Ministers and civil servants relations in India: an evaluation

Authors

  • Rajbir Singh Dalal Chairperson, Deptt of Public Admn., CDLU, Sirsa
  • Ekta Chahal Research Scholar, Deptt of Public Admn., CDLU, Sirsa

Keywords:

administrative position, bureaucrats, civil servant, political executive, popular sovereignty

Abstract

In a parliamentary form of government, like in India, there exist two types of executives i.e. political or elected and permanent executive. Political executive derives its power from people and enjoys the power by virtue of constitutional position, while permanent executive or civil servant is selected on merit basis and accumulate its power due to an administrative position and technical expertise. The system of a democratic government is based on the principle of popular sovereignty wherein the supreme rests in people or their elected representative. Political executive or Minister is assisted by a civil servant. A balanced relationship between them is essential for smooth and efficient functioning of government. Minister and civil servant act as two pillars of the parliamentary form of government and weakness of any one of them will adversely affect the performance of government. Theoretically political and permanent executives perform a different role in government but in practice, their work is often overlapping and difficult to differentiate it.

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Published

2016-03-31

How to Cite

Dalal, R. S., & Chahal, E. (2016). Ministers and civil servants relations in India: an evaluation. International Research Journal of Engineering, IT & Scientific Research, 2(3), 9–15. Retrieved from https://sloap.org/journals/index.php/irjeis/article/view/483

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Section

Research Articles