Understanding Governance: Types, Categories and Governance in India

Defining Governance

The concept of governance often comes up in UPSC, especially in relation to the norms and regulations of a governing body. Broadly speaking, governance is a system that manages a tribe, class, family, or organization with the aim of ensuring their welfare.

The term is not limited to laws governing a country or a political region. It can also refer to a body that regulates and guides a formal or informal organization. The modern use of the term started in the 1990s and has since been expanded by various sociological thinkers and economists.

Studies related to governance and UPSC aim to understand the complex workings of these bodies and forces at different levels of society.

Categories of Governance

A crucial part of the UPSC Syllabus is understanding the different categories and types of governance. Broadly, governance can be divided into the following types:

Governance of the Public Sector

There has always been a debate about whether governance and politics are interrelated or distinct. In politics, a group of people try to reach a collective agreement on a particular topic and then formulate a common policy for societal betterment. Governance, on the other hand, involves administrative processes and their related elements.

Governance of the Private Sector

When non-governmental organizations, particularly private ones, create rules for the betterment of a larger group of people, it is considered public policy. This policy is generally operational and widely accepted. However, it's important to note that public policies also affect private organizations, not just governmental ones.

Global-Level Governance

Global-level governance refers to the creation of rules or processes with global needs in mind. It aims to reach a collective agreement that benefits everyone, going beyond the interests of a class, society, country, state, or organization.

Governance in India

The studies of Governance in India for UPSC cover India as a secular, sovereign, democratic, and socialist Republic. The government of India follows a parliamentary system with a federal structure and some unitary features. A specific council of ministers is responsible for the governance of the country.

The Prime Minister leads this council and advises the President, the constitutional head of India. The states have a similar structure, with the council being led by the Chief Minister.

The Indian government is divided into three branches, namely,

• The Legislature: Responsible for making laws.
• The Executive: Primarily responsible for formulating and implementing government policies and laws.
• The Judiciary: Oversees the judicial system, including the Supreme Court, High Court, and District and Sessions courts.

A key area of discussion for the civil services exam is the execution of governance in a particular country. Therefore, candidates can learn more about the topic as discussed in this article.