When we move from the idea of civil society to action on the ground, we enter the domain of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).If civil society is the voice, NGOs are the hands and feet of that voice. According to the World Bank, an NGO is: A not-for-profit organisation that works to relieve suffering, promote the interests…
When we discuss governance, we usually talk about the State and the Market. But between these two stands a very powerful, often underestimated actor—Civil Society.In simple words, civil society is the collective voice of citizens organised outside the government and business sectors. According to the World Bank, civil society includes: The common thread is this:…
When we talk about development, we must first clear a common misunderstanding. Development is not merely economic growth, not just GDP numbers, highways, or factories. According to the United Nations, development is a comprehensive economic, social, and political process aimed at improving the overall quality of life of people. In simple terms—development is about people….
Overview Aspect Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) Launch January 2018 by the Hon’ble Prime Minister January 2023 by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Coverage 112 districts 500 blocks Objective Accelerate development of relatively backward and remote districts Achieve saturation of essential government services at the block level Approach Outcome-based, competitive, and cooperative governance…
What Makes NITI Aayog Successful Decentralized Planning Evidence-Based Policymaking Long-Term Vision Cooperative and Competitive Federalism Expert-Driven Approach Monitoring and Evaluation Driving Innovation NITI Aayog: Challenges, Solutions, and Contemporary Examples 1. Limited Influence 2. Financial Constraints 3. Socioeconomic Concerns 4. Questionable Neutrality 5. Data Transparency Issues Major Initiatives / Steps by NITI Aayog A. Economic Development…
What is Planning in Governance? At the most basic level, planning is about foresight. In governance, planning means: So, planning is not just budgeting or writing reports. It is a systematic, organized, and future-oriented exercise through which the state tries to shape development outcomes—economic growth, social justice, and regional balance. In short: Policy decides “what”…
What is a Public Policy? At its core, a policy is a plan of action. It is not just an idea or intention, but a deliberate course chosen to achieve specific goals. Now, when the government makes such plans, they are called Public Policies. In simple words: Public policy answers three fundamental questions:What will be…
You have already studied the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments in detail under Indian Polity. In this section, we are not repeating the constitutional provisions, but revisiting Local Governance from a Governance lens—focusing on decentralization, participation, accountability, service delivery, and outcomes. The notes are structured in a Mains-ready format, so that you can directly reproduce…
When we talk about Governance in India, we must understand that India is large, diverse, federal, and democratic. Therefore, governance here cannot be one-dimensional. Recognising this complexity, the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), in its report “State of Governance – A Framework of Assessment”, breaks governance into five interrelated dimensions. Dimensions of…
What is Governance? When we hear the word government, we usually think of ministers, officers, laws, and offices.But governance is much wider than government. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP, 1997), governance is: The exercise of economic, political, and administrative authority to manage a country’s affairs at all levels. This definition highlights three…
