Good Governance Practice Questions
40 free Good Governance practice questions for the Indian Polity. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.
Which international organization is credited with popularizing the term 'Good Governance' in its 1989 report on Sub-Saharan Africa?
- A International Monetary Fund
- B World Bank
- C United Nations Development Programme
- D World Trade Organization
Correct answer: World Bank
The World Bank first introduced the concept of 'Good Governance' in 1989, defining it as the manner in which power is exercised in the management of a country's economic and social resources for development.
Which of the following is NOT considered one of the eight core characteristics of Good Governance as defined by the United Nations?
- A Transparency and public disclosure
- B Rule of Law
- C Centralization of power
- D Accountability to citizens
Correct answer: Centralization of power
Good governance promotes decentralization and participation rather than the centralization of power. The eight characteristics include participation, rule of law, transparency, responsiveness, consensus orientation, equity, effectiveness, and accountability.
In the context of Indian administration, the 'Citizen's Charter' is primarily aimed at which pillar of good governance?
- A Secrecy in government
- B Transparency and responsiveness
- C Judicial activism
- D Political neutrality
Correct answer: Transparency and responsiveness
A Citizen's Charter represents the commitment of an organization towards standard, quality, and time frame of service delivery. It empowers citizens by making the administration transparent and responsive to their needs.
The 'Right to Information Act, 2005' in India is a landmark legislation that specifically promotes which aspect of governance?
- A Administrative efficiency
- B Transparency
- C Government stability
- D Institutional uniformity
Correct answer: Transparency
The RTI Act is the most powerful tool for promoting transparency in government functioning. It allows citizens to access information held by public authorities, thereby reducing corruption and increasing accountability.
Which index is released by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions to assess the state of governance in Indian states?
- A Ease of Doing Business Index
- B Good Governance Index
- C Human Development Index
- D Corruption Perception Index
Correct answer: Good Governance Index
The Good Governance Index (GGI) is a comprehensive tool used to assess the status of governance across states and union territories. It provides a comparative study of the impact of various interventions taken by the State Governments and UTs.
The concept of 'SMART' Governance was propounded to make administration simpler and more effective. What does the 'M' in SMART stand for?
- A Management
- B Mobile
- C Moral
- D Modern
Correct answer: Moral
SMART governance stands for Simple, Moral, Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent governance. This concept emphasizes the ethical dimension of administration through the 'Moral' component.
Which body in India is responsible for the 'PRAGATI' (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) platform?
- A NITI Aayog
- B Prime Minister's Office
- C Cabinet Secretariat
- D Ministry of Finance
Correct answer: Prime Minister's Office
PRAGATI is a multi-purpose and multi-modal platform launched by the PMO to monitor and review important Union and State government projects. It facilitates pro-active governance and timely implementation through monthly video conferencing.
Under the principles of Good Governance, 'Equity and Inclusiveness' means:
- A All people have the same income and wealth
- B All members feel they have a stake and aren't excluded from the mainstream
- C The government provides free services regardless of need or merit
- D Only the majority view is considered in decision making
Correct answer: All members feel they have a stake and aren't excluded from the mainstream
A society's well-being depends on ensuring that all its members feel that they have a stake in it. Good governance requires providing opportunities for the most vulnerable to improve or maintain their well-being.
Which Indian state was the first to enact a law for 'Social Audit' of government schemes, a key tool for grassroots accountability?
- A Kerala
- B Meghalaya
- C Rajasthan
- D Andhra Pradesh
Correct answer: Meghalaya
Meghalaya became the first state in India to operationalize a Social Audit Act in 2017. This allows citizens to directly audit government programs and ensure that money is spent as intended.
The 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance' slogan emphasizes which of the following?
- A Abolishing the civil services
- B Simplification of procedures and use of technology
- C Reducing the number of states in India
- D Transferring all public services to the private sector
Correct answer: Simplification of procedures and use of technology
This principle focuses on making the government more efficient and less intrusive. It involves reducing bureaucratic hurdles (Red Tape) and leveraging e-governance to improve service delivery.
Which pillar of good governance ensures that the decisions taken and their enforcement are done in a manner that follows rules and regulations?
- A Responsiveness to citizen needs
- B Rule of Law and justice
- C Consensus among stakeholders
- D Participation in governance
Correct answer: Rule of Law and justice
The Rule of Law requires fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially. It also includes full protection of human rights, particularly those of minorities.
In the 'e-Governance' framework, 'G2C' interactions refer to:
- A Government to Company
- B Government to Citizen
- C Governor to Chief Minister
- D Government to Commission
Correct answer: Government to Citizen
G2C (Government to Citizen) refers to the electronic exchange of information and services between the government and the general public. Examples include online bill payments and application for certificates.
The 'Sevottam' model is a framework created for which purpose?
- A Defense procurement and military supply
- B Improve the quality of public services
- C Selection process for the Prime Minister
- D Electoral reform and voting systems
Correct answer: Improve the quality of public services
Sevottam (Service Excellence) is an assessment-improvement model that helps government departments to improve the quality of their service delivery. It includes three modules: Citizen's Charter, Public Grievance Redress, and Service Delivery Capability.
Who is considered the 'Father of Local Self-Government' in India, laying an early foundation for decentralized governance?
- A Lord Cornwallis
- B Lord Ripon
- C Lord Dalhousie
- D Lord Mountbatten
Correct answer: Lord Ripon
Lord Ripon's Resolution of 1882 on local self-government is considered the 'Magna Carta' of local democracy in India. He advocated for decentralization to involve local people in the administration of their own affairs.
The 'National e-Governance Plan' (NeGP) was launched in India with which primary vision?
- A To provide computers to all citizens
- B To make government services accessible through common service outlets
- C To replace the postal system with digital channels
- D To monitor and track internet usage of citizens
Correct answer: To make government services accessible through common service outlets
NeGP aims to make all government services accessible to citizens in their locality, ensuring efficiency, transparency, and reliability of such services at affordable costs.
Which Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) report specifically deals with 'Ethics in Governance'?
- A 1st Report
- B 4th Report
- C 6th Report
- D 12th Report
Correct answer: 4th Report
The 4th Report of the 2nd ARC is titled 'Ethics in Governance'. it covers issues like corruption, political funding, and the code of conduct for civil servants and ministers.
Which of the following describes 'Consensus Orientation' in the context of Good Governance?
- A The leader makes decisions unilaterally
- B Seeking consensus by mediating interests for community benefit
- C Enforcing majority will over the minority
- D Requiring unanimous approval for every administrative decision
Correct answer: Seeking consensus by mediating interests for community benefit
Good governance requires mediation of the different interests in society to reach a broad consensus. This helps in achieving long-term, sustainable development goals.
The 'DBT' (Direct Benefit Transfer) scheme is a governance reform primarily aimed at:
- A Reducing the total number of bank accounts
- B Remove leakages by eliminating intermediaries in distribution
- C Increase taxes on high-income individuals
- D Decentralize control of the Indian Armed Forces
Correct answer: Remove leakages by eliminating intermediaries in distribution
DBT aims to transfer subsidies directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries using Aadhaar. This ensures the correct person receives the benefit and removes 'ghost' beneficiaries and middlemen.
The 'Umang' App launched by the Government of India is an example of:
- A G2B governance
- B m-Governance
- C Judicial governance
- D Inter-state governance
Correct answer: m-Governance
UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) is a single mobile app that provides access to multiple central and state government services. It is a major step toward mobile-based good governance.
Which of the following is the 'Central' repository for receiving and redressing public grievances in India?
- A CPGRAMS
- B UPSC
- C CAG
- D Finance Commission
Correct answer: CPGRAMS
CPGRAMS (Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System) is an online platform available to citizens 24x7 to lodge their grievances to the public authorities on any subject related to service delivery.
The 'Seven Pillars of Good Governance' were famously outlined in the 'Strategy for New India @ 75' by which organization?
- A NITI Aayog
- B Finance Commission
- C Law Commission
- D DARPG
Correct answer: NITI Aayog
NITI Aayog has outlined a governance framework involving pillars like pro-people, pro-activity, and participation to achieve the vision of a developed India.
The 'Good Governance Day' is observed in India every year on December 25th to commemorate the birth anniversary of:
- A Atal Bihari Vajpayee
- B Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
- C Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
- D Lal Bahadur Shastri
Correct answer: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Since 2014, December 25th has been observed as Good Governance Day to honor former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and foster awareness of government accountability.
Which specific report of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) is titled 'Citizen Centric Administration: The Heart of Governance'?
- A First Report
- B Fourth Report
- C Twelfth Report
- D Fifteenth Report
Correct answer: Twelfth Report
The 12th Report of the 2nd ARC focuses on making administration more responsive and transparent, placing the citizen at the center of the governance process.
In the 'SMART' governance model, what does the letter 'A' signify?
- A Accountable
- B Authoritative
- C Automated
- D Apolitical
Correct answer: Accountable
SMART stands for Simple, Moral, Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent governance.
The 'MyGov' platform, launched in 2014, is a prime example of which aspect of modern governance?
- A Participative governance and crowdsourcing
- B Top-down communication
- C Inter-departmental dispute resolution mechanisms
- D Strict regulatory oversight
Correct answer: Participative governance and crowdsourcing
MyGov is a citizen engagement platform that allows people to participate in policy formulation and contribute to various government projects.
Which of the following is the nodal agency for the 'Good Governance Index' (GGI) released in India?
- A Dept. of Administrative Reforms (DARPG)
- B Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
- C Quality Council of India
- D Cabinet Secretariat
Correct answer: Dept. of Administrative Reforms (DARPG)
The DARPG, under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, releases the GGI to provide a comparative tool for assessing the state of governance across Indian states.
The concept of 'Social Audit', a tool for accountability, is legally mandated under which flagship Indian scheme?
- A MGNREGA Act
- B PM-Kisan
- C Ayushman Bharat
- D Digital India
Correct answer: MGNREGA Act
Section 17 of the MGNREGA mandates social audits of all works executed under the program by the Gram Sabha to ensure transparency and prevent corruption.
Which pillar of Good Governance is primarily addressed by the 'National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy' (NDSAP)?
- A Equity
- B Responsiveness
- C Transparency
- D Effectiveness
Correct answer: Transparency
NDSAP promotes transparency by making government-owned shareable data available to the public in digital format for better decision-making and innovation.
The 'CPGRAMS' portal is an integrated system aimed at which governance function?
- A Public Grievance Redressal
- B Direct tax collection process
- C Electoral registration process
- D Legislative drafting process
Correct answer: Public Grievance Redressal
The Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) allows citizens to lodge grievances related to Central and State Government departments online.
In the context of e-governance, the 'BharatNet' project acts as the backbone for:
- A Broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats
- B Digital payments in urban areas
- C Satellite communication for the military
- D Internal security monitoring
Correct answer: Broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats
BharatNet aims to provide high-speed digital connectivity to all 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats in India to facilitate e-governance at the village level.
The 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance' philosophy is most closely associated with which administrative reform?
- A Simplification of procedures and digitization of services
- B Increasing the number of government departments
- C Nationalization of key private economic sectors
- D Centralization of all administrative state powers
Correct answer: Simplification of procedures and digitization of services
It emphasizes reducing the government's physical footprint and interference while increasing efficiency through technology, deregulation, and simplified rules.
Which of the following is considered the 'Fourth Pillar' of democracy, essential for maintaining Good Governance?
- A The Free Press
- B The Bureaucracy
- C The Union Cabinet
- D The Armed Forces
Correct answer: The Free Press
Media is often called the fourth pillar as it acts as a watchdog, ensuring accountability and keeping the citizens informed about the actions of the three main branches of government.
The 'Anubhuti' initiative by the Delhi Police is an example of which governance principle?
- A Feedback-based service improvement
- B Strict legal procedural compliance
- C Technological elitism in governance
- D Financial austerity measures
Correct answer: Feedback-based service improvement
By using QR codes for public feedback, it aims to improve police-public relations and service quality, reflecting 'Responsiveness' in governance.
Under the 'Sevottam' model, what is the significance of the 'IS 15700:2005' certification?
- A It is a standard for quality management in public service delivery.
- B It is a standard for financial audit and accounting practices.
- C It is for environmental safety in government buildings.
- D It is a cyber-security protocol for government IT networks.
Correct answer: It is a standard for quality management in public service delivery.
Sevottam uses the IS 15700 standard to ensure that government organizations maintain a high quality of service delivery to citizens.
The 'Nishtha' program for teacher training is a governance intervention aimed at improving which sector's outcomes?
- A Healthcare
- B Higher Education
- C School Education
- D Rural Infrastructure
Correct answer: School Education
NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement) is a capacity-building program to improve the quality of school education through better governance in teaching.
Which international index measures 'Good Governance' based on parameters like Voice and Accountability, Political Stability, and Rule of Law?
- A Human Development Index (UNDP Report)
- B World Press Freedom Index (RSF ranking)
- C Worldwide Governance Indicators (World Bank)
- D Global Gender Gap Report (WEF)
Correct answer: Worldwide Governance Indicators (World Bank)
The World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) aggregate data on six dimensions of governance for over 200 countries.
The 'e-Kranti' mission under the Digital India program is primarily focused on:
- A Electronic delivery of public services
- B Online trading of agricultural produce
- C Cyber-warfare defense systems
- D Manufacturing of electronic microchips
Correct answer: Electronic delivery of public services
e-Kranti is Pillar 4 of Digital India, aiming for a 'Transforming e-Governance' approach through the electronic delivery of various citizen services.
Which principle of Good Governance ensures that organizations and institutions serve all stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe?
- A Responsiveness
- B Participation
- C Effectiveness
- D Transparency
Correct answer: Responsiveness
Responsiveness requires that institutions and processes try to serve all stakeholders within a timely and appropriate manner.
The 'Mission Karmayogi' is a major governance reform aimed at:
- A Capacity building of civil servants
- B Direct judicial appointments
- C Police modernization in border states
- D Digitization of land records
Correct answer: Capacity building of civil servants
Mission Karmayogi (National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building) aims to upgrade the post-recruitment training of civil servants to make them more creative and proactive.
The 'Digital Information Security in Healthcare Act' (DISHA) is a proposed governance framework to regulate:
- A Hospital infrastructure and staffing standards
- B Pricing and regulation of medicines
- C Privacy and security of digital health records
- D Medical insurance premium structures
Correct answer: Privacy and security of digital health records
DISHA aims to provide for the establishment of a National Digital Health Authority to regulate the security and privacy of digital health data, a key component of e-governance in health.