Good Governance Day and India’s Citizen-Centric Governance Model

Significance of Good Governance Day

Good Governance Day and India’s Citizen-Centric Governance Model: Good Governance Day is observed every year on December 25 across India. It commemorates the birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, one of India’s most respected Prime Ministers. The day reinforces the idea that governance must directly improve the lives of citizens.

The observance highlights key values such as accountability, transparency, and responsive administration. It reflects India’s long-term commitment to people-oriented governance rather than authority-driven governance.

Static GK fact: Good Governance Day was officially notified by the Government of India in 2014.

Governance Vision of Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Atal Bihari Vajpayee served as Prime Minister on three occasions and was known for consensus-building leadership. His governance philosophy focused on democratic values, institutional stability, and inclusive growth.

Major initiatives during his tenure included national highway expansion, telecom reforms, rural connectivity, and economic liberalisation. These reforms strengthened both infrastructure and administrative capacity.

He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1992 and the Bharat Ratna in 2015, recognising his enduring contribution to Indian governance.

Static GK Tip: Vajpayee was India’s first Prime Minister from a non-Congress party to complete a full term.

Introduction of the Good Governance Index

To institutionalise governance reform, the Good Governance Index (GGI) was launched on December 25, 2019. It was introduced by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) under the Ministry of Personnel.

The GGI functions as a diagnostic and benchmarking tool. It enables States and Union Territories to assess governance performance using objective parameters.

The index promotes competitive federalism by encouraging states to learn from best-performing peers.

Structure and Coverage of the Index

The Good Governance Index evaluates governance across 10 sectors using 58 indicators. These indicators measure policy outcomes, service delivery efficiency, and institutional effectiveness.

The sectors include agriculture, commerce and industry, human resource development, public health, public infrastructure, economic governance, social welfare, judiciary and public safety, environment, and citizen-centric governance.

States and Union Territories are classified into four groups to ensure fair and comparable assessment.

Static GK fact: Grouping avoids distortions caused by differences in population size and geographical conditions.

Role in Improving Governance Outcomes

The GGI has highlighted improvements in ease of doing business, digital public services, health access, and grievance redressal mechanisms. It has also encouraged data-driven decision-making at the state level.

Regular governance conferences organised by DARPG promote sharing of best practices and innovation. These efforts strengthen transparency and administrative accountability.

The index aligns closely with India’s long-term development roadmap under Viksit Bharat 2047, focusing on sustainable and inclusive governance.

Relevance to India’s Governance Framework

Good Governance Day serves as a reminder that governance quality determines national progress. Citizen trust, service efficiency, and institutional integrity remain central to India’s administrative reforms.

The combination of visionary leadership, structured evaluation tools, and digital governance has positioned India toward more responsive public administration.

Static GK Tip: Citizen-centric governance emphasises outcomes over procedures.

Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table

Good Governance Day and India’s Citizen-Centric Governance Model: