A book excerpt from “E-Governance in India” explains how digital governance, ICT tools and citizen-centric reforms are reshaping India’s public administration
Sangita Dhal & Nachiketa Singh
Book Title: E-Governance in India: Heralding a New Era of Inclusive Governance
Authors: Sangita Dhal & Nachiketa Singh
Publisher: Routledge
Electronic governance, or e-governance, is one of the recent trends in administrative reforms adopted in India after the emergence of the New Economic Policy in the early 1990s, which has had a tremendous impact on the government’s functioning. This new thinking is driven by the idea that in the age of information and technology, governance should become smart and people-friendly. This new approach’s primary objective is to bridge the governance deficit and re-establish the government’s credibility, which was constantly eroded due to underperformance or lack of success in achieving the desired developmental goals. Experts consider this trust deficit to be the major reason behind continuous failure of the state’s policies, resulting in apathy and cynicism amongst citizens. These developments have reshaped the discipline of public administration, public management and the relationship between government and the citizens in the contemporary era. The present volume on ‘E-Governance in India: Heralding a New Era of Inclusive Governance’ provides useful insights and information regarding the incorporation of ICT tools and other means of administration in these challenging times of physical and social distancing.
The book covers a diverse array of social, economic and political landscapes, which engages the readers to analyse various aspects of governance from the social science perspectives, such as gender, development, empowerment, governance, public policy, rural development, etc. It situates the concept of e-governance in the larger context of new public administration, new public management, globalisation, and good governance, which will be beneficial for readers to understand e-governance as a critical game-changer in the existing public administration discourse. The present volume extensively probes the various dimensions of governance, as well as innovative techniques adopted by the states that have witnessed the exponential growth of ICT tools and techniques in modern times. It also attempts to address a host of issues and complexities of governance that already existed and were further exacerbated due to the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The book provides a conceptual and theoretical framework of e-governance for understanding the emerging public administration’s concerns under the impact of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation. It also examines the process of e-governance as a citizen-centric task of the government, where an attempt has been made to critically analyse the role of technology as a bridge between the state and the individual. The overarching theme of this volume is based on the assumption that electronic governance has ensured good governance by adopting information and communication technologies coupled with sound managerial practices, thereby making it more citizen-oriented and responsive.
Modern states use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to provide services to citizens in different spheres of public service delivery and civic engagement. However, little research has been undertaken to make a fair assessment of the impact and outcome of e-governance at the grassroots level. The present volume addresses the gap by identifying the circumstances, concerns and expectations from the citizens’ perspective and examining the finer aspects of social processes within the ambit of e-governance. The present volume is a modest attempt to find out the nature and function of the e-governance initiatives in achieving the cherished goals of promoting citizen-friendly administration through e-governance, and thereby promoting inclusive development.
The present volume stands out in the existing body of knowledge and literature available on similar themes, such as e-governance, as it represents a blend of normative and empirical case studies as relevant examples and expands the scope of the study on e-governance to include the macro-perspective of governance. Therefore, in order to strengthen and consolidate the twin objectives of good governance through ICT and socio-economic empowerment through increased citizen participation, this volume contributes in terms of academic input, data and policy recommendations to facilitate informed choice on the part of the policy-makers. The present volume serves as a ready reckoner for students of public administration, researchers and framers of public policy and last but not least, the young aspiring civil servants, who need to develop a holistic perspective with a critical understanding of the multidimensional character of administration and governance.
The book provides a comprehensive analysis of the emerging themes like artificial intelligence, e-learning, e-commerce, e-health, disaster management, cyber security, etc., which are linked with e-governance and have a considerable effect on the existing institutions and the processes of administration and governance. This academic endeavor will hopefully contribute to deepening our comprehension of the relevant theme on ‘electronic governance’.
Finally, our humble attempt is to provide a comprehensive reference on e-governance for instructors, students, policy makers, researchers, and practitioners. It aims to offer essential readings for developing a comprehensive understanding of this critically relevant and important topic of e-governance, thereby enhancing their overall learning experience.
At the end, our efforts will be deemed worthwhile if they succeed in provoking new ideas and encourage more in-depth inquiry into the subject. While pursuing this academic endeavor, we owe a deep sense of gratitude to our institutions, students and well-wishers, for their inspiration, support, and valuable inputs. Our sincere thanks to Routledge Publishers, Amit Kumar, and their editorial board for their efforts and continual faith in the potential of the book’s manuscript. We are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for suggesting useful revisions to the chapters that have helped to strengthen its structure and contents, and provided beneficial suggestions to improve the manuscript’s overall effectiveness and scholarly rigour.
(Excerpts from the book ‘E-Governance in India Heralding a New Era of Inclusive Governance’ by Sangita Dhal and Nachiketa Singh, with permission from publishers Routledge. The authors are professors at Delhi University. Views Expressed are personal.