A 2005 study on corruption in India revealed that the highest level of malpractice was in the police, revenue, lower judiciary, education and engineering departments. 

Responsibilities of the state governments are being slowly overtaken by the Centre, keen as it is to take credit for all welfare programmes. Meanwhile, state coffers are not getting the assistance they need from the Union government.

Whether the government has done well or badly in the last nine years is not for civil servants to say. They can only describe policies in their sectors.

PM Modi recently asked civil servants to consider before a decision as to whether the ruling party is using the taxpayer’s money in the nation’s interest or for its own interest. This advice is, indeed, critical to our development process.

Sudeep Thakur's 'Das Saal: Jinse Desh Ki Siyasat Badal Gai' replete with necessary references and gives a very detailed account of crucial parts of modern Indian history.

If the current process against against Alapan Bandyopadhyay initiated by the Centre is not brought to an early conclusion consistent with the constitutional spirit, the services would be weakened.

The recent scathing attack on the Indian Administrative Service by Prime Minister Narendra Modi could potentially demotivate a large number of committed officers, affecting governance across the country.

NC Saxena's book paints a portrait of how India's bureaucracy has failed to serve its poorest and most marginalized citizens well.

Political compulsions should not be allowed to dictate how best developmental goals should be achieved.

If the state has to catch up with rest of the country, major reforms and political stability will be needed.

While the changes will unshackle India's civil servants, if a perception arises once again that corrupt persons are flourishing, it will result in the amendments being rolled back.

Potential challenges include the problem of resource raising, India's fiscal consolidation promises and our energy security needs.