Question

State the recommendations of the second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC).

Answer 1

The Second Administrative Reforms Commission looked at the following issues to revamp the traditional public administration in India:

1. Accountable and Transparent Government: The focus was on creating a system of accountability and transparency in administration. There was also a need to avoid delays in the service provided.
2. Make administration more result-oriented: Various administrative processes were to be simplified made user-friendly.
3. Citizen centric administration: Ensure greater involvement of people’s representatives and community at large in the conceptualisation and execution of programmes.
4. Reforms that aimed at changing public administration in India: There have been a large number of reform measures which have sought to bring administration closer to the people. Broadly these initiatives include:
   1. Enacting laws giving certain rights to people.
   2. Setting up of new institutional mechanisms to redress citizens’ grievances.
   3. Improving accessibility to citizens by setting up units closer to people.
   4. Simplifying procedures to reduce bureaucratic delays.
   5. Using technology to improve internal efficiency.
   6. Rewarding government employees who perform well.
   7. Improving discipline within the organisation.
   8. Reducing regulatory control.
   9. Holding public contact programmes etc.