Test: Governance in India - UGC NET MCQ

The Correct Answer: 1992

Key Points

• Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) is the system of rural local self-government in India.
• The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act was passed in 1992, providing PRI constitutional status to enhance democracy at the local level and empower rural development.
• A new section in the Indian Constitution called Part-IX was added, comprising clauses from Articles 243 to 243 O, specifically for Panchayats.
• An Eleventh Schedule was introduced with 29 operational panchayat items, related to Article 243-G.
• The Amendment Act shaped Article 40 of the Constitution, emphasizing the organization and empowerment of village panchayats as self-governing bodies.
• Following the Act, Panchayati Raj institutions are governed by enforceable provisions of the Constitution, with mandatory and optional sections.
• Participatory democracy has been promoted over representative democracy through this Act.

State Data Centre (SDC):

• State Data Centre (SDC) is a crucial component of the core infrastructure supporting e-Governance initiatives in India through the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP).
• It is established at the state level to consolidate services, applications, and infrastructure for efficient electronic delivery of Government-to-Government (G2G), Government-to-Citizen (G2C), and Government-to-Business (G2B) services.
• Functions of SDC include serving as the Central Repository of the State, ensuring Secure Data Storage, enabling Online Delivery of Services, hosting Citizen Information/Services Portal, managing State Intranet Portal, facilitating Disaster Recovery, Remote Management, and Service Integration, among others.

State Wide Area Network (SWAN):

• State Wide Area Network (SWAN) is a significant infrastructure element outlined in the National e-Governance Plan.
• Its primary objective is to offer secure and high-speed network connectivity for Government operations, linking State Headquarters, District Headquarters, and Blocks Headquarters efficiently.

National Institute for Smart Government (NISG):
National Institute for Smart Government (NISG) is a non-profit organization established by the Government of India in 2002. Its purpose is to provide e-Governance consultancy services to central and state governments, aiming to enhance citizen services.

Correct Answer: A, B, and C

Important Points:

• The Information Technology Act (2000) in India legalizes digital governance by recognizing Electronic Records, Electronic Signatures, E-Contracts, Retention of records in Electronic Form, Audit of Records maintained in Electronic Form, and Publication of Rules in E-Gazette. This creates a robust framework for E-Governance.

Key Points:

• E-governance, or Electronic/digital Governance, is covered under Sections 4 to 10A of the IT Act, 2000.
• It grants legal recognition to electronic records and Electronic signatures, as well as contracts formed through electronic means.
• The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is fundamental for E-Governance implementation.
• E-governance is crucial in reducing bureaucratic red-tapism and fostering a more efficient bureaucracy in India, aiming to minimize corruption and enhance transparency.
• The objectives of e-governance include providing better services to citizens, promoting transparency and accountability, empowering people through information, enhancing governmental efficiency, and improving interactions with businesses and industries.
• This IT Act marks a pivotal moment in conceptualizing administrative reforms in India.

Additional Information:

• The IT Act aims to provide legal recognition for transactions conducted via electronic data interchange and other electronic communication means, known as electronic commerce. It facilitates electronic document filing with government agencies and amends various existing acts like the Indian Penal Code, the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, the Banker’s Books Evidence Act, 1891, and the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

The Act Providing Legal Framework for e-Governance in India: The Information Technology Act 2000 is the legislation that establishes the legal framework for e-Governance in India.

Key Points

• Significance of IT Act 2000: With the rise of the Internet and its increasing use in India, the government has started transitioning its operations to digital platforms. The Information Technology Act 2000 aims to regulate all digital activities and contains detailed provisions related to electronic governance.

Additional Information

• IT (Amendment) Act 2008: The IT (Amendment) Act 2008, which followed the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, grants the Indian government the authority to intercept, monitor, and decrypt computer systems, resources, and communication devices.
• Indian Penal Code: The Indian Penal Code serves as a general penal code for India and aims to consolidate the laws pertaining to offenses. While it covers a wide range of legal matters, additional penal statutes have been enacted to address specific offenses.

The Identification of "Citizen-Centric Administration" as a Barrier to Good Governance

• 12^th Report: In the 12^th report of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission, "Citizen-Centric Administration" was identified as a barrier to good governance in India.

The Implication of a Federal System of Governance in India

• When we say that we have a federal system of governance in India, it implies that different states or provinces of the country have the power to make their own laws and decisions.
• In a country with a federal system, powers are divided between the center and its constituent parts such as states or provinces.
• It is a system of government where the same territory is controlled by two levels of government.

Important Points

Citizen Charter Elements

• Provision for the inspection of the agency's work:
  • It is not considered a basic element of the citizen charter.
• Citizens' Charter:
  • Represents the commitment of the Organization towards standard, quality, and time frame of service delivery, grievance redress mechanism, transparency, and accountability.
  • The primary objective is to empower citizens in relation to public service delivery.
• Elements of Citizens' Charter:
  • Vision and Mission Statement
  • Details of business transacted by the organization
  • Details of clients
  • Description of services being provided by the department or the agency.
  • Details of grievance redress mechanism and how to access it
  • Promotion of various methods to get benefit from the services available.
  • Expectations from the clients
  • Provide public records.
• Initiative by DARPG:
  • The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances in the Government of India initiated the coordination, formulation, and operationalization of Citizens' Charters.

Balwant Rai Mehta Committee:

• Balwant Rai Mehta is considered the father of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
• The committee was formed in 1957 to assess the community development program.
• It proposed a three-tier Panchayati Raj system:
  • Gram Panchayat at the village level
  • Panchayat Samitis at the block level
  • Zila Parishad at the district level
• First State to Implement Panchayati Raj:
  • Rajasthan was the pioneering state to establish Panchayati Raj in 1959.
• Function of Panchayati Raj:
  • Panchayati Raj system operates as a governance structure where gram panchayats serve as the fundamental units of local administration.
• Additional Information:
  • The Panchayati Raj system is present in all states of India except Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.

The correct answer is Option 1.

The Purpose of Niyatam Formation

• Niyatam is established by NITI Aayog with the aim of streamlining administrative, developmental, and legal structure of state governments.

What is Niyatam?

• Niyatam stands for NITI Initiative to Yield Aspirational Targets and Actionable Means.
• Its objective is to shape the administrative structure of states to enhance their efficiency and governance.
• It proposes that "an average state does not require more than 20 departments to run its administration."
• However, many states have a larger structure due to the requirement imposed by the 91^st Amendment Act, 2003.

91^st Amendment Act, 2003:

• The 91^st Amendment Act, 2003, restricts the size of all ministries in India to 15 percent of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha or state assembly.

The National Initiative 'Kayakalp' Launched by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

• Key Points:
  • In January 2021, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare awarded the 5th National Kayakalp awards to Public and Private Health Facilities for maintaining high standards of Sanitation and Hygiene.
  • The Government of India initiated 'Kayakalp' on 15th May 2015 to ensure hygiene, sanitation, and cleanliness in Public Health Facilities across India.
  • Health facilities in the public healthcare system that have excelled in cleanliness, hygiene, and infection control were acknowledged and honored with awards.

Additional Information:

• AIIMS Bhubaneswar was recognized with the Kayakalp Award as the best central government hospital under category B for cleanliness, achieving this award for the third consecutive year.
• AIIMS Bhubaneswar will receive an award of Rs. 2 crore for its outstanding performance.
• The hospital previously won the award in 2018 and 2019 for being the second cleanest hospital in the country among category B hospitals and received a prize of Rs. one crore.
• District Hospital Reasi in Jammu and Kashmir was honored with the first prize of Rs. 50 lakhs under the Kayakalp scheme.