Why is it in the News?

Good Governance Day 2023 is being celebrated today on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which falls on December 25th.

About Good Governance Day:

• December 25 marks the birth anniversary of the late Prime Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• Origin: In 2014, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi declared December 25 as "Good Governance Day" to be celebrated nationwide.

Significance of Good Governance Day:

• Raising Governance Awareness: Good Governance Day aims to raise awareness among citizens regarding government accountability and efficient administration.
• Equitable Treatment of Citizens: This day emphasizes the fair and prompt delivery of various government services to ensure equitable treatment for the country's residents.
• Advancement of e-Governance: National Good Governance Day endeavors to advance "e-Governance" with the official event slogan being "Good Governance through e-Governance.

What is Good Governance?

• Governance encompasses the decision-making process and the subsequent implementation (or lack thereof) of those decisions.
  • It manifests in various contexts, including corporate governance, international governance, national governance, and local governance.
• It is characterized as "the manner in which power is exercised in the management of a country's economic and social resources for development."
  • This concept, rooted in historical perspectives, was elaborated by Chanakya in the Arthashastra.
• Foundation of Citizens Centric Administration: The cornerstone of a citizens-centric administration lies in the principles of good governance, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and equitable societal development.

8 Principles of Good Governance:

• Participation: Ensures the inclusion of diverse perspectives, including men, women, vulnerable sections, backward classes, minorities, etc.
  • Upholds freedom of association and expression.
• Rule of Law: Impartial enforcement of the legal framework, particularly in human rights laws.
  • A foundation for preventing the 'law of fish,' where the strong prevail over the weak.
• Consensus Oriented: Facilitates decision-making that aims for a common minimum acceptable to everyone, fostering a broad consensus.
  • Mediates differing interests toward a mutually beneficial outcome.
• Equity and Inclusiveness: Strives for an equitable society, ensuring opportunities for all to enhance or maintain their well-being.
• Effectiveness and Efficiency: Focuses on processes and institutions that yield results meeting the community's needs.
  • Maximizes the effective utilization of community resources for optimal output.
• Accountability: Demands accountability from governmental institutions, private sectors, and civil society organizations to the public and institutional stakeholders.
  • Aims for governance that serves the betterment of the people.
• Transparency: Requires accessible, understandable, and monitored information.
  • Advocates for a free media and public access to information.
• Responsiveness: Dictates that institutions and processes serve all stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe.

What is the Significance of Good Governance?

• Safeguarding Public Interests: The implementation of good governance practices is crucial for safeguarding the interests of the public.
• Optimal Resource Utilization: Good governance empowers organizations to maximize the efficient utilization of available resources, facilitating the delivery of high-quality services.
• Ensuring Checks and Balances: Through good governance practices, mechanisms are established to prevent the undue exercise of power and authority, maintaining a system of checks and balances.
• Facilitating Public Engagement: The active involvement of the public in the governance process becomes achievable when good governance practices are firmly in place.

What are the Challenges to Good Governance in India?

• Corruption: The pervasive level of corruption in India is widely recognized as a substantial impediment to enhancing the quality of governance.
• Empowerment of Women: The inadequate representation of women in government institutions and related sectors poses a significant challenge to achieving gender equality.
• Delayed Justice: Ensuring timely justice for citizens is a fundamental right, but numerous factors, such as a shortage of personnel and logistical resources within the legal system, contribute to delayed justice.
• Criminalization of Politics: The intertwining of the political process with criminal elements and the collaboration between politicians, civil servants, and business entities negatively impact public policy formulation and governance.
• Centralization of Administrative System: Efficient functioning of lower-level governments, particularly Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), depends on adequate empowerment.
  • The existing challenges involve insufficient devolution of funds and personnel to carry out constitutionally assigned functions.

What are the Initiatives for Enhancing Good Governance in India?

• National e-Governance Plan: With a vision to make government services easily accessible to the common man, the National e-Governance Plan aims to ensure efficiency, transparency, and reliability of services at affordable costs.
  • The plan focuses on meeting the basic needs of the public through widespread service delivery outlets.
• Good Governance Index (GGI): Launched by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, GGI serves as a comprehensive tool to evaluate the state of governance in the country.
  • It systematically analyzes the impact of various interventions initiated by State Governments and Union Territories.
• Right to Information Act, 2005: This crucial legislation plays a pivotal role in fostering transparency within governance by granting citizens the right to access information.
  • The Right to Information Act, 2005, empowers individuals to seek and receive information, contributing to a more transparent and accountable system.

About Atal Bihari Vajpayee

• Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the 10th Prime Minister of India, distinguished himself not only as a statesman but also as a revered poet and literary figure.
• His association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological precursor of the BJP, further shaped his political journey.
• Early Life: Born on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, Vajpayee joined the RSS in 1939, transitioning into a full-time role in 1947.
  • His literary prowess led him to collaborate with Deen Dayal Upadhyaya on various publications, marking the beginning of his impactful career.
• Political Ascension: Vajpayee assumed the role of national president of the Jana Sangh in 1968 following Deen Dayal Upadhyaya's demise.
  • His political journey commenced with his election to the Lok Sabha from the Balrampur seat in the 1957 general election, where his eloquence positioned him as a defender of Jana Sangh's policies.
• Key Political Milestones: Post-emergency, Vajpayee played a vital role in the formation of the Janata Party, securing victory in the 1977 general elections and subsequently serving as the External Affairs Minister.
  • The transformation of Jana Sangh into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1980 marked a significant phase under his leadership, with the party gaining electoral prominence.
• Political Tenures: Vajpayee's political career saw him elected ten times to the Lok Sabha and twice to the Rajya Sabha, representing constituencies such as Balrampur, New Delhi, Gwalior, and Lucknow.
  • His administrative journey commenced as the External Affairs Minister in 1975, with commendation for his UN General Assembly speech in Hindi.
• Prime Ministerial Stints: Vajpayee served as the Prime Minister of India in three distinct tenures:
  • A brief 13-day term in 1996
  • 13-month period from 1998 to 1999, and
  • A full term from 1999 to 2004.
• Notable Achievements: Vajpayee's administration left an indelible mark with achievements such as the Pokhran Nuclear Test, success in the Kargil War, the implementation of the Golden Quadrilateral project, the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana, and the Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan.
• Diplomatic Outreach: Vajpayee's diplomatic efforts included a groundbreaking bus journey to Lahore to meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, signaling a commitment to improving relations.
• Honors and Recognition: Atal Bihari Vajpayee was bestowed with prestigious honors, including the Bharat Ratna in 2015, recognition for his role in the Bangladesh Liberation War, and the Order of Ouissam Alaouite from Morocco.
  • Additionally, the Government of India designated his birth anniversary as Good Governance Day in 2014.