What do you understand by the term 'good governance'? How far recent initiatives in terms of e-Governance steps taken by the State have helped the beneficiaries? Discuss with suitable examples. UPSC CSE 2022 Ethics Paper.
Answer
The term 'good governance' refers to the process and practice of governing that is efficient, effective, transparent, accountable, participatory, responsive, inclusive, and equitable. Good governance ensures that the public institutions and officials perform their duties and functions in a manner that serves the public interest and upholds the rule of law. Good governance also promotes the protection and realization of human rights and dignity, as well as the social and economic development of the society.
E-governance is the application of information and communication technologies (ICT) to enhance and enable good governance. E-governance involves the use of various digital tools and platforms, such as websites, portals, mobile apps, social media, e-services, e-procurement, e-voting, etc., to facilitate the interaction and communication between the government and the citizens, businesses, civil society, and other stakeholders. E-governance aims to improve the accessibility, quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of public services and information delivery, as well as to increase the transparency, accountability, participation, and responsiveness of public institutions and officials.
Recent initiatives in terms of e-governance steps taken by the State have helped the beneficiaries in various ways. Some of the examples are:
The Digital India programme, launched in 2015, is a flagship initiative of the Government of India that aims to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. The programme has three core components: digital infrastructure, digital services, and digital literacy. The programme has enabled various e-governance initiatives across various sectors and domains, such as health, education, agriculture, finance, taxation, justice, etc., that have benefited millions of citizens by providing them with easy access to public services and information online or through mobile devices.
The Aadhaar project, launched in 2009, is a unique identification system that provides a 12-digit number to every resident of India based on their biometric and demographic data. The Aadhaar number serves as a proof of identity and address for various purposes. The Aadhaar project has enabled various e-governance initiatives that have benefited millions of citizens by providing them with direct benefit transfers (DBT), subsidies, scholarships, pensions, etc., without any intermediaries or leakages. The Aadhaar project has also facilitated financial inclusion, digital payments, e-KYC (know your customer), etc., that have enhanced the convenience and security of transactions.
The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), launched in 2006, is a framework for implementing e-governance initiatives across various levels of government in India. The NeGP consists of various mission mode projects (MMPs) that cover various domains such as agriculture, land records, municipal services, passports, pensions, etc. The NeGP has enabled various e-governance initiatives that have benefited millions of citizens by providing them with online or integrated services that are faster, cheaper, and more reliable than the conventional modes.
Therefore, good governance is the essence of success for every public and private organization. E-governance is one of the most important aspects of good governance that involves the employment of ICT to facilitate efficient and instant transmission and processing of information as well as storing and retrieval of data. Recent initiatives in terms of e-governance steps taken by the State have helped the beneficiaries by improving their access to public services and information online or through mobile devices.