ABSTRACT
Democratic India has moved beyond periodic elections towards ‘good’ governance. People in several democracies, including India, are dissatisfied with the working of the key democratic institutions, and it is widely believed that governments are functioning at all levels without significantly addressing issues concerning the dignity and welfare of ordinary citizens. The meaning and context of nationalism that had flourished during the freedom struggle got narrowed down in physical terms as a result of the partition of India at the time of independence. Good governance helps create an environment in which sustained economic growth becomes achievable. The entry of social media in public affairs is rapidly changing the character of governance. The criminalisation of the political process and the unholy nexus between politicians, civil servants and business houses is exerting a baneful influence on public policy formulation and governance. The high level of corruption in India has been widely perceived as a major obstacle in improving the quality of governance.
