Topic: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
5) What do you understand by Open data? In what way open data is heralded as a game-changer for transparency and government accountability? Analyse. (250 words)
Why this question:
The article discusses in detail the concept of open data and in what way it addresses the issues of transparency and accountability.
Key demands of the question:
Answer should discuss the concept of open data, its significance, utility to achieve better transparency and accountability.
Directive word
Analyze – When asked to analyze, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgement.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction
In a few introductory lines explain what you understand by Open data.
Body
Discuss the following aspects in the body of the answer:
What is open data? – refers to publicly available data that can be freely reused and redistributed.
Proponents of open data argue that it allows citizens to hold governments accountable and thus drive better service delivery.
In a new World Bank study, Michael Jelenic suggests that this type of open government data could improve both government accountability and service delivery.
Discuss what are the What are the benefits of open data?
Why open data is important?
Conclusion
Reassert the significance of using open data to aid transparency and accountability in the system.
