Should being impartial and being non-partisan be considered as indispensable qualities to make a successful civil servant? Discuss with illustrations.

While impartiality ensures equality without any bias, non-partisanship ensures a neutral approach in politics, ideologies, and communities. The political environment and personal values of civil servants tend to affect their decision making and actions. 

Impartial and being non-partisan: indispensable qualities of a successful civil servant.

1. There is diversity in India based on languages, religions, and ideologies, etc. It is human tendency to feel more affinity towards similar identities. 

2. Public servants' duty towards the nation as a whole is to act impartially and be non-partisan irrespective of their personal identities and ideologies.

3. Successful public servants:

a. Civil servants such as TN Seshan; his nonpartisan attitude made Elections in India one the most transparent elections in the world.

b. Young Police officers like Gangadeep Singh; risked his own life to save young man from mob trying to lynch him.

Partiality and partisan issues that are plaguing the public services;

1. Partiality based on class: Treatment of an under-trial elite journalist is very different from treatment with an accused poor bangle seller

2. Majoritarianism: Handling of the cases such as allegations of cow smuggling, brutal treatment with Sikh farmers etc display the majoritarian bias of the public servants.

3. Gender & caste-based partiality: Examples: A tribal woman died of hunger because she was denied ration. A Dalit rape victim's dead body was burnt overnight by the police. 

4. Urban & Rural bias: Public services such as health, education and infrastructural facilities in rural regions are neglected. Every day there is someone like Dashrath Manjhi who lose their loved ones due to denial of services.

Way forward

1. Considering the series of events and nature of diverse society, impartiality and non-partisanship has become foundational values for a successful public servant.

2. Recently launched Mission Karmayogi aims to make public servants more responsive and responsible 

Second ARC report recommendation; Code of Conduct, Code of Ethics, Citizen Charters and training of the administrators. 

3. Merely laws and codes will not suffice. Inculcation of values through systematic social and educational institutions.