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2nd Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC)

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key recommendations of the 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) on various critical areas:

1. Corruption:

  • Institutional Reforms: Strengthen institutions like the CVC (Central Vigilance Commission) and Lokayuktas at the state level.
  • Transparency: Introduce measures like e-governance to reduce discretion in decision-making.
  • Whistleblower Protection: Implement a comprehensive law to protect whistleblowers.
  • Simplification of Procedures: Reduce complexity and unnecessary regulations to minimize corruption.
  • Speedy Punishment: Ensure swift action and punishment in corruption cases through dedicated courts.

2. Ethics in Governance:

  • Code of Ethics: Introduce a Code of Ethics for civil servants, ministers, and legislators to define their moral responsibilities.
  • Integrity Pact: Encourage government departments and public sector companies to sign integrity pacts to prevent corruption in public procurement.
  • Ethics Committees: Set up ethics committees in all government institutions.
  • Training in Ethics: Mandate ethics training for civil servants, especially in leadership positions.

3. Citizen-Centric Administration:

  • Citizen Charters: Make citizen charters more effective, enforceable, and backed by penalties for non-compliance.
  • Right to Public Services: Recommend a legal framework to guarantee time-bound delivery of services.
  • Grievance Redressal Mechanisms: Strengthen grievance redressal systems at all levels of government.

4. E-Governance:

  • Digitalization: Expand the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in governance to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency.
  • Service Delivery: Introduce online services to reduce red-tape and minimize the scope of corruption.
  • Interoperability: Ensure different government databases are interconnected for seamless delivery of services.

5. Decentralization:

  • Local Governance: Strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies by devolving more powers and financial resources.
  • Planning at the Grassroots: Involve local bodies in the planning process and ensure community participation in decision-making.
  • Capacity Building: Enhance training and capacity building of local body representatives and officials.

6. Public Service Delivery:

  • Performance Management: Introduce a robust performance management system for public services to measure efficiency.
  • Social Audits: Recommend social audits for better monitoring of schemes and projects at the local level.
  • Public Participation: Encourage citizen participation in policy formulation and evaluation through institutionalized mechanisms.

7. Police Reforms:

  • Modernization: Modernize the police force with better training, equipment, and technology.
  • Autonomy: Provide operational autonomy to the police force, reducing political interference.
  • Accountability: Establish independent accountability mechanisms to ensure police are held responsible for misconduct.

8. Financial Management:

  • Outcome Budgeting: Shift focus from outlay-based to outcome-based budgeting for better results.
  • Audit and Evaluation: Strengthen independent audit mechanisms to monitor the performance of government programs.

9. Judicial Reforms:

  • Speedy Justice: Recommend measures to clear the backlog of cases and ensure timely justice.
  • Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR): Promote ADR mechanisms like mediation, conciliation, and arbitration to reduce the burden on courts.
  • Judicial Accountability: Propose mechanisms to hold the judiciary accountable, ensuring independence and transparency.

10. Civil Service Reforms:

  • Merit-Based Recruitment: Ensure recruitment and promotions are based on merit rather than seniority.
  • Training and Capacity Building: Continuous learning and training for civil servants to enhance skills and leadership capabilities.
  • Lateral Entry: Recommend allowing lateral entry of experts into the civil services at higher levels for specialized expertise.

11. Regulatory Reforms:

  • Independent Regulators: Establish independent regulatory bodies for sectors like electricity, telecommunications, etc., to prevent political interference.
  • Simplification of Laws: Reduce the complexity of regulatory laws to ease compliance and reduce the scope of corruption.

These recommendations emphasize accountability, transparency, and service delivery to improve the overall governance structure in India.

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