Governance

Abstract

This chapter covers three areas of governance: consolidation of ministries, reform of bureaucracy, and some selected aspects of economic administration. On ministries, it argues that India needs to eliminate some ministries while consolidating others. This will minimize inter-ministerial turf battles and speed up decision-making. On bureaucracy, the chapter calls for opening senior positions to competition, as talent must be brought into the government from wherever it exists. Other recommendations for bureaucracy include allowing officials to take short-term positions in non-government sectors, greater use of young professionals, reining in vigilance agencies, reforming training institutions for officials, and ending colonial-era practices. On economic administration, the chapter recommends creating missions for speedy reforms, a focused strategy for the expansion of exports, creation of a separate office for trade negotiations directly under the prime minister, numerous improvements in tax administration, a sunset clause on all centrally sponsored schemes, and transparency in fiscal accounting.