In a revealing and insightful conversation, Ishita Kishore, who secured the prestigious All India Rank 1 in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination 2022, shared her profound thoughts on governance, ethics, and the evolving role of civil servants in India. The economics graduate and former national-level football player offered a unique perspective that goes beyond conventional exam preparation tips.
A Philosophical Take on Governance and Power
Kishore, who is currently undergoing training for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), presented a nuanced view of state power and its relationship with citizens. She emphasized that the true essence of governance is disrupted when systems and rules, instead of serving people, start to dominate them. This inversion, she argued, creates a significant disconnect between the administration and the public it is meant to serve.
"When things start ruling people, that's when you know the spirit of the thing is lost," Kishore stated, encapsulating her core philosophy. She elaborated that laws, regulations, and bureaucratic procedures are designed as frameworks for welfare and order. However, when these frameworks become rigid and self-serving, they cease to be tools for public good and transform into instruments of control.
The Civil Servant's Role: Bridge, Not Barrier
Delving into the practical role of an administrator, Kishore highlighted the critical duty of a civil servant to act as a bridge. The ideal officer, in her view, must seamlessly connect government policies with the lived realities of citizens. This requires a deep sense of empathy, active listening, and a commitment to understanding ground-level challenges.
She pointed out that a major pitfall in administration occurs when officers get entangled in the web of procedures and files, losing sight of the human impact of their decisions. The focus must remain on people and outcomes, not merely on process compliance. This human-centric approach is what separates transformative leadership from mere bureaucratic management.
Kishore's background in sports, particularly football, seems to influence her team-oriented and strategic outlook on public service. She values discipline, teamwork, and goal-oriented action—qualities she believes are directly transferable to the demanding field of civil administration.
Ethical Foundations and the UPSC Journey
Reflecting on her own UPSC journey, Kishore underscored the importance of an ethical foundation, not just for the examination but for the career that follows. The UPSC examination, with its emphasis on ethics, integrity, and aptitude in the General Studies papers and the interview, is designed to test a candidate's moral compass as much as their intellectual capability.
She advised future aspirants to internalize the values of integrity, impartiality, and dedication. Cracking the exam is one achievement, but upholding the trust placed in a civil servant is a lifelong commitment. Her message suggests that success in the UPSC should be viewed as the beginning of a service-oriented mission, not the culmination of a competitive struggle.
Kishore's achievement in the 2022 UPSC CSE, where she emerged as the topper among hundreds of thousands of candidates, gives significant weight to her reflections. Her insights move beyond the typical "success story" narrative to offer a substantive commentary on statecraft and responsibility.
Implications for Public Policy and Administration
The perspectives shared by the UPSC topper have broader implications for public policy and administrative reform in India. They touch upon ongoing debates about:
- Decentralization of Power: Ensuring that governance is responsive and localized.
- Citizen-Centric Services: Designing systems where the citizen's convenience is paramount, not bureaucratic habit.
- Ethical Governance: Building systems that reward integrity and punish corruption effectively.
Kishore's vision aligns with the need for an administration that is empathetic, agile, and firmly rooted in constitutional values. As a new entrant to the IAS, her views represent the aspirations of a new generation of civil servants who are reflective, articulate, and deeply conscious of their societal role.
In conclusion, Ishita Kishore's interview provides a valuable glimpse into the mindset shaping India's future administrative leadership. Her emphasis on preventing systems from "ruling people" serves as a powerful reminder for all in public service—the ultimate goal is human welfare, and every rule, file, and procedure is merely a means to that noble end.
