What is Good Governance Index

The good Governance index (GGI) was presented on 25th December 2021 by The MoS (PP) Dr. Jitendra Singh. It was designed by the Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances Department, the Ministry of Personnel, and Public Grievances and Pensions. The first Good Governance Index, 2021, was released in 20 Districts of Jammu and Kashmir to provide quantifiable data. 

With a 12.3% increase, Gujarat has the highest ranking among states, and Delhi tops among Union territories in the Good Governance Index. There are 58 indicators and 10 sectors in GGI. Twenty states improved their performance in CGI in 2021, Uttar Pradesh has improved by 8.9%, and Jammu and Kashmir showed a 3.7% improvement in 2019-2020. The good Governance Index will ensure the welfare of the people by providing important responsibilities. Good Governance Day is celebrated for the awareness of accountability.

Provide Quantifiable Data

The main objective of the Good Governance Index is to provide quantifiable data to compare the development in the governance of different states and union territories. Quantitative data is the numerical representation of the data collected; it involves graphical representation in tables and charts. Expressing it numerically makes it easier to visualize the results. 

Collecting quantitative data involves 

• Conducting experiments
• controlled observations
• surveys
• polls, and many others.  

Measurement of Good Governance to provide quantifiable data is mainly done with six dimensions, Lack of Violence, Political Stability, Voice & Accountability, Government Effectiveness, Control of Corruption, Rule of Law, and Regulatory Quality.

Spirit Cooperative Federalism

Cooperative-Federalism is when both federal and State governments work together to solve certain problems and issues affecting the whole Government. Cooperative federalism in India shows the central-state relationship to resolve social, political, economic, and civic problems.

State of Cooperative Federalism in India

Legislative/Administrative

• Separation of Powers: 

Power distribution is the main component of the federation. The separation between the Union and the State is listed in Schedule 7 of the Indian Constitution. The Indian Government provides three lists for distributing legislative and executive powers: The Union or Central List, The State List, and The Concurrent List. This distribution of powers changes when judicial review is implemented under any state of emergency. 

• Article 131 of the Constitution gives the supreme court the original jurisdiction and every right to interfere in matters regarding state or central issues. The issues deal with any dispute between the Government of India and one or more states or between two states.
• Coalition governments:

It is a form of Government in which all the political parties cooperate to form a combined government if there is no majority in the election. This principle has increased the power of the State in many ways.

Financial

• GST Policy

The GST improved cooperative federalism among the states and the Center by sharing their powers to implement the new GST tax system all over India, with the aim of ‘One Nation’ and ‘One Market.’

Challenges faced by cooperative federalism

• The main disadvantage of cooperative federalism is that it will decrease the power of the state government regarding the issue. Even though cooperative federalism is the cooperation of the State and the Central Government, the Central Government will have higher control of the problem. 
• The Central Government has increased the State’s share in tax revenue, but in reality, the states are getting only a less share compared with the Centre.

Good Governance Day

Good Governance day is celebrated every year on 25th December regarding the birth anniversary of the former prime minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Good Governance Day is when the Good Governance Index is published to check the development of different states of the nation and increase the improvement further. The Day gives the citizens of India the knowledge about the government responsibilities and duties they need to fulfill. It is a key to the nation’s progress that supplies tools for supporting all government levels. 

History of Good Governance Day

On 23rd December 2014, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya received the highest civilian award for their excellence in performance in their duties, making the citizens of India aware of the accountability of the Government to provide quantifiable data. After giving the award, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the birth anniversary of the former prime minister Vajpayee as Good Governance Day. This Day is declared a working day for all.

Conclusion

The good Governance Index plays a major role in the political and institutional process of the Government in giving better governance to the citizens of India. It helps people understand their rights and makes them informed about the duties of the Government. For Good Governance, the Government should do its part well by covering the sectors like Human Resource Development, Commerce and Industries, Public Health and Agriculture, and Allied Sectors.