“Ch 4 Governance and Public Policy Notes Class 9 “ is based on:
Understanding Society: India And Beyond
Social Science Textbook
Grade 9| Part 2

Governance

⦿ Governance is based on :
● Transparency
● Accountability
● Participation
● Rule of law

⦿ Democratic governance is :
● People-centric
● Welfare-oriented
●●● ∴ Citizens is at the center of political process

Why Governance Is Needed

⦿ Solving public problems needs:
● [Govt + Institutions + citizens] Together they :
●●⁍ Make decisions
●●⁍ Implement decisions effectively
●●⁍ Remain accountable
●●●●●●➽ This process is called governance

[Government] vs [Governance]

Government

● Institutions + Authorities
● Exercise political power
● Formulates and implements people-centric policies

Governance

● Process of decisions making
● Decisions are made, implemented, and monitored in the public interest
● Good governance makes policies transparent, accountable, effective, and responsive to people’s needs

Evolution of Governance in India

Colonial Legacy

● Pre colonial system of governance was local and organic
● Colonial rulers forced their governance and policy-making
Colonialism → foreign models imposed → independence → colonial institutions persist

Synthesis of Colonial Structures and Indigenous Values

● India kept:
●●⁍ Pre-colonial institutions
●●⁍ Governance traditions
And Formed Constitution on:
●●⁍ India’s values and ideals

Adaptation After Independenc

Traditional values and ideas of governance wire adapted to a modern democracy

Mottos: Colonial vs Indian

Rām Rājya

Mahatma Gandhi’s ideal model of governance

● Feature: based on five principles:
●●⁍ Probity
●●⁍ Transparency
●●⁍ Compassion
●●⁍ Welfare
●●⁍ People-centric orientation

● Significance:
●●⁍ Shows collective imagination of Indians
●●⁍ Good governance and a good collective life
●●⁍ Enshrined in Rāmāyaṇa and Rāmcharitamānas

Rājadharma

● Governance = sacred responsibility
● Rājadharma = foremost duty of an ideal king
●●⁍ Protect people by upholding Dharma
●●⁍ Promote welfare of society
● Measure of good governance with:
●●⁍ Ruler’s authority
●●⁍ Peace, prosperity, justice, and well-being in society

Good Governance

How Governance Affects Daily Life

● law and order
● Safety and peacefulness
● Protects
●●⁍ Rights + freedom
● Access to public services:
●● ⁘ Education ⁘ Healthcare ⁘ Transport

⦿ Good governance:
● Promotes justice and fairness
● People are treated equally before the law
● Builds trust between citizens and government

Shared Responsibility

⦿ Good governance depends on two factors:
● How society and government fulfill their responsibilities
● How they work together

Features of Good Governance

⁘ Responsiveness ⁘ Transparency ⁘ Participation
⁘ Rule of law ⁘ Accountability ⁘ Effectiveness ⁘ Inclusiveness

People and institutions perform responsibilities honestly + work together → effective governance → public welfare

Challenges to Good Governance

Why Challenges Arise

Time passes → needs, desires, and aspirations of people evolve → New challenges

Main Challenges

● Weak coordination between institutions and departments
●●⁍ Effect: Bad implementation of government programmes
● Unequal access to public services
●●⁍ Effect: some groups left behind
∴ Affected groups face barriers:
●●⁍ Social
●●⁍ Economic
●●⁍ Geographical
● Malpractices and misuse of public offices
●●⁍ Effect: resources and benefits don’t reach people
● Misinformation and fake news
●●⁍ Most serious challenge

Addressing the Challenges

⦿ Need four things:

● Effective institutions
● Responsible officials
● Active citizens
● Commitment to principles of good governance

E-Governance: Technology for Better Governance

Meaning of E-Governance

E-governance = use of information and communication technology by governments
⦿ For :
●●● Provide public services
●●●Share information
●●●Communicate with citizens
●●●Receive feedback
●●●Improve administrative processes
⦿ Significance: Makes governance more
●●● Transparent
●●● Accessible
●●● Convenient
●●● Quick

Benefits of E- governence

● Reduces paperwork
● Access services online
● Delivery is more efficient, transparent, convenient, and quick

Condition for Effectiveness

⦿ E-governanconly when people have:
● Digital devices
● Reliable internet
● Skills to use them

● Governance needs instruments to better serve people
●●Public policy provides that link
⦿ Public policy:
Translates governance into planned action
Turns public concerns and government priorities into:
●●⁍ Programmes
●●⁍ Decisions
●●⁍ Solutions

Public Policy

The Meaning of Public Policy

A policy is a planned course of action that solves a problem
Public policy = result of a course of action adopted by the government
⦿ Public policy
● Promotes the welfare of society
● Solves public problems
● Meets people’s needs

Five Decisions in a Course of Action

● What should be done
● Why it should be done
● Who will do it
● How it will be implemented
● How its success will be measured

Public services made possible by public policies

⁘ Roads ⁘ Traffic signals ⁘ Clean drinking water
⁘ Electricity ⁘ Public parks ⁘ Waste collection
Effect: life becomes safer, healthier, convenient

Example:
⦿ Plastic-Free Campus Policy:
The problem:
Plastic use → large waste → dirty campus → long-term environmental degradation

Process:
1.Principal discusses the issue with teachers, students, and parents
2. Plastic-Free Campus Policy formed.
3. Five measures:
Reusable bottles, no plastic bags, segregation bins, awareness programmes, teacher monitoring

What is ‘Public’ about Public Policy?

Public = all the people living in a society or community

⦿ Policy = Public policy when:
● Made for the public benefit
● Implemented by public institutions
● Financed with public money

⦿ Public policies address issues that concern society as a whole
● Education ● Healthcare
● Transportation ● Sanitation ● Public safety

Role of People in Shaping Public Policy

Public policy responds to the needs and aspirations of the people

⦿ People take five actions:
●●⁍ Identify issues
●●⁍ Express concerns
●●⁍ Participate in consultations
●●⁍ Provide suggestions
●●⁍ Share feedback after implementation

Public Policy vs Other Policies

Not every policy is a public policy

Participants in the Public Policy Process

Click on the icon to reveal

The Making of a Public Policy

The process:

Policy, Programmes, and Schemes

Policy (direction) → programmes (plan) → schemes (action) → benefits reach the people

Policy Coordination: Key to Good Governance

Need for Coordination

Public policymaking + implementation need planning+ decision-making

Example:
Khelo Bharat Niti 2025

Roles of Private Organisations

▪ Sponsorsips
▪ Invest in scientific research
▪ Invest in better medical facilities