No More a Civil Servant — by Anil Swarup | Signed Copy
Ask most Indians what they think of the bureaucracy and you will get some version of the same answer: slow, self-serving, indifferent. It is a comfortable story, and it is repeated so often that even aspirants preparing to join the service half-believe it before they get there.
Anil Swarup spent thirty-eight years inside that system, and he does not deny its failures. But he noticed something the cynicism misses entirely — the good work happening quietly all around us, which we routinely ignore. This book is his attempt to put that work on record.
It is the third in a sequence that began with Not Just a Civil Servant and continued through Ethical Dilemmas of a Civil Servant — and it is the most hopeful of the three.
What’s Inside
- True stories of civil servants doing exceptional work in genuinely adverse circumstances — not hagiography, but documented accounts
- The 1981 batch — a significant highlight of the book, as Swarup records the achievements of his own batchmates across four decades of service
- Encounters with the Prime Minister and his Office — among the most compelling passages in the book
- The Nexus of Good Foundation — stories of good governance that can actually be studied, understood and replicated
- Myths about civil servants, dismantled — one anecdote at a time
Why UPSC Aspirants Should Read This
Most Ethics preparation is built around what goes wrong: dilemmas, temptations, failures of integrity. That is necessary — but it leaves candidates with a vocabulary for criticism and almost none for aspiration. This book fills the other half.
- Ethics (GS Paper-IV) — positive, real-world examples of officers who found a way through, which is exactly what a strong case-study answer needs
- Essay — concrete governance stories that make an essay specific rather than generic
- Interview — a grounded, credible sense of what the service actually offers, and why you want to join it. That answer becomes far more convincing when it is built on evidence
What Senior Leaders Have Said
- Nandan Nilekani, Chairman and Co-founder, Infosys; Founding Chairman, UIDAI (Aadhaar) — on the hope that comes from the good work we so often overlook
- Kiran Bedi, former Lt. Governor, Puducherry — essential reading for every civil service officer, because every civil servant is a sheet anchor of the administration
- Deepak Gupta, former Chairman, UPSC — on how the book dispels ill-informed criticism of civil servants and takes the reader on a journey of the nexus of good
- Surendra Singh, former Cabinet Secretary, Government of India — a must-read for practitioners of governance, built on real-life examples
- B. K. Chaturvedi, former Cabinet Secretary, Government of India — a refreshing account of civil servants working to improve the quality of life of the common man
- Julio Ribeiro, former Police Commissioner, Mumbai — on Swarup’s continuing passion for publicising the work of serving colleagues and civil society organisations
- Tarun Das, former Chief Mentor, CII — a must-read for everyone, especially the young
Which Edition Should You Choose?
Both editions are signed by the author and carry identical content.
- Paperback — lighter and more affordable, the better choice if you intend to read, mark and carry it
- Hardback — the durable, permanent edition. Pick this if the signature matters to you, or if you are buying it as a gift for an aspirant or a serving officer
Select your preferred binding from the dropdown above.
Who Is This Book For?
- UPSC aspirants preparing Ethics, Essay and the Personality Test
- Serving civil servants, especially those early in their careers and in need of a reason to keep going
- Readers interested in Indian governance who want a view of it that is neither propaganda nor cynicism
- Anyone buying a meaningful gift for someone entering public service
About the Author
Anil Swarup is a retired Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1981 batch, UP cadre. Across a thirty-eight-year career he served in a wide range of capacities before becoming Secretary to the Government of India, including in the Ministry of Coal and later the Department of School Education and Literacy. He is the author of Not Just a Civil Servant, Ethical Dilemmas of a Civil Servant, Encounters with Politicians and You Can Make It Happen.
Book Details
- Author: Anil Swarup
- Publisher: Unique Publishers
- Language: English
- Available in: Paperback (ISBN 978-93-93796-17-2) and Hardback (ISBN 978-93-93796-06-6)
- Special: Signed copy — autographed by the author
- Genre: Governance, public administration, memoir
Why Order From ToppersKart?
- FLAT 30% OFF — use coupon code TOPPERSKART
- Authentic signed copies — sourced directly from the publisher
- Cash on Delivery available, fast shipping across India
- Easy return & replacement
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do I need to read the earlier books first?
No. It continues a narrative begun in Not Just a Civil Servant and Ethical Dilemmas of a Civil Servant, but it stands entirely on its own.
Q. Is the content different between paperback and hardback?
No. Identical content, both signed. Only the binding, weight and price differ.
Q. Is this a UPSC preparation book?
Not in the syllabus sense. It is a governance book — but it is unusually useful for Ethics, Essay and the Interview, where real administrative experience carries far more weight than textbook phrasing.
Q. Is the signature genuine?
Yes. These are authentic author-signed copies, sourced directly from the publisher.
Q. What else has Anil Swarup written?
Ethical Dilemmas of a Civil Servant, Encounters with Politicians and You Can Make It Happen — all available in our Unique Publishers collection, and as a discounted combo set.
