New NCERT Understanding Society: India and Beyond · Class 9 Social Science · Part 2 · Chapter 13: Governance and Public Policy
This chapter explains that a strong democracy needs more than voting — it needs good governance and the active participation of people. It covers the meaning of governance, e-governance, public policy and the policy cycle.
From the Class 9 Social Science Short Notes, made as per the new NCERT book Understanding Society: India and Beyond · Pages 80–86 of the book.
Key points
- Governance is the process by which decisions are made, implemented and monitored in the public interest.
- Government is who governs (institutions); governance is how governing is carried out (process).
- India preserved knowledge of pre-colonial governance; symbols include Satyameva Jayate, Yato Dharmastato Jayah and the Sengol.
- Good governance features include rule of law, accountability, participation, transparency, effectiveness, responsiveness and inclusiveness.
- 25 December is celebrated as National Good Governance Day.
- E-governance uses ICT to provide services and information; examples are UMANG, GeM, CPGRAMS and APAAR.
- Public policy is a course of action by the government to solve public problems and meet people's needs.
- Stakeholders in public policy include citizens, elected representatives, officials, civil society, the private sector and international organisations.
- Policy gives direction, programmes show the path and schemes deliver benefits.
- The policy cycle: desirability → prioritising → formulation → adoption → implementation → monitoring → evaluation.
- NEP 2020 was a collaborative process with about 2 lakh suggestions.
Key terms
- Governance: The process by which decisions are made, implemented and monitored in the public interest.
- Public policy: A course of action adopted by the government to solve public problems and promote welfare.
- E-governance: Use of information and communication technology by governments to provide services and communicate with citizens.
- Accountability: Public officials are answerable for their actions.
- Transparency: Decisions and information are open and accessible.
- Feedback loop: Using people's responses to improve a policy.
- PPP: Public-private partnership — government and private sector work together.
- Stakeholder: Anyone who affects or is affected by a policy.
Diagrams to learn
- Table: government vs governance
- Good governance features diagram
- Policy, programme and scheme chart
- Policy cycle diagram
- Table: who takes part in public policy
- A good policy can fail if poorly implemented.
- Citizen participation may be slower but improves governance; technology alone cannot ensure good governance.
- Skipping a step weakens the policy — e.g. trees planted but not watered means weak implementation and monitoring.
A real page from the book
Get the full chapter in the book
This page is a summary. The Class 9 Social Science Short Notes has the complete chapter in colour, with every diagram and worked example.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between government and governance?
Government means the institutions that exercise political authority — the legislature, executive and judiciary. Governance is the process of decision-making and implementation, involving government, citizens, media, civil society and private organisations.
What are the stages of the policy cycle?
Desirability, prioritising, formulation, adoption, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. It is a continuous cycle, and skipping a step weakens the policy.
What is e-governance?
E-governance is the use of information and communication technology by governments to provide services, share information and receive feedback. Examples include UMANG, GeM, CPGRAMS and APAAR.
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