Introduction
The concept of governance is not new. It is as old as human civilisation. Civilisation is the characteristic of the people. It is one of the things that set human beings apart from the other species. While it is true that all living things form societies, it is only human-beings who have a civilization. A civilisation provides humans with numerous basic needs and wants. Civilisation is the stage of human social development and organization that is considered most advanced. A civilisation can also be defined as a complex culture or complex institutions. Complex Institutions developed naturally because a civilisation meant that lots of people were living in one area, city populations were soaring which meant that people needed a system of ruling or government to keep the order. Leaders of civilisation eventually emerged so that they could create and enforce laws. Before civilisation people had religious beliefs. However, in early civilisation religion became a formal institution. The coming together of large number of people really changed how the way life was lived- from religion to rules.
A well-organised government and clear division of work were essential as civilization developed. Concerns about welfare and strong leadership have grown as population has risen. Because of this, a system of management emerged to handle the subtleties of running a business. There were three types of authority in ancient administration. They were: Legislative, Executive and the Judiciary. The King oversaw all three agencies as their supreme leader. A well-functioning judicial system was ensured because crime was contained as well as that criminal suffered just penalties. Ancient government developed a reliable system for monitoring public opinion. Statistics on the number of residents, new births, deaths, etc., were updated often. Ancient era had a massive empire, yet its government was well-controlled and efficient.
The first signs of a republican administration appeared in early 17th century. The result was an explosion of new governments throughout world’s nations and states in late 19th and early twentieth century. The government expanded in both scope and size throughout time to meet the demands of the populace. With a larger government comes responsibility of protecting citizens while maintaining businesses in check.
Term “welfare state” refers to political system whereby government ensures its citizens’ material as well as social prosperity in accordance with ideals of “equivalent opportunity,” “equitable allocation of wealth,” as well as “public accountability” for those who lack access to even most fundamental necessities of life. Creating a framework of governance that encourages, permits, & maintains progress in humanity, particularly for those who are most impoverished and disadvantaged of society, is a problem for all nations. Increasing population and growing burden on socio-economic infrastructure demand digital transformation in civic amenities and government sectors.
Governance and its Origin
The need of governance exists any time a group of people come together to accomplish an end. The concept of governance is not new. It is as old as government itself. Dictionaries would define Government in terms of a governing authority, including the political order and its institutional framework, while governance was treated as the agency and process of governing, and was often viewed as archaic. The effective functioning of the governance is the prime concern of every citizen of the country. The term “governance” denotes procedure with which society steers itself. It is used to facilitate cooperation amongst private & public sectors. For both these sectors, the government makes collective decisions. Now Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is employed across inclusive governing process, from state to district, district to block, and block to the common people.
Ancient Concept of Good Governance in India
Fundamentals of good governance have been present into India since ancient times. Principles of good governance as mentioned today by world bodies existed long back in Indian civilisation. The concept of Indian state ships and polity, since ancient times are included under the umbrella of “Dharma” and “Raj-dharma”, was the way of conduct that has to be followed by the rulers. Ancient Indian writers and Statesman followed Good Governance and value-based polity since ages and description of which can be found in Manusmirti, Mahabharat, Ramayan, Bhagwat Gita, Arthashatra and in many Buddhist literature.
Modern Concept of Good Governance
In its study “Governance and Development” from 1992, the World Bank first mentioned the idea. The statement asserts that robust & equitable development can only occur in an environment where good governance is practised as well as that such an environment can be established and maintained. Capacity and effectiveness in public sector administration, accountability, a legal foundation for growth, and data and openness are all parts of what World Bank considers to be “good governance.”
The concept of good governance encompasses a superior degree of organizational efficiency with respect to creation and execution of policies, particularly in realm of financial regulations, as well as its impact on growth, stability, & well-being of populace. This entails principles of accountability, involvement, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law.
E-Governance
The term “E-governance” refers to the utilisation of communication and information technologies to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, openness and reliability of informative as well as transactions, exchanges inside government, and among government and government agencies at state, national, local, and regional levels. Additionally, it encompasses interactions between citizens & businesses, and aims to empower citizens via access to data as well as utilize.
E-governance and E-government
Government refers to institutional apparatus used to do any work, while governance describes ultimate result from perspective of those who are impacted by it. If done well, e-government may improve efficiency and effectiveness across the board. E-governance has the potential to become participatory government given the right foundation of concepts, goals, programs, and structures. Therefore, electronic governance is implementation of ICT to update administrative procedures and improve public services. The World Bank defines “e-government” as utilization of technological tools (including wide area networks, Internet, & mobile computing) by government agencies to improve their interactions with citizens, businesses, and each other.
Literature Review
International
Sabine Kuhlmann & Moritz Heuberger (2021) in their article ‘Digital transformation going local: implementation, impacts and constraints from a German perspective’, analyses the current state of digitalization in local authorities in Germany.
Alex Ingrams, Aroon Manoharan, Lisa Schmidthuber & Marc Holzer (2018) in their article ‘Stages and Determinants of E-Government Development: A Twelve-Year Longitudinal Study’ addresses the shortcoming with data from the largest cities in the world’s top 100 “most wired” countries from 2003 to 2016.
Nugi Nkwe (2012) in their article ‘E-Government: Challenges and Opportunities in Botswana’ examines the challenges in e-government’s implementation in Botswana.
Waheduzzaman (2008) in the article ‘Good Governance in Developing countries like Bangladesh: Gap between Theory and Practice’ explains the initiatives of government of Bangladesh.
David Coursey & Donald F. Norris (2008) in their article ‘Models of E-Government: Are They Correct? An Empirical Assessment’ provides for assessment of various E-government models.
National
Dr Suchi Santosh Barwar (2017) in her article ‘E-Governance in India: Issues and Challenges with special reference to Jharkhand’ provides for Concepts, Benefits and Challenges of E-Governance in Jharkhand. Article also provides for current status of e-governance in India and Jharkhand.
Subramanian C. (2012) in his article ‘E-governance: A significant tool for good governance in India’ provides for the definition of Good Governance and the data Technology could be effective means to achieve good governance. It argues as E governance is not just a technological endeavour, but rather one in which individuals, procedures, and outcomes use information and communication technologies to increase openness, effectiveness, & efficacy. It provides for one-stop government i.e. integration of public services & singular point accessibility using communication channels. This article focuses on Evolution of e-governance in India & Hurdles in implementation of it. Study would provide for the solutions to the challenges.
R. K. Sapru and Yudhishthira Sapru (2017) in their article ‘Good Governance via E-governance in particular related to India’ provides for India’s e-governance transforming ingenuities from 1990. It also provides for institutional mechanism for e-governance in India. It discusses national strategy & approach of service delivery through e governance. It also discusses the Challenges especially human Resource challenge, prerequisite for e governance services and critical factors for e-governance agenda. The study would deal with the e-governance models of different states in India and its impact.
Dr MadhuBala and Mr Deepak Verma (2018) in their article ‘A Critical Analysis of Concept, Model, Initiatives, and Challenges of E-Government in India’ explains journey of e-governance in India. It deliberates various e-governance models with extensive examples in the context of India. This article focuses extensively on secondary data (government website, government reports etc) for its research. Along with above it discusses about e-governance and challenges faced by e-governance.
Dr. Devesh Kumar (2017) in his article ‘E- Governance: Good Governance in India’ discusses basic concepts and models of e governance. Along with it focuses on the reasons for which e governance is essential for India. Most important of it is that huge population of India makes tough for government to reach effectively to its citizen on time. So e-Governance can be the solution for it. Along with reasons author discusses challenges and benefits of it. This study will discuss different models of e-Governance and how specific problems can be solved through them to achieve good governance.
Subhash Bhatnagar (2004) ‘E-government: Vision for Implementing, applied guidance with case studies’ supports the idea that online administration has helped governments realize some of their reform and growth objectives in realm of administration. Although it’s not a permanent fix, it might serve as a starting point for improvement. There are 3 main requirements for the effective rollout of e-government: 1) Openness to change 2) access to information and communication technology 3) organizational flexibility to deal with change. Through various case studies from different countries which are examples of successful e-Governance projects in their country. These projects can act as role model when used as interdisciplinary approach for public sector reform, poverty reduction and empowerment.
M. Ali Hussain (2013) in his book ‘Good Governance via e-Governance’ provides for basic underlying concepts of Good Governance, e-Governance, New Public Management etc. Along with it author provides for the analysis of FRIENDS application of Kerala and Seva application of Andhra Pradesh. He provides for impact assessment of these two e-applications along with statistical details of it.
E. Vayunandan and Dolly Mathew (2003) in their book ‘Good Governance: Initiatives in India’ offers suggestions for improving India’s public service delivering structure. Public service provision is book’s overarching topic. They provide for problems and then various methods using e-governance to address those problems.
These scholars have not analysed establishing good governance via e-governance in perception of Jharkhand. These writers have focussed on specific e-Governance projects of few states. E-governance conditions of Jharkhand were not researched yet.
Alok Kumar, B. S. Sharma & Rakesh Saraswat (2019) in their book “Good Governance in India: Myth or a Reality” states that Good Governance is challenged by corruption, centralization, criminals, low level of education and inactive civil society. They provide a systematic analysis on this topic and in the end provide solutions to the problem.
Sangita Dhal (2021) in her book “E-governance and Citizen Engagement” provides concepts and theories of e-governance. It also attempts to address a host of issues and challenges of governance in India for rural citizens and women.
Broad Objectives of the Research
Our broad Objective would be following
1. To understand the key concept of good governance and e-governance
2. To identify the major impediments in progress of e-governance in the state of Jharkhand;
3. To identify the role of culture and geographical conditions in use of e-governance specially in Jharkhand
Hypotheses
The study has formulated following hypotheses
1. There is a strong connection between Good Governance and E-Governance
2. The awareness and literacy for e-governance applications for achieving Good Governance is very low among people in Jharkhand.
Data Collection
Basic Strategy
Basic strategy of Data collection was undertaken from two aspects
• From Service Provider point of view: that is Government officials for which Interview Method was used
• From Service availer point of view : that is citizens for which Questionnaires were created
Sampling Design
Flow Diagram 1.1: Sampling Design
From the above mentioned flow chart, we can understand that Jharkhand has 24 districts and out of which 13 are under Scheduled Districts and rest 11 are under Non-Scheduled districts. For the purpose of Data collection, four blocks have been chosen in total –one Block from each chosen District. Out of all the Scheduled area districts, Ranchi and Khunti have been chosen under which Ormanjhi Block and Khunti Block are selected for Data collection. Out of the Non-scheduled areas, the districts of Palamau and Garhwa have been chosen under which Hussainabad Block and Garhwa block have been selected respectively, for data collection. This will give us the heterogeneous population for collection of data through the Questionnaire method.
Research Design and Methodologies
• Research Methods include both Qualitative and Quantitative methods.
• The research will make use of Primary and Secondary data
• Primary data will be collected directly from the beneficiary or user. Questionnaire will be prepared for the collection of data. It will consist of open ended and closed ended questions.
• Interviews of the stakeholders such as Senior Bureaucrat, Field officials.
• Secondary data will be data taken from the different offices of Jharkhand government such as Pragya Kendras, Municipal Offices, Circle Offices, and Department of Information Technology. Different governmental websites will be used for data collection.
Two kinds of Questionnaires were made one for Literate Population and One for Illiterate population for each block. A total of approximately 400+ responses were collected together in 4 blocks. Sample size was of 100 respondents in each block. People included were of different groups such as Male/Female, Literate/Illiterate and across the age groups from 18-75 years. They consist of different social category (General/OBC/SC/ST) and from different income groups. For our study purpose we have taken Literate criteria as class 10th pass and above (12th pass/Graduation/PG). For Illiterate we have take degree below class 10th as illiterate.
Tools to be used in the Collection of Data
• Questionnaire/ Schedule
• Interviews
• Government Reports
• Books and Library
• Published Research
Basic Profile of Participants in the Survey (Tables/Graphs):
Total participants in Literate category: 216
Gender Profile under Literate Category
Table 1.1: Participants Gender Profile under Literate Category, Jharkhand, 2022
Graph 1.1: Participant Gender Profile under Literate Category, Jharkhand, 2022
Table 2.1: Participants Gender Profile under Illiterate Category, Jharkhand, 2022
Graph 2.1: Participant Gender Profile under Illiterate Category, Jharkhand, 2022
Table 3.1: Participants Social Category Profile under Literate Category, Jharkhand, 2022
Graph 3.1: Participants Social Category Profile under Literate Category, Jharkhand, 2022
Table 4.1: Participants Social Category Profile under Illiterate Category, Jharkhand, 2022
Graph 4.1: Participants Social Category Profile under Illiterate Category, Jharkhand, 2022
Table 5.1: Participants Age Profile under Literate Category, Jharkhand, 2022
Graph 5.1: Participants Age Profile under Literate Category, Jharkhand, 2022
Table 6.1: Participants Age Profile under Category, Jharkhand, 2022
Graph 6.2: Participants Age Profile under Illiterate Category, Jharkhand, 2022
Discussion on Hypothesis through Data Analysis
Democracy is the most basic but crucial aspect for the success of Good Governance. Democracy is based on liberty, equality and fraternity. In democracy, government provides each citizen their rights based on doctrine of justice (fairness, equity, rationality and ethics). They are dimensions of good governance too. E-governance provides the opportunity of liberty to people by providing facility of feedback from anywhere, anytime. IT provides stage to people based on equality, it doesn’t ask what is your caste, creed or colour; everyone is equal on its platform. And by providing equality, it encourages making of fraternity of citizens without giving a thought of anyone’s caste, religion or colour. Now this fraternity together demand for justice and in seeking it they consult and participate with each other. They ask questions and demand explanations from government and suggest their opinions. E-governance garner wider platform through websites, mobile and social media to provide feedback and suggestions. Consensus building and teamwork are essential components of effective government.
Dimensions of Good Governance such as Transparency, Accountability and Responsiveness are achieved through e-governance. This can be understood by the response given to a question asked during field study “Do you feel e-services are more transparent than earlier manual system?” 60.4 per cent people responded in ‘Yes’. Again when asked “Do you think e-services are easier way to apply for any services?” 80.3 per cent people responded in ‘Yes’. When asked “Do you trust Online Services?” 87.3 per cent people responded in ‘Yes’. These responses bring three crucial aspects of good governance i.e. transparency, trust, easiness.
Throughout the thesis government programs and policies (NeGP, E-Kranti, Digital India etc) on e-governance clearly emphasise that Government’s focus is on keeping citizens first and reaching them with services to their door steps hence promoting democracy. While there is a strong connection between E-governance and Good Governance, E-Governance is also very helpful in promoting democratic practices through public participation and consultation.
Through the analysis of survey data collected we reach the conclusion that the awareness and literacy required for understanding e governance applications for achieving Good Governance is very low among people in Jharkhand. Through collected data it is found that 56 per cent people of Jharkhand are not aware about the Jharkhand Government’s offerings of e-governance projects &services. When asked “Have you attended any Awareness camp or Training organized by Government? 65.3 per cent responded in “NO.” Again when asked “Are you aware of Jharkhand Government’s offering of e-Governance projects/services?” 56.5 per cent responded in “NO”.
Rankings
On Good Governance Day (Dec-25-2021), Good Governance Index published where Jharkhand obtained 4th rank in Group ‘B’ (Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal). The state of Jharkhand improved its index score by 12.6 per cent from previous year (2019). Its previous rating of 4.23 has been raised to a current 4.76. So we can say that the environment is positive in Jharkhand, markers are improving, with few key suggestions dimensions of Good Governance can be achieved in Jharkhand, a tribal state with the help of robust tool in hand i.e. E-Governance.
Challenges to E-governance
The intent of e-Governance is refreshingly new for a country like India but it has few limitations that are hindering it to achieve its full potential. One is access to internet access and other is fear of loss of jobs. Access to internet is somewhat limited in India and the same is confirmed by primary data. One major benefit of e-Governance is of being less expensive but due to limited access it will keep large masses out from the purview of e-Services. Second aspect takes its ground from new public management where loss of jobs is a surety. Automation and computerisation of offices will definitely reduce the number of people working manually, fear of which will lead to political repercussion and political leadership of the nation will surely ignore the full fledged reforms in the field.
The term “digital divide” describes gap that exists between those who have and those who do not have accessibility to digital technologies. The digital gap is exacerbated by socio-economic factors such as poverty.
Most people can’t afford to buy a computer right now. Almost 14% of the respondents under Literate category suggested “More Computers in Offices/Pragya Kendras” in the survey conducted. More computers will also increase more awareness towards government’s offering of e-Governance as 62.5 per cent of Illiterate category respondents say “NO” when asked regarding government’s offering of e-governance. Under IL-Literate category 58.1 per cent people responded in “Other’s Help” when asked for “You access e-services by yourself or take help of others?”
Basic goal of Good Governance is reaching people to their door steps using IT. Jharkhand has tough geographical terrain. It has dense forests and hilly areas. District like Khunti does not have proper working internet connection if one travels inside few kilometres from district headquarter. So in this case how IT will reach to door steps of people? This is one of the biggest concerns which must be answered on an urgent basis. Tough terrain, deep jungles hinder internet speed and many a times acts as a natural barrier to antennas installed. So government, IT and Telecom companies should come up with a strategy to solve this crucial problem. Under Literate category, 78 people pressed on “Improving Internet speed and Improve Mobile network” in their areas. This makes almost 40 per cent of respondents to suggest this. Similarly 89 respondents that is approximately 46 per cent, suggested for the same under Illiterate category of respondents.
There is another concern how we want to provide various services to common people and in turn how these people wish to use these services for their benefit and empowerment? The system that provides hassle free, harassment free and convenient procedures of IT, then it is of some use to them and then it will bring Good governance to their door steps. But currently procedure after few steps becomes very complex, cumbersome and time taking that discourages people to use e-services. Under both Literate and IL-Literate category respondents suggested “Should not be called to office regularly.” Also on the analysis of responses under Illiterate respondents 119 visited office after applying for e-services to offices that is almost 62 per cent. Again 26 respondents visited “More than Thrice” to offices after applying for e-services that is almost 14 per cent. Under Literate respondents 102 respondents visited “2-3 Times” to offices after applying for e-services that is almost 53 per cent. Again 69 respondents visited “More than Thrice” to offices after applying for e-services that is almost 36 per cent.
Based on Interviews with stakeholders following challenges are worth mentioning:
Interviews related to the topic were undertaken with field officers such as Block Development officers & Circle Officers, Police (Rank of Dy. S. P.), Education Department, Nagar Nigam officials, Traffic Police, Senior Officers of Department of Information Technology, Government of Jharkhand and Director of Tribal Research Institute, Ranchi. Based on the interview following challenges are worth mentioning.
• Many a times Server issues takes place and because of this many updates and new entry is not possible. Under education department big challenge is of duplication of record in e-Vidyavahini application, so principals of government schools face problem in updating the records and for update they have to send request to department every time and that is time consuming.
• Another challenge lies in empowering persons with disability. When Web is accessible, individuals with different abilities can navigate it and use it normally. A variety of assistive technologies allow those with disabilities to use ICT.
• Government websites are made generally in English and Hindi. There should be things (important information) in local dialect on the website for the people residing in that area. If done, People will easily understand and process that information for their benefit. This will empower local people in understanding their rights.
• There is a challenge in the field of Policing. While using location based system there is an issue of exact location. Currently GPS provide location with fringe areas. It doesn’t give the exact location. If worked this may provide a real help for law enforcing agencies. For this satellite services may be contacted.
• For online system in Transport department certain aspect has not been made online. For example in Motor Vehicle Act for drunken driving there is no provision of online challan as penalty. In this the vehicle is seized and court decides on prosecution and what needs to be done. Few things left from the ambit of e-Challan should be included.
• At Panchayat level internet speed and network is very weak especially for South Jharkhand districts (with dense forest and hills), that they have to come to Block for their work. Ex: for taking ration, citizens have to come to block for giving thumb print and then receives their quota of rations.
• Government has provisioned for two Citizen Service Centres of which one has to be at panchayat bhawan of the panchayats. But due to problems in network (BharatNet) and slow server even one is not working properly.
• Monitoring of Right to Service Act, 2011 is not proper. Officials give excuses for delay in work. So monitoring and implementation of this act needs to be thought upon. It creates lethargy on the part of administrators. A kind of positive pressure is must on officials involved.
• With coming up of e-Services and concept like direct benefit transfer, corruption has lessened and intermediaries have vanished. But a different kind of corruption is coming up that asks for favour from beneficiaries before uploading their details online. So monitoring of office bearers and limiting the powers of their login ids are required.
Key Suggestions/Recommendations
From the above discussion it is clear that good governance is an ideal which is difficult to achieve in totality. Very few countries and societies have come close to achieving good governance in its totality. However, to ensure sustainable human development, actins must be taken to work towards this ideal with the aim of making it a reality through e-Governance.
• Jharkhand has its tough geographical conditions which definitely affects its people in the sense of easy access to network and speed. Following Ladakh experiment of providing network and internet with high speed without laying optical fibres in hills, high speed network can be provided to forest and hilly areas of Jharkhand. This technology is called “Mountain Top Optical Wireless Technology.” This is very less expensive than normal fibre technology. Through this many in-accessible areas can be brought in the fold of strong network.
• E-governance aspects of gender sensitization must be included in budgeting. Government must make a task force to look into the ways of women empowerment inclusion in the architecture of e-services.
• The special emphasis in this study is given on how rural people can be empowered to access the e-services. Most people in Jharkhand live in rural areas and there is a Digital-Divide in state. Literacy rate and e-literacy rate of the population is very low. So training camps and Awareness camp must be organised. E-governance might illustrate a major part in solving this problem in Jharkhand by providing online assistance and courses.
• Major problem in government office is of delay. The government should gradually start simplifying its rule and outsource its activities where ever possible. For this senior bureaucrat, can coordinate with low level officials and can make a change in work flow and structure that would reduce the unnecessary delays.
• Delivery schedule of the e-services should be based on nature of work and should be followed strictly.
• Making more numbers of counters and increasing the installed computers and printers at Pragya Kendra will definitely help fasten the process and reducing harassment and delays. It will reduce the queue time for people.
• Officials and their sub-ordinates involved in e-services must have behavioural change in them. Bureaucracy should be change oriented and change in behaviours while dealing with people is a must.
• Training related to soft skills must be made mandatory for officials.
• A serious thought on employing ‘IT-Mitras’, a cadre of people from same background and speaking same language must be created, to assist people on a door-to-door service mandate. Women from self help groups and Sahiyas in those can be effective in this.
• Various applications pertaining to differently abled people must be included while providing e-services to them. So that they can feel empowered. Various applications such as Screen Reader, Hear to Read, Awaz and Kabi must be employed.
• Government websites and e-service modules must be available also in local dialects so that citizens speaking local language feel at ease while using them.
• For creating an environment of positive pressure, Facility of video conferencing, Aadhar enabled Biometric Attendance system should be installed in every governmental office. Regular report giving in real time through whats App and other form will make progress evaluation easy.
• To promote common people to use e-services, Promotional offers (Discount) from government on paying utility bills such as electricity bill or paying holding tax through online mode should be given.
• To commemorate former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and raise public awareness of the need of government transparency, Good Governance Day (December 25) is celebrated. Similarly, fixing one day for celebration of E-Governance Day will help in making people aware about e-services through various programs and promotional activities.
Conclusion
Good Governance Day is celebrated every year on 25th December. This day helps us commemorate the vow of Accountability government has towards the citizens of this country. It also guides us in providing various benefits and promised services to the citizen of the nation. This day reminds us of the eight components of Good Governance and ways to achieve them by honesty and dedication.
There are certain challenges that our nation and the government face which can be solved by using E-Governance applications. Some Critical Challenges like Corruption, delay in Justice, Criminalisation of Politics, Women Empowerment, Centralisation of Administrative system, Sustainable development, Globalisation, Violence etc can be met through E-Governance. Through E-Governance we can create Transparent, Women friendly decentralised administrative system to control Corruption and Criminalisation. Greater use of Information Technology to clear pending court cases, for sustainable development and Globalisation is also important.
In the end we can say that E-Governance has the potential to enhance the quality of governance and facilitate a transformative shift from inadequate governance to effective and efficient good governance.
References
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In India, the paradigm of Participatory Forest Management (PFM) is proving to be transformative as it attempts to balance the intricate relationships between sustainable resource utilisation, forest regeneration, and conservation. India, which has about 70 million hectares of forest cover, struggles to meet the socioeconomic demands of the people who depend on the forests while also protecting these ecosystems.
A long-term abutting weather situation that is particularly related to temperature and precipitation is called climatic change. Land-use changes, forest fires, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and natural disasters like volcanic eruptions are all possible contributing factors to this Climate shift (Reddy, 2015).
The Yamuna is a tributary of the holy Ganges. The main stream of the Yamuna River originates from the Yamunotri Glacier at Bandar Panch (38°59'N, 78°27'E) in the Mussoorie Ranges of the lower Himalayas, at an average altitude of about 6387 meters above sea level in the Uttarkashi district (Uttrakhand) increase.
The issue of governance has received serious attention of researchers, policy makers, administrators and the national as well as international community. The New Public Management (NPM) concept is focused on service, quality, performance management and risk management of governance processes.
The government provides services including healthcare, education, social support, and financial inclusion to the public. However, villagers and citizens in remote areas often struggle to access these services due to several constraints including inadequate infrastructure and inaccessibility.
Digital governance, in the context of the digital era, involves the use of information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to enhance and transform the delivery of public services, improve government efficiency, and engage citizens in decision-making processes.
Since the majority of India's population relies on agriculture for their living, the sector dominates the country's economy. Agriculture only makes up less than 20 per cent of the nation's GDP (Ministry of Finance, 2018), emphasizing the sector's low-income production.
E-commerce and digital technology have transformed the way people spend and save. There is an evident technological growth in the world of finance which is referred to as financial technology or fintech. Financial technology (Fintech) refers to the technological innovations that assist in enabling or improving the access to financial services digitally through the internet, smartphones or computers.
Today we are living in an era of the ‘regulatory state’. The expressions ‘regulation’, ‘regulatory governance’ and ‘regulatory institutions’ have become the buzzwords of governance and are spread across social systems as well as state organisations and government strategies.
Participatory planning involves the intensive participation of local communities in analysing their current situation, envisioning a long-term collective future and attempting to attain this vision through collective planning of development interventions that would be implemented by different state agencies area.
Intrinsically, India is a republican country that is organised as a federation with a parliamentary democracy. Similar to the United Kingdom, the President serves as the head of state in name only; in contrast, the Prime Minister is the de facto executive, or real head of the government.
With over eight thousand years of experience and intellectual growth (Cameron (1968), Edwards (Gadd, 1971), Hammond (1971), Eisenstadt (1963, 1993), Olmstead ( 1948), etc.), public administration has undergone numerous changes and transformations over its long history, but it has never been so challenged as in the last thirty years.
A paradigm represents a framework, viewpoint, or collection of concepts that serves as a lens for understanding various subjects. In disciplines like science and philosophy, paradigms encompass specific theories, methodologies, and principles defining valid contributions within a field.
The field of public administration is experiencing a dramatic and rapid change. Locally and globally, some of the most significant trends that will have the role and function of public administrators is rapidly evolving as the needs and demands of citizens, governments and organisations influence their ability to create and implement policies.
Public administration in the 21st century is undergoing significant transformation, not just in advanced countries but also in various regions of the developing world, as the calls for transformative change grow louder. These changes are propelled by globalisation, liberalisation and the diversification of service provision.
In an era where administrative agility defines the efficacy of democratic governance, this chapter, “Techniques of Administrative Improvement”, offers a comprehensive exploration of transformative tools, methods, and strategies that are reshaping public administration in India and globally.
The rapid pace and interdependence of global, political, social and economic developments have necessitated a critical need for improved efficiency and effective public institutions, administrative procedures and sound financial management to confront challenges for sustainable development in all countries.
The evolution of Indian administration reflects a historical continuum shaped by civilizational values and transformative changes. Spanning the Mauryan, Mughal, and British eras, each phase contributed distinct institutional structures and governance philosophies.
As an initial output of the joint research between the Korean Institute of Public Administration (KIPA) and the National Academy of Governance (NAOG), this article provides overviews of the Korean and Mongolian legislative environment, governance and characteristics of the anti-corruption policies.
Administrative improvement is a strategic necessity in a fast-paced world. Techniques like O&M, Work Study, management aid tools such as network analysis form the cornerstone of efficient governance. MIS, PERT, and CPM tools equip administrators with the ability to anticipate challenges, and drive organizational success in an increasingly complex environment.
Street vendors are an integral part of the urban informal economy in India, providing essential goods and service that cater to the diverse needs of city residents. They operate in various capacities, from food vendors to artisans, and play a crucial role in enhancing the vibrancy and accessibility of urban life.
This paper examines the critical role of communication in driving India's economic growth within the context of its diverse societal structure and the rapidly evolving information age. It argues that effective communication is not merely a tool for disseminating information but a fundamental force shaping development trajectories.
One often wonders ‘what the government does’ and ‘why the government does what it does’ and equally importantly ‘what it does not do and why so’. According to Thomas R. Dye “public policy is whatever government chooses to do or not to do”, implying that government's actions and inactions both come into the realm of public policy.
Access to safe drinking water is not merely a fundamental human right; it is a cornerstone of public health, economic development, and social equity. In rural India, where water scarcity and inadequate infrastructure pose significant challenges, the quest for reliable water supply becomes even more critical.
This paper outlines the century-long history of Mongolia’s civil service training institution, the National Academy of Governance (NAOG), which plays a crucial role in meeting the contemporary needs of training and developing human resources within the civil service sector.
India stands at a crucial juncture in its quest for inclusive development that will bring prosperity across the spectrum. Large amounts of public funds are spent to address these issues, but their implementation and the quality of services delivered leave much to be desired.
India has committed to achieving developed nation status by the centenary of its independence, leveraging cutting-edge technologies including AI tapping into its vast human capital, and implementing policies that foster high growth while addressing enduring social and economic inequalities.
This article explores the value and statehood of Mongolia by utilising Woodrow Wilson’s categorisation of “Judging by the constitutional histories of the chief nations of the modern world, there may be three periods of growth through which government has passed in all the most highly developed of existing systems, and through which it promises to pass in all the rest.
This paper examines India's economic trajectory through the lens of its demographic dividend a substantial youth population exceeding 50% under age 25 within its 1.4 billion citizens. While this demographic advantage offers unprecedented economic potential, its promise is threatened by systemic challenges including inadequate education access, limited skill development, and employment scarcity, particularly in rural areas.
Remarkable technological and scientific progress has made the modern democratic State not a mere watch-dog or a police institution but an active participant interfering in almost every sphere of individual and corporate life in society in the changed role of a service state and a welfare state
Since the reform and opening up, China’s leadership training has experienced three stages of development: the initial stage of leadership training and development in the early period of China’s reform and opening up to the world (1978-2002), the rapid growing stage of leadership training and development in the period of fast growing economy and society (2002- 2012) and the innovative…
Accountability and control are essential for efficient, ethical administration in public and private sectors. Accountability ensures officials answer for actions and resource use, while control involves mechanisms to monitor compliance with laws and goals, promoting responsibility and preventing misconduct.
Healthcare in rural India presents unique challenges and opportunities. While global health metrics emphasize indicators like life expectancy, mortality rates, and healthcare infrastructure, they often fail to capture the socio-cultural nuances of rural communities
The “Internet plus” government service reform in China has progressed through three stages, namely one-stop service, one-window service, and companion service. This reform has become a significant example of reshaping the relationship between the local government and the public.
This paper explores the evolution of Indian welfare philosophy from Gandhi's nonviolent resistance to contemporary governance. It traces how the sacrifices of Indian revolutionaries fostered Sarvodaya and Antyodaya ideals, examining the philosophical underpinnings of these concepts in Advaita and dualistic traditions.
Like most other countries around the world, after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bangladesh's education system has undergone a radical change from the beginning of March 2020 onwards. The study attempts to analyse teachers’, students’ and parents’ perceptions and experiences about the online education in the COVID-19 pandemic at the school level.
Health is a fundamental human right and a critical indicator of development. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasizes the importance of ensuring health and well-being for all individuals. A key objective of this agenda is to guarantee favorable health outcomes, underscored by the endorsement of a new declaration during the Global Conference on Primary Health Care held in Astana,…
In this article, published reports have been used for analysing state-wise status of SDGs achievements and their correlations with attainments in areas of poverty-reduction and other developmental indicators. Also, progress made by GPs on various metrics related to SDGs has been corroborated with other relevant metrics
Loss of governance reform efficacy is an identified entrenched institutional problem in systems. Reform, anywhere, is a sticky material because holders of powers and their cronies have rarely shown altruistic intentions of relaxing their profiteering grips over resources.
On September 1, 2023, a committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind explored the possibility of something called One Nation, One Election in India and ever since this thing has come out in public, political parties all across the country have been fuming with anger.
This paper examines various initiatives taken by Government of India to promote collaborative governance in various sectors. With increasing needs and aspirations of the community for public services and the limited capacity of government to provide the same, the involvement of various stakeholders to deliver these services becomes important and necessity.
In the vast and diverse landscape of India, regional disparities in development have long posed significant challenges to achieving equitable growth and social justice. Recognizing the urgent need to address these disparities, the Government of India launched the Aspirational Districts Programme in January 2018.
A dynamic interaction between the recognition of human complexity in organizations and the pursuit of structural efficiency has shaped the evolution of administrative philosophy. The foundational works of Frederick W. Taylor, Max Weber, Mary Parker Follett, Elton Mayo, Chester Barnard, Rensis Likert, Chris Argyris, and Douglas McGregor are critically examined in this essay, which charts the shift from traditional administrative…
In India, National Training Policy was formed in 2012, replacing the old policy of 1996. This was needed two reasons, new areas of administration given in the reports of second administrative reforms commission setup in 2005 and changing environment in different spheres of governance and new challenges of administration being faced by the civil servants.
India's emergence as a global services powerhouse in the 21st century marks a profound and transformative shift. This evolution, far from a mere economic change, is a strategic leap driven by its demographic dividend, technological advancements, and the burgeoning global demand for specialized services.
Public administration, as the executive arm of the state, has tremendous responsibilities to match the needs and aspirations of the citizens of the state. The systems have evolved over the years in almost every country as the politico and socio-economic environment of the respective country have changed.
Public administration is the cornerstone of modern governance. It refers to the organization, management, and implementation of government policies and programs, carried out by public officials and institutions. As a vital mechanism of the state, public administration not only ensures the effective delivery of services to citizens but also upholds the principles of accountability, transparency, and rule of law.
Tribal Sustainable Development through Evidence-based Policy and Planning: A major issue in post-Independence India has been a misreading of demands of tribal communities. What they have been demanding pertains to choice upholding their traditions and customs and having ownership over natural resources
As the Idiom of technological advancement takes its toll. The paper highlights a few poignant and emerging factors in the International Relations theorization. It was conservatively maintained by the defense strategists and the political leadership across the Global polity that foreign policy and the Diplomacy are greatly determined by the “given” of Geography and terrain
With the deepening of democracy, increased decentralisation, increasing social and political awareness, digital penetration, shifts in demography, demand for quality services by common citizens has been accelerating at a faster pace. In such a scenario, the role of State is critical for promoting equity in access to services.
"Accelerating India's Development" holistically looks at India’s growth trajectory since gaining independence – it rounds up all where it has done well including unity, upholding the integrity of its constitution, retaining democratic values at its core. It also does not mince words to convey where all the nation has faltered such as falling short in delivery of public services including…
Income and Employment Intensive Growth Agenda for India: The paper examines income and employment status in the Indian labour force to identify policy attention and follow up. The macroeconomic policies taken during last one decade are yielding positive results leading to expansion of manufacturing and services and structural transformation in the economy.
An Analysis of India's Social Welfare Programs: In a democracy, the state's role is to promote societal welfare. According to Aristotle, the state should not only ensure its survival but also improve the quality of life for its citizens. The state has a moral responsibility to its citizens. Modern views agree that the state should provide essential services like education,…
Digital Innovations in Social Protection: Trends, Challenges, and Solutions: The integration of digital technologies into social protection systems represents a transformative shift with profound implications for the delivery of welfare services. This chapter explores the evolving landscape of digital innovations in social protection, contextualising these developments within the broader framework of universal social protection and a systemic approach to welfare.
One of the most crucial aspects of our society is law enforcement, which deals with issues of law and order nationwide. It is an essential component of the state's legal system. The British government introduced a Police Act in 1861, which is still very relevant and based on policing.
India’s Vision for 2047 aims to transform the nation into a developed country, with healthcare being pivotal for this progress. Achieving universal health coverage and modernising healthcare infrastructure are essential for fostering a healthy productive population, which in turn drives economic growth and reduces poverty.
Several challenges linger in the Indian education system, like rote learning, the non-existence of practical skills among students, and disparities in access to quality education. To deal with the criticism for excessive curriculum and unreasonable focus on rote learning, this chapter examines the strategies comprising the building blocks to reform Indian schools.
Social development is expected to promote holistic improvement of individuals, institutions and their surrounding environments. Looking at the pace of development in India, the economy of most states requires strategic prioritization to accelerate improved well-being of the people. Accessibility to health, school education and public security are critical to the edifice of social development.
India is the largest democracy in the world inhabited by about 1.36 billion people over an area of 3287 thousand square kilometers according to an estimate for 2021 based on Census 2011. The Indian economy is characterised as a middle-income emerging market economy. In the last three decades the economy has faced three major crises, i.e., balance of payment crisis…
Neoliberal policies pursued by India since 1990s have created a space for private enterprises hitherto occupied by the state entities, unshackled the existing enterprises and introduced reforms to facilitate private initiative. This chapter looks into the ecosystem of the private sector in general and the developments in three specific sectors- urban mobility, water supply and housing, to draw lessons for…
This Chapter highlights the gradual transformation from Personnel Administration to Strategic Human Resource Management over the years in Government of India. However, there is still a long way to go. In this Chapter an attempt has been made to delineate the criticality to move towards Strategic HRM in Government of India to achieve India’s developmental goals.
Robust statistical data forms the cornerstone of an informed governance system. This paper studies the statistical system and data dissemination in the Centre and State governments in India, and the measures put in action to accelerate the data dissemination process. Arguing that the availability of high-frequency statistical data is a necessary condition for good governance, the first section of the…
In the Amrit Kaal (golden period) of independent India, the ‘citizen first’ approach guides public governance by deepening the outreach of service delivery mechanism so that international standards could be achieved in India@100. The goal can only be achieved by all inclusive governance involving stronger and effective local self-governments both panchayats and municipalities.
In modern societies, with the increasing role of the state in social and economic fields, emphasis on the quality of its governance is of prime concern to all. Indian bureaucratic system of governance is founded on the principle of rule of law, as the state power is divided amongst three chief organs, each has the its own quality under a…
This paper discusses the concept of good governance and its relations with the electoral politics in Indian context. It highlights the various strategies employed by the government and related agencies for the growth and development of the country. Major reforms pertaining to the country’s infrastructure, IT, administration, economy and public services are a few areas that have been explored in…
With the Indian government’s vision to transform India into a developed nation by 2047, marking hundred years of independence, it has become of highest importance to learn from the past, tenaciously work in the present and step towards the future with complete efficiency. In its 77 years of becoming a democracy, India has soared high with continuous transformations marked by both…
The vision of Viksit Bharat can be realised through Viksit States, and that the aspiration of Viksit Bharat should reach the grassroot level i.e. to each district, block, and village. For this, each State and District should create a vision for 2047 so as to realise Viksit Bharat @ 2047.