In his book Just A Mercenary: Notes from my Life and Career, former IAS officer and ex-RBI Governor D. Subbarao offers a candid critique of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
He highlights a key issue plaguing the system: while a quarter of IAS officers are effective, a large number have become complacent, and a significant portion is corrupt or incompetent. Subbarao suggests that political interference and a lack of accountability have contributed to the erosion of standards within the IAS.
He advocates for significant reforms, such as a two-tier recruitment process to bring in diverse talent and a system to regularly reassess officers’ performance. He also proposes reducing the number of IAS exam attempts to encourage candidates to pursue other careers if unsuccessful.
On the topic of student protests, Subbarao supports political awareness but cautions against excessive politicization of academic spaces, drawing on his experiences in India and the U.S.
Through the book, Subbarao hopes to resonate with both current IAS officers and those aspiring to join the civil services.
