by Dr. Shafiq Ahmed
Introduction
Since the dawn of independence in the year 1947, India has achieved various landmark milestones be it the creation of constitutional institutions to protect the meritocracy, the public purse, nationalisation of banks, democratic decentralization, Green Revolution, inception of Lok Pal & Lok Ayuktas, New Economic Policy, Citizen Charter, Right to information Act 2005, Jan Dhan Yojna, Swatch Bhart Abhyan, Digital India and so on. In all these efforts, regardless of the political questions and political intentions, the common things were public trust and bringing governance closer to the common citizens. Subsequently, as a nation we have performed well in several sectors to attain a good position on the world-wide indicators of good governance. However, during the last two decades the way public expenditure has decreased and modern collaborative governance on the basis of public private partnership has started. Largely it has shaken the roots of governance than to strengthen the same as it has been proven in the best performing economies of this world. The proof of this sorry state of affairs can be seen in various sectors be it the case of collapse of roads and bridges, paper leaks and public recruitment scams, the worsening scenario of Indian Railways, the paradigm shift of public corporations into non-performing assets etc. Now, the questions arise, where we went wrong in terms of policy making and policy implementation process. If this is the case, what are the alternatives which are being explored to rebuild the public trust?
The Incidents of Public Recruitments paper leaks across the nation
During the last two decades, most of the Indian states have witnessed the leaks of public recruitment papers which has always been a very confidential matter and many securities layered matters under the close supervision of Public Service Commissions and State Recruitment Boards. Let us begin from the crown of India i.e., Jammu and Kashmir. In 2022, the Jammu and Kashmir Sub Inspector paper leak scandal rocked the region, revealing serious lapses in the administration and oversight of recruitment processes. The responsibility for setting the leaked paper was pinned on a controversial company named Aptech Pvt. Ltd., which had already faced bans in several Indian states due to previous instances of misconduct and irregularities in examination processes. Aptech Ltd had garnered a reputation for unreliability and unethical practices, leading to its prohibition in states like Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Despite these bans, the company continued to operate in other regions, raising questions about the efficacy of regulatory measures and the integrity of outsourced examination processes.
The leak of the Sub Inspector paper in Jammu and Kashmir underscored broader issues within the recruitment infrastructure, highlighting vulnerabilities that allowed unscrupulous entities to exploit and undermine fair competition. The incident not only jeopardized the credibility of the examination but also shook public trust in the transparency and fairness of government recruitment procedures.
The 2021 Rajasthan Teachers Recruitment Exam leak case involved a significant breach of examination integrity in which the question paper for teacher recruitment exams was compromised which was the State’s biggest examination for recruitment of teachers to the government schools, in which over 16 lakh candidates had appeared. During the investigation, the state investigating agency arrested 38 persons, including 14 candidates, and recovered ₹1.16 crore paid for gaining access to the paper. This raises question on the state security apparatus and intelligentsia that how a conspiracy was being hatched and public agencies had no clue in spite of having a robust administrative mechanism. Such cases have also been reported in different states like Telangana Group B Exam 2022, Uttar Pradesh Lekh pal Recruitment Exam 2022 etc. Similarly, the latest National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) Paper row 2024 conducted by the National Testing Agency is another attack on the meritocracy. Moreover, the teaching position recruitment in the Central Universities of the country are also doubtful. This was further highlighted on the floor of the house by the Leader of the Opposition (Sh. Malik Arjun Kharge) in the upper House of Indian Parliament. In fact, this has become the talk of Indian streets nowadays, when the central universities are expecting quality papers published in the Scopus indexed Journals and Web of Science from their research scholars but not ensuring quality when it comes to their recruitment. Inputs decide output. The recruitment in the central universities of India have been entangled in the battle of political ideologies which is far from ideal for the future of this nation. There is an urgent need for politics and academics dichotomy for the larger interest of Vikshit Bharat.
In the wake of recurring paper leaks across various Indian states, the plight of students and their families becomes deeply concerning. For a student striving for a promising future, these leaks not only shatter their aspirations but also undermine their hard work and dedication. Parents, who eagerly await better days for their children, find themselves grappling with uncertainty and disillusionment over the reliability of state agencies entrusted with conducting fair examinations. The credibility of these agencies has been severely questioned, highlighting gaps in security and governance. Transparency and accountability, pillars of a fair system, are compromised, eroding public trust in the integrity of recruitment processes. Students and families are left in a state of distress, seeking answers and assurances that their efforts will not be in vain.
As these incidents persist, there is an urgent need for stringent reforms to restore faith in the meritocracy of educational assessments and ensure that all students have a fair chance to succeed based on their abilities and hard work alone. Additionally, the interest of marginalized section of society must be preserved so that dream of real upliftment and fair and just society can be realized.
Collapse of Modern Public Infrastructure
Several bridge collapses in Bihar over recent years have highlighted significant concerns about infrastructure safety in the state. In Bhagalpur, parts of the under-construction Sultanganj Aguwani bridge collapsed twice, first due to a loose cable during a thunderstorm about 14 months ago, and again in June this year. The collapse of the Sattarghat bridge over the Gandak river in Gopalganj just 29 days after its inauguration in July 2020 raised questions about construction quality and oversight. In Saharsa, three laborers were injured in June 2022 when a section of a bridge collapsed at Kandumer village. A 136-year-old British-era road bridge collapsed in Patna due to excessive rain, while an under-construction bridge in Nalanda collapsed in November 2022, claiming a life. Most recently, in January 2024, an iron bridge collapsed in Darbhanga due to an overloaded truck, and in May 2024, an under-construction bridge in Purnia collapsed shortly after concretization, prompting allegations of the use of low-quality materials by contractors and engineers. Recently, in the year 2024 the same state has witnessed the collapse of 13 bridges in over two weeks. This shows that the state’s concerned department has not learnt any lesson from the past incidents.
Many highways and expressways which were built recently have shortened the distance of several miles among the states and minimized the logistic cost. However, at the same time, it has been seen that the issue of quality is compromised on many highways and expressways. Let’s take the case of Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway which was inaugurated in the year 2023, built at a cost of Rs 8,480 crore. The Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway was expected to reduce the travel time between the two cities from around 3 hours to 75 minutes. However, less than a week after its inauguration it was flooded by light shower of rain. Similarly, in the year 2022, within a week of it’s inauguration, parts of UP’s Bundelkhand Expressway caved in due to heavy rain. Maharashtra’s Samruddi Highway which is 710-kilometer six lane expressway connecting Mumbai and Nagpur has developed a 50 feet long crack of almost 3cms. Furthermore, India’s first light and sound proof elevated road which passes through the Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhapardesh’s Seoni built with the cost of 960 crores developed a large crack due to continuous rain. The crack was observed both in the middle and on the sides of the road leading to the closure of 200-meter stretch of the road for many days. On 30th October 2022, in the state of Gujarat, almost 135 people died and more than 100 were critical when a cable bridge collapsed on the Machchhu river (Morbi town) which was recently repaired by the state govt. This infrastructure was built in 1880 by the then British govt. and has been closed since the past many years.
The recent spate of bridge collapses and infrastructure failures across India, particularly in Bihar and other states, raises profound concerns about public safety and the effective utilization of funds. These incidents not only highlight the tragic loss of lives and livelihoods but also underscore a systemic failure in ensuring robust construction practices and oversight.
In Bihar alone, multiple bridge collapses within a short span indicate a glaring lack of accountability and oversight in infrastructure projects. Despite significant investments aimed at improving connectivity and reducing travel times, such as the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway and the Bundelkhand Expressway, the recurring issue of compromised quality persists. These incidents are not just financial burdens on the common man but also endanger lives, undermining the trust citizens place in their governments to deliver safe and reliable infrastructure.
It is alarming that modern technology, touted for its precision and efficiency, seems inadequate in guaranteeing the durability and safety of these structures. In contrast, ancient monuments across India stand as enduring testaments to craftsmanship and engineering prowess, having withstood centuries of natural disasters. This stark contrast beckons the question: Why does modern infrastructure, built with advanced technology and substantial investments, falter under relatively ordinary conditions like rain or mere usage?
The absence of severe quality control measures, coupled with inadequate local supervision and accountability, appears to be a critical factor. Effective governance demands not only the identification of culprits responsible for substandard work but also the swift establishment of mechanisms to prevent such lapses in the future. Local public administration must play a pivotal role in ensuring that contractors adhere to rigorous quality standards and that community interests are safeguarded.
Ultimately, the challenge lies in reconciling modern advancements with the timeless principles of craftsmanship and accountability. For India to truly progress, it must harness technology for the greater good, ensuring that infrastructure investments uphold safety, durability, and public trust.
In conclusion, India must urgently enact rigorous laws to ensure accountability in infrastructure projects and safeguard public funds. Learning from global best practices, the administrative system should be benchmarked against countries known for protecting meritocracy and maintaining robust public infrastructure. Vigilance from state authorities is crucial, especially given the current governance model’s reliance on public-private partnerships. Local self-governments and their representatives should play an active role in overseeing infrastructure development, as these projects directly impact citizens’ daily lives. By prioritizing transparency, rigorous quality control, and community involvement, India can rebuild public trust and ensure that future infrastructure projects enhance safety, reliability, and accessibility for all.