Will Narendra Modi be able to motivate India's vast bureaucracy?

Former secretaries and senior officials IANS spoke to said that Modi's words will help tone up the administration.

S C. Tripathi, a former petroleum secretary, said that the efforts by the new government to improve administration were "very welcome.

"In modern administration, the prime minister is looked upon as chief executive. Since the implementation of policies is left to the civil servants, he has to be in touch with them," Tripathi told IANS.

He said that there existed "a gulf" in the decision making process and implementation during the previous United Progressive Alliance government.

Tripathi said the modern communication system enabled quicker flow and processing of information and decisions can be made fast.

"The modern system requires the prime minister to act as CEO. It is demand of time," he said.

Tripathi, who served as a secretary during the NDA government as well as the UPA-I government, said it would be a challenge for the Modi government to change the mindset of bureaucracy.

"It (the bureaucracy) is not used to taking decisions, has become risk-averse and lacks leadership," he said.

Tripathi said ministers were also not used to taking firm decisions and find scapegoats if a decision becomes unpopular.