The official said that a reason for "policy paralysis" during UPA years was that officials felt that they could be hauled up later for their decisions.
"There was a feeling that if you took a decision today, somebody may question it after four-five years. In five years, circumstances can change and people can interpret a decision differently," he said.
A senior official with the Haryana government said that "things done now (by Modi) should have been done much earlier."
He said bureaucracy was an instrument of governance and it depends on the government of the day how to use it.
"If it is conveyed that you will be protected in case there is some bona fide minor error of judgement, it boosts morale," he said.
Admitting that there was widespread perception that bureaucracy was sluggish, he said that if the top leader was motivated, he can motivate others and spread positivity.
"The challenge for the government is to spread positivity across the people in government and outside. Motivation is very important."
