The Indian Foreign Service
| Published date | 01 October 1968 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1002/j.1099-162X.1968.tb00349.x |
| Author | C. P. Bhambhri |
| Date | 01 October 1968 |
The
Indian Foreign Service
By
C.
P.
BHAMBHRI
Dr.
Bhambhri is Reader, Department of Political Science, University of Rajasthan,
Jaipur.
ADMINISTRATIVE policy has two aspects - formulation and implementation -
and both are equally important. A well formulated policy may fail to achieve
its objectives because of faulty and inefficient implementation.
The
main
responsibility for the implementation of a policy falls on the shoulders of the
permanent career service which operates the administrative machine in
accordance with the policy established by the government of the day.
The
primary responsibility for the formulation of policy lies on the political
leaders who, in this task, are assisted,informed,advised and influenced by the
permanent civil service. No worthwhile policy can be formulated without
proper information about facts and their expert and critical interpretation.
This task is performed by the civil service. The civil servants supply the
facts and advise the ministers on what they consider to be the best courses
of action. In this process the civil servants exercise a great influence on
ministers and their policy formulation. In the ultimate analysis, the final
policy decisionsare to be taken by the political chief in a democraticsystem.
If
a policy goes wrong or its results go against the national interests, the
politicalleader is held responsible for it. He gets bouquets as well as brickbats
for his policies.'
For performing its multifarious functions, the government of a country
employs civil servants in the various branches of its service. One such
important branch in India is the Foreign Service. The foreign service
functions both at Headquarters and at the Foreign Missions of the country.
While working at home, the foreign service manages and administers the
Foreign Office; while working in the Missions of the country abroad, it is
expected faithfully to implement the foreign policy of its country. While
servingabroad, it remains in constant touch with its headquarters for receiving
instructions and guidance. It also sends reports and information to head-
quarters on the basis of which the latter may take important policy decisions.
Diplomats have influenced the foreign policy-making of their respective
countries.
The
most notable Indian among them was Sardar K. M. Panikar.?
The foreign service is the
official
interpreter of the foreign policy of its
country; and in
tum,
it keeps the home country fully informed of and
equipped with important events in other countries acting as the eyes and ears
of the Foreign
Office.
A country has a broad and general foreign policy
towards other nations. For implementing this policy, detailed negotiations
!
For
details regarding the role of politics
and
administration in policy making refer
to Frank J. Goodnow, Politics and Administration,
The
Macmillan
Co.;
and for
rebuttal of his arguments refer to Paul H. Appleby, Policy and Administration, Alabama
University Press, Alia, 1949.
1Refer to K. M. Panikkar: In Two Chinas: Memoirs of a Diplomat (London, 1955).
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