GS Paper 2
Syllabus: Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency and Accountability
Source: PIB
Direction: The article highlights the meaning of good governance, its key attributes, importance and efforts made to promote it.
Context: Speaking as a part of Good Governance Week (19th to 25th December), Cabinet secretary (Rajiv Gauba) said that good governance is all about improving outcomes and ensuring deliverables while trusting citizens.
About good governance:
- It relates to the political and institutional processes and outcomes that are necessary to achieve the goals of development.
- The true test of ‘good’ governance is the degree to which it delivers on the promise of human rights: civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights.
- The key question is: are the institutions of governance effectively guaranteeing the right to health, adequate housing, sufficient food, quality education, fair justice and personal security?
Key attributes of good governance:
Importance for India: It is the key to –
- Achieve the vision of Minimum Government, Maximum Governance and Whole of Government approach.
- Make a New India by 2047 (100 years of India’s independence).
Recent efforts made by Indian government in this direction:
- Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2022: It promotes ease of living and doing business by decriminalising minor offences in 42 Acts administered by 19 ministries.
- Delayering, delegation of power and digitalisation in governance: Initiatives –
- E-Office 7.0: Enables users to create and manage electronic documents that can be viewed, searched and shared.
- Swachhta Special Campaign 2.0: For swachhta in government offices and disposal of pending matters from 2nd to 31st October, 2022.
- Prashasan Gaon Ki Ore 2022: It is a nation-wide campaign for redressal of public grievances and improving service delivery which is being held in all Districts, States, and UTs of India.
Source: IE
Context: The Bill is put forward by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce, to amend 183 provisions across 42 Acts administered by 19 ministries.
Purpose: It proposes to decriminalise a large number of minor offences by replacing them with monetary penalties.
It proposes amendments to the Acts, including The Aadhar Act, 2016; Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940; Cinematograph Act, 1952; Copyright Act, 1957; Patents Act, 1970; Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; and Motor Vehicles Act, 1988; etc.
Significance: A web of outdated rules and regulations causes trust deficit. Hence, it will try to –
- Achieve the principle of ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.’
- Redefine the regulatory landscape of the country under the Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business reforms.
Insta Links:
Mains Links:
Q. Hunger and Poverty are the biggest challenges for good governance in India still today. Evaluate how far successive governments have progressed in dealing with these humongous problems. Suggest measures for improvement. (UPSC 2017)
