Encounter with Anil Swarup | Exclusive
Here’s an exclusive interview of Subhajit Roy with Anil Swarup, a distinguished retired IAS officer turned celebrated author. He was “Not just a Civil Servant”, Mr. Swarup has often grappled with the “Ethical Dilemmas of a Civil Servant”. His “Encounters with Politicians” have been numerous and revealing. He believes “Nexus of Good”— a coalition of ethical individuals who, together, can drive meaningful change in society. Read here:
Throughout your distinguished career, you’ve taken on various roles and responsibilities. Could you highlight 3 top encounters with politicians?
My first memorable encounter was during my first posting as a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in Hardoi, where I invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against a powerful local MLA. Eventually, MLA managed to transfer me.
The second was when I was the District Magistrate in Lakhimpur Kheri. I had to arrest the District President of the ruling party because he insisted on holding a funeral procession that could have led to communal riots. Despite this, the Chief Minister later rewarded me as one of the best collectors, even though the person I jailed belonged to his party.
The third memorable moment was the time I spent with Kalyan Singh, an outstanding politician.
You were known as the go-to person in many ministries and took over the assignment as Coal Secretory soon after the Coalgate scam. How challenging was that?
It was very challenging—probably the most difficult assignment of my career. The coal sector was in serious turmoil when I became Coal Secretary. My job was to resolve those issues, and with God’s grace and an amazing team, we were able to fix the problems in the sector.
There was considerable discussion about a reported loss of Rs. 1.86 lakh crores in the coal sector. In your view, how accurate was this figure?
I calculated in my book that the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) made an incorrect calculation. No one has challenged me on that because the CAG’s assumptions about the cost of mining were wrong. The cost varies from mine to mine, and using an average cost was the correct way to calculate the loss.
That caused significant damage to the economy and the industry, didn’t it?
Yes, it did.
Who is to be blamed for that?
I don’t think anyone needs to be blamed. I believe the CAG went overboard. The CAG should have done better homework and acted like an auditor, not an accountant. The calculations were incorrect.
After being Coal Secretary, you moved to school education. There have been issues with paper leaks, even during your time. Your comments…
Yes, during my time as Secretary, the CBSE paper leaked. After that, we put in place a foolproof system, and there hasn’t been a leak in six years. Unfortunately, NEET didn’t learn from CBSE’s experience. They outsourced a critical examination, which caused the problem.
What happened with UPSC? There seems to be a sudden decline in its reputation.
The reputation of institutions is determined by the people running them. While the current Chairman is an outstanding officer, I can’t say the same for the previous chairpersons. Unfortunately, the credibility of UPSC has taken a hit.
Did the introduction of Lateral Entry reflect a lack of faith in the bureaucracy?
I don’t think so. I’m not against lateral entry if the process is above board. The issue with bureaucracy is more about attitude than expertise. Expertise can be outsourced, but the attitude needs to be right. If UPSC handles lateral entry, questions will arise, given its recent reputation.
How can bureaucrats be both honest and accommodating?
You can be honest while still being accommodating. Being accommodating doesn’t mean breaking rules or laws. It means thinking positively and helping people within the framework of the law. You need to be honest and efficient.
What message do you have for young aspiring IAS officers?
I always tell them to do their job to the best of their ability and keep their expectations low. Much of the frustration comes from expecting too much from others. Act as a professional and avoid excessive desires.
Can you summarize your book ‘Encounters With Politicians’?
This book is about my 38-year career and interactions with politicians. Initially, I thought all politicians were rascals, but over time I realized some are outstanding. Politicians are as good or bad as anyone else. The key is to adapt and work with them. You can’t change politicians, but if you adapt, you can get a lot done.
How important is the Nexus of Good in today’s environment?
There’s a lot of negativity around, but good work is happening. The idea is to demonstrate that good can happen and inspire others to believe in and spread goodness.
Is there a Nexus of Good between politicians and bureaucrats?
Absolutely. Many good politicians work well with bureaucrats, and that’s why we see positive outcomes in society.
How was your career?
I enjoyed my relationship with politicians.
Can you summarize your career as a bureaucrat in one sentence?
I enjoyed every moment of my career as a civil servant.
📺 Watch now for an exclusive glimpse into the mind of one of India’s most distinguished civil servants! LINK: https://youtu.be/evZSkX9bGVI
