A Civil Servant Must Make Things Happen on the Ground. Honesty Alone Isn’t Enough: Anil Swarup
Editor’s Note: The following exclusive conversation with former IAS officer and Secretary to the Government of India, Anil Swarup, was originally published in our archives 7 years ago. In light of the enduring relevance of his insights on Indian bureaucracy—and a recent acknowledgment of this piece by Mr. Swarup himself on his professional network—The Optimist News is bringing this feature back to our front page. His unfiltered perspective on what it takes to “make things happen on the ground” remains required reading for current and aspiring civil servants, policy-makers, and citizens alike. The text has been optimized for clarity and digital archival reading.
In the complex socio-political ecosystem of Indian bureaucracy, survival often dictates compliance. But for Anil Swarup—former Secretary to the Government of India (Ministry of Coal and Ministry of School Education & Literacy)—survival was never the goal; performance was.
Widely regarded as one of the most effective, yet “politically incorrect” bureaucrats of his generation, the 1981-batch IAS officer spent a 38-year career tackling some of India’s most deeply entrenched challenges. From confronting the coal and education mafias to spearheading the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY)—India’s massive health insurance scheme for the poor—Swarup’s tenure is a masterclass in governance.
Following the release of his acclaimed memoir, Not Just a Civil Servant, the ace bureaucrat sat down with The Optimist News to discuss his early failures, the reality of political interference, and why absolute honesty is merely a starting point for a civil servant.
The Optimist Exclusive Interview
The Optimist: Your attempts at becoming an IAS officer had failed initially, so you joined the IPS academy before cracking the exam on your next attempt. How did you deal with your initial failure?
Anil Swarup: I have treated failures as stepping stones to success. My failure to get through in the IAS exam on the first attempt made me even more determined. I analysed the causes of my failure and overcame them in my second attempt.
The Optimist: When you look back today, how do you analyse your tryst with Indian bureaucracy?
Anil Swarup: I enjoyed every moment as a civil servant. That’s why I would wish to be a civil servant if I’m born again.
On Honesty vs. Performance
The Optimist: You had an eventful career as an IAS officer and are known for your honesty and straightforwardness. Is honesty a boon or a bane when working in a critical socio-political ecosystem that thrives within the bureaucratic set-up of India?
Anil Swarup: Honesty is a boon. It is a necessary condition for a civil servant, but that is not enough. A civil servant must perform to make things happen on the ground. Honesty alone isn’t enough.
On Politicians and Team Building
The Optimist: During your tenure, you worked with many political parties and leaders. Do you have any fond memories of a political leader that you still cherish?
Anil Swarup: I have several fond memories in a career spanning 38 years, and the book brings forth some such memories. However, the politician I admired the most was Kalyan Singh, as I saw him during his first stint as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
The Optimist: In earlier interviews, you mentioned the advantages of working as a team. How do you manage to build teams in completely different places and overcome barriers like caste, language, and regional sentiments?
Anil Swarup: Team-building centres on trust, and trust isn’t based on any caste, community, or regional preference. It is based on human psychology that applies to all human beings. Once you trust people, you can delegate. This creates a sense of responsibility among team members and leads to team-building.
Navigating the Political Web
The Optimist: In a country like India, bureaucracy is closely entangled in politics. Do you think bureaucrats can actually stay aloof from political colours and sentiments?
Anil Swarup: Bureaucracy must work with politicians in a democracy. It can’t stay aloof from them. However, it must prevent itself from being politicised. This can be done, and this should be the case in the interests of the bureaucracy and in the larger interests of the people of the country.
Combating the Mafia: Healthcare & Education
The Optimist: The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY)—the health insurance scheme for India’s poor—is your brainchild. How do you think we, as a nation, can dodge the challenges of this sector?
Anil Swarup: You don’t have to ‘dodge’ the challenges. You must face them! RSBY was all about facing—and, yes, overcoming—challenges.
The Optimist: During one of your interviews, you branded ‘B.Ed’ and ‘D.Ed’ systems as the ‘biggest mafia’. Why do you think those systems of teacher selection aren’t transparent, and how can they be rectified?
Anil Swarup: I reiterate that some B.Ed colleges are embarrassing—to say the least! Some of them are run by the mafia. I’m glad the government has taken a decision to go in for a 4-year integrated course for B.Ed. If implemented appropriately, it will eliminate fraudulent colleges that exist only in name.
The Optimist: Finally, what led you to become a writer? Is Not Just a Civil Servant an outpouring of suppressed emotions, or a barrage of experiences gathered while at the helm of affairs?
Anil Swarup: Not Just a Civil Servant isn’t an outpouring of ‘suppressed emotions’, but a direct narration of my personal experiences as a civil servant.
