Towards Re-engineering of the Ship of the Indian State: An Agenda for Dialogue and Research

Abstract

The soft Indian State has become flabby as well—a labyrinth of sorts—as a result of piece-meal additions of institutions and structures over the years, resulting in sub-optimal functioning. Below potential outcomes abound at the micro-level. The macro-picture is not so dismal but even there, the well-founded systemic ‘checks and balances’ of a democracy frequently take a dysfunctional form—of (unintended) logjams. The (legitimate) liberal pre-occupation with (due) process is unable to accord commensurate attention to performance (outcomes).

The problem is aggravated, of course, by the absence of judicious exercise of responsibility by key players in the national polity. This Note abstracts from that, and other, human failing(s) or those of governance.

It seeks to address the conundrum on the structural plane—questing for possibilities of overcoming the ‘decelerating’ impact of the many ‘speed-breakers’ that have come into play over time through an argument for a revisiting of the ‘structuration and apparatuses’ of the State focused on ‘functionality’. A review of the record of the Republic, in other words, aimed at perking up the plural polity in a strategic, ‘systems’ perspective, and shoring up the politico-managerial component of the ‘comprehensive national power’ of the Indian State. To make it more purposive and efficacious by cutting down on ‘organizational slack’.

A ‘strategic dialogue’ between three key constituencies of the polity is proposed. For enabling sharper delineation of the strategic political interests of the State and better management of the polity. And for fleshing out an agenda for structural reform accordingly.

There is a time crunch operational which this arm-chair exercise has to be mindful of. Three major tipping points kick into play within a few decades from now—reversal of the (currently) favourable demography of the country, possibility/likelihood of calamitous climate change and (as yet unpredictable but likely wrenching) impact (on socio-political stability) of the disruption being wrought by digital and other advanced technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution globally, AI above all.

Attention to ‘State-building’—state-craft—as a facet of nation-building, in other words. Conscious of the need to hasten execution of the enlightened, egalitarian founding agenda of the Republic before its centenary mid-century. And with a mindful eye on the People’s Republic of China, the only real peer of the Indian State in the comity of nations.