Governance and Government play a crucial role in development by ensuring transparency, accountability, and citizen participation.
theIASHub | 15 May, 2025 | 283
Governance and Government are two foundational pillars of any nation's administrative and developmental framework. While government refers to the structured group of people or institutions responsible for managing state affairs, governance is the method and process through which these affairs are conducted.
Governments can be democratic, autocratic, or mixed, but the common goal remains ensuring stability and development. On the other hand, governance and government together determine how public resources are distributed and managed to achieve development and reduce poverty, as emphasized by Kofi Annan.
The World Bank defines governance as the mechanisms by which authority is exercised in the management of a country’s economic and social resources. The UNDP adds that it involves transparency, accountability, and participation.
The term governance has its roots in the Greek word Kybernan meaning "to steer". It entered the English vocabulary in the 14th century through French, and was popularized in modern discourse by Harland Cleveland in 1972. Governance now signifies the changing relationship between government, private sectors, and civil society.
Governance and government have evolved from being mere regulators to becoming facilitators. Today, political governance involves collaboration with NGOs, private enterprises, and the public to ensure inclusive policymaking.
This form ensures market fairness, removes monopolies, and introduces legal and financial frameworks to attract investments. For example, India’s Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code made the business environment more efficient.
Social governance ensures inclusive service delivery, community participation, and upliftment of marginalized sections. Programs like Sarva Siksha Abhiyan and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme reflect this aspect.
It involves managing environmental and natural resources through rules like CRZ and Ecologically Sensitive Zones, ensuring sustainability for future generations.
The World Bank lists six core indicators to assess governance:
These indicators show how well governance and government deliver services, maintain law, and ensure fair systems.
The World Bank (1992) defines good governance as the effective management of resources through inclusive decision-making. It is felt through transparency, accountability, participation, equity, and rule of law.
Challenges like criminalization of politics, obsolete laws, weak Panchayati Raj Institutions, and inefficient public bodies (e.g., CBI, ED, CVC) hinder good governance. Reports like the 2nd ARC highlight red-tapism, rigidity in bureaucracy, and lack of citizen-centric service delivery as key concerns.
India has introduced reforms such as:
These initiatives aim to strengthen governance and government by enhancing transparency and responsiveness.
For a growing nation like India, ensuring efficient governance and government is crucial for equitable development. The Gandhian principle of Antyodaya—uplifting the weakest—must guide national planning. With improved governance, India can ensure inclusive growth, better income levels, and enhanced living standards.
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