Public Policy in India

Most developing countries like India are struggling to develop their economies as well as increase the capacity of their political systems to achieve the major objectives of institution building, economic growth and human development. Public policy is an important mechanism for helping a nation move from the past to the future. Currently, the focus of Political Studies has shifted to Public Policy, to the description, the causes and consequences of government activity on targeted groups/beneficiaries within a state. In the making of policy a variety of actors come into play including individual institutional or civil society actors who may act as pressure groups for enacting preferred legislation. India is going through a time of significant change. Economic growth technological advancements, rapid urbanization, a growing youth population, a closing gender gap and escalating impacts of climate change are coming together to redefine India's role and mandates as a major world power. We need to revisit all our existing policies in every sector to see whether they will meet the requirements of our changed demography fluctuating economy, rapid urbanization resulting in differentiated citizen access to good education, housing, health care and jobs. The sixteen articles here integrate varied perspectives on different sectoral policies of India in the 21st century to explore how actors and institutions shape policy narratives and outcomes while being constrained by them at the same time. This book will be indispensable to scholars and researchers of Political Science and Public Administration, civil servants, activists and personnel of voluntary organizations. Prof. Furqan Ahmad is the Head, Department of Political Science, Jamia Millia Islamia and Coordinator, UGC-SAP-DRS I of the Department. He had topped his batch in M.A. Political Science (Jamia) from where he completed his PhD in 1993. He has 27 years of teaching experience holding several important administrative positions. His areas of specialization are Development Administration, Personnel Administration and Office Management. He has been the Coordinator, Centre for Coaching and career planning, Superintendent of Examinations and and other important administrative position of the university. He has coordinated Refresher courses in the Academic Staff College Jamia, besides supervising several doctoral scholars in the Department of Political Science. He has been a member of several bodies like IIPA, NAPSIPAG, IPSA, Selection Boards of Public Service Commissions and member of the Board of Studies in central and state universities. He is also a member of several high powered committees of MoHRD. He has chaired, lectured and participated in national and international conferences. His publications include: Bureaucracy and Development Administration 1993; Political Economy and Banking Reforms in India (co-authored) 2006; Democracy and Good Governance: Reinventing the Public Service Delivery System in India (co-edited) 2015. He has also contributed in edited volumes and articles in distinguished Social Science journals.