Red tapism in the civil service refers to the slowness of action or delay in the implementation of administrative tasks due to bureaucratic procedures and excessive paperwork. It often results in inefficiency, wastage of time and resources, and frustration for citizens and government officials. The term "red tape" originates from the practice of binding official documents with red tape, which was common in the past. Nowadays, it is used more broadly to refer to bureaucratic delays and inefficiencies in government processes.