UPSC Mains 2023 GS2 Q8 — E-governance Challenges
e-governance, as a critical tool of governance, has ushered in effectiveness, transparency and accountability in governments. What inadequacies hamper the enhancement of these features? (Answer in 150 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- What
- Scope keywords
- e-governancecritical tool of governanceeffectiveness, transparency and accountabilityinadequacies hamper the enhancementthese features
- Implicit sub-parts
- Briefly demonstrate how e-governance has already improved effectiveness, transparency, and accountability (contextual introduction).
- Analyze the structural, technical, and human resource inadequacies preventing further enhancement.
- Identify specific barriers to 'accountability' and 'transparency' that digital tools alone cannot fix (the 'last-mile' or 'human' gap).
- Common pitfalls
- Spending 100+ words defining e-governance or listing schemes (Digital India, DBT) instead of focusing on 'inadequacies'.
- Failing to link specific inadequacies back to the trio of effectiveness, transparency, or accountability.
- Neglecting the 'Accountability' aspect—most students focus only on technical glitches and ignore the lack of grievance redressal mechanisms in digital portals.
- Writing a generic essay on the digital divide without addressing administrative or legislative bottlenecks.
- Dimensions required
- Technical/InfrastructuralAdministrative/BureaucraticSocio-Economic (Digital Literacy)Legal/Regulatory (Data Privacy/Cybersecurity)Political/Institutional
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate 30-40 words for a quick validation of how e-governance impacts the three features. Spend the bulk (90-100 words) on a categorized breakdown of inadequacies (structural, technical, and legal). Reserve the final 20 words for a constructive way forward or a closing remark on the 'human touch' in digital governance.
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