(i)
Rationale for sandwich pattern: The
“sandwich pattern” that was introduced in 1969, essentially seeks to blend
theory with praxis by allowing for a short period of institutional training
following the year-long district training. The IAS Professional Course (Phase
II) or simply Phase II, as it is better known, essentially seeks to provide an
opportunity to Trainees to discuss and deliberate issues, with the benefit of
their first-hand experience in the state, and seek more enduring solutions to
administrative problems and challenges. It further allows for sharing of
experience, in terms of good administrative practices, so that Trainees may
have the benefit of “vicarious learning”.
(ii)
Duration: As pointed out by the
Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. RVV Ayyar, the duration of the Phase II
of the Professional Course has reduced over time from four months at the
beginning, to 8 weeks presently. As informed by the Academy, the duration has hovered
between 8-10 weeks over the last two decades.
(iii)
Experience Sharing: One of the key objectives of
the Phase II course is to allow a platform for Trainees to share their
experiences across a plethora of issues and sectors. This is expected to foster
discussion and reflection on how the same issues are being addressed in other
states, or even in other parts of the same state. Trainees are normally asked
to make structured presentations on the subject of their district assignments
which is followed by a short discussion. Even in the case of Law, Trainees in
smaller groups make presentations of a selected case decided by them,
highlighting therein the key legal and procedural issues.
(iv)
Seminars: An important highlight of
the Phase II course is the seminars organized by the Academy. It is important
to mention that traditionally only a seminar on being an effective SDO was
organized during the Phase II course, with the logic of providing a forum for a
more focused discussion on the challenges that Trainees would face while
discharging their first responsibility as an SDO. This entailed bringing in
some 20-25 SDO from all state cadres, of batches immediately prior to the one
being trained, to share their experiences and to also provide a more nuanced
view of the problems likely to be encountered in the field. However, given the
shortage of IAS officers in junior batches (ostensibly on account of lower
recruitment over a decade), the period of SDO-ship has been truncated in many
states and IAS officers are posted as CEOs of Zila Parishad or on equivalent
positions and also Municipal Commissioners, often within a year of completion
of probation. In some state cadres, officers are even posted as Collectors
within two years of completion of probation. Hence, the responsibility of the
Academy stands slightly enhanced to prepare Trainees for their future
assignments (in the next 4-5 years) before they come for their first round of
Mid-Career Training in Phase III (upon completion of 7-8 years of service).
Resultantly, the Academy also conducts Seminars on being effective CEOs of Zila
Parishad, Municipal Commissioners and District Magistrates. Each Seminar
normally lasts a day and Trainees and guests are divided into smaller groups
(on regional lines) to allow for closer discussion. These seminars are
generally very well-received and have been found to be practically useful.
(v)
Foreign Study Tour: In line with the growing
trend among various civil services to provide foreign exposure to their
Trainees, the Academy introduced a Foreign Study Tour for IAS Officer Trainees
in 2010. Trainees accompanied by faculty members, travel in two groups to
countries in South-East Asia, normally to Singapore (as a developed country)
and Vietnam or Indonesia (as a developing country) for a period of 10-12 days.
The Tour entails both classroom instruction on various aspects of public
administration and also site visits to government institutions. The Academy
normally coordinates the foreign visit in collaboration with partner institutions
(academies) in these countries. Trainees are expected upon return to write an
assessed Foreign Study Tour Paper highlighting the administrative practices
that they found most interesting and those that can be adapted or replicated in
the Indian context.
(vi)
Evaluation: The Phase II course is
evaluated by way of Director’s assessment which comprises weightage for
presentations, Foreign Study Tour Paper, classroom participation, performance
in ICT and language examinations and other co-curricular activities within the
course.
Source-
KIRAN AGGARWAL COMMITTEE (2014) (COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE CONTENT AND DURATION
OF INDUCTION TRAINING OF IAS OFFICERS)
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