Infosys co-founder NR Narayan Murthy has come out with his unusual prescription to rid the civil services system in this country of its ills. According to him, the government should select IAS and IPS officers from business schools rather than relying solely on the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination. Murthy feels, this would help create a more dynamic, management-oriented approach to governance.
He spoke out his mind while speaking at the CNBC-TV18 Global Leadership Summit.
Murthy said that only the management mindset would help India achieve the goal of a $50 trillion economy by 2047. According to him, an administrative mindset is all about maintaining the status quo while a management mindset is all about vision and high aspiration. According to him, the current system is only producing civil servants trained in general administration who fail to match up to the changing demands of governance. Hence he favours a management-based approach.
Under the current system, candidates are selected for the IAS and IPS through the UPSC examinations which tests candidate’s knowledge across a range of subjects. Murthy said that while this system has produced generations of civil servants with a deep understanding of governance, it is no longer sufficient for meeting the needs of a fast-evolving country. According to him, civil service candidates trained in specific fields like management, would lead to more effective governance.
He even advocated for choosing individuals with experience in the private sector and business world for prominent roles in government.
