Discuss the major operational principles of public administration given by Kautily?
Discuss the major operational principles of public administration given by Kautily?
Principles of Public Administration
Kautilya attempts to elaborate on general principles for the running of public administration in a state. These principles can be grouped in two sets; one embodying the essential attributes of the state and the other linked to the operational principles of administration.
The principle of authority: is the essence of administration along with obedience and discipline. People consisting of four castes and four orders of religious life will keep to their occupations and duties when the king guides them with due authority. Authority is obeyed by the people on account of sanctions backed by a series of punishments.
The principle of unity of command: Unity of command and direction is maintained because of the king’s authority. This is not merely for the purpose of security of the King’s person, but alsofor the purpose of maintaining the integrity and stability of administration against internal dissension and external aggression. Kautilya outlines an elaborate system of spying and allurements. All member of the bureaucracy derive their authority from the King, stand before the people as representatives of royal authority, and are ultimately responsible to the king. This is evident from the reference in Arthshastra to the enforcement of orders, the sending of writs and the procedure of forming royal writes. As for the stability of command, Kautilya’s preference is clearly towards a hereditary monarchy which he believes also helps in the continuity of the principles of governance and administration.
Principles of motivation: Arthshastra identifies four different methods of motivation, viz, sama,
dama, danda and bheda. Sama is the persuasion method, dama is the incentive method, bheda is
the internal competition method and danda is the punishment method of motivation. The bureaucracy can be enthused by any one method or a mix of various combinations of these methods. Government servants are to be enthused to activity by a sense of responsibility towards the people. The state motivates them with adequate salary, pension and permanent service. He underlines a series of qualities, for officers holding different positions of responsibility.
Other Principles: The second set of principles – division of labour, coordination of administration, hierarchy – governs the machinery ofadministration. All are needed for the smooth running of government. The principle of coordination automatically evolves out of the principle of division of labour. Unless coordination is effected between the parts divided for the sake of efficiency, the smooth working of division of labour would be futile.
The principles of division of labour and coordination are affected at several levels of the hierarchy of government.
The principle of hierarchy is followed to make coordination and execution possible. Authority
would be diluted if it is not channelized through hierarchical organization and if it does not reach
the lowest levels to oversee the implementation of orders from the top.
Kautilya identifies five elements of good administration, viz,
1) the appropriate means to start undertakings,
2)the excellence of men and materials, allocation of place and time,
3) provision against failure and accomplishment of work.
4) Fear, duty and interest, are among a number of
motives behind the act of obedience to the orders of an administrator.
5) Kautilya believes that good governance is only possible with the cooperation of the people as well as of the bureaucracy.
A good administration touches on citizen’s lives and therefore needs to continue on a sound and permanent basis is the ultimate message of the Arthshastra
Principles of Public Administration
Kautilya attempts to elaborate on general principles for the running of public administration in a state. These principles can be grouped in two sets; one embodying the essential attributes of the state and the other linked to the operational principles of administration.
The principle of authority: is the essence of administration along with obedience and discipline. People consisting of four castes and four orders of religious life will keep to their occupations and duties when the king guides them with due authority. Authority is obeyed by the people on account of sanctions backed by a series of punishments.
The principle of unity of command: Unity of command and direction is maintained because of the king’s authority. This is not merely for the purpose of security of the King’s person, but alsofor the purpose of maintaining the integrity and stability of administration against internal dissension and external aggression. Kautilya outlines an elaborate system of spying and allurements. All member of the bureaucracy derive their authority from the King, stand before the people as representatives of royal authority, and are ultimately responsible to the king. This is evident from the reference in Arthshastra to the enforcement of orders, the sending of writs and the procedure of forming royal writes. As for the stability of command, Kautilya’s preference is clearly towards a hereditary monarchy which he believes also helps in the continuity of the principles of governance and administration.
Principles of motivation: Arthshastra identifies four different methods of motivation, viz, sama,
dama, danda and bheda. Sama is the persuasion method, dama is the incentive method, bheda is
the internal competition method and danda is the punishment method of motivation. The bureaucracy can be enthused by any one method or a mix of various combinations of these methods. Government servants are to be enthused to activity by a sense of responsibility towards the people. The state motivates them with adequate salary, pension and permanent service. He underlines a series of qualities, for officers holding different positions of responsibility.
Other Principles: The second set of principles – division of labour, coordination of administration, hierarchy – governs the machinery ofadministration. All are needed for the smooth running of government. The principle of coordination automatically evolves out of the principle of division of labour. Unless coordination is effected between the parts divided for the sake of efficiency, the smooth working of division of labour would be futile.
The principles of division of labour and coordination are affected at several levels of the hierarchy of government.
The principle of hierarchy is followed to make coordination and execution possible. Authority
would be diluted if it is not channelized through hierarchical organization and if it does not reach
the lowest levels to oversee the implementation of orders from the top.
Kautilya identifies five elements of good administration, viz,
1) the appropriate means to start undertakings,
2)the excellence of men and materials, allocation of place and time,
3) provision against failure and accomplishment of work.
4) Fear, duty and interest, are among a number of
motives behind the act of obedience to the orders of an administrator.
5) Kautilya believes that good governance is only possible with the cooperation of the people as well as of the bureaucracy.
A good administration touches on citizen’s lives and therefore needs to continue on a sound and permanent basis is the ultimate message of the Arthshastra
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