Core Values Of Democratic Civil Service

Democracy is the best form of governance in all spheres of national life. It is not enough to have a political democracy. A democratic civil service is the backbone of democratic governance and democratic government. As a dynamic and permanent government, the civil service performs administration based on constitutional mandates, ensures continuity of government and delivers services impartially to all citizens. The effectiveness of a democratic state largely depends on how strongly its civil service adheres to core democratic values. 

These values shape the behaviour, ethics, decision-making, and accountability mechanisms of public officials. They ensure that public administration remains citizen-centric, transparent, just and responsive. This is what is demanded by the youth recently through the popular uprising. Indeed, people can enjoy the fruit of democracy only through a democratic civil service. This article is an attempt to shed light on the core democratic values of civil service and show how our bureaucracy stands by these values.

Political neutrality 

First, political neutrality is the foundational value of democratic bureaucracy. Civil servants must remain impartial, serve the government of the day with loyalty, and refrain from political involvement. Decisions must be based on rules, merit, data, and public interest, not on partisan influence. This value ensures administrative continuity, fairness, predictability, and trust in public institutions. In Nepal, the Civil Service Act, Conduct Codes, and constitutional provisions reinforce neutrality. However, our bureaucracy is divided along with the main political parties. Trade unions work as the sister units of these parties and violate the value of neutrality.

Second, democratic civil service functions within the framework of the constitution, laws, and established procedures. The rule of law requires uniform application of laws, due process, and non-arbitrariness in decision-making. It protects the rights of citizens, prevents abuse of authority, and promotes justice. By ensuring legality and consistency, civil servants reinforce democratic legitimacy and institutional credibility. However, oftentimes, rules are applied differently for different people, especially in transferring and assigning responsibilities in our bureaucracy.

Third, accountability is another value of civil service. This means being answerable for actions, decisions, performance, results and resource use. A democratic civil service must be accountable to elected representatives, oversight bodies, media, civil society, itself, and ultimately to citizens. Mechanisms such as internal and external audits, parliamentary committees, performance evaluation systems, monitoring and evaluations, social audits, citizen charters, right to information and grievance-handling mechanisms strengthen accountability. It helps to control corruption, reduce wastage and build public trust. Our bureaucracy has weak accountability because low performers also get promotions and rewards. 

Fourth, transparency is essential for reducing all forms of corruption and strengthening democratic governance. Civil servants must ensure the timely dissemination of information, open procedures, clear decision-making processes, and easy public access to documents. Right to Information (RTI) laws institutionalise transparency. Transparent administration minimises discretion, encourages participation, and supports evidence-based decision-making. Over the years, our administration has improved transparency, but still some areas need to be opened up as to ensure clean governance.

Fifth, integrity is another core civil service value. Integrity refers to honesty, moral behaviour, and adherence to ethical standards. It is a path to truth. A democratic civil servant must avoid conflict of interest, maintain confidentiality, resist undue influence and uphold the public interest above personal or group gain. Codes of conduct, anti-corruption policies, asset declaration requirements and organisational ethics programmes can nurture integrity. Integrity ensures clean, fair, open and trustworthy public administration. Here also, our administration fares weakly as frequent reports show various irregularities carried out by officials for private gain.

Sixth, responsiveness is another core value. Responsiveness means a timely and appropriate response to citizens’ needs, preferences, grievances and expectations. It emphasises simplified procedures, prompt decision-making, service delivery standards, pro-peopleness and the use of technology to reduce delays and improve access. In a democratic system, citizens are sovereign. Therefore, public administration must continuously adapt to meet their evolving demands. Red tape and old ways of doing things must not rule our administration. A responsive civil service strengthens satisfaction, legitimacy, authority and performance. 

Seventh, inclusiveness is the spirit of modern administration. It must treat all citizens equally and fairly, irrespective of caste, gender, region, disability, religion, or economic and capacity status. Inclusiveness ensures proportional representation, participatory opportunities, social justice, and targeted support to vulnerable groups. Policies such as affirmative action, social protection, gender mainstreaming, reservation and inclusion of marginalized communities reflect this value. Nepal has done a lot here as the public sector has seen an increasing number of officials from the otherwise backward groups in the past. An inclusive attitude is something still lacking in our civil service.

Meritocracy

Eighth, professionalism and meritocracy are also integral values. Professionalism ensures that civil servants maintain high standards of competence, knowledge, skills, behaviour, attitude and work ethics. Merit-based recruitment, promotion, the right man in the right place and career development are essential for building a professional bureaucracy. Continuous training for capacity development, performance-based management, fairness and organisational learning enhances professionalism. A democratic civil service separated from political interference can deliver reliable and efficient services. As stated above, there is huge political interference in our civil service and demands for professional management. 

In sum, the youth’s demand can only be redressed through a democratic system. The above-stated core values of a democratic civil service ensure that public institutions function ethically, lawfully, professionally and in the service of citizens. They promote good governance, enhance legitimacy, redress public concerns and strengthen democratic consolidation. In Nepal’s context, these values are crucial for implementing federalism, ensuring inclusive development, reducing corruption, improving service delivery, winning people’s trust and achieving long-term national transformation as envisioned by the constitution and periodic plans.

(The author is a development expert.)