we need is a better and more comprehensive training focusing on the specific fields and nurture officers to lead the society towards the prosperity.
Just because you have access to cheap internet and substandard mindset does not mean you can gibber anything what you want.
Sir, very true…seen it personally…I think underlying desire of positive image building in media & elite circle is also one of the reason..
Sir,
Your words are from an experience and unquestionable!
I only have one submission that in a democratic setup strengthening of an institution is must.
Would urge the retired fraternity to put forward best efforts to let the system remain alive for the larger role of democracy. This situation of making customers happy, may breed officers no less than salesman! An IAS is not a post or position it is an institution in itself and it has to be held with authority and esteem! He should be approachable but not cannot be desk keeper for griviances!
Wish good luck to serving officer!
Regards
Capt Deepak Patni (retd.)
My Dear KBS Sidhu Sir,Now the period arrived when everybody is thinking like your goodself.
But the fundamental rule is ,””Equilibrium to/will be maintained automatically by law of nature and no constitution on this earth planet can break or amend this law. Though personally i do respect and obey and abide by the constitution of India but now that what your community is starting to cry for is resultant of fear of losing your comfort zone,minimizing your custom made attitudes/systems.Therefore that’s all needs to be change now. Everybody has to think like this “Service to man is service to God”. Rest you can understand automatically. Regards.
Thanks alot for this post at least now these IAS OFFICERS and ASPIRANTS will understand that becoming civil servant is not to please illiterate politicians for safeguarding their Jobs and lavish lifestyle. These days IAS and IPS officers only using their power to harrass and suppress common public but when it is come towards politicians and their families they behave like pet dogs.
Hi a voice has come from the beaurocrates the truth of the elite ruller, the wrighter is a bit confused person I don’t know what inspired to write about something in working of administration, practically the ics the Avtar to IAS was a different material , don’t go to details now the IAS is in euphoria I am the best , practically no????better to call INDIAN chamcha service how many IAS follow straight forward desison, other
There is a definition on who is a customer.Thease IAS officers have their own definition which suits them.Actully they work on the principal of show me the man I will show him the rules.They learn perfect hipocracy in their trainings and become feeder of the Corrupted politicians.You will not find a single reform in our administratative system which our so call IAS officers contributed for the last 70 years.I was going through one of the old British traditional system in tendering where lowest bidder get the order.This process attracted maximum corruption as the supplier after getting the order at lowest bid which are even less than actual cost of raw materials indulge in sypplying low grade materials and short in Quantity.Theb they bribe receiver and get acknowledgement of supply .In one Western country their system modified for Govt. Procurement and a price fixing committee determine the practice which is fixed and tender is floted on who will give best quality and the suppliers companys trained manpower,their technology,how many welfare scheme they have for their employees and overall contribution to society.All including is having a marking system.and highest mark holder get the order.But see our IAS officer’s they pass the exam to become exploiters of common people and join politicians to loot our country.
Very true. The current situation is due the ongoing competition between central govt and state govt ( in every non bjp state) by introducing populistic schemes to lure poor citizens of country. This resulted in a situation where public/ customer is all in all. All customers are not gentleman. Many unruly customers take the advantage in the name of poor people and try to swing the government machinery in their favour. Even powerful politicians behave like a mouse in front of these unruly customers. At current situation, customer is the real king.
The points indicated is true not for now but last few decades, it is a standard thing ,pleasing the top and throwing weight on the people below , Even today we see how they deal with high hand on the people or the persons they are supposed to help or serve, Obviously they have to remain suppressed to politicians or other powerful people. They can’t complain as they do the same to others when they get chance . We all know how adamant is beurocracy
Ok but these spine less so called IAS and IPS officers can just finish all corruption politicians if they unite and Whole police force follow their order.Actual fact is that a politicians cannot do anything . But all is done by Secretary who suspend . Transfer conduct action . This person is a great chamcha of Minister and remin in this post till he continues to be personal servent of Minister.He never bothers to harass his own IAS or IPS junior colleges to please his master.
Good and keep it up.most of them are icse and cbse school. No body from govt.schools.upsc is following stupid English culture and doesn’t have own system to screen the people of India. The students comes from govt schools, they only knew what is India and value of roti and dual.milky babies from English schools will try to fill up their wallets.
Whatever is said on recruitment process of IAS officers is less because You can keep on giving exam and get selected through a process which is totally a western selection process.You should have very Good memory and mugging capability and good in mathematics calculations.In the interview board you should be able to impress through your potential hipocracy.In the board you wiil find so called Hippocratic people who need to know how you can fool others. If are able to convince them that you can fool everybody’s you are selected.A person who want to be creative .A person who is truly interested to uplift poor will be rejected because he cannot impress the board and board members are ex criminal supporters and having highest quality of hippoccray
And good command over English is must, which I think you clearly lack.
Losing real administrative control by yielding to the political class .Not practicing fair principles while executing there responsibilities and duties ,except dancing to the tunes of politicians will make this position REDUNDANT.That is what is the politician looking for .And in times to come this post will be removed and politicians will have a direct control on execution art mechanism.Bureaucrat/IAS kept as check and balance will vanish and politicians will have field day.The common citizen will become a slave on true sense .Politicians to act and police to enforce political will. Only honest citizens can build nation not politicians ,IAS still has that aura
Not quiet. Please ask those ‘customers’. One, only the ‘five star’ ones feel that they are being heard by the IAS – or by any other service. Others – particularly the common and most dis-empowered citizens, are not even acknowledged. Two, all of these customers too have the other side of the story to tell about but no one listens. The famous anecdote holds: since the tigers do not know how to write, the word of the hunter will continue to be taken as the truth.
One couldn’t agree more with the author. However such self deprecating and introspectionary pieces serve little purpose. Much more is expected from a senior IAS officer who has ‘been there done that’.
I am glad that many of our readers have found value in this piece. It has generated a meaningful debate, and I am sure that by itself serves the purpose.
Just in case you missed it, I am including below a link to another article of mine which as published on The Print. It is captioned “IAS is here to stay because it suits the political executive”
https://theprint.in/opinion/ias-is-here-to-stay-because-it-suits-the-political-executive/69442/
The comments on the same are also welcome.
KBS Sidhu, IAS (Author of the piece)
A case of painting with the same brush. Too general a comment. Its like saying my days were better than what it is today. Pre 90s, it was unending bureaucracy hampering the country’s growth. Post, they were supposed to be customer friendly, for the public is the customer of a service provided by the Government. Too easy to criticise isolated acts as general rule. Where does the much maligned babu go? Damned if he appears to be rule bound and damned if he tries to be “customer friendly “!
Aryan, I think Mr. Sidhu is referring to selectively serving certain customers – the ones that have power. Rest of us are not even considered customers. Worst these days is that they pretend to serve any ordinary citizen but in reality serve the vested interest. Just today morning, I followed a Municipal Corporation (MC) garbage collection tractor and I saw a man sitting on the pile of garbage on the truck. Our minister here is the son of the chief minister and is trigger happy with the twitter but he does not seem to see or know about the reality how an ordinary Indian is treated. MC is office is less than 2 kms from the junction where I saw the tractor. I am sure it was on a regular beat. Other day, some one came to our colony and told us that we should buy bio-digesters of certain make and install in our colony and when we told them that the MC is allowing garbage to be dumped just outside the colony, the MC person backed off. I see new slums coming up in our area (it is so called IT hub) every now and then, the Minister and the Corporation staff can’t see it. Admin and Politics are hand in glove and the only objective seems to be to fool and loot the Indian public – whatever it takes.
Absolutely right , Pradhan sevak has taken all the duties of civil services hence the IAS AND IPS rank officers have their reins at the hand’s of the sevak and one word is enough “BEHAVE else look at the condition of IPS official of Gujarat who is being punished again and again for taking on upfront the sevak.
It is going to be worst in the days ahead as long as the Pradhan sevak is at the helm of power and further more the same fate is going to be meted to the ranks of IPS because one IPS official is getting punished again and again for taking on powerful SEVAKS. THIS IS THE MESSAGE SENT ACROSS ” BEHAVE ELSE ……….. good governce. Jai ho Indian democracy.
The type of professional hazards brought out by the writer are common to all services. The pressure groups vary for each service as per their role in decision making process. Still the upright officers are able to prove their worth to the highest competent authorities by virtue of their intelligence and consistent approach in decision making.
Sir you have rightly anf correctly adjudged today’s working of sn IAS. Sir due to their behavior of ignorsnce and aerogance general poor prople are suffering even to.their small work. They have got the power to deliver judtice as per law and to please politician beyond law. Thanks for pointing out factual position of IAS.
wonderful article and it reveals the trap which politicians and elite class brought our high calibrate civil servents into a mere custer service supervicer.
kunjuchem@gmail.com
Sir,
The opinion expressed by you is truly bold & honest.
Now due to fast changing globalisation whether Indian National Service like body may serve better purpose for our country where large numbers of population are still remained under below poverty line and at the same time required economic growth to match the developed countries , instead of continuing All India & central services which appears to be almost obsolete at this junctures.Perhaps this need to be reviewed.
This is purely my personal opinion.
Such days are not far away if……. loby continued to clean pan stains. They must understand their status before photography and publicity in news papers
Yes. True precisely. What is the remedy? Indian Adament Service IAS, Egocentric bureaucracy, unaccountable, flairy. Scrap IAS, change it to Bharat Peoples Service. Close British style Mussorie Institute and make it into a elstwhile museum of Imperialism. Close egocentric training, rather train new civil service aspirants in military first, then Border security force to know the patriotic feeling for this country, train them in continuous development without ego. Promote team work. Train them in Japanese type of Administration, care for the country is the need. Then corruption will go from this country.
Though issues with the bureaucracy are very true, but your solutions are not just ludicrous but decisively idiotic.
Military training, border training, patriotism blah blah blah. By your dimwit logic every doctor must serve on border to be a better one, every professor must first teach in a foxhole to be more pedagogic.
Ah! to be frank, Intellectually disabled people like you are bigger issue for the country that the sodden bureaucracy.
All we need is a better and more comprehensive training focusing on the specific fields and nurture officers to lead the society towards the prosperity.
Just because you have access to cheap internet and substandard mindset does not mean you can gibber anything what you want.
Sir, very true…seen it personally…I think underlying desire of positive image building in media & elite circle is also one of the reason..
Sir,
Your words are from an experience and unquestionable!
I only have one submission that in a democratic setup strengthening of an institution is must.
Would urge the retired fraternity to put forward best efforts to let the system remain alive for the larger role of democracy. This situation of making customers happy, may breed officers no less than salesman! An IAS is not a post or position it is an institution in itself and it has to be held with authority and esteem! He should be approachable but not cannot be desk keeper for griviances!
Wish good luck to serving officer!
Regards
Capt Deepak Patni (retd.)
My Dear KBS Sidhu Sir,Now the period arrived when everybody is thinking like your goodself.
But the fundamental rule is ,””Equilibrium to/will be maintained automatically by law of nature and no constitution on this earth planet can break or amend this law. Though personally i do respect and obey and abide by the constitution of India but now that what your community is starting to cry for is resultant of fear of losing your comfort zone,minimizing your custom made attitudes/systems.Therefore that’s all needs to be change now. Everybody has to think like this “Service to man is service to God”. Rest you can understand automatically. Regards.
Thanks alot for this post at least now these IAS OFFICERS and ASPIRANTS will understand that becoming civil servant is not to please illiterate politicians for safeguarding their Jobs and lavish lifestyle. These days IAS and IPS officers only using their power to harrass and suppress common public but when it is come towards politicians and their families they behave like pet dogs.
Hi a voice has come from the beaurocrates the truth of the elite ruller, the wrighter is a bit confused person I don’t know what inspired to write about something in working of administration, practically the ics the Avtar to IAS was a different material , don’t go to details now the IAS is in euphoria I am the best , practically no????better to call INDIAN chamcha service how many IAS follow straight forward desison, other
There is a definition on who is a customer.Thease IAS officers have their own definition which suits them.Actully they work on the principal of show me the man I will show him the rules.They learn perfect hipocracy in their trainings and become feeder of the Corrupted politicians.You will not find a single reform in our administratative system which our so call IAS officers contributed for the last 70 years.I was going through one of the old British traditional system in tendering where lowest bidder get the order.This process attracted maximum corruption as the supplier after getting the order at lowest bid which are even less than actual cost of raw materials indulge in sypplying low grade materials and short in Quantity.Theb they bribe receiver and get acknowledgement of supply .In one Western country their system modified for Govt. Procurement and a price fixing committee determine the practice which is fixed and tender is floted on who will give best quality and the suppliers companys trained manpower,their technology,how many welfare scheme they have for their employees and overall contribution to society.All including is having a marking system.and highest mark holder get the order.But see our IAS officer’s they pass the exam to become exploiters of common people and join politicians to loot our country.
Very true. The current situation is due the ongoing competition between central govt and state govt ( in every non bjp state) by introducing populistic schemes to lure poor citizens of country. This resulted in a situation where public/ customer is all in all. All customers are not gentleman. Many unruly customers take the advantage in the name of poor people and try to swing the government machinery in their favour. Even powerful politicians behave like a mouse in front of these unruly customers. At current situation, customer is the real king.
what a pity?-tentacles of political have embraced it all -self respect has taken the beating
Precisely!
The points indicated is true not for now but last few decades, it is a standard thing ,pleasing the top and throwing weight on the people below , Even today we see how they deal with high hand on the people or the persons they are supposed to help or serve, Obviously they have to remain suppressed to politicians or other powerful people. They can’t complain as they do the same to others when they get chance . We all know how adamant is beurocracy
Ok but these spine less so called IAS and IPS officers can just finish all corruption politicians if they unite and Whole police force follow their order.Actual fact is that a politicians cannot do anything . But all is done by Secretary who suspend . Transfer conduct action . This person is a great chamcha of Minister and remin in this post till he continues to be personal servent of Minister.He never bothers to harass his own IAS or IPS junior colleges to please his master.
Good and keep it up.most of them are icse and cbse school. No body from govt.schools.upsc is following stupid English culture and doesn’t have own system to screen the people of India. The students comes from govt schools, they only knew what is India and value of roti and dual.milky babies from English schools will try to fill up their wallets.
Whatever is said on recruitment process of IAS officers is less because You can keep on giving exam and get selected through a process which is totally a western selection process.You should have very Good memory and mugging capability and good in mathematics calculations.In the interview board you should be able to impress through your potential hipocracy.In the board you wiil find so called Hippocratic people who need to know how you can fool others. If are able to convince them that you can fool everybody’s you are selected.A person who want to be creative .A person who is truly interested to uplift poor will be rejected because he cannot impress the board and board members are ex criminal supporters and having highest quality of hippoccray
And good command over English is must, which I think you clearly lack.
Losing real administrative control by yielding to the political class .Not practicing fair principles while executing there responsibilities and duties ,except dancing to the tunes of politicians will make this position REDUNDANT.That is what is the politician looking for .And in times to come this post will be removed and politicians will have a direct control on execution art mechanism.Bureaucrat/IAS kept as check and balance will vanish and politicians will have field day.The common citizen will become a slave on true sense .Politicians to act and police to enforce political will. Only honest citizens can build nation not politicians ,IAS still has that aura
Not quiet. Please ask those ‘customers’. One, only the ‘five star’ ones feel that they are being heard by the IAS – or by any other service. Others – particularly the common and most dis-empowered citizens, are not even acknowledged. Two, all of these customers too have the other side of the story to tell about but no one listens. The famous anecdote holds: since the tigers do not know how to write, the word of the hunter will continue to be taken as the truth.