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What's the article about?
- It talks about the Center's recent initiative, Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, and its related concerns about the politicization of bureaucracy and the military.
Relevance:
- GS2: Separation of Powers between various organs Dispute Redressal Mechanisms and Institutions.
- Prelims
Context:
- The Centre has launched a roadshow titled Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, which will run from November 20 to January 25, 2024, to showcase its achievements across the country down to the village level.
- The outreach is only about achievements of the last nine years that corresponds to the two terms of the ruling party that began in 2014.
- Joint Secretaries, Directors, and Deputy Secretaries will be appointed Rath Prabharis (chariots in-charge) for the roadshow.
Analysis:
- Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra:
- It will be launched in an attempt to ensure full saturation of all welfare schemes within six months.
- The drive intends to ensure the Saturation of schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Grameen), National Rural Livelihood Mission, PM KISAN, Fasal Bima Yojana, Poshan Abhiyan, Ujjwala Yojana etc Ayushman Bharat, Janaushadhi Yojana, PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, Skill development schemes, Vishwakarma Yojana and more.
- Ministry of Defence's initiatives under this drive includes setting up 822 ‘selfie points’ where citizens can click themselves with a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It has been directed that these selfie points “should be set up at prominent locations, which have maximum footfall and the potential of attracting public attention”.
- Separation of power and impartiality of bureaucracy and military:
- India’s constitutional scheme of governance envisages the separation of power among the three arms of the state — the executive, the judiciary, and the legislature — and also a line of separation between the bureaucracy and the military from the political executive.
- While both the bureaucracy and the military are strictly under the control of the political executive, they are insulated from partisan politics.
- The extensive election process in India has largely retained its credibility because of the bureaucratic impartiality demanded by the system. The military’s involvement in any kind of domestic politics is considered anathema.
- Civil and military officials are expected to remain loyal to the government elected by the citizens, regardless of their personal ideological inclination.
Way Forward:
- The political parties should stay away from the strategy of disregarding norms in pursuit of electoral gains. If institutions are undermined, the damage may well be irreversible. It is time the ruling party kept the interests of the nation before itself, and practised what it preaches.
