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Why India Should Scrap the IAS & Build a People-Powered Governance System

Build a People-Powered Governance System 

The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) has been running the country’s administration for decades. But here’s the big truth: it was designed during British rule to control Indians, not empower them. Today, while many IAS officers are sharp and hardworking, the system itself feels outdated, rigid, and often disconnected from the people.

Corruption, endless red tape, slow decisions, and lack of public involvement have weakened trust. Isn’t it time India thought about ditching this colonial legacy for something modern, transparent, and people-friendly?

What if governance worked like open-source software — built by the people, for the people, and with the people?

Why the IAS Must Go

  1. Made for Control, Not Care: IAS officers are often parachuted into regions they don’t know well, leading to top-down decisions that ignore local realities.

  2. Never-Ending Paperwork: Development projects get stuck in files and approvals instead of being executed fast.

  3. Power & Corruption: Too much power at the top with too little accountability makes misuse easier.

  4. No Space for Citizens: The public rarely gets a say in decisions that affect their daily lives.

  5. Refuses to Adapt: The system struggles to embrace technology and modern practices.

The Alternative: Open-Source Citizen Governance

Think of governance like Wikipedia — built collectively, transparent, and always improving.

1. Localized Power 

Governance isn’t controlled from Delhi alone. Decisions happen at the district or block level, led by representatives chosen by the community. Citizens can propose projects, vote on them, and check progress in real time using digital apps.

👉 Example: Need a water pump in a village? Residents vote online, track funds, and see the pump installed without delays.

2. Direct Citizen Votes 

Citizens use secure apps to decide on budgets, policies, and projects, instead of waiting for bureaucrats to decide for them.

👉 Inspired by Brazil’s participatory budgeting, where locals directly decide how money is spent.

3. Tech-Powered Transparency 

AI, blockchain, and digital dashboards replace paperwork. Every rupee spent and every decision made is visible publicly.

👉 Estonia runs almost all governance online already.

4. Experts Over Generalists 

No more “one exam, rule everything.” Instead, hire local experts (engineers, public health specialists, planners) for specific roles. Get the right people for the right problems.

5. Real Accountability 

Every budget, decision, and outcome is open to public viewing. Citizens can hold leaders accountable—even call for a recall vote if performance is poor.

6. Citizen Training 

To make sure everyone can participate, expand digital literacy so rural communities can actively join in.

Benefits

✅ Empowers citizens — people aren’t just voters, but decision-makers.
✅ Stops corruption — with full transparency.
✅ Speeds things up — local, tech-driven decisions reduce delays.
✅ Inclusive — every community can shape its own development.
✅ Future-ready — adapts quickly with new tech and ideas.

Big Challenges (and Fixes)

  • Digital Divide? Expand cheap internet + local kiosks.

  • IAS Pushback? Phase it out slowly, give officers roles in the new system.

  • Low Participation? Run awareness campaigns + pilot projects to prove success.

  • Cybersecurity Risks? Use blockchain + strong cyber protections.

How to Transition 

  1. Start pilot projects in a few districts.

  2. Change laws to allow decentralization.

  3. Build secure digital platforms first.

  4. Train communities to participate.

  5. Slowly phase out IAS once new system works.

Final Word 

The IAS once helped govern a newly independent India. But in 2025, it feels more like an overgrown relic of colonial times. If India truly wants people-first governance, the future lies in building an open-source, citizen-powered model: transparent, local, digital, and driven by expertise.

Instead of a few thousand bureaucrats deciding the fate of 1.4 billion Indians, it’s time the people themselves had the power to shape their own destiny.

👉 The question is: are we ready to trust the people of India to govern India?


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