HPAS/Allied Mains 2022 Answer Writing Challenge Day 08: Model Answer

Question: What are the key attributes of good governance. How good governance and a strong democracy are inter-related with each other?  (8 marks, 120 words)

Answer: 

Introduction:

• Governance refers to all processes of governing, the institutions, processes and practices through which issues of common concern are decided upon and regulated.
• Good governance adds a normative or evaluative attribute to the process of governing. From a human rights perspective it refers primarily to  the process whereby public institutions conduct public affairs, manage public resources and guarantee the realisation of human rights

Body:

• Key attributes of good governance
• Transparency- being open to scrutiny in decision making processes
• Accountability- for their actions/inactions
• Participation- encouraging wide citizen participation in decision-making
• Responsiveness-  listening and responding to the needs of its citizens;
• Key attributes of good governance
• Transparency- being open to scrutiny in decision making processes
• Accountability- for their actions/inactions
• Participation- encouraging wide citizen participation in decision-making
• Responsiveness-  listening and responding to the needs of its citizens;
• Good governance reforms of democratic institutions create avenues for the public to participate in policymaking either through formal institutions or informal consultations.
• In the realm of delivering state services to the public, good governance reforms advance human rights when they improve the state’s capacity to fulfil its responsibility to provide public goods which are essential for the protection of a number of human rights, such as the right to education, health and food.
• In fighting corruption, good governance efforts rely on principles such as accountability, transparency and participation to shape anti-corruption measures. Initiatives may include establishing institutions such as anti-corruption commissions, creating mechanisms of information sharing, and monitoring governments’ use of public funds and implementation of policies.

Conclusion:

The idea that quality of governance contributes to improved human well‐being and sustained development has gained widespread recognition in the past decade and a half.

Successful democratization tends to enhance the quality of governance, because there is a definite overlap between democracy and governance