The principal constraint for India is trying to find solutions to 21st century problems using 19th century government structures. Discuss.
21st century India is faced with a novel set of issues & challenges, influenced by globalization, technology revolution, 4th Industrial revolution, climate change, etc.
21st Century Problems:
- Dual use of technology & their consequences. E.g. AI & associated privacy concern.
- New forms of security threats. E.g. Cyber threat, Drones, etc.
- Integrated nature of problems. E.g. Covid-Health-Education-Poverty.
- Governance issues like beneficiary identification, corruption, identity judging.
Despite changing nature of problems, current government structure is obsolete:
- Silos based approach – Lack of integration between various departments & organs of government.
- Lack of adoption of newer technologies. E.g. Absence of smart walls to tackle newer border security issues like drone attacks.
- Colonial laws emphasizing on prohibition and regulation rather than coordination and cooperation. E.g. IPC section on Sedition.
- High emphasis on procedures, lack of proactive & empathetic & people driven approach.
- Lack of intelligence inputs & citizen participation in policy making.
Way forward:
- Reform existing departments & ministries to increase coordination & cooperation on inter-ministerial issues.
- People-centric bureaucracy.
- Technology-driven solutions such as border management.
- Social audits as an integral element of schemes.
- Bottom-up planning.
- Repeal obsolete laws; accept criticism as an integral element of democracy.
Change is the only constant. It is time to align our governance structure to present day needs.
Originally written on
October 13, 2023
and last modified on
October 27, 2024.