Introduction of money in the earliest civilisation happened purely out of practical needs, i.e. to facilitate exchange. Indus valley Civilisation: There were no coins in the Indus valley, but clay seals were probably used to facilitate long distance trade, as a mark of guarantee of delivery of consignments. Vedic age: In the Vedic age, while…
Pottery refers to three categories of utensils: Earthernware, Stoneware and Porcelain (requires minerals like kaolin to be heated up to 1200oC). These may be glazed or unglazed. Glazing of Pottery When a water based solution of finely ground mineral is is applied to the pottery, which is then dried and heated at a high temperature,…
Article 125 of Constitution of India deals with Salaries, etc., of Judges. Original Text of Article 125 of Constitution of India [(1) There shall be paid to the Judges of the Supreme Court such salaries as may be determined by Parliament by law and, until provision in that behalf is so made, such salaries as…
Definition of Corruption “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”- Lord Acton. The word ‘corrupt’ is derived from the Latin ‘corruptus’, meaning ‘to break or destroy’. Corruption in government refers to the abuse of public resources and/or public authority for private or political gains. Corruption is an important manifestation of not only failure…
What are Public Funds? Public funds are financial resources that belong to the public; however, the state manages it as a custodian. A public fund is generated by the government and used to provide public goods and services to the general public. Allocation from public funds is provided to all levels of government, i.e. Union,…
Quality service delivery is when the right type of services are provided to the right people, at the right time, and in the right manner. The quality of service delivery refers to the level of excellence, and effectiveness in the services that are provided to customers or clients. Public service delivery refers to the delivery…
Work culture refers to the prevalent values, behaviors, customs, practices, rules/regulations, and policies that shape the unique socio-psychological environment of an organization. It guides how employees interact with each other and the organization. Also, it shapes how the company or organization operates. It includes elements like the vision and mission statements of the organization, values,…
According to the 2nd ARC, the Citizen Charter is a public statement by a government organisation that defines the entitlements of citizens to a specific service, the standards of the service, the conditions to be met by users, and the remedies available to the latter in case of non-compliance of standards. A Citizens’ Charter represents…
On several occasions, the behaviour of civil servants may come under conflict with what is required of them to ensure good governance and public welfare. For instance, J&K cadre IAS Shah Faisal’s tweet on ‘rape culture in India’ came under scrutiny in 2018. Because when a senior bureaucrat who is part of the governance machinery…
“Information is the currency of democracy” – Thomas Jefferson “It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority” – Benjamin Franklin Transparency in governance refers to the open and accessible sharing of information on decisions and actions taken by public officials and institutions. It is not only a bureaucratic obligation but a fundamental…
