ARC Report – Comprehensive Analysis for UPSC Exam Preparation

Table of Contents

1.     What is ARC Report?

2.     ARC (Administrative Reforms Commission) Report for UPSC

3.     1st ARC Report

4.     2nd ARC Report

5.     List of 2nd ARC Reports

6.     2nd ARC Report Summary

7.     How to Read ARC Reports?

8.     ARC Report UPSC

9.     Relevant Articles, Statutory Laws, and Case Laws

10.                        Key Points

11.                        MCQs for UPSC Exam Preparation

1. What is ARC Report?

The ARC (Administrative Reforms Commission) Report is published by the Administrative Reforms Commission, an organization appointed by the Government of India to evaluate and suggest reforms for the country's public administration system. The ARC was established twice:

• 1st ARC (1966): Established to suggest reforms in public administration.
• 2nd ARC (2005): Established to make comprehensive reforms in the public administration system.

2. ARC (Administrative Reforms Commission) Report for UPSC

Importance

• 1st ARC: Provided 537 recommendations in about 20 reports.
• 2nd ARC: Published 15 reports covering various aspects of public administration.

Relevance for UPSC

The ARC reports are crucial for understanding the framework of public administration, governance, and reforms in India. They are significant for the Indian Polity section of the IAS syllabus and for answer writing in the UPSC Mains exam.

3. 1st ARC Report

Key Features

• Established on 5 January 1966.
• Initially chaired by Morarji Desai, later by K. Hanumanthaiah.
• Provided recommendations on various areas including Railways, Finance, Personnel Administration, State Administration, etc.

Exclusions

• Did not cover detailed inspection of external affairs, defense administration, security and intelligence, and railways due to separate commissions handling these areas.

4. 2nd ARC Report

Key Features

• Established on 31 August 2005.
• Initially chaired by Veerappa Moily, later by V. Ramachandran.
• Published 15 comprehensive reports on public administration.

Focus Areas

• Organizational structure of the government.
• Integrity in governance.
• Revamping personnel administration.
• Financial management.
• Local self-government.
• Promoting e-governance.
• Crisis management.
• RTI (Right to Information).
• Citizen-centric administration.

5. List of 2nd ARC Reports

1.     Right to Information: Master Key to Good Governance

2.     Unlocking Human Capital: Entitlements and Governance

3.     Crisis Management

4.     Ethics in Governance

5.     Public Order

6.     Local Governance

7.     Capacity Building for Conflict Resolution

8.     Combating Terrorism – Protecting by Righteousness

9.     Social Capital: A Shared Destiny

10.                        Refurbishing Personnel Administration: Scaling New Heights

11.                        Promoting e-Governance: The Smart Way Forward

12.                        Citizen-Centric Administration

13.                        The Organizational Structure of Govt of India

14.                        Strengthening Financial Management Systems

15.                        State and District Administration

6. 2nd ARC Report Summary

Key Reports Summarized

1. Right to Information (RTI)

• Recommended revoking the Official Secrets Act of 1923.
• Suggested amendments to Section 123 of the Indian Evidence Act of 1872.
• Emphasized transparency and accountability in governance.

2. Unlocking Human Capital

• Focused on NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act).
• Recommendations on wage protection, financial management, and fund flow.

3. Crisis Management

• Suggested establishing a separate entity for disaster management.
• Emphasized state-level crisis management with central support.

4. Ethics in Governance

• Suggested reforms in political funding.
• Recommended intensifying the Anti-Defection Law.
• Proposed National Judicial Council and Office of Ethics.

5. Capacity Building for Conflict Resolution

• Recommended contemporary Land Acquisition Act.
• Focused on water-related and tribal area-related issues.

6. Combating Terrorism

• Suggested setting up a statutory Review Committee and special courts.
• Emphasized public participation and media involvement.

7. Promoting e-Governance

• Recommendations on creating a friendly environment for e-Governance.
• Suggested prioritizing projects, awareness, and capacity building.

8. Citizen-Centric Administration

• Emphasized administration focused on citizens.
• Suggested streamlined processes and efficient public grievance redressal systems.

9. The Organizational Structure of Govt of India

• Recommended guiding central and state governments by the notion of subsidiarity.
• Emphasized restructuring government departments and ministries.

10. Strengthening Financial Management Systems

• Addressed impractical budget estimations and delays in project execution.
• Suggested fulfilling budgetary financial targets based on outputs and outcomes.

11. State and District Administration

• Recommended minimizing the size of the Council of Ministers.
• Emphasized civil services law and local-level government.

7. How to Read ARC Reports?

• Read Summaries: Start with summaries of key reports.
• Focus on Recommendations: Concentrate on recommendations and reforms suggested.
• Use for Case Studies: Utilize case studies and quotes in answer writing.
• Download Reports: Access complete reports from the official DARPG website for detailed study.

8. ARC Report UPSC

Preparation Tips

• Summarize Key Points: Create notes summarizing key points of each report.
• Case Studies: Use case studies and examples in answers.
• Practice MCQs: Solve MCQs based on ARC reports for better understanding.

Key Points

• First ARC: 537 recommendations in 20 reports.
• Second ARC: 15 reports covering public administration and governance.
• Focus Areas: RTI, e-Governance, Disaster Management, Ethics in Governance, etc.

9. Relevant Articles, Statutory Laws, and Case Laws

Relevant Articles of the Constitution:

• Article 21: Protection of life and personal liberty.
• Article 22: Protection against arrest and detention.

Relevant Statutory Laws:

• Right to Information Act, 2005: Implemented recommendations from the 2nd ARC report on RTI.
• National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005: Addressed in the 2nd ARC report on Unlocking Human Capital.

Landmark Supreme Court Judgements:

• Vineet Narain vs Union of India (1997): Emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in governance.
• Prakash Singh vs Union of India (2006): Recommended police reforms for better governance.

10. Key Points

• 1st ARC: Established in 1966, chaired by Morarji Desai and later K. Hanumanthaiah.
• 2nd ARC: Established in 2005, chaired by Veerappa Moily and later V. Ramachandran.
• Focus: Public administration reforms, governance, crisis management, e-Governance, etc.
• Importance: Essential for understanding governance and public administration in India.

11. MCQs for UPSC Exam Preparation

1.     Who was the first chairperson of the 2nd ARC?

(a) K. Hanumanthaiah

(b) Morarji Desai

(c) Veerappa Moily

(d) V. Ramachandran

Answer: c) Veerappa Moily

2.     Which report of the 2nd ARC focuses on RTI?

(a) 1st Report

(b) 2nd Report

(c) 3rd Report

(d) 4th Report

Answer: a) 1st Report

3.     When was the 1st ARC established?

(a) 1966

(b) 1975

(c) 1980

(d) 2005

Answer: a) 1966

4.     Which ARC report emphasizes e-Governance?

(a) 5th Report

(b) 7th Report

(c) 11th Report

(d) 13th Report

Answer: c) 11th Report

5.     Which report of the 2nd ARC deals with disaster management?

(a) 2nd Report

(b) 3rd Report

(c) 6th Report

(d) 10th Report

Answer: b) 3rd Report

6.     What was the primary focus of the 4th report of the 2nd ARC?

(a) Public Order

(b) Ethics in Governance

(c) Local Governance

(d) Combating Terrorism

Answer: b) Ethics in Governance

7.     Which committee recommended establishing Lokpal and Lokayukta?

(a) Sarkaria Commission

(b) 2nd ARC

(c) 1st ARC

(d) Rajamannar Committee

Answer: b) 2nd ARC

8.     What is the full form of ARC?

(a) Administrative Reforms Committee

(b) Administrative Reforms Commission

(c) Administrative Reforms Council

(d) Administrative Reforms Corporation

Answer: b) Administrative Reforms Commission

9.     Which 2nd ARC report deals with combating terrorism?

(a) 8th Report

(b) 9th Report

(c) 10th Report

(d) 11th Report

Answer: a) 8th Report

10.                        Which article of the Indian Constitution deals with the protection of life and personal liberty?

(a) Article 19

(b) Article 20

(c) Article 21

(d) Article 22

Answer: c) Article 21

This structured analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of the ARC reports, covering their significance, key recommendations, and relevance for UPSC exam preparation.