25 May 2024

MAINS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS

 Q1. Examine the reasons for the lack of IAS officials available for central deputation and make recommendations for how to ensure a smooth and efficient process of bringing officers from the states to the centre.

GS II – Governance related issues

 Introduction:

• India is structured as a quasi-federation, with the states and the centre running the executive branch. Complete authority over their services is exercised separately by the states and the Centre. Nonetheless, Sardar Patel envisaged the establishment of the All-India Services to maintain harmony amongst them. An All-India agency is administered compositely under Article 312, in contrast to a central or state agency.
• The states choose the job and assignment, while the centre decides on recruitment and allotment to a cadre (state). As a result, the Centre and the states carefully balance each other out in the All-India Services.

• One distinctive aspect of the All India Services, which were established by the AIS Act, 1951, and consist of the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, and Indian Forest Service, is that their personnel are hired by the Central Government and assigned to different State Cadres.
• Members of the armed forces are required to serve under both the State and the Centre.
• The IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954 include the necessary provisions to guarantee the service of IAS officers at the Centre.
• Central Deputation Reserve (CDR) of no more than forty percent of a cadre’s or joint cadre’s sanctioned duty posts (SDP) is allowed under Indian Administrative Service regulations.
• The Government of India’s portion of the State cadre is fixed by the Central Deputation Quota.

Reasons for the lack of IAS personnel available for central government deputations:

• The first cause of the shortage was the drastic reduction in the annual recruitment of IAS officers after 1991 (from 140-160 to just 50-80) under the misguided notion that the government will have a reduced role due to economic liberalisation.
• As of January 1, 2021, the shortage of IAS officers at the all-India level was 23%.
• Lackadaisical “cadre review”
• This is an exercise conducted jointly by the Centre and the States to designate certain strategic posts in the States as “cadre posts” and earmark them exclusively for IAS officers.
• For instance, in Tamil Nadu, it is unconscionable that posts like Commissioner of Disciplinary Proceedings, Commissioner of Archaeology, and Commissioner of Museums have been designated as cadre posts.

• ill-advised discontinuance of direct recruitment of officers to the Central Secretariat Service Group B since 2000, and undue delays in the regular promotions of officers from the ranks in the Central Secretariat due to protracted litigation since 2011.
• Incomplete utilization of officers
• Complete non-utilisation by the Centre of the services of officers who are appointed to the IAS by promotion or selection from the State Civil Services.
• This large pool of around 2,250 officers, usually in the age bracket of 35-55 years, who have immense field experience, remains State-bound.
• Numerous administrative barriers to Central deputation
• Numerous administrative barriers to Central deputation imposed by the Centre itself in the form of highly restrictive conditions, perverse incentives, annual lapsing of offer lists, long debarment periods, compulsory cooling-off periods, etc.

Way forward and Conclusion:

• The number of IAS officers recruited annually should be increased to around 200 for a few years as a short-term measure.
• A proper cadre review in all the States will release many IAS officers from non-strategic posts and reduce the shortage.
• It should be made mandatory for promote IAS officers to work for at least two years on Central deputation as Deputy Secretaries/Directors immediately after their appointment to the IAS and their training in Mussoorie.
• Their next promotion in their State cadre should be subject to their completing this mandatory period of Central deputation.
• This can solve the problem of shortage of Deputy Secretary/Director-level officers at the Centre in one stroke.
• The Inter-State Council constituted under Article 263 of the Constitution is the institution meant specifically for handling such Centre-State situations by having persuasive dialogues and discussions between PM and CMs, Cabinet secretary and Chief secretaries etc for CDR.
• It should be made mandatory for directly recruited IAS officers to serve at least three years on Central deputation between nine and 25 years of service.
• Their promotion to Principal Secretary grade in their State cadre (usually after 25 years) should be subject to their completing this mandatory period of Central deputation.
• This wider window will enable IAS officers to opt for Central deputation at their convenience and the Centre will also be assured of a steady, adequate supply of deputationists.
• The Centre should directly choose its Joint Secretaries, Additional Secretaries and Secretaries from among IAS officers “on offer” who are officiating in equivalent grades in State governments through a process of selection — in much the same manner as it chooses Deputy Secretaries/Directors.

Q2. India’s carefully calibrated policy towards Indo-pacific is centred on two pillars of strengthening engagement and stronger partnerships with likeminded countries. Elaborate.

GS II – International Issues

Introduction:

• Tide of international politics has shifted to Asia in general, and the Indo-Pacific in particular, with the economic rise of countries like India, China, Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia among others. The Indo-Pacific is a geopolitical construct which represents an integrated theatre that combines the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, and the land masses that surround them.

About Indo- Pacific:

• It has gained relevance in the recent times due reasons such as presence of important sea lines of communication, maritime security concerns, rise of Asian Economy and China’s aggressive military and foreign policy.
• Several regional and extra regional countries like India, Japan, USA, Australia, France etc have released policies focused on the Indo-Pacific acknowledging the strategic shift towards the region and to strengthen relations and to expand cooperation with Indo-Pacific countries.

India’s calibrated policy towards Indo-Pacific:

• Peace and security in the Indian Ocean: Nearly 50% of India’s trade is centred in the Indo-Pacific Region and the Indian Ocean carries 90% of India’s trade and its energy sources.
• India wants to assure freedom of navigation, secure choke points, resolve conflicts peacefully and address non-traditional security threats in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region): A holistic policy that aims to pursue and promote India’s geo-political, strategic and economic interests on the seas, particularly in the Indian Ocean.
• Geo-political aspirations: To expand its own presence in the region, especially in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia and maintain its role as a net security provider.
• It is also teaming up with like-minded nations to contain China’s domination.
• QUAD was formed with USA, Japan, Australia to ensure that China’s
• Countering China: Ensuring that China does not gain a significant strategic foothold in the region.
• Enhancing Trade and Investment Cooperation: by encouraging greater flow of goods, services, investment and technology between India and other countries in the region.
• Promoting sustainable development: In the coming times, climate change is set to adversely affect India. Thus, India favours sustainable development of the region through development of blue economy.

Steps taken by India towards Indo-Pacific:

• Strengthening and preserving traditional roles in IOR o Security Provider: India has been the primary security provider for and strategic partner to most of its smaller neighbours like Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka.
• First Responder: India’s navy is among the first to reach nations requiring humanitarian assistance or medical aid in times of crisis and disasters. E.g., Operation Vanilla at Madagascar.
• Foreign Policy and Initiatives: Establishment of Indo-Pacific Division in 2019, involving in regional groupings like BIMSTEC, Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Mekong Ganga Cooperation and Forum for India-Pacific Islands cooperation for collaboration on multitude of subjects, and partnerships with countries through platforms like QUAD, ASEAN etc.
• Initiatives like Indo Pacific Oceans’ Initiative, Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (increase maritime cooperation), Asia Africa Growth Corridor (for development and cooperation projects; quality infrastructure and institutional capacity) were taken up.

Challenges India face in the region:

• Limited Naval Capacity and Lack of military bases: With a meagre allocation of 15 percent of India’s military budget.
• Slow pace of developments:g. since the release of the AAGC, there has been very little movement on this initiative. Challenges to trade due to tariff and non-tariff measures, poor infrastructure etc.
• Balancing Continental and Maritime Strategies: Overemphasizing the Indo-Pacific runs the risk of antagonizing China. While the US and Australia are physically distant from China; India has to secure its continental margins with China and suitably allocate resources for the same.
• Barriers to fruitful partnerships in the region: This includes lack of definitional consensus and differences in priorities with each nation having different political appetite and available resources for the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Way forward:

• Enhancing engagements with non-traditional players: India should now look to other non-traditional players with great potential such as Micronesia to address shared interests in the region. E.g. Pacific island nations.
• Strategic use of Island Territories: India in collaboration with its Indo-Pacific partners, must utilize the potential of island territories to extend its reach etc.
• Innovative mechanisms such as QUAD+: g. Recent Quad Plus talks with South Korea, Vietnam and New Zealand, convened to address challenges brought about by the COVID-19 crisis in the Indo-Pacific region, are a step in the right direction.