2nd ARC Report

The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) was established in 2005 by the Indian government with the mandate to examine the functioning of the Indian administration and recommend measures to enhance its efficiency, transparency, and accountability. The commission submitted its report in 2009, which contained 15 volumes and 133 recommendations covering various aspects of governance. This article aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the 2nd ARC report and its significance for the Indian administration.

Background of the Second ARC Report

The Indian administrative system was established during the colonial era, and its structure and processes have remained largely unchanged since then. The Second ARC report recognized that the administration was in urgent need of reform to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. The report was based on extensive research and consultations with stakeholders from different sectors of society. It provided a comprehensive analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the Indian administrative system and suggested measures to enhance its efficiency, transparency, and accountability.

Key Recommendations of the Second ARC Report

The Second ARC report made 133 recommendations covering various aspects of governance, including public service delivery, personnel administration, financial management, e-governance, and citizen-centric administration. Some of the key recommendations are discussed below:

1. Citizen-centric governance: The Second ARC report emphasized the need for citizen-centric governance and suggested measures to increase the participation of citizens in decision-making processes. It recommended the establishment of citizen service centers at the district level to provide a single window for citizens to access government services. It also recommended the creation of a national e-governance network to facilitate the exchange of information between different levels of government and citizens.
2. Decentralization: The Second ARC report recommended the decentralization of power to the local government bodies to make them more effective in addressing the needs of the people. It suggested the establishment of three-tier governance systems consisting of village councils, block councils, and district councils. It also recommended that local bodies be given greater autonomy in decision-making and financial management.
3. Administrative reforms: The Second ARC report suggested various administrative reforms, such as restructuring of ministries, introduction of performance-based incentives, and a review of the recruitment and promotion policies of the civil services. It recommended the establishment of a professional and independent civil service commission to oversee the recruitment, training, and promotion of civil servants.
4. E-governance: The Second ARC report recommended the use of technology to enhance the efficiency and transparency of governance. It suggested the implementation of e-governance systems, digitization of records, and the use of mobile phones for service delivery. It also recommended the establishment of a national e-governance authority to coordinate and monitor the implementation of e-governance initiatives.
5. Financial management: The Second ARC report suggested measures to improve financial management, such as the introduction of accrual-based accounting, strengthening of internal controls, and adoption of international best practices in public financial management. It recommended the establishment of an independent audit agency to oversee the financial management of government departments.
6. Ethics and values: The Second ARC report emphasized the need for inculcating ethics and values among civil servants. It suggested measures such as the introduction of a code of ethics and the establishment of an institutional mechanism to promote ethical conduct. It also recommended the establishment of an independent agency to investigate allegations of corruption and misconduct by civil servants.

Significance of the Second ARC Report The Second ARC report is significant for several reasons. First, it provides a comprehensive analysis of the Indian administrative system and identifies its strengths and weaknesses. Second, it suggests measures to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and accountability of the administration. Third, it emphasizes the need for citizen-centric governance and recommends measures to increase the participation of citizens in decision-making processes. Fourth, it recognizes the importance of technology in enhancing the efficiency and transparency of governance and recommends the implementation of e-governance systems. Fifth, it emphasizes the need for ethical conduct among civil servants and recommends measures to inculcate ethics and values.

The recommendations of the Second ARC report have significant implications for the Indian administration. For example, the recommendation to decentralize power to local government bodies has the potential to increase the effectiveness of public service delivery and improve the responsiveness of the administration to the needs of the people. Similarly, the recommendation to implement e-governance systems can enhance the efficiency and transparency of governance and reduce corruption.

However, the implementation of the recommendations of the Second ARC report has been slow and uneven. Some of the reasons for the slow progress include resistance from vested interests, bureaucratic inertia, and lack of political will. For example, the recommendation to establish three-tier governance systems has not been fully implemented due to resistance from state governments. Similarly, the recommendation to establish a professional and independent civil service commission has not been implemented due to bureaucratic resistance.

Despite these challenges, some progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Second ARC report. For example, the government has launched several e-governance initiatives, such as the Digital India program, which aims to provide citizens with access to digital services. Similarly, the government has established the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) to promote cooperative federalism and enhance the effectiveness of public service delivery.

Conclusion The Second ARC report is a landmark document that provides a comprehensive analysis of the Indian administrative system and recommends measures to enhance its efficiency, transparency, and accountability. The recommendations of the report have significant implications for the Indian administration and have the potential to improve public service delivery and enhance the participation of citizens in decision-making processes. However, the implementation of the recommendations has been slow and uneven due to various challenges. It is essential for the government to take concrete steps to implement the recommendations of the report to transform the Indian administrative system and make it more efficient, transparent, and citizen-centric.

• The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) was established in 2005 by the Indian government.
• The Second ARC report contained 15 volumes and 133 recommendations covering various aspects of governance.
• The Indian administrative system was established during the colonial era and its structure and processes have remained largely unchanged since then.
• The Second ARC report recognized that the administration was in urgent need of reform to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world.
• The report was based on extensive research and consultations with stakeholders from different sectors of society.
• The report provided a comprehensive analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the Indian administrative system and suggested measures to enhance its efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
• The Second ARC report emphasized the need for citizen-centric governance.
• It recommended the establishment of citizen service centers at the district level to provide a single window for citizens to access government services.
• The Second ARC report recommended the decentralization of power to the local government bodies.
• It suggested the establishment of three-tier governance systems consisting of village councils, block councils, and district councils.
• The report recommended various administrative reforms such as restructuring of ministries, introduction of performance-based incentives, and a review of the recruitment and promotion policies of the civil services.
• It recommended the use of technology to enhance the efficiency and transparency of governance.
• The Second ARC report suggested measures to improve financial management such as the introduction of accrual-based accounting, strengthening of internal controls, and adoption of international best practices in public financial management.
• The report emphasized the need for inculcating ethics and values among civil servants.
• It suggested measures such as the introduction of a code of ethics and the establishment of an institutional mechanism to promote ethical conduct.
• The recommendations of the Second ARC report have significant implications for the Indian administration.
• The implementation of the recommendations of the Second ARC report has been slow and uneven due to various challenges.
• Some progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Second ARC report.
• The government has launched several e-governance initiatives, such as the Digital India program.
• It is essential for the government to take concrete steps to implement the recommendations of the report to transform the Indian administrative system and make it more efficient, transparent, and citizen-centric.