Challenges to Good Governance

When we evaluate India’s stand globally, we can see that India is compared favourably with many developing countries. However, there is a lot more to do for India to attain the level of governance in developed countries. Following are the various challenges to Good Governance in India:

• The criminalisation of politics and corruption are the two most important challenges to good governance in India. These challenges need to be addressed on an urgent basis.
• Corruption has practically spread in almost all walks of public life. It hinders globalisation’s benefits from reaching the ordinary people and averts transparency, accessibility, and accountability. The vested interests bend the rules and procedures.
• In this light, the Supreme Court of India in 2002 has given a historic judgement. Apart from the financial records, valid declarations of the criminal charges and the educational qualification are required of every candidate contesting an election to Parliament, State Legislatures, or even Municipal Corporations.
• There are many commissions and committees that are constituted with an intention to bring progress and advancement (E.g. The 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission)

Social and Environmental Issues:

• Denial of essential services to a substantial proportion of the population.
• Marginalisation and exclusion of people on account of social, religious, caste and gender affiliation.
• Existence of a significant number of voiceless poor with little opportunity for participation in governance.

Legal/Judicial  Issues: 

• Delayed Justice, Non-accessibility and affordability.

Administrative Issues:

• Administrative apathy, desensitisation and self-serving attitude.
• Red Tape, Resistance to change.

Important Recommendations of ARC related to Good Governance:

• There should be a clear & concise statement of values and ethical standards that a civil servant must imbibe. These values should be related to maintaining the highest ethical standards, political impartiality and accountability for actions.
• Values and Code of Ethics should be given statutory backing.
• In accordance with RTI, Second ARC has made a suggestion that the documents classified as ‘top secret’ and ‘secret’ remain classified not exceeding 30 years. Documents classified as ‘confidential’ and ‘restricted’ should remain classified not exceeding ten years. However, they can continue to be classified if their disclosure might hamper the national interest in any way. But in such a case, reasons in writing are expected of competent authority.
• There is a need for more excellent uniformity in the appointment, retention and removal of different regulatory authorities.