Administrative Overhaul?

handshake

Sounds logical.
http://www.bureaucracytoday.com/mustread_coverstory.aspx?id=21

woman

Many ifs before that can happen!

handshake

Of course, but it sounds sensible.

woman

A smart civil servant (IAS) can write an article justifying exactly the opposite which will be equally sensible. No point reading too much into it. (Personal opinion)

woman

Sounds logical.
http://www.bureaucracytoday.com/mustread_coverstory.aspx?id=21

Nevertheless, it was interesting to read.

greatsoul16

Hope modi bhai implements such important reform soon...by the way @woman you never fail to take potshots at others...great

handshake

I am not reading too much into it but it would be very difficult to defend a botany graduate as a financial adviser(which does happen); I'm sure the system has to change , and will change in our lifetime.

woman

I am not reading too much into it but it would be very difficult to defend a botany graduate as a financial adviser(which does happen); I'm sure the system has to change , and will change in our lifetime.

I am sure that being a 'botany graduate' will not be his/her major claim to that post. Before you jump to any conclusion, I am not arguing either for or against here. My point is very simple. This is one side's argument. Fine. Someone can also argue in contradiction. In the absence of a debate with various related aspects highlighted, it is easy to be biased by one sided opinions. You might like to hear the flute allocation story of Amartya Sen.

Wolverine8997

I am not reading too much into it but it would be very difficult to defend a botany graduate as a financial adviser(which does happen); I'm sure the system has to change , and will change in our lifetime.

Actually a bureaucrat can learn a lot during his/her career, through experience/further studies. So (s)he need not be graduate in the field of expertise.
Examples:
Dr. Subba Rao (B. Sc. and M.Sc. in Physics)
Dr. Raghuram Rajan (B. Tech. Electrical Engg.) (though not a Civil Servant)
Nirupama Rao (BA and MA in English)

handshake

I am not reading too much into it but it would be very difficult to defend a botany graduate as a financial adviser(which does happen); I'm sure the system has to change , and will change in our lifetime.

I am sure that being a 'botany graduate' will not be his/her major claim to that post. Before you jump to any conclusion, I am not arguing either for or against here. My point is very simple. This is one side's argument. Fine. Someone can also argue in contradiction. In the absence of a debate with various related aspects highlighted, it is easy to be biased by one sided opinions. You might like to hear the flute allocation story of Amartya Sen.

I understand that you are not arguing. As you must be aware, this issue is not recent and has been debated (the whole generalists vs specialists debate) threadbare. I am aware of the arguments. What seemed special about this article, apart from the fact that it is not a pulp publication, is that it hinted at the idea of specialist officers, or at least of service parity, gaining traction with the political class. I have formed an opinion only after giving some thought to the matter and am willing to change it on further analysis. The flute allocation of Sen is not relevant or scalable here: I wish the best man for the job, which is I believe utilitarian, and I do find it curious that the IAS is always found to be the preferred service. Too much importance being given to that exam years ago.

handshake

I am not reading too much into it but it would be very difficult to defend a botany graduate as a financial adviser(which does happen); I'm sure the system has to change , and will change in our lifetime.

Actually a bureaucrat can learn a lot during his/her career, through experience/further studies. So (s)he need not be graduate in the field of expertise.
Examples:
Dr. Subba Rao (B. Sc. and M.Sc. in Physics)
Dr. Raghuram Rajan (B. Tech. Electrical Engg.) (though not a Civil Servant)
Nirupama Rao (BA and MA in English)

Yes, what about experience in a domain. I would go to the extent of advocating that most policy making posts be filled through open competition including from the private sector. Many smart people shall be willing to serve the government only if they were allowed. The few professionals that we have today have done a good job. We need more of them. IAS officers should also be made to specialize in domains after they have done their bit in the field, and some should be shown the door for poor performance. It is ridiculous to think that only the IAS is the repository of all wisdom and efficiency. Post liberalization, and even earlier, many capable people have joined the private sector : their talents should be utilized. Anyway, lets see which way the worm turns.