Bureaucracy’s Digital Challenge

Context: Indian bureaucracy is shifting from desk to digital which is not only limited to a transition towards e-office and e-governance but also includes the response towards the use of social media. 

Issues with the usage of social media by Bureaucrats

• Self-promotion by civil servants through their selective posts and promotion of these posts by their social media fans.
• Ethical issues: Some Civil servants use social media during office hours which is unethical when some people who have traveled long distances are waiting outside the office.
• Creates Unnecessary Accountability and Accessibility for Civil Servants: Due to the nature of social media, it got entrenched in the public consciousness that they can demand any pieces of information.
• Incompatibility with the organizational form of Indian Bureaucracy that is defined by anonymity, hierarchy, formal relationships, and standard procedures.
• Fake news and systematic propaganda are entering public policy circles.

Conclusion: Social media is a double-edged sword

• Outreach tool: Increased accessibility and accountability of bureaucrats to common people
• Creates a positive outlook towards institutions through its openness, transparency, and flexibility.
• Helps bureaucrats in shaping public discourse and engaging with public while being politically neutral.
• Led to Improvement in public policy: Because now values are becoming more dominant than facts in public policy and the blind obedience of political executive got reduced.
• Increased awareness among people about government policies and programs.