GS2 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): Governance | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q1: The Doctrine of Democratic Governance makes it necessary that the public perception of the integrity and commitment of civil servants becomes absolutely positive. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
Ans: 
Introduction 
The doctrine of democratic governance refers to a system where government institutions function according to democratic principles, processes, and rules, creating a relationship of trust between the government and the citizens.
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In a democratic governance system, certain standards must be met by civil servants to maintain a positive public perception:

• Accountability: Civil servants must be responsible for their actions and be answerable to the public. For example, the concept of social audits helps ensure accountability.
• Fairness: All citizens must be treated equally, without discrimination, ensuring justice in public service delivery. The principle of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas illustrates this commitment.
• Transparency: Providing the public with clear and accessible information regarding government processes, policies, and decisions. The Right to Information Act is an example of promoting transparency.
• Responsiveness: Civil servants should be quick to address citizens' concerns and needs. This is exemplified by the Citizen Charter, which outlines the commitment to prompt service.
• Ethical Conduct: Civil servants must adhere to high ethical standards, avoiding corruption and misuse of power. The Code of Conduct is a key tool in ensuring ethical behavior.
• Professionalism: Civil servants should demonstrate competence, dedication, and respect in their roles. The successful management of the COVID-19 vaccination drive is a notable example.
• Empathy: Understanding the diverse needs of the community and valuing their perspectives is crucial. For example, addressing the needs of people with disabilities reflects empathy in governance.
• Collaboration: Civil servants should work alongside various stakeholders, including citizens, to improve governance. Initiatives like Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan showcase this collaborative approach.
• Commitment to Public Service: Civil servants must prioritize the welfare of the public and work toward improving society’s overall well-being.

However, challenges such as corruption, bureaucratic inertia, lack of transparency, and poor communication can undermine public trust in civil servants.
Conclusion
Creating a positive public perception of civil servants' integrity and dedication requires a comprehensive approach that tackles the underlying causes of public distrust while implementing strategies to improve transparency and accountability. By consistently upholding the principles of good governance, accountability, and transparency, governments can strengthen the legitimacy and efficiency of democratic institutions.

Q2: What are the aims and objects of recently passed and enforced, The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024? Whether University/State Education Board examinations, too, are covered under the Act? (Answer in 250 words)
Ans: 
Introduction
To address the growing incidents of question paper leaks and malpractice in public examinations, and to improve the overall credibility and transparency of the examination system across India, the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, has been enacted by Parliament.
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Objectives of the Act

• The primary goal of the Act is to deter the use of unfair means in public examinations, particularly by targeting organized cheating and various malpractices. The Act defines practices like leaking question papers and possessing unauthorized OMR sheets as unfair methods. It also introduces strict penalties and guidelines to restore public trust in the examination process.
• Unfair practices, such as document tampering and the creation of fake websites, are classified as cognizable and non-bailable offenses under the Act. To instill confidence in the system, the legislation mandates penalties that include prison sentences of three to five years and fines up to Rs. 10 lakh. Investigations will be conducted by officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent or Assistant Commissioner.
• Additionally, the Act establishes a legal framework to address examination integrity offenses and ensures the development of protocols for securing digital platforms and strengthening IT security, overseen by a High-Level National Technical Committee.

Scope of Examinations Covered

• The Act broadly defines public examinations as those conducted by recognized authorities such as the UPSC, SSC, and others. While it does not explicitly list universities and state education board examinations, it allows the central government to notify additional authorities under the law. 
• Moreover, this legislation serves as a model for states to adopt, helping prevent criminal activities in state-level public examinations.

Conclusion
The Public Examinations Act, 2024, plays a crucial role in strengthening the integrity of public exams in India. By promoting transparency and accountability, it combats corruption and ensures fairness for all candidates.

Q3: The Citizen Charter has been a landmark initiative in ensuring citizen centric administration. But it is yet to reach its full potential. Identify the factors hindering the realisation of its promise and suggest measures to overcome them? (Answer in 250 words)
Ans: 
Introduction
The Citizen's Charter is an important initiative designed to improve transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the delivery of public services. Its formulation and implementation are overseen by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), which plays a key role in ensuring the Charter's success.
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Challenges Hindering the Effective Implementation of Citizen Charters:

• Lack of Awareness: Many citizens are unaware of the existence of the Citizen's Charter and the rights it grants, leading to a lack of accountability from public authorities.
• Weak Enforcement Mechanisms: Despite the Citizen's Charter outlining service standards, there are limited measures to penalize government officials who fail to meet these standards.
• Irregular Updates: Some departments fail to revise their charters regularly, resulting in inconsistencies and unequal service delivery across various sectors.
• Resistance from Officials: Many public officials view the Citizen's Charter as an additional burden and are reluctant to adhere to its standards.
• Inadequate Training: The lack of sufficient training for public officials on citizen-focused service delivery and a poor understanding of the Citizen's Charter hinders its successful implementation.

Proposed Solutions to Overcome These Challenges: The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) has suggested several steps to improve the effectiveness of Citizen’s Charters:

• Enforce Punitive Measures: Introducing penalties for non-compliance, such as financial fines or disciplinary actions against officials, can enhance accountability.
• Limit Commitments: Citizen Charters should focus on a few realistic and achievable commitments, rather than a long list of promises that may go unmet.
• Tailored Charters: A uniform approach to charters across different organizations may not be effective. Charters should be customized to suit the specific needs of local contexts and individual organizations.
• Accountability for Non-Compliance: Officials should be held responsible when the commitments outlined in the Citizen's Charter are not met, reinforcing the need for public trust and reliability.
• Regular Reviews: Citizen’s Charters must be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure they stay relevant, effective, and aligned with the evolving needs of the public.
• Reorganize Structure and Processes: Before implementing a charter, organizations should streamline their structures and processes to ensure that it can be effectively executed.

Conclusion
The Citizen's Charter holds great potential to transform governance by promoting transparency, accountability, and a citizen-centric approach. However, fully realizing its benefits requires addressing key implementation challenges, such as raising awareness, strengthening accountability, providing proper training, and fostering a culture that prioritizes the needs of citizens.​

Q4: e-governance is not just about the routine application of digital technology in service delivery process. It is as much about multifarious interactions for ensuring transparency and accountability. In this context evaluate the role of the ‘Interactive Service Model’ of e-governance. (Answer in 250 words)
Ans: 
Introduction
E-governance refers to the application of digital technology by governments to deliver services to citizens. Examples include DigiLocker, Jeevan Pramaan, and Mobile Seva. The Interactive Service Model (ISM) in e-governance shifts from a one-way service delivery approach to a more interactive system, enabling citizens to express their concerns and actively participate in decision-making processes.
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The Role of the Interactive Service Model (ISM) in Promoting Transparency and Accountability

• Two-way Communication: Platforms like MyGov in India facilitate direct communication between citizens and the government, encouraging participation and feedback from the public.
• Access to Information: Portals such as the Right to Information (RTI) mechanism and the National Portal of India offer citizens a comprehensive source of updates and details about government actions.
• Grievance Redressal: The Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) enables citizens to lodge complaints and receive timely responses.
• Citizen Engagement: Programs like “Bhagidari” promote active citizen involvement in governance, fostering a cooperative relationship between the public and the government.
• Feedback Systems: Initiatives like Karnataka’s Bhoomi project allow citizens to provide real-time feedback on digitized land records, ensuring more responsive service delivery.
• Ensuring Transparency: Initiatives such as social audits, with Meghalaya as a pioneer in passing social audit legislation, improve government transparency and build public trust.

Despite the importance of the Interactive Service Model, there are challenges in its implementation, including unequal access to technology (with internet penetration at 67% in urban areas and only 31% in rural areas), bureaucratic resistance to new systems, and concerns over data privacy, which can hinder citizen participation.
Conclusion
To address the challenges facing the Interactive Service Model of e-governance, the government needs to close the digital divide by improving rural connectivity and promoting digital literacy. Ensuring data privacy and encouraging bureaucratic reform will also be crucial. These measures will enhance e-transparency and empower citizens by making electronic platforms and services more accessible and transparent for all.