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Strengths and Weaknesses of the Existing Structure - Time-Tasted System & Stability for the UPSC Exam!

Last Updated on Jun 07, 2023

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The Existing Structure of the Indian Government has evolved over time. It possesses certain inherent strengths that have enabled it to withstand the test of time. However, there are weaknesses in the system that cause it to be slow, inefficient, and unresponsive.

This topic of the “Strengths and Weaknesses of the Existing Structure of Government of India” is important from the perspective of the UPSC IAS Examination which falls under General Studies Paper 2 (Mains) and General Studies Paper 1 (Preliminary) and particularly in the Governance section of the UPSC Exam. In this article, we shall discuss the ‘Strengths and Weaknesses of the Existing Structure of Government of India’ & More! For further information and an explanation of the topic visit UPSC CSE Coaching here!

Download the PDF on Strength and Weaknesses of the Existing Structure notes for the UPSC Exam here.

What is the Existing Structure of the Government of India?
India has a federal system, but it is more oriented toward a unitary system of government, which differs from the type of Federalism practiced in countries such as the United States of America.

The Indian Constitution is the foundation of our country’s democracy and government structure. It is a set of rights that assures citizens of a free and fair society.

The work of the Government of India is divided into various Ministries/Departments.

Further, Departments have been defined in the General Financial Rules as follows:

A department is responsible for developing government policies for the business that has been assigned to it, as well as implementing and reviewing those policies.

A department is divided into wings, divisions, branches, and sections in order to efficiently handle the business that has been assigned to it.

A department is usually headed by a Secretary to the Government of India.

The Secretary to the Government of India serves as the department’s administrative head and the minister’s primary advisor on all policy and administrative matters.

A department’s workload is usually split into wings, with a Special Secretary, Additional Secretary, or Joint Secretary in charge of each wing.

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Strengths of the Existing Structure of Government of India
The strengths of the Existing Structure of the Government of India are as follows:

Time-Tested System

Stability

Commitment to the Constitution

The link between policy-making and its implementation

A national outlook amongst the public functionaries

Time-Tested System

India has a time-tested administrative system based on rules and established norms, as well as an elaborate structure and procedures for carrying out functions of nation building and the establishment of an inclusive state.
Additionally, in places with significant institutional capacities, there are empowered Commissions, statutory boards, and autonomous societies.
The Indian government has maintained stability during times of crisis by adhering to rules and established norms, and where necessary, innovative structures have been created.
The delegation of responsibilities to the state and local governments has been done according to the subsidiary principle.
The Union Government has prioritized core areas such as defence, international relations, national security, education, health, infrastructure, social security and social justice, macroeconomic management, and national policy formulation.
The Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedures has been updated to include detailed delegation to all functional levels in order to reduce receipt processing delays.

Stability

The permanent Indian civil service has significantly contributed to institutional continuity and evolution.
The government structure, staffed by permanent civil servants, has provided continuity and stability during the transition of power from one elected government to the next. This has aided the maturation of Indian democracy.
Additionally, a permanent civil service ensures continuity, expertise development, and institutional memory, both of which are required for effective policymaking.

Commitment to the Constitution

Political neutrality has prevented politicisation of government programmes and services, and has aided in the evolution of institutions based on constitutional principles.
Additionally, The Indian Constitution envisioned a harmonious relationship rather than a collusion between the two arms of the executive.

The link between Policy-Making and its Implementation

The framework of the Government of India has facilitated a staffing pattern that promotes a link between policymaking and implementation.
Furthermore, the Government of India has facilitated a staffing pattern that promotes a link between policy formulation and policy implementation.
This has also aided the structure of both the Indian government and the states, as well as promoting the concept of cooperative federalism.

Given the importance of providing high-quality policy advice to the highest levels of government, policy analysis is an important function of the Central Secretariat.

A National Outlook amongst the Public Functionaries

Public servants in the Government of India and its attached and subordinate offices have developed a national perspective that transcends parochial boundaries. This has helped to strengthen national integration.
It has aided India in developing a sense of unity, solidarity, and cohesion in the face of socio-cultural, regional, religious, linguistic, and economic differences.

Weaknesses of the Existing Structure of Government of India

Weaknesses of the Existing Structure of Government of India are as follows:

Undue emphasis on routine functions
The proliferation of Ministries/Departments
An extended hierarchy with too many levels
Risk avoidance Absence of teamwork
Fragmentation of functions

Undue emphasis on routine functions

The extensive amount of routine work required by the Ministries of the Government of India frequently prevents them from focusing on their policy analysis and policy-making work.
As a result, national priorities do not receive adequate attention. Functions that are best carried out by state or local governments or that could easily be outsourced are frequently retained by the union government.

The Proliferation of Ministries/Departments

Inadequate integration and coordination: Sometimes compulsion of coalition politics leads to the illogical division of work due to the creation of a large number of ministries and departments and the lack of a unified approach even on closely related subjects.
It has been noticed that Ministries/Departments frequently carve out exclusive turfs and work in isolated silos. It sometimes detracts from examining issues from a broader national perspective and in a comprehensive manner.

An extended hierarchy with too many levels

The Government of India has a long vertical structure, which causes issues to be examined at multiple levels, resulting in delays in decision-making on the one hand and a lack of accountability on the other.
Another notable aspect of the structure is that several levels are redundant because they do not contribute to decision-making.

Risk avoidance

A tendency toward reverse delegation and risk avoidance in decision-making has resulted from a multi-layered structure.
The emphasis placed on consultations through the movement of files as a replacement for making decisions is another aspect of the current structure. This results in work duplication, delays, and inefficiency.

Absence of teamwork

The current rigid hierarchical structure effectively eliminates teamwork, which is so important in today’s context, where an interdisciplinary approach is frequently required to respond effectively to emerging challenges.

Fragmentation of functions

At the functional level, there has also been a general trend to split and subdivide functions, resulting in inefficient and time-consuming service delivery.
However, various ministries are currently dealing with overlapping functions, which results in duplication of effort.

UPSC Previous Year Questions
Q1. To what extent in your opinion has the decentralization of power in India changed the governance landscape at the grassroots? (UPSC Mains 2022, GS Paper 2).
Q2. The performance of welfare schemes that are implemented for vulnerable sections is not so effective due to the absence of their awareness and active involvement at all stages of the policy process. Discuss (UPSC Mains 2019, GS Paper 2).
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Strengths and Weaknesses of the Existing Structure FAQs

What are Employee strengths?

Employee strengths are the general characteristics and skills that enable employees to easily achieve their objectives. It generally includes communication skills, technological knowledge, a strong work ethic, problem-solving abilities, and much more.

What are the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Existing Structure?

The existing structure of the Government of India has inherent strengths that have helped it to withstand the test of time. However, some weaknesses that cause the system to be slow, inconvenient, and non-responsive.

What is the strength of democracy?

The main strength of democracy is its democratic voting system, rule within the Constitutional Law, respect for basic human rights, multi-party political system, political tolerance, and minority representation.

What are three examples of job interview weaknesses?

Three examples of job interview weaknesses are self-criticism, being too hard on yourself, and being sensitive.

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