The principal constraint for India is trying to find solutions to 21st century problems using 19th century government structures. Discuss.

21^st century India is faced with a novel set of issues & challenges, influenced by globalization, technology revolution, 4^th Industrial revolution, climate change, etc.

21^st 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Despite changing nature of problems, current government structure is obsolete: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.

Topics: GS-II: Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States • GS-II: Important Aspects of Governance Transparency and Accountability Citizen Charters