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Subject: Governance

Important aspects of Society

  • “Recent amendments to the Right to Information Act will have profound impact on the autonomy and independence of the Information Commission”. Discuss.

    The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 is a cornerstone of transparent and accountable governance in India. The RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 introduced changes to the service conditions of the CIC and ICs.

    Amendments to the RTI Act, 2019

    The tenure of the CIC and ICs (earlier fixed at 5 years) is now to be determined by the Central Government.

    The salaries, allowances, and other service conditions of CICs and ICs are also subject to executive notification, replacing the earlier parity with Election Commissioners.

    The status and equivalence of the CIC and ICs with constitutional authorities like the Election Commission have been removed.

    Impact on Autonomy and Independence

    Executive Control Over Tenure, undermines security of office and increasing executive dependence.

    The original status equal to the Election Commission is withdrawn, reducing the Commission’s symbolic and functional autonomy.

    Threat to Federal Autonomy- Centre’s control over State Information Commissions’ service conditions.

    Chilling Effect on Decision-Making- Fear of punitive transfers or reduced tenure can deter bold and impartial rulings against powerful authorities.

    Perceived loss of independence can erode citizens’ confidence in the Commission as a neutral watchdog.

    Compromised autonomy weakens enforcement of the right to information, curbing transparency and accountability.

    Other issues (Satark Nagrik Sangathan Report)

    7 out of 29 Information Commissions were completely defunct between July 2023 and June 2024

    In 2024, 9 Commissions were functioning without a Chief Information Commissioner

    Rising Backlogs- Over 4 lakh appeals and complaints pending

    High Rejection Rate- The CIC returned 42% of appeals/complaints received

    Since 2005, only 9% of all Information Commissioners have been women

    Way Forward

    Establish a National Coordination Committee (NCC) to monitor RTI implementation and ensure uniformity across states.

    Fill vacancies in Information Commissions promptly to prevent delays and backlogs.

    Engage information management experts for proper classification, cataloguing, and storage of records.

    Introduce a separate legal chapter to protect RTI applicants and activists from harassment and retaliation.

    Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Thus, the autonomy of the Information Commissions must be safeguarded to strengthen Right to Information under Article 19.

  • Can Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organizations present an alternative model of public service delivery to benefit the common citizen? Discuss the challenges of this alternative model.

    Role of Civil Society and NGOs in Public Service Delivery

    Education – Run low-cost, community schools, teacher training, and literacy drives. Eg- Pratham’s Read India Campaign.

    Health and Nutrition – Provide mobile health units, maternal care, and nutrition programs. Eg- Akshaya Patra mid-day meals.

    Women Empowerment – Organize self-help groups and cooperatives to promote income generation. Eg- SEWA – women’s cooperatives in Gujarat.

    Rural Development – Implement watershed management and livelihood programs. Eg- WOTR – soil and water conservation in drought-prone regions.

    Governance & Accountability – Conduct awareness campaigns, social audits, and legal advocacy. Eg- MKSS pioneered Right to Information through Jan Sunwai model.

    Environment and Sustainability – Promote community-based natural resource management and renewable energy use. Eg- TERI

    Strengths of NGO-Civil Society Model

    Community-Centric Programs

    Flexible and Innovative low-cost models

    Last-Mile Reach

    Participatory Governance

    Fills governance and capacity gaps in public service delivery

    Challenges of this Alternative Model

    Funding Constraints – Dependence on foreign/donor funding.

    Fragmentation and Duplication – Poor coordination with government departments.

    Accountability and Transparency Deficit – Eg- CBI report: <10% NGOs file audited financial statements.

    Anti-Developmental Concerns – Eg- IB Report: NGO activism causing ~2% GDP loss.

    Regulatory Restrictions – Stringent FCRA, CSR, compliance laws.

    Elite and Urban Bias – Disconnect from grassroots realities.

    Sustainability Issues – Short-term donor-driven projects.

    Way Forward

    Vijay Kumar Committee Recommendations – Promote ‘Light regulation’ of NGOs.

    2nd ARC Recommendation – Establish an independent National Accreditation Council.

    Government-NGO Collaboration Platforms – Eg- Kerala’s Kudumbashree model.

    Diversified Funding – Reduce donor dependency.

    Outcome-Based Monitoring – Introduce impact assessment frameworks (NITI Aayog).

    NGOs are “integral cogs in the wheel of good governance”. A balanced partnership between genuine NGOs and the government is crucial for India’s inclusive and sustainable development.

  • Has digital illiteracy, particularly in rural areas, coupled with lack of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessibility hindered socio-economic development? Examine with justification.

    As per UNDP (2022), Digital access is now a core dimension of human development. However, digital illiteracy and poor ICT access have created a digital divide, restricting equitable growth.

    Digital illiteracy and accessibility

    Internet Access: Only 43% of rural households have internet access (NFHS-5, 2021).

    Digital Literacy: Merely 10% of rural population is digitally literate (NSSO data, 2022).

    Infrastructure Gaps: More than 35 thousand Gram Panchayats lack connectivity under BharatNet.

    Device Ownership: Less than 15% of rural households have computers or tablets (NSSO).

    Gender Divide: Only 33% of rural women have mobile internet access (GSMA Report, 2023).

    Exclusion and inclusion errors in digital systems reduce trust in e-services. Eg- authentication errors in Aadhaar-linked DBT or ration delivery.

    Weak Common Service Centre (CSC) Infrastructure: poor connectivity, limited equipment, and untrained staff

    Lack of People-Centric Governance: Most government websites are only in English, not in vernacular languages, excluding non-English users.

    Education and Skill Development

    Limited online learning: Only 24% rural students could attend online classes during COVID-19 (ASER 2021).

    Digital exclusion restricts access to e-learning platforms like SWAYAM, PMGDISHA, and DIKSHA.

    Employment and Livelihoods

    Rural youth miss digital job opportunities in gig economy and e-commerce.

    Farmers lack access to digital market tools like e-NAM or Kisan Suvidha App.

    Financial Inclusion

    Inability to use UPI, digital banking, and DBT systems limits access to formal finance.

    Rural MSMEs struggle with e-payments and online compliance (GST, MCA21).

    Governance and Welfare Access – Eg- exclusion from Aadhaar-based DBT due to authentication errors and poor connectivity.

    Health and Social Services – Lack of ICT prevents use of telemedicine platforms (eSanjeevani) and digital health records.

    Gender and Social Inequality – Women, SC/ST, and elderly are most excluded due to low literacy and device ownership.

    However, there are some Achievements

    Expanding Digital Infrastructure

    BharatNet: Over 2.14 lakh Gram Panchayats connected with optical fibre; 97.6% villages have mobile coverage.

    5G rollout (2022-25): 4.7 lakh towers covering 99.6% districts.

    Massive Digital Empowerment

    PMGDISHA: Trained over 6.3 crore citizens in digital literacy.

    Common Service Centres (5.3 lakh) serve as ICT hubs in 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats.

    Financial and Payment Revolution

    UPI: Handles 85% of India’s digital payments, processing (June 2025). Enabled financial inclusion of 491 million individuals and 65 million merchants.

    e-Governance and Inclusion

    UMANG: 2,300+ services in 23 languages; 8.7 crore users.

    DigiLocker: 56 crore users; promotes paperless governance.

    Jan Soochna Portal (Rajasthan): Promotes proactive transparency.

    Way Forward

    Strengthen Digital Infrastructure: Accelerate BharatNet Phase-II to connect all Gram Panchayats

    Enhance Digital Literacy: Expand PMGDISHA and integrate digital literacy in school curricula (e-Kidz, IT clubs).

    Affordable Access: Subsidize data costs and promote public Wi-Fi hotspots (PM-WANI) in rural regions.

    Promote Local Language Content: Use platforms like BHASHINI for vernacular digital inclusion.

    Encourage PPP Models: Collaborate with private sector for last-mile connectivity and training. Eg- CSC-SPV.

    Inclusive Design: Ensure gender-sensitive and community-based ICT training modules.

    Bridging this digital divide is essential to achieve “Digital India for All” and realize the vision of inclusive growth under Viksit Bharat@2047.

  • The jurisdiction of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding lodging an FIR and conducting probe within a particular State is being questioned by various States. However, the power of the States to withhold consent to the CBI is not absolute. Explain with special reference to the federal character of India.

    The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), established under the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946, is India’s premier investigating agency. It has become the issue of confrontational federalism in recent years.

    Legal Framework of CBI’s Jurisdiction

    Section 6 of DSPE Act – CBI requires State consent to investigate cases within that State

    General Consent – blanket permission for all cases (most States provide this).

    Case-specific Consent – given on a case-to-case basis if general consent is withdrawn.

    States’ Power to Withhold Consent

    Police and Public order is a State List subject, Entry 2, List II.

    Several States (e.g., West Bengal, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Punjab) have withdrawn general consent citing political misuse.

    However, States’ Power is Not Absolute

    Court’s Power –

    The Supreme Court and High Courts can direct the CBI to investigate without State consent under Articles 32 and 226. (State of West Bengal v. Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights (2010))

    Union Territories – CBI can operate without State consent in UTs.

    Inter-State and National Interest Cases – Involving corruption, national security, or cross-border crimes, Union may justify CBI probe to preserve national integrity.

    The Supreme Court ruled that the CBI can probe Central officials under Central laws without State consent.

    Impact on Federal Character of India

    Positive Aspects

    Judicial oversight – SC/HC powers to direct CBI investigations prevent misuse of State autonomy.

    Enables impartial probes in crimes affecting multiple States.

    National interest protection – accountability in cases threatening unity, security, or economy.

    Negative Aspects

    CBI entry without consent undermines State authority.

    Politicisation fears – Opposition-ruled States view CBI as a tool of the Centre

    SC criticized the CBI as a “caged parrot speaking in its master’s voice.” (Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) Case)

    Weakens cooperative federalism – Tensions between WB Govt and Centre

    Reinforces the unitary bias of the Constitution, reducing States to subordinate entities in criminal investigation matters.

    Way Forward

    Strengthen Autonomy – Implement Vineet Narain (1997) directives (“CVC-supervised model”).

    Statutory Backing – Replace DSPE Act, 1946 with a clear modern CBI law.

    Consultative Federalism – Respect States’ consent; use Inter-State Council for dialogue.

    Joint Collaboration – Form Centre-State task forces for investigation

    The need of the hour is strengthening institutional independence of CBI , and fostering cooperative federalism.

  • Can the vicious cycle of gender inequality, poverty and malnutrition be broken through microfinancing of women SHGs? Explain with examples.

    Microfinance, channelled through women-led SHGs, offers a transformative pathway by enhancing economic agency, social empowerment, and nutritional security.

    The Vicious Cycle

    Gender Inequality – Women’s lack of access to education, income, and decision-making.

    Poverty – Limited income and savings reduce food security and healthcare access.

    Malnutrition – Poor maternal nutrition and child health perpetuate intergenerational poverty.

    How Microfinance via Women SHGs Breaks the Cycle

    Economic Empowerment Reduces Poverty

    Access to Collateral-Free Credit: Enables women to invest in productive activities (livestock, handicrafts, food processing).

    Eg- Jeevika (Bihar) lifted over 1 crore women from subsistence to sustainable livelihoods, raising family incomes by 30%.

    Financial Inclusion Strengthens Decision-Making

    SHGs enhance financial literacy, savings, and bargaining power in households. Eg- Kudumbashree (Kerala) – women’s collective income used for improved household nutrition and sanitation.

    Social Capital – SHGs build trust, networks, and solidarity, empowering women to demand better services (PDS, ICDS, health).

    Women’s Role in Nutrition and Food Security

    Empowered women spend up to 90% of income on family well-being (UNDP).

    SHG-linked programs like Poshan Sakhi (NRLM) and Livelihood Mission Nutrition Gardens promote dietary diversity.

    Reducing Gender Inequality through Economic Agency – Women gain voice and mobility, shifting from dependents to decision-makers. Eg- Lakhpati Didi initiative (2023) targets 2 crore women

    Challenges

    High Interest Rates: MFIs often charge 20-24%, burdening the poor.

    “Missing Middle” finance trap – they outgrow microcredit but cannot access medium-scale loans.

    Regional Imbalance: Concentration of SHGs in southern states (71%); weak in the north and northeast.

    Limited Market Access: Lack of integration with value chains and formal markets.

    Poor Financial Management – Irregular bookkeeping, misappropriation of funds, and lack of audit systems result in low creditworthiness.

    Patriarchal Resistance – In many regions, especially in North India, SHGs are viewed as token collectives rather than serious economic actors.

    Way Forward

    Develop Market Linkages: Integrate SHGs with ONDC, GeM, and e-NAM for fair pricing and wider market access.

    Interest Subvention and Credit Expansion: Strengthen access to MUDRA, PMEGP, and Stand-Up India for low-interest enterprise loans.

    Regional Diversification: Replicate best practices from Kudumbashree and Jeevika in less-developed regions.

    Social Empowerment Convergence: Link SHGs with Poshan Abhiyaan, PMAY-G, and Ujjwala Yojana for holistic welfare outcomes.

    Monitoring and Transparency: Use digital dashboards under DAY-NRLM to track financial performance and social outcomes.

    SHGs can help shift beneficiary-based welfare to participatory empowerment, aligning with the vision of Nari Shakti & SDG 5.

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  • The Gati-Shakti Yojana needs meticulous coordination between the government and the private sector to achieve the goal of connectivity. Discuss.

    The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (2021) aims to transform India’s infrastructure landscape through integrated, multimodal connectivity across roads, railways, ports, airports, and logistics.

    Six pillars of Gati Shakti – a transformative approach for economic growth:

    Analytical: GIS-based, helps identify gaps and assets.

    Dynamic: Updated regularly.

    Prioritization: Focused and need-based planning.

    Comprehensive: Covers 16 ministries under an integrated approach.

    Synchronization: Digital platform enabling coordination.

    Optimization: Better resource and asset utilization.

    Need for Coordination between Government and Private Sector

    Improved Quality and Efficiency – Public sector ensures regulatory and policy stability, while the private sector ensures better project management and minimizes cost and time overruns.

    Exchange of Expertise and Competence – Eg- PPPs in Sagarmala and Bharatmala projects.

    Augmenting Fiscal Capacity – Private investment supplements limited public capital.

    Fostering Entrepreneurship and Innovation – Encourages startups in logistics (e.g., Rivigo, Delhivery) leveraging digital platforms.

    Synergies with National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) – Monetised assets create fiscal space for new projects under Gati Shakti.

    Efficient Dispute Resolution – Joint mechanisms improve grievance handling and PPP trust.

    Challenges in Coordination

    Institutional Overlaps among ministries.

    Regulatory Uncertainty deters long-term private investments.

    Land Acquisition and Environmental Clearances remain bottlenecks.

    Data-Sharing Gaps and silo mentality

    Way Forward

    Single-Window Digital Interface

    Standardize risk-sharing frameworks under PPP.

    Empower the Network Planning Group (NPG) for inter-ministerial coordination.

    “Connectivity is the new currency of competitiveness.” – NITI Aayog. Gati Shakti Yojana will help propel the Indian economy to a $5 trillion level and beyond in “Amrit Kaal.”

  • Do you agree with the view that increasing dependence on donor agencies for development reduces the importance of community participation in the development process ? Justify your answer.

    The Indian Constitution envisions a Welfare State under the DPSP. Donor agencies play a vital role in financing and technical support for these welfare measures.

    Increasing Dependence Reduces Community Participation

    Top-Down Project Design, with limited grassroots consultation.

    Erosion of Local Ownership – Beneficiary communities become recipients, not stakeholders

    Conditionalities restrict local policy space. Eg- IMF’s 1991 Structural Adjustment Programme reduced social sector expenditure

    Dependency Syndrome – Over-reliance on external funding discourages domestic resource mobilization and self-reliance. (A.G.Frank – “development of underdevelopment.”)

    Marginalization of Traditional Knowledge – Donor-driven modern approaches often ignore indigenous practices and local innovation.

    Transparency and Accountability Gaps – lack of clear monitoring frameworks or open reporting mechanisms limits public scrutiny and impact evaluation.

    Foreign Influence – Eg-Concerns were raised about World Vision India allegedly promoting religious conversion using foreign funds.

    Positive Role of Donor Agencies in Development

    Resource Mobilization – World Bank funding for the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)

    Capacity Building – – DFID’s Bihar Rural Livelihood Project (JEEViKA) strengthened the capacity of SHGs and Panchayats.

    Donor agencies often introduce bottom-up approaches and emphasize stakeholder consultation.

    Catalyzing Policy Reforms – Eg- IMF’s fiscal frameworks encouraged better macroeconomic management post-1991 reforms.

    Promotion of Human Development – – UNICEF and UNFPA have supported India’s Reproductive and Child Health Programme (RCH-II) and Poshan Abhiyaan.

    Strengthening Civil Society – – UNDP’s Disha Project (with IKEA Foundation) enhanced employability of 1 million rural women across 10 states.

    Donor agencies are “integral cogs in the wheel of good governance”. A balanced partnership with government is crucial make development inclusive, sustainable and rapid..

  • Reforming the government delivery system through the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme is a progressive step, but it has its limitations too. Comment.

    As per World Bank (2023), India’s DBT architecture is the largest social protection systems globally, covering over 900 million people.

    Progressive Aspects of the DBT Scheme

    Cost Savings – DBT system helped India achieve by eliminating ghost beneficiaries, duplication, and leakages. (BlueKraft Digital Foundation, 2025)

    Better targeting – Subsidy allocations reduced from 16% (pre-DBT) to 9% of total government expenditure.

    Transparency and Reduction in Leakages – DBT has significantly reduced ghost beneficiaries and duplication. Eg-In PAHAL (LPG subsidy)

    Financial Inclusion – PM Jan Dhan Yojana enabled over 50 crore accounts, empowering poor women and rural households to receive funds directly.

    Efficiency and Timeliness – Eliminated intermediaries and delays. Eg-MNREGA, PM-KISAN, and PMUY payments.

    Strengthening Governance Accountability – Real-time monitoring via Public Financial Management System (PFMS) ensures audit trails and transparency.

    Inclusive Welfare Delivery and targeted support during crises. Eg-20 crore women Jan Dhan accounts.

    Promotes Digital and Cashless Economy – Eg- UPI handles 85% of India’s digital payments, processing (June 2025).

    Limitations of DBT Implementation

    Exclusion Errors: Aadhaar authentication failures lead to denial of benefits. Eg- Jharkhand PDS (2017) saw 10-15% exclusion (NITI Aayog).

    Digital Divide: Only 43% rural households have internet access (NFHS-5, 2021).

    Weak Banking Infrastructure: Shortage of bank branches and CSPs in rural and hilly areas.

    Data Privacy and Security Risks: Eg- Aadhaar and CoWIN data leaks.

    Technocratic Bias: Focus on automation sidelines those lacking digital literacy or documentation

    Administrative Delays: Verification and coordination issues cause payment rejections or delays. Eg- payment delays in MGNREGA

    Limited Grievance Redressal: Weak feedback mechanisms for correction of DBT errors.

    Way Forward

    Improve Authentication: Use offline Aadhaar, multi-factor verification, and local validation.

    Institutional Reforms: Apply Business Process Re-engineering (2nd ARC) for simpler workflows.

    Social Audits and Human Interface: Combine digital governance with local institutions for last-mile trust.

    Strengthen Digital Infrastructure: Accelerate BharatNet Phase-II to connect all Gram Panchayats

    Enhance Digital Literacy: Expand PMGDISHA and integrate digital literacy in school curricula (e-Kidz, IT clubs).

    India must move toward “Technology with Inclusion” – ensuring no beneficiary is left behind.

  • Discuss the contribution of civil society groups for women’s effective and meaningful participation and representation in state legislatures in India.

    “Women’s political participation is the surest indicator of democracy’s depth.” – UN Women.

    CSOs and women’s rights groups have played a pivotal role in mobilizing, training, and advocacy for women’s political empowerment.

    Contributions of Civil Society Groups

    Advocacy for Legislative Reforms – Eg- National Alliance for Women’s Reservation Bill (NAWRB) mobilized multi-party support for the 128th Constitutional Amendment (2023).

    Political Education – Conduct capacity-building programs to train women in political leadership, campaigning, and governance. Eg- Sakhi Resource Centre (Kerala)

    Building Networks – Create coalitions and forums to amplify women’s collective voice in politics. Eg- National Alliance of Women (NAWO)

    Promoting Gender Sensitization within Parties to reform candidate selection processes and promote internal gender quotas.

    Electoral Mobilization – Run voter education drives to increase women’s turnout and encourage women candidates.

    Research and Documentation – Eg- Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) publishes gender-disaggregated election data to expose gaps in representation.

    Grassroots-to-Legislature Leadership Pipeline – Supported Panchayat women leaders to transition into state politics.

    Increased political visibility and legitimacy of women’s issues in policy spaces.

    Challenges

    Patriarchal Political Culture – Party hierarchies resist internal reforms and tokenize women leaders.

    Resource Constraints – Civil society campaigns depend on donor funding and lack long-term institutional backing.

    Fragmentation – Lack of unified women’s coalition across regions and ideologies.

    Limited Media Coverage – Women’s political work underreported compared to male counterparts.

    Token Representation – symbolic presence without real decision power. Eg- Sarpanch Pati

    Regulatory Hurdles – Strict FCRA and compliance norms restrict civil society operations.

    Socio-Cultural Barriers – Family opposition and traditional gender roles deter active participation.

    Way Forward

    Early implementation of Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam

    Joint CSO-government programs to train women politicians.

    Formal Party-CSO Dialogue Platforms to improve women’s candidate representation.

    Intersectional Inclusion – Target programs for Dalit, tribal, and minority women.

    This can strengthen Civil society to transform women from voters to legislators, ensuring inclusive and participatory democracy.

  • Discuss the role of the Competition Commission of India in containing the abuse of dominant position by the Multi-National Corporations in India. Refer to the recent decisions.

    The Competition Commission of India (CCI), established under the Competition Act, 2002, is the chief regulatory body to promote and sustain fair competition in markets.

    Role of CCI in Containing Abuse of Dominant Position by MNCs

    Enforcement of Competition Act, 2002 0 It can initiate investigations suo motu or based on complaints from consumers or firms.

    Regulation of Mergers and Acquisitions involving MNCs to ensure they do not lead to market monopolisation or restrict competition.

    Investigation and Monitoring of market practices. It can ask the Director General (DG) for investigation into dominant firms. Eg- investigation against e-Commerce companies

    Asian Paints Case (2024): CCI ordered an investigation into exclusionary practices that restricted competition in the decorative paints market.

    Imposition of Penalties on firms found guilty of abusing dominance. Eg- Google was fined for abusing dominance in the Android mobile ecosystem

    Conducts awareness campaigns to inform consumers about their rights

    Challenges

    Global Nature of MNCs: Difficult to regulate cross-border conduct and global digital platforms.

    Proof Burden: Difficult to establish anti-competitive “effects.”

    Lengthy Litigation: MNCs challenge orders in courts, delaying enforcement.

    Jurisdictional Conflicts: Overlaps with data and consumer protection authorities like TRAI

    Way Forward

    Build economic and digital expertise in CCI and DG offices.

    Enhance international cooperation with global antitrust regulators.

    Ensure faster adjudication and reduce judicial delays.

    Update the Competition Act to handle AI and platform dominance.

    The CCI has emerged as a key pillar of India’s economic governance, aligning with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.