The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie is a premier training institution for the civil services in India. It is headed by a Director (an officer of the level of Secretary to the Government of India) and is an attached office of the Department of Personnel & Training, Government of India.
It conducts a common Foundation Course for entrants to the All India Services; Indian Foreign Service; Group ‘A’ services of the Union and the Royal Bhutan Service followed by professional training for the regular recruits of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and members of the Royal Bhutan Service. The Academy also conducts in-service and Mid-Career Training Programmes (MCTPs) for members of the IAS and Induction Training Programme for officers promoted to the IAS from State Civil Services. In addition, workshops and seminars on policy and governance-related issues are held from time to time.
Provision of the Constitution of India with respect to the Civil Services
Rules/Provisions Governing Training
The Rules/ Regulations that pertain to the work of the Academy are as follows:
1. The IAS (Probation) Rules, 1954 
2. The IAS Probationer’s Final Examination Regulations, 1955
1. The IAS (Probation) Rules, 1954
The IAS (Probation) Rules specify the period of probation of a person recruited into the IAS. A person is confirmed on successful completion of probation. While under training at the Academy, Officer Trainees (OTs) are under the disciplinary control of the Director & the salaries/advances paid during the training are covered under these Rules.
The Rules list the circumstances under which an Officer Trainee may be discharged from Service or reverted to the permanent post on which he holds a lien, or would hold a lien, had s/he not been suspended prior to her/his appointment to the Service, if-
i. If she/he fails the re-examination under rule 9.
ii. If the Central Government is satisfied that the probationer was ineligible for recruitment to the Service or is unsuitable for being a member of the Service.
iii. In the opinion of the Central Government s/he has wilful neglected his probationary studies or duties.
iv. Found lacking in qualities of mind and character needed for the Service; or
v. Fails to comply with any of the provisions of these Rules.
Except in a case falling under clause (a) above, the Central Government shall hold a summary enquiry before passing an order under these rules.
2. The IAS Probationer’s Final Examination Regulations, 1955
These Regulations deal with the examinations to be conducted in the Academy during the Induction training. It has been laid down that the Director has the authority to decide the dates, timing and venue of the exams.
Provisions of the Constitution of India with respect to the Civil Services
Article 311 of the Constitution of India deals with the Civil Services and provides for dismissal, removal or reduction in rank of persons employed in civil capacities under the Union or a State. The Article provides as under:
(1) No person who is a member of a civil service of the Union or an all India service or a civil service of a State or holds a civil post under the Union or a State shall be dismissed or removed by an authority subordinate to that by which he was appointed.
(2) No such person as aforesaid shall be dismissed or removed or reduced in rank except after an inquiry in which he has been informed of the charges against him and given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in respect of those charges Provided that where it is proposed after such inquiry, to impose upon him any such penalty, such penalty may be imposed on the basis of the evidence adduced during such inquiry and it shall not be necessary to give such person any opportunity of making representation on the penalty proposed: Provided further that this clause shall not apply
(3) If, in respect of any such person as aforesaid, a question arises whether it is reasonably practicable to hold such inquiry as is referred to in clause ( 2 ), the decision of the authority to dismiss or remove such person or to reduce him in rank shall be final.
Training Needs Assessment
Training programs at the Academy are designed and developed on basis of the training needs and assessments done from time to time. Various Study Groups and Committees have been constituted time to time to review, evaluate and recommend measures for improvement of the training curricula – from entry level to the highest level of seniority. Some of the Study groups/Committees constituted so far are mentioned below.
1. Study Group of UC Agrawal and Others (1984)
In 1977, LBSNAA carried out re-evaluation of the sandwich pattern introduced in 1969. In 1986, this was reviewed by a study group under the chairmanship of Sri U C Agarwal, the then Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). This Study Group stressed upon problem solving and creative thinking in administration.
2. Committee of Dr. S Ramesh, Shri P.K. Lahiri and Shri P.K. Patnaik (1996)
In 1996, a study group comprising three IAS officers, Sarvashri P.K Patnaik, S.Ramesh and P.K. Lahiri revisited the training syllabus.
3. Surindernath Committee Report (2003)
This Committee recommended that Annual performance appraisal report can be used as a tool to identify the training needs for the upcoming assignments.
4. Yugandhar Committee Report (2003)
In August 2000, a Committee with Shri B.N. Yugandhar, former Director, LBSNAA as Chairperson, was appointed to review the in service training programmes to consider ways to make the training more useful for training needs.
5. The R.V.V. Ayyar Committee Report (2007)
In 2007 the R.V. Vaidhyanathan Ayyar Committee was constituted by DoPT to look into the IAS Induction Training syllabus and to review the same. Ayyar Committee Report recommended many structural changes in the curricula.
6. Dr. Y. K. Alagh Committee Report (2009)
The Alagh Committee recommended major changes in the in-service training programme which is now being imparted as Mid-Career Training Programme.
7. Evaluation Report of the MCTP for IAS Officers by NIAR (2010)
The NCGG (erstwhile NIAR) conducted an assessment study on the impact of MCTP Courses.
8. Kiran Aggarwal Committee Report (2014)
The Kiran Aggarwal Committee identified some of the key needs in the present curricula at different levels and recommended several measures for improvement of course design. The Committee strongly recommended to the Ministry to re-engineer its cadre allocation system and notify the cadres prior to the commencement of the FC.
In addition to above, the Academy constantly refines and recalibrates the inputs given to participants of each course based on extensive deliberations with senior government officials, domain experts, as well as concurrent feedback from the participants and the detailed debriefing sessions held with the participants at the end of each course.
