Archive · 25 Jul 2025
50 Years of the IAS: A Personal Perspective on Change
Imagine a person who used to be a top government worker.
They went to a special school to learn how to help run India.
Now, they're looking back at how things have changed over 50 years!
The school was in the mountains and taught them a lot about the country.
Things were different back then.
People in the school came from different backgrounds and learned about how India works.
Over time, the school and the government changed too.
Now, the person thinks that things are getting better in many ways.
Even though there are still problems, government workers are trying to help everyone.
They believe things are getting better!
A retired IAS officer reflects on changes in the Indian Civil Services over 50 years.
The article focuses on the author's experience at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie.
The author discusses the shifting demographics of civil service recruits and changes in training curricula.
The author highlights the evolution of the Academy's atmosphere, from the Emergency era to a more open environment.
The article concludes with optimism, noting the civil services' enduring role in modernizing India.
- Who
- A retired IAS officer reflecting on his experiences and observations.
- What
- A retired IAS officer reflects on the changes in Indian civil services over 50 years.
- When
- Spanning from the mid-1970s to the present day.
- Where
- Primarily focuses on the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie, and various locations across India.
- Why
- To provide a personalized impression and assessment of the evolution of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
Older generation's view
Current Perspective
Governance Quality
Older generation's view
Some feel that governance may not be as good as it used to be in the past.
Current Perspective
However, judged by the actions of the government and hard statistics the current system works well.
- Academy Location
- Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie
- Emergency Proclamation
- Barely three weeks before the author joined the service in July 1975.
- IAS Motto
- Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam (Excellence in action is Yoga)
- Key Figures
- Rajeshwar Prasad, B.N. Yugandhar
- Focus
- Recruitment, training and career advancement of IAS officers