Build trust with young officers and delegate authority: Cab Sec’s advice to senior bureaucrats

Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan has instructed Union government secretaries to abandon the prevailing "playing safe" mentality and delegate substantial authority to junior civil servants. In an official communication sent, he warned that excessive administrative centralisation severely hampers government efficiency, overburdens senior leadership, and deprives lower-tier officers of vital opportunities to develop key decision-making skills.

Making a strong case for establishing a pervasive "culture of trust," Somanathan highlighted that senior officials often hesitate to delegate due to deep-seated anxieties. Officers frequently fear that subordinates may underperform, misuse delegated authority, or make controversial decisions that invite public criticism. However, he emphasized that continuing this over-centralized approach ultimately weakens administrative resilience and responsiveness.

To enforce institutional reform, Somanathan has tasked senior officers with reviewing existing workflows and creating robust department-level delegation mechanisms. By actively empowering junior personnel and distributing operational accountability, the government aims to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, foster professional confidence, and create a dynamic, efficient governance model.