Towards Re-engineering of the Ship of the Indian State: An Agenda for Dialogue and Research
| DOI | 10.1177/0019556119834743 |
| Date | 01 June 2019 |
| Author | Saurabh Kumar |
| Published date | 01 June 2019 |
| Subject Matter | Notes |
Towards Re-engineering
of the Ship of the Indian
State: An Agenda for
Dialogue and Research
Saurabh Kumar1
Abstract
The soft Indian State has become flabby as well—a labyrinth of sorts—as a result
of piece-meal additions of institutions and structures over the years, resulting in
sub-optimal functioning. Below potential outcomes abound at the micro-level.
The macro-picture is not so dismal but even there, the well-founded systemic
‘checks and balances’ of a democracy frequently take a dysfunctional form—of
(unintended) logjams. The (legitimate) liberal pre-occupation with (due) process
is unable to accord commensurate attention to performance (outcomes).
The problem is aggravated, of course, by the absence of judicious exercise of
responsibility by key players in the national polity. This Note abstracts from that,
and other, human failing(s) or those of governance.
It seeks to address the conundrum on the structural plane—questing for pos-
sibilities of overcoming the ‘decelerating’ impact of the many ‘speed-breakers’
that have come into play over time through an argument for a revisiting of the
‘structuration and apparatuses’ of the State focused on ‘functionality’. A review
of the record of the Republic, in other words, aimed at perking up the plural
polity in a strategic, ‘systems’ perspective, and shoring up the politico-managerial
component of the ‘comprehensive national power’ of the Indian State. To make it
more purposive and efficacious by cutting down on ‘organizational slack’.
A ‘strategic dialogue’ between three key constituencies of the polity is
proposed. For enabling sharper delineation of the strategic political interests of
the State and better management of the polity. And for fleshing out an agenda for
structural reform accordingly.
There is a time crunch operational which this arm-chair exercise has to
be mindful of. Three major tipping points kick into play within a few decades
from now—reversal of the (currently) favourable demography of the country,
possibility/likelihood of calamitous climate change and (as yet unpredictable
Note
Indian Journal of Public
Administration
65(2) 533–542, 2019
© 2019 IIPA
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DOI: 10.1177/0019556119834743
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1 National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore, India.
Corresponding author:
Saurabh Kumar, Adjunct Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore, India.
E-mail: saurabhkumar1610@gmail.com
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