Most of the aspirants wish to say that they are keen to become part of bureaucracy to 'serve the public'. There are honest and hardworking bureaucrats in the services whose path-breaking initiatives have touched the lives of many. But for some, bureaucracy has become a synonym for incompetence, corruption and inefficiency. In some cases, the bureaucracy has lost its conscience and grit to stand for the right cause. The Civil Services, which were once regarded as the iron frame of India by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel have gone astray. Today it is a pale shadow of its halcyon past when officers of high intellectual calibre, personal integrity, and brio gave unbiased advice. The organisational structure of Indian bureaucracy is hugely undemocratic and short of any accountability. Bureaucrats who try to change the system suffer harassment like Ashok Khemka, who had shown the courage to take on Vadra and DLF. A bureaucrat cannot afford to be inefficient but has to be aware, accessible, disciplined, and above all, transparent. The issue is not the survival of bureaucracy. The bureaucracy has to thrive, in the interest of our country and our people.
