Governance in India

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 Governance in India

These dimensions help us systematically assess the quality of governance rather than relying on vague perceptions.

1. Political Dimension of Governance

This is the foundation of governance. If political processes are weak, all other dimensions suffer.

It focuses on:

• Quality of political competition
• Conduct of political institutions and representatives
• Use or misuse of political authority
• Trust of citizens in the political system

Key Components

• Exercise of Franchise – free and fair elections
• Conduct of Political Representatives & Parties – ethics, integrity, internal democracy
• Functioning of Legislature – debates, law-making, oversight
• Political Decentralisation – genuine transfer of power to local bodies

👉 In simple terms, this dimension answers:
Are the people truly represented and empowered?

2. Legal & Judicial Dimension of Governance

This dimension checks whether state power is exercised within constitutional limits.

It evaluates → Law and order, Protection of rights, Access to justice

Key Components

• Law & Order and Internal Security
• Safeguarding of Basic Rights
• Police Administration & Citizen-Friendliness
• Access to Justice and Judicial Accountability

👉 Governance fails if justice is delayed, denied, or inaccessible.

3. Administrative Dimension of Governance

This is the implementation arm of governance.

It assesses whether the government can → Deliver services, Manage resources, Remain transparent and responsive

Key Components

• Citizen Interface and Engagement
• Management of Human & Financial Resources
• Basic Service Delivery
• Vigilance, Anti-Corruption & Enforcement

👉 Even the best laws mean little without an efficient administration.

4. Economic Dimension of Governance

Economic governance focuses on the state’s role as an economic manager and facilitator.

It evaluates:

• Macro-economic stability
• Business environment
• Support to productive sectors

Key Components

• Fiscal Governance – budgeting, deficit management
• Business Environment – ease of investment, regulatory clarity
• Support to Primary Sector – agriculture and allied activities

👉 Development depends not just on growth, but on how growth is governed.

5. Social and Environmental Dimension of Governance

This dimension places people and sustainability at the centre.

It examines:

• Welfare of vulnerable sections
• Role of civil society and media
• Environmental protection

Key Components

• Welfare of the Poor and Vulnerable
• Role of Civil Society and Media
• Environmental Management

👉 Governance is incomplete if it excludes the weak or destroys the environment.

Governance Issues in India

Despite democratic institutions, India faces persistent governance challenges across domains.

Political Issues

• Criminalisation of politics
• Misuse of political power
• Decentralisation more in letter than spirit

Legal and Judicial Issues

• Delayed justice and undertrial population
• Limited judicial accountability
• Threats to life and personal security

Administrative Issues

• Lack of sensitivity and transparency
• Bureaucratic delays and procedural rigidity
• Resistance to reform
• Corruption

Economic Issues

• Weak economic management
• Persistent fiscal imbalances
• Regional disparities

Social and Environmental Issues

• Denial of basic services
• Social exclusion based on caste, religion, gender
• Large voiceless poor population
• Environmental degradation, especially in urban areas

👉 These issues indicate that governance problems are systemic, not sectoral.

Good Governance Initiatives in India

India has recognised these challenges and taken multiple reform-oriented initiatives.

Two landmark steps for empowering citizens are:

• Right to Information Act
• E-Governance initiatives

Major Initiatives to Promote Good Governance

• Decentralization of Power
  Through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, elected Panchayats and Municipalities were set up to empower local self-governments.
• Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005
  Gave citizens the right to ask for information from government offices—helping ensure transparency and check misuse of power.
• National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG)
  Set up in 2014 to train civil servants and work on public policy, administrative reforms, and governance improvement.
• E-Governance
  Use of technology (like online portals and apps) to make government services faster, more transparent, and citizen-friendly.
  (e.g. Digital India, e-Bhoomi, e-Choupal, e-Procurement, MCA21)
• Transparency and Accountability Tools
  • Citizen Charters: Official documents that outline the services provided by government departments, their standards, and expected timelines for delivery.
  • Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System: An online platform where citizens can register and track the status of their complaints to government departments.
• DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer)
  A system where government benefits are directly transferred to the bank accounts of citizens, minimizing corruption and leakage.
• Good Governance Index (GGI)
  Ranks all Indian states and UTs based on their performance in governance and service delivery.
• Criminal Justice Reform
  Introduction of e-FIR, faster trials, and simplified procedures to make justice more accessible.
• Mission Karmayogi
  Aims to improve skills and ethics of government officers through modern training and performance-based learning.
• Ease of Doing Business Reforms
  Steps taken to make starting and running a business in India easier, faster, and less bureaucratic.
• Other Key Initiatives
  • PRAGATI: PM-led platform to track development projects and resolve bottlenecks.
  • Online Income Tax Filing: Easy and transparent tax process.
  • Digital India: Overall digital infrastructure to connect governance with technology.

Minimum Government, Maximum Governance

This idea focuses on improving governance quality rather than expanding government size.

What Does It Mean?

• Citizen-friendly and accountable administration
• Simplification of rules and procedures
• Repeal of obsolete laws
• Reduction of forms and approvals
• Use of technology for transparency
• Strong grievance redressal systems

Practical Examples

• Digital India enabling 100% e-office in several ministries
• Ease of Doing Business reforms focusing on procedural simplification
• Citizen-centric platforms like MyGov and India.gov.in
• PMO platforms seeking ideas and expert inputs from citizens

👉 The goal is simple:
Less red tape, more outcomes.

Aadhaar vs NPR

Balancing Identity Schemes for Inclusive and Accountable Governance

Aadhaar and NPR (National Population Register) are two identity-based schemes by the Government of India.

Aadhaar focuses on service delivery, while NPR is part of a demographic database under the Citizenship Act, 1955. Their simultaneous implementation has sparked legal and ethical debates.

Debates and Litigations Around Aadhaar and NPR

• Privacy and Data Security
  The Supreme Court’s K.S. Puttaswamy (2017) verdict upheld the right to privacy, highlighting risks of data misuse.
  Eg: Aadhaar leaks exposed data of 81.5 crore Indians on the dark web.
• Link to Citizenship Issues
  NPR’s connection with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) has triggered concerns over potential exclusion.
  Eg: The Assam NRC exercise led to thousands being left out due to document gaps.
• Administrative Redundancy
  Maintaining two identity databases increases duplication and operational costs.

Arguments for Running Both Aadhaar and NPR Concurrently

• Welfare Targeting
  Aadhaar enables direct benefit transfers (DBT), while NPR aids demographic planning.
  Eg: PM-KISAN and Ujjwala Yojana rely on Aadhaar for fund transfers.
• National Security
  NPR helps track population movements, aiding borders and policy planning.
  For instance: NPR assists in identifying illegal immigration trends.
• Smart Governance Integration
  Both link to Digital India, ONORC (One Nation One Ration Card), and smart city projects.
  For instance: ONORC plan allows migrant workers to access ration across India.

Arguments Against Concurrent Operation

• Redundancy and Resource Wastage
  Both collect similar biometric and demographic data—leading to duplication of effort and cost.
• Privacy and Surveillance Concerns
  Mandatory nature of NPR, especially with proposed new fields (like parent’s birthplace), raises fears of misuse, particularly among minorities and migrants. Aadhaar itself has seen legal scrutiny on privacy; running NPR alongside may intensify constitutional and legal challenges.
• Public Distrust and Litigation
  The linkage between NPR and NRC has triggered national protests, especially during the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) debate. Simultaneous execution could erode public confidence in governance and lead to further litigations.
• Operational Confusion
  Citizens may be unclear on the purpose, necessity, and requirements of maintaining two parallel ID systems, complicating compliance.