Good governance

Published on 29 Jan 2025

1. GOOD GOVERNANCE 

World Bank defines Good Governance as “the manner in which power is exercised in the management of a country’s economic and social resources for development”. Governance is characterized mainly by transparency, accountability, participation, the rule of law and efficiency.

Concept of Good Governance

• Rule of Law: Upholding the rule of law and ensuring that all individuals and institutions, including government, are subject to and accountable under the law.

• Example: Landmark judgments like the Kesavananda Bharati case and the Right to Privacy judgment showcase the judiciary's commitment to the rule of law.

• Accountability: Government officials and institutions are answerable for their actions, decisions, and resource allocations. This includes both financial and political accountability.

• Example: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India auditing government departments to ensure financial accountability. 

• Transparency: Ensuring that decisions, processes, and institutions are open and accessible to the public. This involves providing information to the public and stakeholders.

• Example: Right to Information Act empowers citizens to access information held by public authorities, ensuring transparency. 

• Participation: Encouraging active participation of citizens in the decision-making process, allowing their voices to be heard in public policies and programs.

• Example: Citizens' involvement in Pune's budget allows for proposing and prioritizing projects, fostering their active participation and influence in governance.

• Equity and Inclusiveness: Ensuring fairness, inclusivity, and non-discrimination in the distribution of resources and benefits among all sections of society.

• Example: Programs like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) aim to provide employment opportunities in rural areas, focusing on inclusiveness and social equity.

• Effectiveness and Efficiency: Efficient and effective use of resources to achieve the best possible outcomes. This involves streamlining processes and reducing bureaucratic hurdles.

• Example: The Goods and Services Tax (GST) implementation aimed to streamline India's complex taxation system, promoting efficiency in tax collection and reducing bureaucratic hurdles across states.

• Strategic Vision and Direction: Having a clear and comprehensive vision for the future and the ability to develop and implement long-term plans for the betterment of society.

• Example: Initiatives like 'Make in India', 'Digital India' reflect the government's long-term vision to boost manufacturing and promote digital infrastructure, providing strategic direction for economic growth.

• Ethical Conduct: Upholding ethical standards in governance, promoting integrity and honesty in public service.

• Example: The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the CBI investigate cases of corruption and unethical conduct in public offices, promoting ethical standards in governance.

Role of Right to Information and Transparency in Good Governance 

• Promoting Accountability: This provides a mechanism that can be used to hold the government accountable to seek an explanation as to why the decisions are taken and their consequences.

• Example: In 2011, the RTI Act was used to expose a major scam in the allocation of 2G spectrum licenses.

• Citizen Participation: RTI empowered poor communities to raise their voices on the basis of information and demand their rights from the government, which plugged incidents of corruption and leakages.

• Example: Villagers in Madhubani district, Bihar used RTI to expose a solar-light scam, leading to charges against 200 corrupt officials.

• Trust and Credibility: Transparency enhances the credibility of government actions and decisions, fostering public trust and confidence in the administration.

• Example: The Election Commission of India's online electoral rolls, displaying voter lists, help build trust in the electoral process.

• Preventing Corruption: The information obtained via RTI has encouraged officers to fulfil their duties more responsibly to avoid penalties.

• Example: RTI applications have uncovered corruption in the public distribution system (PDS) in several Indian states.

• Deterrent Effect: Knowing that their actions can be reviewed by the public and authorities, government officials are less likely to engage in corrupt practices during the procurement process.

• Example: The e-procurement system in India, which makes the entire procurement process transparent and accessible online, has acted as a deterrent to corruption. 

• Building Social Cohesion: RTI Act has lent voice to the aspirations of ordinary citizens and it empowered the people to question, audit, review, examine, and assess government acts.

• Example: The government's transparent allocation of subsidized LPG cylinders through the DBT system ensures that the benefits reach eligible beneficiaries and foster social cohesion.

• Improving efficiency and service delivery: Through the revelation of information, RTI promotes better governance by reducing malpractice, corruption, and inefficient use of resources.

• Example: Queries on the implementation of public sanitation initiatives have helped residents hold local authorities accountable for the progress of these schemes.

Tags:
Polity

Keywords:
Governance Good governance Right to Information Transparency

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 2

Topics:
Governance and Transparency