Slipping Good Governance

Syllabus: Governance

Source: NIE

Context: The New Delhi railway stampede, which claimed 18 lives, raised concerns over lack of accountability and poor governance mechanisms.

• The handling of inquiry reports, blame deflection, and lack of preventive measures highlight India’s governance challenges.

What is Good Governance?

• Transparent, accountable, and participatory governance that ensures effective decision-making and service delivery.

• Key Principles: Rule of law, responsiveness, equity, inclusivity, efficiency, and accountability.

• Essential for democracy, ensuring public trust, institutional efficiency, and socio-economic development.

Challenges to Good Governance in India:

• Lack of Transparency: Inquiry reports on public disasters are often suppressed, limiting accountability.

• Bureaucratic Red Tape: Slow decision-making and inefficient administrative processes hinder effective governance.

• Political Interference: Frequent transfers and political influence affect independent functioning of institutions.

• Corruption & Nepotism: Lack of integrity in public offices leads to resource misallocation and trust deficit.

• Weak Accountability Mechanisms: No clear liability for administrative failures, leading to repeated governance lapses.

Government Schemes for Good Governance

• Right to Information Act (RTI), 2005: Enhances transparency by allowing citizens access to government records.

• PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation): Real-time monitoring system for fast-tracking government projects.

• Digital India Initiative: Focuses on e-governance, digital services, and transparency in public administration.

• Mission Karmayogi: Aims to train civil servants in governance reforms and improve public service delivery.

• Citizen’s Charter & Sevottam Model: Promotes service accountability and quality in public administration.

Way Ahead:

• Strengthening Accountability: Ensure independent inquiry mechanisms and public access to investigative reports.

• Bureaucratic Reforms: Implement transparent appointment processes and reduce political interference.

• Technology-Driven Governance: Expand AI-based predictive governance, digital monitoring, and e-governance initiatives.

• Public Participation: Enhance citizen engagement in policy-making and governance through participatory democracy.

• Anti-Corruption Measures: Strengthen whistleblower protection laws and transparent funding mechanisms.

Conclusion:

Good governance is key to democracy and sustainable development. India must strengthen transparency, ensure accountability, and enhance institutional efficiency to build public trust. A responsible, proactive, and participatory governance model is essential to prevent governance failures and foster national progress.

• Hunger and Poverty are the biggest challenges for good governance in India still today. Evaluate how far successive governments have progressed in dealing with these humongous problems. Suggest measures for improvement. (UPSC-2017)