ISPP moots fewer ministries as part of administrative reforms

The Indian School of Public Policy has proposed half-a-dozen administrative reforms, including reducing the number of ministries to 15-20 and limiting their role to policy making, to help India become Viksit Bharat by 2047.

The Delhi-based institute also suggested that the government should set up different institutions for implementing its policies and give enough protection to civil servants to encourage decision making.

"Given the high degree of fragmentation, processes for better internal collaboration within the administrative system need strengthening to enable better policy implementation and achieve greater coherence," it said in a report.


As per the report, the central government has 53 ministries and 50 departments compared to 15 in the US, 25 in the UK, 26 departments in China, 20 in Canada, 14 in Germany and Japan, 15 in France and Australia and 22 in the Philippines.

It suggested establishing high-level, outcome-based standing committees to integrate policymaking towards desired outcomes and setting up multiple implementation arms under the ministries, operating at arm's length, to implement the policies and plans developed by the ministries, leaving ministries to focus on planning and policy making only.

Emphasising that a culture of innovation and greater risk-taking within the government system is essential for driving large-scale reforms and achieving breakthrough results, the report said fear of adverse consequences discourage decision-making and risk-taking.


"By law, investigating agencies should not be allowed to start an investigation against any government official without specific approval to proceed," it said.

"Reform legal frameworks to encourage experimentation and pilot programmes within the public sector. This should also protect from hasty action against officials so that there is greater confidence in bold decision-making," it added.

According to the report, even promotions and career progression should not be held up merely because of the prevalence of investigations and should be given on a provisional basis on the condition that it be withdrawn if the investigation reveals malafide intent.

Calling for a need for competent staffing, the report said many of the central government's key functionaries at the higher policymaking levels lack adequate domain knowledge.