Hindu Editorial Analysis : 2-December-2023
India, with its 28 states and eight union territories, faces a critical challenge in optimizing the capabilities of its diverse states to improve overall governance. Examining the state’s position in civil governance reveals several shortcomings, presenting significant challenges for the nation.
Position of Indian States & Civil Governance: A Critical Analysis
Shortcomings:
- Civil Servant Shortage: India has the smallest number of civil servants per capita among G-20 countries.
- Public Sector Disparities: Public sector employment in India is only 5.77%, significantly lower than countries like Indonesia and China.
- Deficiency in Key Services: Per capita numbers of essential professionals like doctors, teachers, and regulators are notably low.
Challenges:
- Scarcity in Public Goods: The inadequacy of state capability results in scarcity in public goods provision, welfare payments, and justice system effectiveness.
- Performance Issues: The unwieldy state exhibits disappointing performance in areas such as education, healthcare, agriculture, and law enforcement.
Challenges in Governance: Root Causes and Limitations
Limitations of Civil & Political Servants:
- Perverse Incentives: Public institutions create perverse incentives, leading to a skill gap among officials and hindering policy implementation.
- Concentration of Powers: Extreme concentration of policy-making and implementation powers within departments stifles innovation.
Technocratic Gap:
- Need for Technocratic Skills: Policymakers lack technocratic skills, leading to the hiring of consultancy firms for technical matters.
Proposed Solutions: Strengthening Governance Structures
Suggestions:
- Separation of Powers: Experiences from countries like Australia and the UK show that separating policymaking and implementation responsibilities expedites execution.
- Delegating Power: Empowering frontline functionaries with financial and administrative powers fosters accountability and trust.
- Filling the Technocratic Gap: Introducing lateral entry at mid and senior levels and providing subject-specific training can enhance technocratic capabilities.
Strengthening Oversight and Regulatory Bodies:
- Professional Strength for SEBI & RBI: Augmenting the professional staff strength of market watchdogs like SEBI and RBI is essential for effective governance.
- Role of Oversight Agencies: Oversight agencies must consider the context of policy decisions and factor in associated costs.
Addressing Personnel Motivation and Corruption:
- Motivated Personnel: Intrinsic motivation should be emphasized over performance-linked pay to attract individuals committed to the public good.
- Corruption Mitigation: Moderating pay raises and reducing the upper age limit for government jobs can help curb corruption.
Why In News
The states’ role and political and policy trajectories are critical for India’s governance, as they shape the nation’s socio-economic landscape and influence the effectiveness of central policies in addressing diverse regional needs and challenges.
MCQs about Enhancing Governance in India: The Imperative of State Capacity
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What is the solution for enhancing technocratic capabilities in policymaking?
A. Performance-linked pay
B. Hiring more consultants
C. Subject-specific training under Mission Karmayogi
D. Outsourcing technical matters to private firms
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Based on experiences from other countries, what approach is recommended for expediting policy execution in India?
A. Concentration of policymaking and implementation
B. Separation of policymaking and implementation
C. Delegation of power to central authorities
D. Reduction of oversight agencies
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What is proposed in the essay to mitigate corruption in the public sector?
A. Introducing performance-linked pay
B. Increasing public sector salaries
C. Reducing the upper age limit for government jobs
D. Outsourcing recruitment processes
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