NCERT Solutions Class 9 Social Science (Understanding Society: India and Beyond, Part II) Chapter 4 – Governance and Public Policy
Circle of Learning • New NCERT textbook (2026-27) • In-text questions, activities and end-of-chapter questions – complete answers
The Big Questions
What is governance, and how have its meaning and practice evolved over time?
Answer
Governance is the process by which decisions are made, implemented and monitored in the public interest, involving the government, citizens, media, civil society and private organisations. In India it has evolved from ideas like the Sabhā and Samiti, Rājadharma and Rām Rājya, through colonial institutions, to a modern democracy based on the Constitution, citizen participation and tools like e-governance.
What is public policy? How does it affect our day-to-day lives, and what makes it 'public'?
Answer
Public policy is a course of action adopted by the government to solve public problems, meet people's needs and promote welfare. Roads, traffic signals, drinking water, electricity, parks and waste collection all come from public policies. A policy is 'public' because it exists for everyone, is made by the government, uses public resources (taxes), involves citizens and promotes public welfare.
What are the various stages of policy-making and policy implementation?
Answer
The policy cycle has these stages: policy desirability (identifying needs and problems), prioritising policy, policy formulation (consultation, drafting, checking financial feasibility), policy adoption (framing laws and rules), policy implementation, policy monitoring and policy evaluation, which generates feedback for improvement.
Who are the major contributors to policy-making and implementation?
Answer
Citizens; elected representatives (MPs, MLAs and local representatives); government officials, departments and ministries at central, state and local levels; civil society organisations, NGOs, experts, researchers and the media; the private sector; and international organisations such as the WHO.
What role do citizens play in shaping public policy and strengthening good governance?
Answer
Citizens identify problems, vote, follow laws, take part in consultations, give suggestions and provide feedback on services. For example, lakhs of suggestions from citizens and local bodies were considered while making NEP 2020, and residents can request facilities like a zebra crossing near a school.
Let's Explore (Heavy rainfall in your town)
Who are the different people and organisations involved in dealing with this situation?
Answer
The municipal corporation (clearing drains and garbage), the Public Works Department (repairing roads), the police (managing traffic), school authorities (informing parents), health workers (preventing disease), the electricity department, local representatives (raising concerns) and residents and volunteers (helping neighbours and reporting flooded areas).
Answer
Why cannot a single department solve the problem on its own?
Heavy rain creates many problems at once – flooding, damaged roads, traffic jams, power cuts, school closures and health risks – and each needs different skills, equipment and authority. No single department has all of these, so they must work together.
What would happen if these departments did not communicate or coordinate with one another?
Answer
Work would be delayed, duplicated or left undone; for example, roads might be repaired before drains are cleared and get damaged again, or ambulances might be stuck because traffic was not diverted. People would suffer longer, resources would be wasted and public trust would fall.
What role can citizens play before, during, and after the heavy rainfall?
Answer
Before: keep drains free of garbage and plastic, prepare emergency supplies and follow weather alerts.
During: stay safe, avoid flooded areas, report waterlogging and fallen wires, and help elderly or vulnerable neighbours.
After: help clean up, prevent stagnant water to stop mosquito breeding and give feedback to authorities on what can be improved.
Answer
What makes the collective response effective?
Clear communication, coordination between departments, quick response, sharing of information, accountability of each agency and active participation of citizens make the response effective.
Qualities that help the town respond: cooperation, responsiveness, transparency, accountability, participation, efficiency and care for the most vulnerable – the same qualities that define good governance.
Let's Explore (Government and governance in daily life)
Can you identify more such examples from your day-to-day life to understand the difference between government and governance?
Answer
Example | Government (institution) | Governance (process) |
Garbage collection | Municipal corporation or panchayat | Planning routes, segregating waste, residents segregating at home, complaints and feedback |
Mid-day meals in school | Education department | Supplying grain, cooking, checking quality, involving parents and teachers in monitoring |
Water supply | Water board or Jal department | Laying pipelines, fixing timings, reporting leaks, billing and grievance redress |
Road safety | Traffic police, transport department | Installing signals, issuing licences, awareness drives, citizens following rules |
Let's Explore (The Sengol)
Try to find out more about the journey of the Sengol through its historic pictures.
Answer
The Sengol is a sceptre that symbolises just and righteous rule, a tradition that began in the time of the Chola dynasty, when it was handed over to a new ruler. On 15 August 1947, at the moment of Independence, the Adheenam saints of Tamil Nadu presented the Sengol to Jawaharlal Nehru as a sign of the transfer of power. For many decades afterwards it was kept in a museum in Prayagraj (Allahabad). In 2023 it was placed in India's newly inaugurated Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, near the Speaker's chair in the Lok Sabha, as a reminder of the duty of good governance.
Let's Explore (Cleanest cities)
Select two cities in India that have received awards for being the cleanest city. Make a visual presentation to explain the 'good governance model' used in those cities by looking into the role played by government agencies, residents, market associations, civil society organisations, etc. Also look into the steps they are taking to continue being clean cities.
Answer
Sample content for the presentation (for example, Indore in Madhya Pradesh and Surat in Gujarat, both top performers in the Swachh Survekshan cleanliness survey):
(i) Government agencies: The municipal corporation runs door-to-door waste collection, segregation, composting and waste-processing plants; the state and Union Governments provide funds and guidance under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
(ii) Residents: Segregate wet and dry waste at home, avoid littering and pay user charges.
(iii) Market associations: Keep markets clean, provide dustbins and follow night-cleaning schedules.
(iv) Civil society organisations and schools: Run awareness campaigns and monitor cleanliness.
(v) Continuing steps: Recycling, converting wet waste to compost or bio-gas, fines for littering, citizen feedback through apps, and rewarding clean wards.
Lesson: Cleanliness is a result of partnership between government and citizens.
Let's Explore (Governance in a State or Union Territory)
Prepare a short classroom discussion paper on: 1. Good governance initiatives being implemented. 2. Suggestions for further improving governance.
Answer
Sample outline (to be prepared for the State/UT assigned to your group):
1. Initiatives: Online delivery of certificates and services through e-governance portals and common service centres; grievance helplines; direct benefit transfer of scholarships and pensions; time-bound delivery of public services; digital land records.
2. Suggestions: Improve internet access and digital literacy in villages; offer services in local languages; strengthen coordination between departments; hold regular social audits and public hearings; make officials accountable for delays; and fight misinformation through official fact-check channels.
Let's Explore (National Good Governance Day)
Did you know that 25th December is celebrated as National Good Governance Day? Can you find out why this date was chosen? How is National Good Governance Day celebrated in your district?
Answer
25 December is the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Good Governance Day has been observed on this date since 2014 to honour him and to spread awareness about accountable, transparent government. It is usually marked by government offices with pledges, workshops, camps to solve public grievances, launch of online services and essay or quiz competitions in schools. (Students should describe the activities held in their own district.)
Let's Explore (E-governance initiatives)
Complete the chart and also add two such initiatives undertaken by your state government.
Answer
Initiative | Objective |
UMANG | A single mobile app giving access to many Central and State Government services, such as bill payments, provident fund and certificates |
Aadhaar | A 12-digit unique identity number based on biometric and demographic details, used to verify identity and deliver subsidies and benefits directly |
GeM (Government e-Marketplace) | An online platform for government departments to buy goods and services transparently and efficiently, also opening the market to small businesses |
DigiLocker | A secure digital space to store and share official documents such as marksheets, driving licences and certificates, reducing paperwork |
CPGRAMS | The Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System, where citizens can lodge complaints against government departments online and track them |
APAAR | Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry – a 'One Nation, One Student ID' that keeps a student's academic records and achievements in one place |
Sample state initiative 1: MeeSeva (Andhra Pradesh/Telangana) | Single-window delivery of certificates and services |
Sample state initiative 2: Aaple Sarkar (Maharashtra) | Online access to government services and grievance redress |
Let's Explore (Life before and after e-governance)
Interview your seniors, teachers, security guards, administrative staff, and parents. Find out what problems they had faced before e-governance and whether they felt the same issues were easily handled after e-governance.
Answer
Sample findings:
Service | Before e-governance | After e-governance |
Birth certificate | Many visits to the municipal office, long queues, delays | Apply and download online; hospital births registered directly |
Admit card | Collected in person or by post | Downloaded from the website |
Marksheets | Paper copies could be lost or damaged; duplicates took months | Stored in DigiLocker/APAAR and accessible anytime |
Salary | Paid in cash or by cheque | Credited directly to the bank account |
Rail/flight tickets | Queues at booking counters | Booked online or on a mobile app |
Vehicle registration | Several visits to the transport office and agents | Online application, fees and appointment |
Observation: Most people found services faster and more transparent, but some security staff and elderly people lacked smartphones, internet access or digital skills and still needed help – showing that e-governance must be inclusive.
Let's Explore (Policy or public policy?)
Read each of the following examples carefully. Identify whether they are a policy or a public policy. Give a reason for your answer.
Answer
Example | Policy/Public Policy | Why? |
The government introduces a sports policy. | Public policy | Made by the government for the whole society and funded with public money |
The government launches a campaign to provide safe drinking water to every household. | Public policy | Addresses a basic need of all citizens and is implemented by public institutions |
A company allows employees to work from home twice a week. | Policy | Applies only to the employees of one private organisation |
A municipality introduces waste segregation in the city. | Public policy | Made by a local government for all residents in the public interest |
A housing society fixes visiting hours for guests. | Policy | Applies only to a limited group of residents of one society |
The government introduces free vaccination for children. | Public policy | Promotes public health, is made by the government and paid for from public funds |
Let's Explore (Traffic congestion near the school gate)
Answer
Which option did you choose and why?
Sample answer: Option 3 – meeting the principal with all class representatives and requesting that the issue be taken up with the local people's representative so that a traffic signal can be installed. It involves the right authorities, gives a long-term solution for everyone using the road (not just the school) and follows a democratic process.
Can you suggest a better solution to address the given problem? Compare your suggestion with other options.
Answer
A combined solution would work best: install a traffic signal and zebra crossing with a traffic warden during rush hours (option 3), shift the pick-up and drop-off point slightly away from the gate (option 5), and stagger school timings (option 6). Student volunteers alone (option 1) cannot legally control traffic and may be unsafe, and a new gate (option 4) is costly and only shifts the crowd, whereas the combined plan reduces congestion from several sides at once.
Which stakeholders would be involved in solving this problem in your suggested solution? Explain their role in solving the problem.
(i) Students and class representatives – identify and report the problem and spread awareness.
(ii) Principal and school management – take up the issue, change timings and organise the pick-up point.
(iii) Local people's representative (councillor or MLA) – raise the issue with authorities and approve funds.
(iv) Municipal body or PWD – install signals, zebra crossings and signboards.
(v) Traffic police – post wardens and enforce rules.
(vi) Parents, school bus and rickshaw drivers, and market association – follow the new arrangement and avoid parking at the gate.
Answer
Suggest a feedback loop to ensure that the problem does not recur.
Answer
Form a school road-safety committee of students, teachers, parents and a traffic police representative. It should observe traffic every week, collect complaints through a suggestion box or online form, share a monthly report with the principal and the local authority, and suggest changes such as adjusting signal timings. Improvements should be reviewed again after they are made, so the cycle continues.
Let's Explore (Case Study – A Ramp to Better Healthcare)
Arrange the various stages of the policy process in sequence for upgrading the hospital to be more patient-friendly.
(i) Problem identification – Shanti Devi, a wheelchair user and a visually impaired person find the hospital inaccessible.
(ii) Raising the issue – patients and families approach hospital authorities and local representatives; a disability rights organisation highlights it in the media.
(iii) Agenda setting – the district administration takes note and asks the PWD and Health Department to inspect.
(iv) Consultation and formulation – doctors, staff, architects, PwD organisations, senior citizens and residents are consulted and a plan is prepared.
(v) Adoption – the government approves funds.
(vi) Implementation – ramps, lifts, handrails, tactile paths, accessible toilets and signboards are built.
Answer
(vii) Monitoring and evaluation – users find the hospital easier to use, and their feedback guides further improvement.
Which stakeholders were involved in solving this problem? Identify at least three.
Answer
Patients and their families, hospital authorities, local representatives, a local disability rights organisation, the media, the district administration, the Public Works Department, the Health Department, doctors and staff, architectural experts, senior citizens and residents.
Can you think of any public building in your locality that could be made more accessible? What improvements would you suggest?
Answer
Sample answer: The local post office or railway station. Suggested improvements: ramps with handrails at the entrance, a lift or ramp to upper floors and platforms, tactile paths and Braille signboards, accessible toilets, low counters for wheelchair users, seating for elderly people, clear signs in large print and the local language, and audio announcements.
Don't Miss Out (NEP 2020 – Stakeholder Role-Play)
Discuss how the stakeholder group you belong to can contribute to the successful implementation of the NEP. Present your ideas to the class.
Answer
Sample points for each group:
(i) Union Government – provide the overall framework, funds, guidelines and teacher-training programmes.
(ii) State government – adapt the policy to local needs, recruit teachers, build infrastructure and introduce mother-tongue instruction.
(iii) School principal – plan activities, support teachers and involve parents.
(iv) Teacher – use activity-based, experiential teaching and fair, competency-based assessment.
(v) Parent – support learning at home and take part in school management committees.
(vi) Student – take part actively in projects, vocational and sports activities and give feedback.
(vii) NGO – support foundational literacy, reach out-of-school children and train volunteers.
(viii) Journalist – report progress and problems and inform the public about the policy.
Think About It (Skipping a step)
If any step in policy-making and implementation is skipped, what would be the implications? Discuss with a suitable example.
Answer
Every stage depends on the earlier one, so skipping a step weakens the whole policy. If consultation is skipped, the policy may not match people's real needs; if financial feasibility is not checked, it may run out of money; if monitoring is skipped, mistakes and misuse are not noticed. Example: in the case in Question 8 below, a city planted one lakh saplings but did not monitor watering and protection, so most saplings died and public money was wasted. Similarly, the hospital ramps worked only because users and experts were consulted before construction.
Let's Explore (Khelo Bharat Niti 2025)
As a student, what role can you play in the successful implementation of Khelo Bharat Niti 2025?
Answer
I can play a sport regularly and take part in school, block and district competitions; encourage friends, especially girls and specially abled classmates, to participate; take care of sports grounds and equipment; follow fair play and avoid harmful substances; and give feedback about sports facilities to the school and local authorities.
Your school is designated as the 'state's sports ambassador'. What actions should it take to fulfil its role as sports ambassador?
Answer
The school should hold regular sports periods and inter-school tournaments, open its grounds to children of the neighbourhood, identify and train talented students with qualified coaches, include girls and specially abled students, run awareness drives on fitness and nutrition, partner with local sports bodies and sponsors, and showcase its sportspersons to inspire others.
Which ministries of the government can contribute towards the success of Khelo Bharat Niti 2025? How?
(i) Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports – lead the policy, fund training and events.
(ii) Ministry of Education – make sports part of the school curriculum and train physical education teachers.
(iii) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare – support sports medicine, nutrition and fitness programmes.
(iv) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Ministry of Rural Development – provide playgrounds and sports infrastructure in cities and villages.
(v) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment – promote sports for persons with disabilities.
(vi) Ministry of External Affairs – use sport for international diplomacy and hosting global events.
Answer
Questions and activities
"Good governance is the responsibility of the government alone." Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons to support your answer.
Answer
No, I do not agree. Governance is the government's responsibility, but good governance depends on how all sections of society perform their roles and work together.
(i) The government makes laws and policies and provides services.
(ii) Citizens elect representatives, follow laws, raise concerns and give feedback.
(iii) The media brings public issues to attention.
(iv) Civil society organisations raise awareness and monitor programmes.
(v) The private sector contributes through economic activity, innovation and partnerships.
For example, during heavy rainfall a town recovers only through the joint efforts of departments, representatives and residents. Good governance is therefore a partnership between government and citizens.
Do you think students can contribute to good governance? Write a short note describing any five ways in which students can become more responsible and active citizens.
Answer
Yes, students can contribute to good governance in many ways:
(i) Following rules – obeying traffic rules, not littering and respecting public property.
(ii) Raising concerns – reporting problems like broken streetlights or unsafe roads through school bodies or grievance portals like CPGRAMS.
(iii) Spreading awareness – about cleanliness, water conservation, digital services and checking fake news before sharing.
(iv) Participating – in student councils, cleanliness drives, Khelo Bharat activities and community service.
(v) Giving feedback – on school policies and public services, and encouraging adults in the family to vote.
Such actions make students active partners in governance.
Choose any one public policy and prepare a chart showing: the problem it addresses, the major stakeholders involved, how different actors coordinate, and the role of citizens in its success.
Answer
Sample chart – Swachh Bharat Mission:
Aspect | Details |
Problem it addresses | Open defecation, poor sanitation, unmanaged solid waste and the diseases they cause |
Major stakeholders | Union Government (ministries for rural and urban areas), state governments, district administrations, panchayats and municipalities, NGOs, private companies, schools, media and citizens |
How actors coordinate | The Union Government sets goals and provides funds; states and districts plan and monitor; panchayats and municipalities build toilets and run waste collection; NGOs and media spread awareness; companies support projects; cleanliness surveys rank cities and give feedback |
Role of citizens | Using and maintaining toilets, segregating waste, not littering, joining cleanliness drives and reporting problems |
Answer the following in one or two sentences.
Answer
a. What is governance?
b. How is governance different from government?
c. What is meant by public policy?
d. Name any four principles of good governance.
a. Governance is the process through which decisions are made, implemented and monitored for the welfare of the people.
b. Government refers to the institutions (Legislature, Executive and Judiciary) that exercise political authority and focuses on who governs, whereas governance is the process of decision-making and implementation that also involves citizens, media, civil society and private organisations and focuses on how governing is carried out.
c. Public policy is a course of action adopted by the government to solve public problems, meet people's needs and promote the welfare of society.
d. Transparency, accountability, participation and the rule of law (others: responsiveness, effectiveness and inclusiveness).
Compare the following and present your answer in a tabular form: a. Government and governance; b. Policy and public policy.
Answer
a. Government and governance
Basis | Government | Governance |
Meaning | Institutions that exercise political authority | Process of decision-making, implementation and monitoring |
Includes | Legislature, Executive and Judiciary | Government, citizens, media, civil society and private organisations |
Focus | Who governs | How governing is carried out |
Aspect | Institutional aspect | Functional aspect |
Example | The municipal corporation responsible for street lights | Planning, installing and maintaining street lights with people's feedback |
b. Policy and public policy
Basis | Policy | Public policy |
Made by | Any organisation – school, company, hospital, club, family | Government |
Applies to | A particular organisation or limited group | Society as a whole |
Funding | The organisation's own resources | Public money collected through taxes |
Purpose | Guides how the organisation functions | Solves public problems and promotes public welfare |
Example | A company's work-from-home policy | Free vaccination for children |
Imagine you have been appointed to advise the district administration on improving governance. Which three of the six proposed points would you recommend as priority areas, and which one out of the three do you feel is the most important?
Answer
Sample answer (opinion): I would recommend (a) improving drinking water facilities in schools, (b) improving sanitation and public toilets in schools and market areas, and (f) distributing iron and folic acid tablets to female students. These meet basic needs, prevent disease and affect a very large number of people, especially children and girls, at low cost.
Most important: (a) safe drinking water, because it is a basic need for life and health; without it children fall ill from water-borne diseases and miss school. Point (e), vaccination of stray dogs against rabies, is also urgent in areas with frequent dog bites, while (c) and (d) can follow once basic needs are met.
Match the policy action point to its corresponding stage in the policy cycle.
Answer
S. no. | Policy action point | Correct stage of policy cycle |
1 | Assessing the impact of the policy | Policy evaluation |
2 | Putting the policy into action | Policy implementation |
3 | Framing the legislation | Policy adoption |
4 | Multi-dimensional consultation with stakeholders | Policy formulation |
5 | Addressing a new need of the people | Policy desirability (problem identification) |
The government launches a programme to plant one lakh trees in a city. Funds are allocated, but only a few saplings survive because they are not watered or protected.
Answer
a. Which stage of the policy cycle appears to be weak?
b. Which organisations should coordinate to improve the programme?
Answer
c. Suggest two measures that could improve the outcome.
a. Policy implementation and policy monitoring are weak – saplings were planted but not cared for, and no one checked their survival.
b. The municipal corporation, the forest and horticulture departments, the water supply department, schools, resident welfare associations, NGOs and local citizens should coordinate.
c. (i) Assign each group of saplings to a caretaker, such as a school, resident association or NGO, with tree guards and a fixed watering schedule. (ii) Monitor survival regularly, for example by geo-tagging saplings and releasing further funds only on the basis of survival rates; also plant native species in the right season.
Read each statement carefully. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer
a. A good public policy can fail if it is not implemented properly.
b. Citizen participation sometimes makes decision-making slower, but it can improve governance.
c. Technology alone cannot ensure good governance.
a. Agree. A policy only gives direction; benefits reach people through programmes and schemes. Weak coordination, lack of monitoring or misuse of funds can ruin even a good policy, as in the tree-planting example.
b. Agree. Consultation takes time – NEP 2020 involved lakhs of gram panchayats and about 2 lakh suggestions – but it makes policies fairer, better suited to people's needs and more widely accepted.
c. Agree. E-governance works only when people have devices, internet and digital skills, and when officials are honest and responsive. Institutions, accountability and active citizens are also needed, and misinformation spread through technology can even harm governance.
Design a public policy. Identify one issue and prepare a simple policy proposal covering the reason for selecting the issue, your proposed solution, who should implement it, how students will participate, and how you will know whether the policy has succeeded.
Answer
Sample proposal – 'Save Every Drop' water conservation policy for our school:
(i) Reason: Taps are left running, there are leaking pipes and drinking-water bottles are half-emptied on the ground, wasting a lot of water.
(ii) Proposed solution: Repair leaks, fit push-taps, put up reminder signs, collect leftover drinking water for plants, and set up rainwater harvesting.
(iii) Implementation: The principal and school management (funds and repairs), the maintenance staff, and an eco-club teacher in charge.
(iv) Student participation: 'Water monitors' in each class check taps, report leaks and run awareness assemblies and poster campaigns.
(v) Measuring success: Compare the monthly water meter reading or the number of water-tanker refills before and after; count the leaks reported and fixed; collect feedback from students and staff every term and improve the plan.
Extra Important Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
1. India's national motto 'Satyamev Jayate' is taken from
(a) Mahābhārata (b) Munḍaka Upaniṣhad (c) Arthaśhāstra (d) Rāmāyaṇa
Answer: (b) Munḍaka Upaniṣhad
2. The motto of the Supreme Court of India is
(a) Satyamev Jayate (b) Yato Dharmastato Jayaḥ (c) Heaven's Light, Our Guide (d) Prajāsukhe sukhaṁ rājñaḥ
Answer: (b) Yato Dharmastato Jayaḥ
3. National Good Governance Day is observed on
(a) 26 January (b) 15 August (c) 2 October (d) 25 December
Answer: (d) 25 December
4. The expert committee for drafting NEP 2020 was chaired by
(a) Dr K. Kasturirangan (b) Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (c) Dr C.V. Raman (d) Dr Vikram Sarabhai
Answer: (a) Dr K. Kasturirangan
5. Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and Mission Indradhanush are examples of
(a) Policies (b) Programmes (c) Schemes (d) Laws
Answer: (c) Schemes
Framing legislation and regulations for a policy takes place at which stage?
Answer
(a) Policy desirability (b) Policy adoption (c) Policy monitoring (d) Policy evaluation
Answer: (b) Policy adoption
Short Answer Questions
What is e-governance? State one limitation.
Answer
E-governance is the use of information and communication technology by governments to provide services, share information, communicate with citizens, receive feedback and improve administration; it reduces paperwork and saves trips to offices. However, it works only when people have digital devices, reliable internet and the skills to use them, so it must be made inclusive.
Distinguish between a policy, a programme and a scheme with reference to the National Health Policy 2017.
Answer
A policy gives direction – the National Health Policy 2017 aims at universal access to good quality healthcare. A programme turns goals into strategies, such as strengthening the healthcare system, and a scheme gives concrete benefits to target groups, such as AB-PMJAY, Janani Suraksha Yojana or Mission Indradhanush.
Answer
What was the idea of Rājadharma in Indian tradition?
Rājadharma was the foremost duty of an ideal king – to protect the people by upholding Dharma and to promote the welfare of society. Good governance was judged by the peace, prosperity, justice and well-being of society, as the Arthaśhāstra says that the happiness of the ruler lies in the happiness of the people.
Mention any three challenges to good governance.
Answer
Weak coordination between institutions and departments affects implementation of programmes, and unequal access to services leaves some groups behind. Malpractices and misuse of public office stop benefits from reaching people, and misinformation and fake news also harm governance.
Long Answer Questions
Explain the features of good governance.
Answer
Good governance is a partnership between the government and citizens. Its main features are:
(i) Rule of law – everyone is equal before the law.
(ii) Participation – citizens take part in decision-making through voting, consultations and feedback.
(iii) Accountability – public officials are responsible for their actions.
(iv) Transparency – government decisions are open and accessible to the public.
(v) Responsiveness – the government addresses people's needs on time.
(vi) Effectiveness – public resources are used wisely to achieve results.
(vii) Inclusiveness – every citizen has equal opportunities, including those facing social, economic or geographical barriers.
When people and institutions perform their responsibilities honestly and work together, trust grows between citizens and the government, justice is ensured and public welfare is achieved.
Explain the importance of policy coordination with the example of Khelo Bharat Niti 2025.
Answer
Policy-making and implementation in a vast, diverse country like India need multi-level planning and coordination. Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 aims to transform India's sports landscape, and its success depends on many stakeholders:
(i) Union Government – provides the policy framework, objectives and funding.
(ii) State governments – strengthen sports ecosystems (for example, 'Model Sports State'), host national games and attract private investment through PPP for infrastructure.
(iii) Districts and blocks – districts aim to become 'Model Sports Districts'; blocks organise regular events for mass participation and talent scouting.
(iv) Sports institutions – provide coaching, equipment and facilities.
(v) Private organisations – sponsor athletes and teams and fund research on nutrition and equipment.
(vi) Citizens and families – encourage children, especially girls, and support local talent.
Without coordination among these levels, funds, facilities and talent would not connect, and the policy would fail.