Introduction
Good governance rests on transparency, accountability, and citizen participation. Over the last two decades,
India has built a legal-institutional framework — RTI, Lokpal, whistleblower protection — to make the
state answerable to citizens, alongside a wave of e-governance initiatives for service delivery.
Right to Information Act, 2005
- Empowers citizens to seek information from any "public authority"; replaced the Official Secrets Act's presumption of secrecy with a presumption of disclosure.
- Public Information Officer (PIO) must respond within 30 days (48 hours if life/liberty is involved).
- Two-tier appeal: First Appellate Authority (within the department) → Central/State Information Commission (second appeal).
- Exemptions: information affecting sovereignty/security, Cabinet papers (until decision is implemented), personal information with no public interest, etc.
Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013
- Enacted in the wake of the anti-corruption movement (2011); establishes Lokpal at the Centre and mandates States to establish Lokayuktas.
- Composition: Chairperson + up to 8 members (judicial and non-judicial), at least 50% judicial members and 50% from SC/ST/OBC/minorities/women.
- Jurisdiction covers the PM (with safeguards — a special bench decides whether to proceed, and certain matters like international relations/security are excluded), Ministers, MPs, and public servants.
- Has its own Inquiry Wing and can utilise the CBI's investigative resources.
Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and Whistleblower Protection
| Body / Law | Role |
|---|
| Central Vigilance Commission (statutory since CVC Act, 2003) | Apex vigilance body — advises on corruption cases involving Central government employees |
| Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014 | Provides a mechanism to receive complaints of corruption/wilful misuse of power and protects the identity of the complainant |
| Central Information Commission | Second appellate/adjudicating body for RTI applications |
e-Governance Initiatives
- Digital India — umbrella programme for digital infrastructure, governance, and citizen services.
- DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) — routes subsidies directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts via Aadhaar-linked JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) trinity, reducing leakage.
- e-Courts, e-Office, UMANG, MyGov — digitisation of judicial, administrative, and citizen-engagement processes.
- Good Governance Index — released by the Ministry of Personnel to rank states/UTs across governance sectors.
📌 Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2nd ARC): Constituted in 2005 under Veerappa Moily; its reports (e.g., "Right to Information: Master Key to Good Governance", "Ethics in Governance") remain foundational reference material for governance reforms in UPSC Mains.
✅ UPSC Focus: RTI response timelines and two-tier appeal · Lokpal composition and PM's inclusion safeguards · CVC vs Lokpal vs CIC — distinct roles · JAM trinity and DBT · 2nd ARC reports as a recurring Mains reference.