Syllabus
GS Paper 2 – Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Context
The structure of India’s political and institutional landscape is why there is no globally recognised public policy school till now.
Source
The Hindu| Editorial dated 16th November 2024
India needs a globally recognised public policy school
Despite being the world’s largest democracy with pressing developmental challenges, India lacks a globally recognized public policy institution akin to the Harvard Kennedy School or the London School of Economics. While India has several policy schools, they struggle to attain international prominence due to unique structural and political challenges. A tailored approach that considers India’s political realities and institutional framework is essential for creating impactful public policy institutions.
Challenges in India’s Policy Landscape
- Centralisation of Executive Power:
- Decision-making in India is concentrated within the executive, sidelining public policy commentators, academics, and civil society groups.
- Unlike Congress in the U.S., which independently crafts legislation, India’s legislative process is often reduced to approving executive decisions.
- This limits the space for policy analysis, debate, and expertise to shape governance.
- Weak Legislative Oversight:
- The legislature’s oversight over the executive is minimal, further marginalizing independent policy professionals.
- The disconnect between politics and policy relegates public policy discourse to a downstream role.
- Regime-Dependent Influence:
- Influence in India is closely tied to who holds power, making the public sphere fragile during regime changes.
- Unlike institutionalized democracies, India’s think tanks, media, and civil society groups often lose relevance when governments change.
Key Differences with Western Democracies
- Stable Ecosystem in Western Democracies:
- In the U.S. and Europe, decentralised legislative power sustains vibrant ecosystems of policy schools, think tanks, and advocacy groups.
- These entities maintain influence regardless of the political regime, ensuring continuity in policy debates.
- India’s Informal and Centralised Power Structures:
- Informal networks, personalised leadership, and regional influences dominate India’s political landscape.
- This contrasts with the structured governance models of western democracies, limiting the scope for independent policy institutions.
- Lack of Entry Points:
- Western democracies offer multiple access points for experts to influence policymaking, while in India, such access is largely restricted to the top executive leadership.
Need for a Tailored Public Policy Institution
- Context-Specific Curriculum:
- Indian policy schools must go beyond traditional curricula to focus on informal networks, regional dynamics, and caste hierarchies.
- Students should learn to navigate uneven power structures, blending idealism with pragmatism.
- Empathy-Driven Training:
- Emphasizing empathy for citizens’ lived realities can help avoid top-down policies that disrupt lives.
- Training must prioritize grassroots understanding, enabling professionals to address local challenges effectively.
- Stable Influence Across Regimes:
- The institution should foster a non-partisan space where legitimacy is derived from quality public interventions rather than proximity to power.
- Building cross-sectoral networks across politics, civil society, academia, and media can stabilize policy influence.
Structural Reforms for Sustainable Impact
- Broad Institutional Partnerships:
- Partnerships with civil society groups, think tanks, and bureaucratic organizations can enhance collaboration.
- This would enable the institution to remain relevant across political regimes.
- Diversified Legitimacy:
- Moving away from sycophancy, the institution should prioritize quality interventions and evidence-based policies over political alignment.
- Nation-Building Focus:
- The school should cultivate nation-builders by identifying leaders across the political spectrum and diverse sectors.
- Such professionals can contribute to better public debate and inclusive governance.
Conclusion
India’s unique political and institutional landscape necessitates the establishment of a context-specific public policy institution that reflects local realities. By fostering a stable, non-partisan ecosystem, such an institution can train leaders who influence governance effectively. This dual role of local relevance and global example could position India as a pioneer in policy education for other developing nations.
Related PYQ
Should the premier institutes like IITs/IIMs be allowed to retain premier status, allowed more academic independence in designing courses and also decide mode/criteria of selection of students. Discuss in light of the growing challenges? [ UPSC Civil Services Exam – Mains 2014]
Practice Question
Discuss the challenges faced by public policy institutions in India in attaining global prominence. Highlight measures to develop a context-specific institution suited to India’s unique political landscape? [250 words]
Guidelines for Answering the Question
- Introduction:
- Briefly explain the importance of public policy institutions in governance and their role in shaping leadership.
- Highlight India’s lack of globally recognized public policy institutions and the need for context-specific solutions.
- Body:
- Highlight the centralization of power in the executive and limited policy access points.
- Discuss weak legislative oversight and its impact on policy discourse.
- Note the decentralized legislative frameworks in Western democracies.
- Emphasize the role of independent think tanks and stable ecosystems in governance.
- Prioritize empathy-driven training to align policies with ground realities.
- Create a non-partisan space fostering collaboration across sectors and regimes.
- Conclusion:
- Reiterate the need for a public policy institution tailored to India’s unique governance challenges.
- Emphasize its potential to serve as a model for other developing nations.