Reflections on the Second Administrative Reforms Commission: An Analysis of the Implementation of e-Governance Initiatives
| Published date | 01 September 2023 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/00195561231177031 |
| Author | Nahida Begum N. |
| Date | 01 September 2023 |
Reflections on the
Second Administrative
Reforms Commission:
An Analysis of the
Implementation
of e-Governance
Initiatives
Nahida Begum N.1
Abstract
Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) was established by the Union
Government of India to offer suggestions for the improvement of administrative
machinery in India. This article focuses on the Second ARC’s Eleventh Report,
which consists of recommendations on promoting e-Governance in India. The
article emphasises the initiatives introduced by the Government of India to pro-
mote e-Governance and enhance civic engagement in the process of governance.
These initiatives have been implemented, and some of them are in the process
of implementation to promote good governance through the mechanism of
e-Governance. It also highlights the implementation of the recommendations
made by the ARC and the achievements and advancements made by the Bharatiya
Janata Party Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi in promoting
e-Governance. The article analyses the various initiatives and offers suggestions
for their improvement.
Keywords
Administrative Reforms Commission, e-Governance, civic engagement, recom-
mendations
Article
Indian Journal of Public
Administration
69(3) 555–570, 2023
© 2023 IIPA
Article reuse guidelines:
in.sagepub.com/journals-permissions-india
DOI: 10.1177/00195561231177031
journals.sagepub.com/home/ipa
1 Maharani Womens’ Arts, Commerce and Management College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Corresponding author:
Nahida Begum N., Maharani Womens’ Arts, Commerce and Management College, Sheshadri Road,
Bangalore, Karnataka 560001, India.
E-mail: mifzala@gmail.com
556Indian Journal of Public Administration 69(3)
Introduction
Democracy in its true sense can be realised and comprehended if the government is
committed to promote the welfare of the people. The success of democracy revolves
around two important aspects, namely the rights guaranteed to the people and the
measures taken by the government that benet the lives of the people. In recent
times, around the globe, the government of the day has been concerned with improv-
ing the lives of the people and providing them with all the amenities required to live
a satisfactory life. India is not an exception. The Union government and the state
governments have devised myriad strategies to promote good governance. Good
governance is the order of the day. Countries across the globe have adopted various
strategies to promote good governance. Of the many measures and strategies,
e-Governance is one of the signicant strategies adopted by governments to bring
about efciency and effectiveness in the functioning of governments.
In a democracy, sovereignty rests with the people. Peoples’ support and trust
legitimise the existence of the government. The masses exercise their right to
vote, with the expectation that their representatives would represent their interests
at all levels and provide them with the best services they deserve. The government
is obligated to deliver minimum, if not maximum, services to the people and
enable them to enjoy the fruits of development.
To realise this, the Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) was established
by the Central government to provide suggestions for the improvement of adminis-
trative machinery in India. The rst ARC was constituted on 5 January 1966 under
the chairmanship of Morarji Desai, and it was subsequently headed by K.
Hanumanthaiah. The second ARC was established on 31 August 2005 under the
leadership of Veerappa Moily. The second ARC deliberated on the measures to be
adhered to in achieving the goal of e-Governance. The ARC, pertaining to this,
submitted its Eleventh Report in 2008. The Commission made as many as seven-
teen recommendations. It was of the view that a conducive atmosphere is a prereq-
uisite to achieve the goal of e-Governance that necessitates the determination for
mutation by the executive, working in collaboration with the private sector, empha-
sis on e-Governance initiatives and its execution, supervision and appraisal are
some of the recommendations made by the second ARC on e-Governance.
Around the world, countries have comprehended that the use of Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) in managing the affairs of the state can do wonders.
Both the private and public sectors have, from time to time, been taking advantage of
ICT in carrying out the functions. e-Governance connotes the use of ICT in delivering
myriad services to the people. It is the application of electronic methods such as Short
Message Service (SMS) and email in the performance of governmental functions to
achieve Simple, Moral, Accountable, Responsive and Transparent (SMART)
Governance. Concurrently, it aims at effecting change in the functioning of the gov-
ernment through decreased outlays and upgraded services to the people. It also aims
to create informed citizenry. The second ARC in its report has deliberated upon the
application of e-Governance in the functioning of the government and explored and
examined the application of the same and recommended possible measures to improve
the functioning of the government with the application of ICT. The main concern of
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