BOOK REVIEW

Rajiv Sharma and Ramesh Kumar Arora (Eds), Good Governance: Stimuli
and Strategies, 2010, ASTI, Jaipur, pp I-XII, 1 -244, Rs 600

Rahul Kabiraj
Student of M.Phil
Department of Political Science with Rural Administration
Vidyasagar University
+91 8116042961
r.kabiraj007@gmail.com

Good Governance: Stimuli and Strategies is a very important text to understand the Indian
Government system. This is an edited volume by Rajiv K. Sharma and Ramesh K. Arora. Writers of
this book are from several different fields, like our former Prime Minister wrote an article here and
also some prominent Professor has contributed in this book. Main goal of all contributors of this
document is to describe the Governance system of India. It has total twenty articles with a marathon
introductory chapter written by editors. At the introductory chapter the editors try to stated that
political systems through the world are experiencing a paradigm shift in their nature and structure
during the past two decades, that is from an exclusive focus on ‘Government’ the system has moved
to a much broader and dynamic pattern of authority, generally termed as ‘Governance’. They also
wrote that Government is a structural phenomenon emphasising on goal oriented international
mechanisms of the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. The concept of ‘Governance’ on the
other hand transcends this conventional focus on structural configuration and includes within its scope
a host of concerns associated with the functioning of a polity.

First article of this book is written by our former Indian Prime Minister and well known economist
Dr. Manmohan Shingh named ‘Re-inventing the Indian Civil Service’. It was a speech by Dr. Shingh
delivered in Civil Service Day, on 21st April of 2006 in New Delhi. At the beginning of this chapter he
told that after independence The All India Civil Service played an important role in strengthening the
bonds of unity and integrity, under the leadership of Panditji and Sardar Patel. He added Civil Servant
had played a multiple role in the initial years of our nation building process. At the middle of this
chapter Dr. Shingh told that the situation is not remains same as was after the independence. There is
a big difference in that past time and the present.
Marketwise economy now increase desperately, so the modernisation of both economy and
Society will require government to play a new roles and in increasingly transparent manner. Our Civil
Servant must learn to grapple with the phenomenal explosion of knowledge. And after this he end this
speech with some question, like are the civil service adequately to address these
Emerging challenge?
 Second chapter of this book also written by Dr. Manmohan Singh. It was another lecture delivered
by him in Third Civil Service Day, take place in New Delhi on April 21, 2008 named ‘Civil Service:
New Challenges New Commitments’. In this chapter he found some challenges which is coming
against the civil service in present scenario. Dr. Shingh told that each section of society has its own
grievances, and the civil service has its own. But not only are our civil service required serving every
section of society, but they should also do it in a professionally satisfying way. This is the challenge
considered by our former Prime Minister against the civil servants. But at the very last of this chapter
he stated that “I am sure, you will (the civil servants) all work with commitment to ensure that our
civil service rise up to the expressions of our people and mention the best standards of
professionalism”.

Third chapter is written by Former Sectary of Parliament Mr. Shubhas C. Kasyap named ‘Concept
of Good Governance and Koutilya’s Arthashastra ’. In his writing Kasyap try to narrate in present
context Good Governance become a very important concept to Indian Government. After this he told
that there is nothing really new in stressing the principle and paradigms of good governance in
political science. The concept in ancient Indian polity of the rulers being
bound by dharma was preciously that of ensuring good governance to the people. According to
Mr. Kasyap the jataka tales, Shantiparva-Anushanparva of Mahabharata, Shukracharyas’s nitisar,
Panini’s Astyadhoyee, Balmiki’s Ramayana and Koutilya’s Arthashastra are replete with description
of tenants of good governance.

Fourth chapter of this book is ’The Concept of Good Governance: The Indian Context’ by
Professor Surinder K. Shukla. Here he tries to find out some new challenges of good governance in
new context. Professor Shukla told that the lack of accountability of the elected representatives
towards the citizen has led to the importance of civil society in the recent past. He suggested that the
capacity to manage this governance system effectively is paramount for facing the challenges. The
challenges and threats are posed by the growing economics gaps and social political exclusion within
and among nation. To overcome those challenges writer suggested following points at the very last of
the chapter.
 Democratization of political parties.
 Separation of executive and legislature.
 Safeguard against executive abuse.
 Decentralization of our governance.
 Efficient and responsive bureaucracy, and
 Speedy and efficient justice system.
 Next chapter is presented by jointly Rajiv Sharma and Nandini Sharma, named ‘Good
Governance” A Utopia’. Writers try to say that governance is an issue that has attracted attention of
thinkers since the beginning of civilized society. According to them Plato dwelt at length on the issue
of governance and his student Aristotle subsequently further developed the concept. In India the
concept of good governance has introduced by Koutilya. After this the writes that with the emergence
of terrorism the role of state has to be re-established, with this the concept of good governance also to
be reviewed. Government has to govern and it has to provide good governance. But with the change
of the role of state the concept good governance become ‘A Utopia’.

Following article is by Rahul Sarain, a former government official. ‘Good Governance or

Improved Governance’ is name of his article. Here at the beginning Mr. Rahul tries to give the
definition of Good Governance. Then he put a table on good government agenda, where he showed
that total number of good governance was 45 at the year of 1997 and 116 in the year of 2002-2003. At
the end part of his article Mr. Sarain discussed about the strategic improvements in governance.

Eighth chapter of this edited volume is written by Abid Hussain, named ‘Some Ideas on
Governance’ where he give number of suggestions to improve the level of good governance. First
suggestion by the writer is, to improve the quality of governance democracy is the roots,
ecentralization is must for this type of improvement according to narrator. Next suggestions by Mr.
Hussain are responsible approach to resource management, efficacy of empowerment, administrative
efficiencies, transparency and open government, accountability and ethics etc.

Ninth article is ‘Promoting Excellence in Governance’ written by Amitabh Pandey, former Sectary
of Inter State council, Ministry of Home Affair. It is a very short article, Mr. Pandey just try to give
suggestions how the governance will be so effective.

Next chapter is ‘Public Administration in the 21st Century: Context, Lessons and nChallenges’
presented by Mohammad Mohabat Khan. Here at the opening he try to clear the concept of ‘Public
Administration’ he told that, Public Administration as a practice can be treated to the beginning of the
recorded human history. Administration in one form or another has existed since the down of human
civilization. After this he try to write about the context of Public Administration, here he showed that
good governance is not surprising as ideologies of public administration are also changing with
increasing focus on protecting foreign private investment and property.

Eleventh article of this book is written by Ramesh Kumar Arora, the editor. It is a very important
article in this book named ‘Public Administration Resilience and Rejuvenation’.Main focus of this
article is discus the concept Public Administration very deeply. At the beginning writer discussed how
public administration started its way with the article of ‘The Study of Administration’ by famous
personality Woodrow Wilson. Then Mr. Arora tries to discuss about the development of this subject,
after 1960s New Public Administration NPA was introduced. At the end part of the chapter writer
discuss about NPM or New Public Management.

Twelfth chapter is, ‘Good Governance: New Public Management Perspective’ written by Marino
Pinto former Senior Fellow of UGC. At the opening part of the chapter writer discuss about the
concept of good governance. Then he told about NPM or New Public Management. According to him
what changes good governance brings into public administration is what new public management is
all about. After this he try to make a comparison between developed state like USA, UK, Germany,
Singapore and India on the functioning of New Public Management. Following article is ‘Economic
Reforms and Role of Bureaucracy in India: A Study in the Perspective of Administrative Reforms’
presented by Dhrubyajyoti Bhoumik. He started the article by characterising Indian bureaucracy. He
showed eight feature of Indian Bureaucracy, some of them are
 It lives in a sheltered world of its own.
 It is elitist and ‘overlordist’, ‘groupist’ and separatist in approach and attitude.
 Its business which is to be busy about its own business.
 It is strong hierarchy believer, status hungry and perk-jerker.
 It possesses in immense measure passing the buck trait. Etc

Next article is written by M.M. Ansari, the Central Information Commissioner named ‘Wright to
Information and its Relationship to Good Governance and Development’. In this chapter he mainly
tries to show how the process of RTI or Right to Information is increasing the level of good
governance and development. According to the writer greater transparency is a very important
criterion of good governance which could be possible in the process of RTI.

Fifteenth chapter of this book is ‘Policy Advocacy: The Emerging paradigm in Public Services’
written by Vennu Gupta, Secretary of Education, Government of Rajasthan. At the beginning he told
that, the 21st century is witnessed the convergence of information technology and digital
communication technology, which in turn has resulted in a paradigm shift in the people’s expectations
from government. Then he put number of table, which are showing the issue selection framework,
identification of stockholders matrix etc.

Sixteenth chapter of this book is written by le Raarnhiunlg Sfraormin onthameresd: Transfer of

Best Practices’. In this chapter Mr. Rahul mainly try to show some examples of other states, how
those states adopt the best practice. According to author best practice is commonly understood as an
improvement in the efficiency of management system for the delivery of basic services, access to
information and facilitating public decision making. With this author also discussed about the impact
of best practices in different states.

Following article is by Rakesh Hooja,recvheaniurme,a Anjmoefe, r bnoaamrdedof ‘Local

Government as the Third Tier in Federal India: A Brief Comment’. Main objective of this article is to
stated about the grass root level democracy in India. Author stated that with the 73rd and 74th
constitutional amendment taken place in 1991 and 1992 the process of decentralizing is introduced in
India. At the end part of the article Mr. Hooja told that PRIs are gradually moving towards becoming
genuine institution of local governance.

Next chapter is ‘Personal Problems in Indian Administration: A Cross-sectional Analysis’ written

by C.V. Vithal. Narrator tries to stated in this chapter about the formation of Indian Administration
very clearly. After this Mr. Vithal discussed about the key factors to create efficiency in
administration. Those key factors are fair selection, proper training, good decision making, delegation,
good inter personal relations, good environment etc. Nineteenth chapter is ‘Performance Appraisal in
Indian Administration: An Examination of Surinder Nath Study Group’s Proposals’, it is the second
article of Dhrubajyoti Bhoumik. Narrator told that performance appraisal is adopted as an overall
methodology by an organisation to assess the performance and capability of an individual employee.
Very last article of this book written by Professor Pradip Gupta named ‘E-Governance in India:
Experiences and Imperatives’. In this article writer try to tell how E-Governance is functioning in
present context. And at the end of the article author showed some challenges of this e-governance.
With this he give a data which is telling us how many percent of e-governance is used by the different
countries. According to that data, Taiwan at the top to use e-governance, 65%. Germany used 59%,
Australia used 50% USA used 34%.

After this review we can say that definitely this book is a very importance documents to
understand the governance system in Indian context. Most of the article of this book discussed about
the process of governing in present scenario. But in my view this book has an obstacle that is
maximum article of this book is written by the policy makers, so it become an important documents in
the perspective of policy making not to understand the concept of ‘Governance’.

I hope this present book under review will help those people who work on Indian government
system. With this all the students and professor of Indian administration will also get help from this
book. And I hope that so many discussions will happen on this book further. And it must be conceder
as a very welcome and timely contribution on the study of Indian administrative system.