Good Governance Index 2023

Source: Indian Express
GS II: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. About Good Governance Index
3. What are the Challenges and the Way Forward?

Why in the News?

The government of India has cancelled the release of the Good Governance (GGI) Index 2023.

News in Brief

• The Centre has decided not to release the Good Governance Index 2023.
• It was scheduled to be released during Good Governance Week (December 19 to December 25).
• Now planning to publish the next edition in 2025.

What is the reason for not releasing the index?

• The government decided not to release the GGI 2023 because the data collected during 2023, and releasing it at the end of 2024 would make it outdated.
• Instead, the government plans to carry out a fresh assessment and release the next edition in December 2025.
• GGI was released on December 25, 2021, by the Union Home Minister.

About Good Governance Index

• It is a biennial ranking tool.
• It was launched in 2019 by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
• The index evaluates states and Union Territories (UTs) on governance quality based on over 50 indicators across sectors like agriculture, economic governance, public health, and citizen-centric governance.

Importance of the Good Governance Index

The GGI serves several critical functions in India’s governance landscape:

• Benchmarking Performance: By providing a comparative analysis of governance performance across states, the GGI helps identify best practices and areas needing improvement.
• Policy Formulation: Policymakers can use the insights from the index to design and implement reforms that address governance gaps and enhance service delivery.
• Citizen Empowerment: The index promotes transparency and accountability, empowering citizens to hold their governments accountable for their performance.
• Incentivizing Good Governance: States and union territories are motivated to perform better and compete in a healthy manner, leading to overall improvements in governance.

Impact and Achievements

Since its launch, the Good Governance Index has had a significant impact on governance in India. It has led to:

• Improved Public Services: Many states have taken measures to enhance the quality and efficiency of public services, leading to better outcomes in health, education, and infrastructure.
• Increased Transparency: The GGI has encouraged greater transparency in government operations, fostering trust between the government and citizens.
• Informed Decision-Making: Policymakers now have access to reliable data and insights, enabling them to make informed decisions and implement targeted interventions.

What are the Challenges and the Way Forward?

Despite its successes, the Good Governance Index faces several challenges:

• Data Reliability: Ensuring accurate and timely data collection remains a significant challenge, as discrepancies can affect the overall assessment.
• Uniform Standards: Achieving uniformity in governance standards across diverse states and union territories is complex due to varying socio-economic conditions.
• Continuous Improvement: The GGI must evolve continuously to reflect changing governance dynamics and incorporate new indicators that capture emerging issues.

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