Good Governance: A Study of the Concept in Indian Context

Dr. Dinesh Arora

Assistant Professor,
PG Department of Political Science
DAV College, Jalandhar (Pb.) India

The concept of Good Governance has gained prominence around the world in
recent times. It has become a buzzword in the vocabulary of polity and administrative
reform, mainly due to the importance given to it by international community. Actually
the term governance has become synonymous to sound development management. In
recent times the concept of Good Governance first emerged in the mid-1980s as
governability with the emphasis on adherence to the rule of law. Following the collapse
of the Soviet Union and the end of the cold war, the term governance came to be used to
define the reinventing of public administration, particularly in the developing countries,
to make it more receptive to the needs of globalization.

Origin of the Concept of Good Governance

The concept of ‘Governance’ is not new. It is as old as government itself. Both
the terms are derived respectively, from the old French words gouvernance and
governement. Initially their meanings were very close, referring to acts or manner of
government. By the mid-16th century, however, government denoted a “system by which
something is governed” and by the early 18th century it further evolved to acquire the
meaning of a “governing authority.” In this process the term governance gradually
became marginalized, and by the 19th century it was deemed to reflect an incipient
archaism. For the next 100 years, it would hardly be used as a political term. 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.1 However, during 1980s under economic
reforms, especially under globalization the use of term governance became popular with
its emphasis on the process and manner of governing to the notion of sustainable
development. Meanwhile, organizations such as the IMF, NGOs, the UN and its
agencies, the World Bank and international media were quick to pick up the term and use
it in a variety of ways. Together with its derived term, good governance, the catch-all
term governance has since become a buzzword in the vocabulary of polity and
administrative reform in developing countries dependent on support from international
development agencies.2

1 Mikhail Ilyin, “Governance: What is Behind the Word?”, IPSA, Participation, Vol. 37, No.1, May 2013, p. 4.
2 Ibid

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Meaning of Good Governance
In 1989 World Bank study “Sub-Saharan Africa-from Crisis to Sustainable
Growth”, the term ‘Governance’ was first used to describe the need for institutional
reform and a better and more efficient public sector in Sub-Saharan countries. It defined
governance as “the exercise of political power to manage a nation’s affairs.”3
However, it did not explicitly refer to the connotation ‘good’. It was only in the
foreword, that former World Bank President Barber Conable (1986-1991) used the term
‘good governance’, referring to it as a “public service that is efficient, a judicial system
that is reliable and an administration that is accountable to its public.”4
The concept of governance was further developed in the Bank’s 1992 publication
‘Governance and Development’. In this publication, governance was defined as “the
manner in which power is exercised in the management of a country’s economic and
social resources for development.”5
Later on in 1994, the Bank substantiated this definition, “Governance is
epitomized by predictable, open and enlightened policy making (that is, transparent
processes); a bureaucracy imbued with a professional ethos; an executive arm of
government accountable for its actions; and a strong civil society participating in public
affairs; and all behaving under the rule of law”.6
Subsequently in 1998 World Bank’s annual report Governance in Asia: From
crisis to Opportunity, presented a more cogent concept of good governance. The report
elaborates four key components of good governance: accountability, transparency,
predictability and participation.7
The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) defines
governance as “the use of political authority and exercise of control in a society in
relation to the management of its resources for social and economic development”8
The United Nations Development Programme, defines governance as “the
exercise of political, economic and administrative authority in the management of a
country’s affairs at all levels. Governance comprises the mechanisms, processes and

3 World Bank 1989, p. 55

4 Ibid., p. XII
5 World Bank 1992, p. 1
6 World Bank 1994, VII also see World Bank 1994: Governance: The World Bank’s Experience, World
Bank.org/website/external Countries/menaext/extmonaregtop governance.
7 World Bank, “Governance in Asia: From Crisis to Opportunity,” Annual Report 1998, available at:
www.worldbank.org
8 OECD, 1995, p.14

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institutions through which citizens and groups articulate their interests, exercise their
political rights, meet their obligations and mediate their differences.”9
So, Good Governance signifies a participative manner of governing that functions
in a responsible, accountable, and transparent manner based on the principles of
efficiency, legitimacy, and consensus for the purpose of promoting the rights of
individual citizens and the public interest, thus indicating the existence of political will
for ensuring the material welfare of society and sustainable development with social
justice.10

Difference between Government and Good Governance

While government refers to actions carried out within a formal legal settings,
governance involves all activities of government along with informal activities even
outside a formal governmental setting, that are meant to achieve common goals. James
Rosenau (1992:4) defines as government, those ‘activities that are backed by formal
authority, by police powers to ensure the implementation of duly constituted policies’,
whereas governance according to him ‘refers to activities backed by shared goals that
may or may not derive from legal and formally prescribed responsibilities and that do not
necessarily rely on police powers to overcome defiance and attain compliance.’

Good Governance and India

The idea of Good Governance is as old as Indian civilization. The rulers were
bound by dharma, popularly called ‘Raj Dharma’, which precisely meant for ensuring
good governance to the people. Even though monarchy prevailed, there was no place for
any theory of the divine rights of the kings or of arbitrary rule. Raj Dharma was the code
of conduct or the rule of law that was superior to the will of the ruler and governed all his
actions.11 This description of Good Governance found in ancient Indian scriptures, can
be the Jataka tales, Shanti Parva-Anushasanparva of Mahabharat, Shukracharyas’s
Nitisar, Panini’s Ashtadhyayi, Aitreya Brahmana, Valmiki’s Ramayana and especially in
Kautilya’s Arthashastra. Arthashastra while highlighting the principle of good
governance declares, “In the happiness of his people lies king’s happiness, in their
welfare his welfare, whatever pleases himself he shall not consider as good, but whatever
pleases his people he shall consider as good.”12

9 UNDP 1997, p. IV
10 Surendra, Munshi, Good Governance, Democratic Societies and Globalization, Sage Publications, New Delhi,
2000, p. 15
11 Subhash C Kashyap, Concept of Good Governance and Kautilya’s Arthashastra, in Good Governance: Stimuli
and Strategies, (ed) Rajiv Sharma, Ramesh K. Arora, Aalekh Publishers, Jaipur, 2010, p. 31
12 Arthashastra, Book I, Chapter XIX, p. 39

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 Santi Parva of Mahabharat has devoted considerable space to Raj Dharma13
which aims to establish Good Governance in the society. It stressed that, it is the duty of
the king to seek and promote the welfare of its subject. The king must be compassionate
to the people of all section of society and concentrate on the welfare of the people.14
Bhishma Pitamaha, who had mastered the art of governance and had dedicated
himself to the throne of his kingdom, Hastinapur, says: “the foundation for good
governance is righteousness in public affairs. The king, his son—including relatives—his
ministers, andthe State employees who have taken the oath of their offices to uphold
Dharma and to take care of the public needs, must not act unjustly or unethically because
if they do so, they will not only destroy the moral basis of governance but will also turn
the State into a hell”15
The Rig Veda states “Atmano mokshartham jagat hitayacha” i.e., the dual
purposes of our life are emancipation of the soul and welfare of the world. Thus, the
public good should be the welfare of the society; or in other words, the private good or
self-promotion should be subservient to the greatest good of all.16
Brihadaranya Upanishad while recognizing the importance of good governance
stressed that, it is the responsibility of the king to protect Dharma, the public good, so
that all citizens get equal opportunity and that the weak are not exploited and harassed by
the strong.17
So in Indian scriptures Good Governance is called Raj Dharma, i.e., righteous
duty of the king.18 It means those who are involved in governance must adhere to
righteousness and do justice to the public. It has inseparable link to social welfare and
inclusive development. Absence of good governance has been identified as the root
cause of many of the deficiencies in society. It robs the citizenry of their social and

13 Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, Good Governance in Ancient India: Remembering Kingship in Shantiparavam of
Mahabharat, Meerut Journal of Political Science and Public Administration, Meeurt, Vol. VI, No-1, January-June
2003, p. 109.
14 The Mahabharata, Book12, Santi Parva, Section-V (There is one huge Rajdharama section discussing various
aspects of governance besides Sabhaparvam and Vanaparvam. The Rajadharma section constitutes part of
Shantiparvam. After the great Mahabharat war, the winning group of Pandavas headed by the eldest of them,
Yudhishthira, approaches their grandfather Bhishma for guidance in running the administration of the state.
Bhishma was lying on the shar shayya (the bed of thrones) in the war field and waiting for his death which he
was said to be embracing only in Uttarayana. Yudhishthira requests Bhishma to direct him the ways of good
governance. The whole episode is embodied in the Shantiparvam of Mahabharat.)
15 The Mahabharata, Book 12, Santi Parva, Section-V also see O.P. Dwivedi and D.S Mishra, Good Governance: A
Model for India, in Handbook of Globalization, Governance, and Public Administration, Ali Farazmand and
Jack Pinkowski, (ed), Taylor and Francis, New York, 2007, p. 711
16 O.P. Dwivedi and D.S Mishra, Good Governance: A Model for India, in Handbook of Globalization, Governance,
and Public Administration, Ali Farazmand and Jack Pinkowski, (ed), Taylor and Francis, New York, 2007, p.
710
17 Ibid., p. 711
18 Ibid., p. 712.

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economic rights. Good governance signifies basic parameters such as rule of law,
participatory decision-making structure, transparency, accountability, responsiveness,
equity and inclusiveness. The country’s administration has to run on these principles.
This necessitates a reorientation in the outlook of the civil services.19

When during 1990s World Bank raised the issue of governance, this immediately,
became an issue of concern in India. The document of the Ninth Five Year Plan (1997-
2002) released in April 1999 included a Chapter on “Implementation, Delivery
Mechanism and Institutional Development.” In this chapter a review had been done on
implementation of five year plans in India with a view to identify weak spots in the
formulation and implementation of plan programmes to find solution to the weaknesses.
The issue of decentralization in development planning, accountability of the
implementing agencies and monitoring and evaluation of programmes were raised.
This was followed by a more specific chapter titled, “Governance and
Implementation” in the Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-2007). It defines Governance as “the
management of all such processes that, in any society, define the environment which
permits and enables individuals to raise their capability levels, on one hand, and provide
opportunities to realize their potential and enlarge the set of available choices, on the
other. These processes, covering the political, social and economic aspects of life impact
every level of human enterprise, be it the individual, the household, the village, the region
or the national level. It covers the State, civil society and the market, each of which is
critical for sustaining human development. The State is responsible for creating a
conducive political, legal and economic environment for building individual capabilities
and encouraging private initiative. The market is expected to create opportunities for
people. Civil society facilitates the mobilization of public opinion and peoples’
participation in economic, social and political activities.”20 It further added that “The
universally accepted features of good governance are the exercise of legitimate political
power; and formulation and implementation of policies and programmes that are

19 Pranab Mukherjee, Speech by the President of India on the Occasion of Fourth UPSC Foundation Day,
“Governance and Public Service” New Delhi: November 29, 2013.
20 Planning Commission, Government of India, Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-2007) Vol-I, p. 177

5
equitable, transparent, non-discriminatory, socially sensitive, participatory, and above all
accountable to the people at large.”21
The Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012) signifies that the vision of inclusive
growth, reducing poverty and bridging the various divides that continue to fragment our
society can only be achieved if there is a significant improvement in the quality of
governance. There are many different definitions of good governance but it is generally
agreed that good governance must be broadly defined to cover all aspects of the interface
between individuals and businesses on the one hand and government on the other.22
The twelfth five year plan (2012-2017) defines good governance as an essential
element of any well-functioning society. It ensures effective use of resources and
deliverance of services to citizens and also provides social legitimacy to the system.23

Nature of Good Governance in India

The Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012) highlighted the following features of
Good Governance in India:
 As a democratic country, a central feature of good governance is the
constitutionally protected right to elect government at various levels in a fair
manner, with effective participation by all sections of the population. This is a
basic requirement for the legitimacy of the government and its responsibility to
the electorate.
 The government at all levels must be accountable and transparent. Closely related
to accountability is the need to eliminate corruption, which is widely seen as a
major deficiency in governance. Transparency is also critical, both to ensure
accountability, and also to enable genuine participation.
 The government must be effective and efficient in delivering social and economic
public services, which are its primary responsibilities. This requires constant
monitoring and attention to the design of our programmes. Where the
responsibility for delivery of key services such as primary education and health is
at the local level, this requires a special attention for ensuring the effectiveness
and efficiency of local governments.
 Governments at lower levels can only function efficiently if they are empowered
to do so. This is particularly relevant for the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs),

21 Planning Commission, Government of India, Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-2007) Vol-I, p. 177
22 Planning Commission, Government of India, Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012) Vol-I, p. 223
23 Planning Commission, Government of India, Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012-2017) Faster, More Inclusive and
Sustainable Growth, Vol-I, 2013, p. 286

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 which currently suffer from inadequate devolution of funds as well as
functionaries to carry out the functions constitutionally assigned to them.
 An overarching requirement of good governance is that the rule of law must be
firmly established. This is relevant not only for relations between the government
and individuals, enabling individuals to demand their rights, but also for relations
between individuals or businesses. A modern economic society depends upon
increasingly complex interactions among private entities and these interactions
can be efficiently performed only if legal rights are clear and legal remedies for
enforcing these rights are swift.
 Finally, the entire system must function in a manner which is seen to be fair and
inclusive. This is a perceptional issue but it is real nonetheless. Disadvantaged
groups, especially the SCs, STs, minorities and others, must feel they have an
equal stake and should perceive an adequate flow of benefits to ensure the
legitimacy of the State.

Attributes of Poor Governance

While good governance can help to secure human well being and sustained
development, the poor governance could adversely affect the development process. The
Tenth Five Year Plan identified some manifestations attributable to poor governance:
 Poor management of economies, persisting fiscal imbalances, disparities in the
pace and level of development across regions and across districts;
 Denial of basic needs of food, water and shelter to a substantial proportion of the
population;
 Threat to life and personal security in the face of inadequate State control on law
and order;
 Marginalisation, exclusion or even persecution of people on account of social,
religious, caste or even gender affiliations;
 Lack of sensitivity, transparency and accountability in many facets of the working
of State machinery, particularly those that have an interface with the public;
 Lack of credibility – the gap between the intent and the actions – of some
institutions in society;
 Inadequate system of incentives/disincentives for people (particularly for a civil
servant), subversion of rules, evasion of taxes and failure in getting timely justice;
 Existence of a significant number of voiceless poor with little opportunities for
participating even in institutions of local self-governance, despite a visible
movement towards decentralisation through the Panchayati Raj institutions; and
 Deterioration of physical environment, particularly in urban areas.

7
Steps Taken for Good Governance
A number of steps have been taken for improving the quality of governance in
India:
 Good Governance can be ensured and strengthened by democratic
decentralization and active participation of people in the process of governance.
The introduction of democracy in free India made it imperative for the country to
provide for a system of democracy at grass-root level. It was sought to be
achieved by the introduction of local self-governments in rural and urban areas of
the country. The local governments have been in operation since the early years of
independence yet during 1990s an attempt was made by the 73rd and 74th
Constitutional amendments to give a wider representative base and more powers
to these institutions. These amendments provided constitutional status to grass
root institutions in rural and urban areas have been landmark achievements that
ensure the involvement of people in the process of governance.
By the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992, a serious attempt was made to ensure regular,
active and efficient working of the local bodies in the rural areas i.e Panchayati
Raj institutions. It contains Part-IX of the Constitution entitled as “The
Panchayats” under Article 243 to 243-O. The Act also added the Eleventh
Schedule to the Constitution of India. The new act recognized the three tier
structure of the Panchayati Raj i.e the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat at the
village level, a Panchayat or Panchayat Samiti at the intermediate level and the
Zila Parishad at the district level. The other important provisions of the act are;
reservation of seats for SCs and STs in proportion of their population, reservation
of the posts of chairpersons for the SCs and STs in a state, reservation of not less
than 1/3rd of the elected seats in each panchayat for women, reservation of 1/3rd
posts of chairpersons for rural women and rotation of reservations of chairpersons
of village Panchayats at intermediate level, and at district level, representation of
MPs, MLAs, MLCs, election of chairperson of panchayats and continuity
inoperation of Panchayati Raj institutions.
On April 23, 1994 all the states of India completed the process of enacting fresh
legislation for strengthening the Panchayati Raj institutions as envisaged in the
73rd amendment. The enforcement of the act marked the beginning of process of
devolution of power and decentralization of administrative experience. This
constituted an important step in the drive towards the strengthening of the
democratic process at the grassroots.
Since the dawn of independence, the Urban Local Government has been working
at the grassroots level. By the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act 1992, an
attempt was made to revamp the Urban Local Government with a view to ensure

8
 for its stability, more representativeness and more powerful role. It contains Part-
IX A of the Constitution of India entitled “The Municipalities” from Article 243-P
to 2430ZG. By this act three tier urban local bodies have been set up i.e. Nagar
Panchayats for fast urbanizing rural areas, Municipal Councils for smaller urban
areas and Municipal Corporations for larger urban areas. The act has fixed the
term of five years for urban bodies. It also makes the provision of appointment of
an election commission in each state for conducting elections to the institutions of
local government. The provision for reservation of seats for SCs, STs, OBCs and
women has also been made.
All states of union, enacted or amended their respective municipal acts as per the
spirit of 74th Amendment Act and the urban local government institutions in all
states were organized in their new forms with effect from 1994.
 In this age of Information and Technology, information is the most potent tool of
empowerment of an individual as well as that of a nation as it can prove to be an
effective instrument in ensuring good governance. Without information, people
cannot adequately express their right as citizens or make informed choices24.
Seeking information of all sorts and at every cost is, therefore, being viewed as an
essential right by the people throughout the world. Nearly 90 countries have
already adopted some law granting its people the right to seek information related
to various government and public offices and their working. In India also the
Right to Information Act was passed by the Parliament on June 15th 2005, which
came into full force in the midnight of 12th and 13th October 2005. The original
Constitution does not provide explicitly a right to information. However, the
Supreme Court has held in several cases that Right to Information is implicit in
the constitutionally enshrined rights to freedom of speech and expression Article
19 (1) (a) and Right to Life and Liberty Article 21. The main thrust of the act is to
change the culture of secrecy and aloofness that has long plagued India’s
monolithic and opaque bureaucracy. The Act promises to reverse this culture of
secrecy and unaccountability by recognizing that the government only holds
information on behalf of its owners — the citizens. It requires public authorities to
disclose all information about their activities proactively and maintain all
information they keep in a manner that facilitates the people’s right to
information. Indeed, by breaking down this culture of secrecy, the law will also
open channels of communication between the citizen and the government.25
Under the act any citizen can seek information from government or public
authorities as notified in the act. The Act is in application throughout the country

24 N.K. Jain, Right to Information: Concept, Law and Practice, Deep and Deep Publications, New Delhi, 2007, p.10
25 Indra Jeet Mistry, RTI Will Improve Governance, The Tribune, October 1, 2006, p. 10

9
 with the exception of Jammu and Kashmir. Under the act information is provided
within a stipulated frame work of time. A nominal fee varying from state to state
is charged for seeking information which can also include getting Xerox copies of
documents, printouts and inspection of files. Every public authority has
designated as many officers as the Central Public Information Officers or State
Public Information Officers, as the case may be, in all administrative units or
offices under it as may be necessary to provide information to persons requesting
for the information under this act. For seeking information from any
office/department one needs to apply on a plain paper along with the appropriate
fee to the PIO (Public Information Officer) of that department. Information is to
be provided within 30 days failing which applicant can appeal to the Appellate
Authority of the department which is again given 30 days to provide the
information sought. If the Appellate Authority also denies information to the
applicant, the latter can represent first to the State and then to the Central
Information Commission. The Act provides for a penalty of Rs. 250 per day on
the PIO for making delayed or providing wrong information. Like other rights, the
right to information is not absolute. It is subject to certain limitations, which can
be put on it keeping in view the national and public interests. The matters dealing
with central intelligence and security agencies, directorate of Revenue
Intelligence, International Relations etc have been kept out of the ambit of the
RTI Act 2005. Information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the
sovereignty and integrity of India, or cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or
the State Legislature cannot be disclosed.
In this way the RTI Act 2005 seeks to deepen Indian democracy by empowering
the citizens to obtain the needed information from the public authorities at the
national, state and local levels and aims at good governance by ensuring the
much-needed transparency and accountability in them.26 It has the great potential
to ensure good governance in the country. It can, in fact become the panacea for
all the ills plaguing the bureaucratic, political spheres and can usher in a genuine
era of transparency and accountability.
 The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), 2005, which has now
been renamed as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(MGNREGA) is a step towards implementing the provision of Right to Work.27
It is the largest social welfare scheme of its kind in the world. It has been
recognized as an inalienable human right by guaranteeing 100 days unskilled
work to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled

26 Ranbir Singh, Enforcing the Right to Education Act in Rural Areas, The Tribune, December 19, 2010, p. 10
27 Ibid

10
 manual work. It reflects the requirements of citizens and is an excellent example
of the importance of critical linkage between governance and development. It
validates the view that development and good governance are mutually
complimentary. Good governance facilitates development, and in turn
development ensures the furtherance of good governance. Every fifth rural
household in India benefits from the scheme. Wages given under MGNREGA per
day have almost doubled from Rs. 65 to 128 since the launch of the scheme. In
2012-2013, the scheme provided employment to more than 4.8 crore
households.28
 Illiteracy is the major hurdle in the way of Good Governance. Literate citizens are
the real asset of a state as they can contribute immensely in the progress of
governance. In this respect the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, may be
legitimately hailed as one of major landmark legislations that have been enacted
by Parliament in the 21st century,29 with a view to achieve the objectives of Good
Governance. The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act 2002 popularly known as
RTE seeks to make free and compulsory education a fundamental Right for all
children in the age-group 6-14 years by inserting a new Article 21A in Part III of
the Constitution. The new Article 21A reads as “The state shall provide free and
compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such a
manner as the State may, by law, determine.”
The RTE Act aims at fulfilling the promise of universal education guaranteed by
the founding fathers of the Constitution in the Directive Principles of State Policy
and duly recognized by the Supreme Court of India as an inseparable part of the
Right to Life30 in a path-breaking judgment in the Unnikrishnan vs. State of
Andhra Pradesh (1993).
It has made it a mandatory obligation for the state to ensure that all children of the
6-14 years age group enroll themselves in schools and attend the classes. The state
has also been mandated to make additions to the infrastructure of the existing
schools, to open new schools, if needed, to ensure the minimum educational
qualifications of the present teachers, to increase their number to ensure the
teacher-student ratio of 1-30, to provide quality education and to ensure the
reservation of 25 per cent seats in the unaided private schools for the
underprivileged students. Besides, the RTE has been made justifiable. More
important, all the expenses are to be met by the Government of India. Further, the

28 http://www.upagovt.com/2014/02/10-years-of-progress-upa-milestones.html
29 Ranbir Singh, n.26
30 Ibid

11
 Act makes it the fundamental duty of parents and guardians to provide
opportunities for education to their children/wards in the 6 to 14 years age group.
The government is trying to target such children through a Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
and a series of measures and facilities –such as free mid-day meals, uniforms, and
textbooks. Also, as per Act, “the state shall endeavor to provide early childhood
care and education for all children until they complete the age of six years.”
Since, the RTE Act, 2, 14,561 primary and I,76,361 upper primary schools have
been sanctioned under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) till 2013, of which 96% are
operational. Government sanctioned Rs. 23,836 crore for SSA during 2012-
2013.31 So, it is a great leap forward towards inclusive education which would
certainly help to achieve the objectives of good governance.
 National Health Mission is another initiative undertaken with a view to ensure
good governance by providing health care to the people. Under it a sub mission
The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) 2005, was launched to provide
effective rural health care with special focus on 18 poor performing states on
different health indicators. It aims at increasing public spending on health, and
promoting equity efficiency, quality and accountability in the public health
system.32 Similarly National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) was launched in
2013 as being the other sub-mission under the overarching National Health
Mission to meet the healthcare challenges of the urban poor.33 It implemented in
779 cities and towns with over 50,000 population. It aims to cover 7.75 crore
people. Meant for the urban poor, it primarily targeted the urban slum population
of 68 million (6 crore) as revealed by the 2011 Census. The mission comes at a
time when poverty in India is becoming urbanised. By 2030, urbanisation rate will
touch 50 per cent. Urban poverty at present is around 25 per cent and although
nationally rural poverty is higher, the gap is closing. 34 So the National Health
Mission could be a landmark initiative to provide healthcare services to the people
in rural and urban areas for ensuring the objectives of good governance.
 The National Food Security Bill 2013, also known as Right to Food Act, for
wiping out hunger and malnutrition from the country, is another step to establish
good governance in India. It provides a large majority of its people, the deprived
and the disadvantaged, a legal right to demand food from the state. 35 It provides
for food subsidy to two-thirds of the population and enables them to satisfy their

31 http://www.upagovt.com/2014/02/10-years-of-progress-upa-milestones.html
32 Rajesh Kumar, Rejuvenating health mission, The Tribune, May 21, 2005, p. 10
33 Raj Chengappa, Mission Urban Health: Poverty is the Key Problem, May 9, 2013, p. 10
34 Aditi Tandon, Urban Health Mission Gets Cabinet Nod, The Tribune, May 6, 2013, p. 1.
35 Raj Chengappa, Time to Deliver: Make Sure Food Reaches the Hungry, The Tribune, September 4, 2013, p. 10.

12
 basic needs of food. The landmark legislation aimed at providing cheap food
grain to nearly 82 crore people in the country. A single category of beneficiaries
entitled to 5kg foodgrain per person per month. It protects entitlement of
Antyodaya households at 35 kg per household per month. It provides food
security allowance in case of non-supply of foodgrain. It also ensures Rs. 6,000
maternity allowance for women besides nutritional food.36
 The Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances, as part of its
mandate to document and disseminate good-governance initiatives, has launched
a Web Portal, namely, Governance Knowledge Centre (GKC) in 2005. The portal
is intended to be a knowledge repository and a platform for sharing of ideas and
views on governance and is primarily targeted at civil servants and those
interested in the practice of and research on governance and public management.
The knowledge shared by practitioners and researchers would facilitate a better
comprehension of the nuances of administrative and management practices and
pave the way for taking up appropriate interventions aimed at improving
governance standards.37
 The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances has proposed a
framework for good governance in the form of a Code of Governance. The main
components of this Code are: (i) improving service delivery; (ii) development of
programmes for weaker sections and backward areas; (iii) technology and system
improvement; (iv) financial management and budget sanctity; (v) accountability
and transparency; (vi) public service morale and ethics and (vii) incentivizing
reforms.38
 The Direct Benefits Transfer Scheme, launched in January 2013, leverages the
Aadhaar system to usher in greater transparency and improve targeting, eliminate
wastage and enhance efficiency. Using broadband and information technology,
the Unique Identification Authority of India39 has issued more than 500 million
Aadhaar Cards across the country which is enabling people to receive Direct
Benefit transfers. The Right of Citizens for Time Bound Delivery of Goods and
Services and Redressal of their Grievances Bill, 2011 envisages the citizens to
receive time-bound services. This would help to create a more responsive

36 Ashok Tuteja, Food Bill gets Parliament nod, The Tribune, September 3, 2013, p. 1
37 http://indiagovernance.gov.in/aboutgkc.php
38 Planning Commission, Government of India, Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012) Vol-I, p. 224
39 The Unique Identification Authority of India was constituted and notified by the Planning Commission on 28
January 2009 as an attached office under the aegis of Planning Commission. It would provide identification for
each resident across the country and would be used primarily as the basis for efficient delivery of welfare
services.

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 administration to improve service delivery.40 Under the Bill every public authority
is required to publish a Citizens Charter specifying the category of goods supplied
and services rendered by it, the time frame within which such goods shall be
supplied or services be rendered; to establish information and facilitation centre
for efficient and effective delivery of services and redressal of grievances and to
designate Grievance Redress Officers (GRO) in all public authorities to enquire
into and redress any complaints from citizens.41
 E-governance is a powerful tool of good governance.42 The National
e-Governance Plan has the vision to “Make all Government services accessible to
the common man in his locality, through common service delivery outlets and
ensure efficiency, transparency & reliability of such services at affordable costs to
realize the basic needs of the common man”. A network of more than 100,000
Common Service Centres for electronic delivery of public services to citizens in
rural areas has been rolled out. The citizen-centric e-Governance services have
been implemented in different states under the e-District Project.43 It has helped to
change the outlook of the masses towards administration. Automation of
government services has facilitated information dissemination. It has been
successful in areas like land records management, law and order administration,
pension disbursement and public information systems, especially relating to
health and railways. The greater usage of internet has helped to integrate all areas
of our country into the mainstream.44
Besides, above the reforms in the electoral system, tax system, judicial set up, All
India Service Rules, administrative structure and working have guided with a view to
promote efficiency and transparency in the administration which would certainly help to
establish good governance in India.

Conclusion
Thus Good governance has become a perfect sound bite for the present age. All
governments swear by it. For the donor agencies and the civil society organisations, good
governance has become a fashionable buzzword. The traditional view of good
governance was that a government must preserve the rule of law, engage in physical and
social infrastructure development, provide enabling environment for growth and ensure
civil and political freedoms. Today, accountability, transparency, inclusiveness,

40 Pranab Mukherjee, n. 19
41 http://www.upagovt.com//2014/02/10-years-of-progress-upa-milestones.html
42 The Triune, December 21, 2005
43 http://www.upagovt.com//2014/02/10-years-of-progress-upa-milestones.html
44 Pranab Mukherjee, n. 19

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equitability sustainable development etc have become the key ingredients of good
governance.
Good Governance is an ideal, which is difficult to achieve in its totality. However,
to ensure sustainable human development, actions must be taken to work towards this
ideal with the aim of making it a reality. The instruments of the State and the civil society
need to be guided by the Talisman that the Father of the nation- Mahatma Gandhi
prescribed for social, political and religious leadership of independent India in August
1947, “I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes
too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the
weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself if the step you contemplate is
going to be of any use to him. Will he gain anything by it? Will it restore him to a control
over his own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj for the hungry and
spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and yourself melting
away.”45
After independence the process of governance started right with the Pt. Nehru’s
“pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of
humanity.”46
Over the subsequent years India has experienced significant political and
economic progress. Democracy in India has indeed put down firmer roots and economic
growth accelerated.47
However, despite achieving success on several counts, there are still many
challenges for the governance system in our country. Corruption is one of the biggest
factors that hinder efficient performance of the economy. There is need to eliminate
interface in the delivery of services. It is also necessary to adopt non-discretionary
approach towards decision-making and initiate two-way communication with the users.
Governance is a holistic approach, involving all the pillars of the State, including
provision of justice. The need for judicial reforms and initiation of measures like greater
use of information technology to clear pending court cases is essential. Simplification of
laws is also needed for better governance.48
The involvement of civil society in governance has become crucial to ensure
transparent and efficient administration. There is a serious need to build SMART (simple,

45 http://www.rajbhavansikkim.gov.in/103461.pdf
46 Jawaharlal Nehru, Tryst with Destiny, August 14-15, 1947, in The Penguin Book of Modern Indian Speeches,
(ed) Rakesh Batabyal, Penguin Books, New Delhi, 2007, p. 327
47 Atul Kohli, Democracy and Development in India: From Socialism to Pro business, Oxford University Press
India, New Delhi, 2010, p. 1
48 Pranab Mukherjee, n. 19

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moral, accountable, responsive and transparent) administration to achieve the objective of
good governance as is explicitly mentioned in the ancient scripture - Brihadaaranyaka
Upanishad 1.4.14,
“Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarve Santu Nir-Aamayaah |
Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu
Maa Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||”

May All Be Happy!

May All Be Free From Disease!
May All Realize What Is Good!
May None Be Subject To Misery!
Om Peace, Peace, Peace

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