Good Governance and Social Sector Developments in India (2014–2024)

The chapter examines the interplay between good governance and social sector developments in India from 2014 to 2024, a period marked by transformative governance reforms and technological innovations. The present research addresses two key questions: (1) How far have the initiatives – in respect of good governance – undertaken by the Modi administration delivered the required outcome? (2) Despite the fact that India has resilient democratic institutions, effective governance remains a major challenge? Findings indicate that despite having several challenges, India's democratic governance framework has deepened over the years. The administration has employed transformative initiatives converging on nationalism, economic growth, and governance transparency, with a long-term goal of making India a developed nation by 2047. Policies such as ‘Make in India,’ GST implementation, and ‘Digital India’ have strengthened India's economic progress. Social welfare initiatives like Jan Dhan Yojana, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and Ayushman Bharat have contributed to social sector development as well. The study concludes that good governance and social sector developments in India are not free from criticisms, and challenges like the centralization of power have been a major concern, leading to perceived failure of democratic norms; and policies like the abolition of Article 370, introduction of CAA, and COVID-19 management have been contentious and flashed nationwide discussions.