Governance and Public Policy Class 9: Notes and Questions

What Governance and Public Policy is about

Weightage: CBSE has not yet published marks for Class 9 Social Science 2026-27: its syllabus says the course structure "will be provided shortly". Class 9 is a school examination (80 marks annual paper + 20 internal assessment), so your school sets the paper.Source: CBSE Social Science syllabus, Class IX 2026-27

Key concepts

Government and governance

NCERT section Governance

Government	Governance
the institutions that exercise political authority	the process of making, implementing and monitoring decisions
legislature, executive, judiciary	government plus citizens, media, civil society, private organisations
focuses on who governs	focuses on how governing is done

They are related but not synonyms. The government makes and implements people-centric policies; good governance makes sure these are transparent, accountable, effective and responsive.

Examples from the chapter:

• Heavy rain in a town: the municipal corporation clears drains, PWD repairs roads, police manage traffic, schools inform parents, health workers prevent disease, representatives raise concerns and residents volunteer. No single department can solve it alone; coordination makes the response work.
• Street lights: the panchayat or municipality (government) installs them; governance is how they are planned and maintained, with citizens identifying dark spots and reporting faults.

Worked example

Distinguish between government and governance with an example. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Government: institutions with political authority (legislature, executive, judiciary); who governs.
2. Governance: process of decision-making, implementation and monitoring involving many actors; how governing happens.
3. Example: municipality installs street lights (government); planning, citizens reporting faults and maintenance (governance).

Answer: Government means the institutions that hold political authority, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary; it is about who governs. Governance is the process by which decisions are made, implemented and monitored, involving government, citizens, media, civil society and private bodies; it is about how governing is done. For example, the municipality installing street lights is government action, while planning their locations, citizens reporting dark spots and faulty lights, and regular maintenance make up governance.

Evolution of governance in India

NCERT section Evolution of Governance in India

Colonial legacy: European powers imposed their models on colonised societies, and colonial institutions often persisted after independence. India differs in two ways:
1. It preserved knowledge of pre-colonial institutions and traditions of governance in texts and practice.
2. After 1947 it could not replace all colonial institutions at once, so leaders framed the Constitution in the spirit of India's own values, adapting traditional ideas to modern democracy.

Symbols of Indian values:

• National motto 'Satyamev Jayate' (truth alone triumphs), from the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣhad, replacing the British 'Order of the Star of India' motto 'Heaven's Light, Our Guide'.
• Supreme Court motto 'Yato Dharmastato Jayaḥ' (where there is dharma, there is victory), from the Mahābhārata.
• The Sengol, a marker of righteous rule from Chola times, received by Jawaharlal Nehru from the Adheenam saints on 15 August 1947 and placed in the new Parliament building in 2023.

Ideas of good rule: Gandhi's Rām Rājya (probity, transparency, compassion, welfare, people-centred governance); rājadharma (protecting people and upholding dharma); Kauṭilya: the ruler's happiness lies in the happiness of the people; Vedic sabhā and samiti. Governance was seen as a sacred responsibility, not merely power.

Worked example

How do the national motto and the Supreme Court's motto reflect Indian values in governance? (2 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Satyamev Jayate (Muṇḍaka Upaniṣhad): truth alone triumphs.
2. Yato Dharmastato Jayaḥ (Mahābhārata): victory lies with dharma.

Answer: 'Satyamev Jayate', from the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣhad, makes truth the guiding value of the nation, and the Supreme Court's 'Yato Dharmastato Jayaḥ', from the Mahābhārata, ties justice to righteous duty. Both show that institutions carry ethical ideals from India's traditions, not just colonial forms.

Good governance: features, roles and challenges

NCERT section Good Governance

Good governance maintains law and order, protects rights and freedoms, gives access to public services (education, health, transport), promotes justice and equality before law, and builds trust.

Seven features (Fig. 4.3):

• Transparency: decisions open and accessible
• Rule of law: everyone equal before the law
• Accountability: officials responsible for actions
• Effectiveness: public resources used wisely
• Participation: citizens take part in decisions
• Responsiveness: government addresses people's needs
• Inclusiveness: equal opportunities for every citizen

A partnership: the government makes laws and provides services; citizens vote, obey laws and participate; the media highlights issues; civil society raises awareness; the private sector contributes innovation.

Challenges: weak coordination between departments; unequal access to services (social, economic, geographical barriers); malpractice and misuse of office; misinformation and fake news. Needs: effective institutions, responsible officials, active citizens.

25 December is National Good Governance Day.

Worked example

'Good governance is the responsibility of the government alone.' Do you agree? Give reasons. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. No: governance is a partnership.
2. Citizens vote, obey laws, give feedback; media and civil society raise issues; private sector innovates.
3. Example: flood response needed residents and many departments.

Answer: No. Governance is the government's responsibility, but good governance depends on everyone playing their part. Citizens elect representatives, follow laws and give feedback; the media brings issues to public attention; civil society raises awareness; the private sector contributes resources and innovation. In the chapter's flood example, residents helping neighbours and reporting flooded areas were as important as the departments' work.

E-governance

NCERT section E-Governance: Technology for Better Governance

E-governance = the government's use of information and communication technology to provide services, share information, communicate with citizens, receive feedback and improve administration.

Benefits: more transparent, accessible, convenient and quick; less paperwork; no need to visit offices; especially valuable in a vast country like India.

Examples to research (NCERT chart): UMANG, Aadhaar, GeM (Government e-Marketplace), DigiLocker, CPGRAMS (grievance redress), APAAR.

Limitation: it works only when people have devices, reliable internet and digital skills, so the government must keep digital services inclusive and accessible.

Worked example

'Technology alone cannot ensure good governance.' Explain. (2 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. E-governance helps transparency and speed.
2. But needs devices, internet, skills; otherwise excludes people; also needs honest officials and participation.

Answer: E-governance makes services faster and more transparent, but people without devices, reliable internet or digital skills are left out, and technology cannot replace honest officials, coordination and citizen participation. So services must be kept inclusive, and the other features of good governance must also be present.

Public policy and what makes it 'public'

NCERT section Public Policy

Public policy = a plan of action that the government chooses in order to tackle problems facing the public, meet people's needs and improve welfare. It decides what to do, why, who will do it, how it will be implemented and how success will be measured, and it is improved through a feedback loop.

The school example: a 'Plastic-Free Campus Policy' (reusable bottles, segregation bins, awareness, teacher monitoring) is a policy because it is a planned course of action to solve a problem.

What makes it public (Fig. 4.4): it exists for everyone, is formulated by government, uses public resources (taxes), involves citizen participation and promotes public welfare. Areas: education, health, transport, sanitation, environment, safety.

Not every policy is public: a school's phone policy, a company's work-from-home policy or a housing society's parking rules apply only to that organisation.

Worked example

Classify as policy or public policy with a reason: (a) the government gives free vaccination to children (b) a housing society fixes visiting hours for guests (c) a municipality introduces waste segregation. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Made by government, for everyone, with public money = public policy.
2. Limited to one organisation = policy.

Answer: (a) Public policy: made by the government for all children and funded publicly. (b) Policy: it applies only to that housing society. (c) Public policy: a local government measure for the whole city's welfare.

Stakeholders in the policy process

NCERT section Participants in the Public Policy Process

Policy is made and carried out by many actors (Table 4.1):

Contributor	Role	Example
Citizens	identify problems, vote, participate, suggest, give feedback	residents ask for a zebra crossing near a school
Elected representatives (MPs, MLAs, local)	represent people, raise issues, make laws, approve budgets	an MLA raises a water shortage in the Assembly
Officials, departments, ministries	prepare and implement policies, coordinate, deliver services, monitor	a district collector coordinates a scheme
Civil society, NGOs, experts, media	study problems, suggest solutions, create awareness, monitor	an NGO's water-conservation campaign
Private sector	technical know-how, innovation, resources (often PPP)	a company installs solar panels in schools
International organisations	experience, technical and financial support	WHO helps control infectious diseases

Hospital ramp case: Shanti Devi (72), a wheelchair user and a visually impaired person find a hospital inaccessible; patients raise the issue; a disability rights group uses the media; the district administration asks PWD and Health to inspect; consultations with doctors, architects, PwD groups and residents; funds approved for ramps, lifts, handrails, tactile paths, accessible toilets and signboards.

Worked example

Identify three stakeholders in the hospital-ramp case and their roles. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Citizens/patients: raised the issue.
2. Disability rights organisation and media: highlighted it publicly.
3. District administration, PWD, Health Department: inspected, planned, funded and built.

Answer: 1. Patients and their families identified the problem and raised it with authorities and representatives. 2. A disability rights organisation highlighted it through newspapers and social media. 3. The district administration directed the PWD and Health Department to inspect, consulted experts and users, and got funds approved to build ramps, lifts, tactile paths and accessible toilets.

The policy cycle; policy, programme and scheme

NCERT section The Making of a Public Policy

Public policy is a continuous cycle, not one decision (Fig. 4.5):
1. Policy desirability (problem identification): what needs or problems must be addressed?
2. Prioritising policy: which issues come first?
3. Policy formulation: consult stakeholders, draft, check financial feasibility.
4. Policy adoption: frame legislation and rules.
5. Policy implementation: officials, local bodies, civil society, private bodies and citizens put it into action.
6. Policy monitoring: measure progress, ensure accountability, find shortcomings.
7. Policy evaluation: assess results and impact, generate feedback that improves the policy.

NEP 2020 example: previous policy 1986; process began 2015; committee in 2017 chaired by Dr K. Kasturirangan; huge consultation (2.5 lakh gram panchayats, 6,600 blocks, 6,000 urban local bodies, 676 districts; about 2 lakh suggestions); approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2020.

Policy vs programme vs scheme (National Health Policy 2017):

• Policy = direction and goal (universal access to quality healthcare).
• Programme = plan or strategy (strengthening the health system, preventive care, digital health).
• Scheme = concrete action for target groups (Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, health and wellness centres, Janani Suraksha Yojana, Mission Indradhanush).

Policy coordination: Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 needs the Centre (framework, funding), States ('Model Sports State', national games, PPP), districts ('Model Sports Districts'), blocks (regular events, talent scouting), institutions, private sponsors and families (especially supporting daughters).

Worked example

Using the National Health Policy 2017, explain the difference between a policy, a programme and a scheme. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Policy: direction: universal access to good quality healthcare.
2. Programme: strategy: e.g. preventive and promotive healthcare.
3. Scheme: action for target groups: e.g. Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, Mission Indradhanush.

Answer: The National Health Policy 2017 is the policy: it sets the goal of universal access to good quality healthcare. Programmes turn that goal into strategies, such as strengthening the healthcare system or preventive and promotive care. Schemes are the concrete actions that deliver benefits, such as Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY or Mission Indradhanush. Policy gives direction, programmes show the path and schemes act.

Governance and Public Policy in real life

Each concept, met in an everyday situation. Read the situation, answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Topics in this chapter

• Good Governance: Features, Challenges and E-Governance
• Public Policy, Stakeholders and the Policy Cycle

Governance and Public Policy: key facts

Government vs governance

1. 1.Government = institutions (who governs) | Governance = process: decide
2. 2.implement
3. 3.monitor (how)

Seven features of good governance

• •Transparency
• •Rule of law
• •Accountability
• •Effectiveness
• •Participation
• •Responsiveness
• •Inclusiveness

Mnemonic below.

What makes policy public

For everyone + made by government + public resources + citizen participation + public welfare

Policy cycle

1. 1.Desirability
2. 2.Prioritising
3. 3.Formulation
4. 4.Adoption
5. 5.Implementation
6. 6.Monitoring
7. 7.Evaluation
8. 8.feedback

Continuous, not one-off.

Policy → programme → scheme

1. 1.Direction
2. 2.plan/strategy
3. 3.concrete action for target groups

NHP 2017 → health system programmes → AB-PMJAY, Janani Suraksha Yojana, Mission Indradhanush.

Indian symbols of governance

• •Satyamev Jayate (Muṇḍaka Upaniṣhad)
• •Yato Dharmastato Jayaḥ (Mahābhārata, Supreme Court)
• •Sengol (Chola tradition)
• •Rām Rājya
• •Rājadharma

Key facts

• •NEP 2020 (Kasturirangan committee 2017; ~2 lakh suggestions)
• •National Good Governance Day 25 Dec
• •Khelo Bharat Niti 2025

How the school exam asks Governance and Public Policy

The question patterns to expect, and the method that works for each.

Tricks to remember Governance and Public Policy

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

• Seven features

  'TRAP-RIE': Transparency, Rule of law, Accountability, Participation, Responsiveness, Inclusiveness, Effectiveness.

  Use it when: Listing features of good governance.

• Policy cycle

  'Do People Find Apples In My Eden?': Desirability, Prioritising, Formulation, Adoption, Implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation.

  Use it when: Order of stages.

• Policy, programme, scheme

  Policy = Purpose; Programme = Path; Scheme = Step.

  Use it when: Distinguishing the three.

• Who vs how

  GovernMENT = the MEN and women in office (who); GovernANCE = the dANCE of many actors (how).

  Use it when: Government vs governance.

• Mottos

  Nation: Satyamev (Upaniṣhad); Court: Dharma (Mahābhārata).

  Use it when: Sources of mottos.

Governance and Public Policy: exam-level solved questions

Ordered from exam level to HOTS. Cover the solution, write your own, then compare step by step.

Case-study practice (Section E style)

Read the situation, then answer every part. In a school exam set on the board pattern this is a 4-mark question split into 1 + 1 + 2 marks.

Where the marks are

How a typical answer is split into step marks. Show every step: a right final answer alone rarely earns full marks.

Where students lose marks in Governance and Public Policy

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

• ✗Mistake: Using government and governance as synonyms

  The words sound alike.

  Wrong working

  Governance means the legislature, executive and judiciary.

  Right working

  Those are the government; governance is the process of making, implementing and monitoring decisions with many actors.

  ✓Do this: Institutions vs process.

  Usually costs: 1-2 marks.

• ✗Mistake: Calling any rule a public policy

  'Policy' is used loosely.

  Wrong working

  A company's work-from-home rule is a public policy.

  Right working

  It is an organisational policy; public policy is made by government, for everyone, with public resources.

  ✓Do this: Check who makes it and for whom.

  Usually costs: 1 mark per item.

• ✗Mistake: Treating policy-making as a single decision

  Only the announcement is visible.

  Wrong working

  A policy is complete once the government announces it.

  Right working

  Policy is a cycle: identification, prioritising, formulation, adoption, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and feedback.

  ✓Do this: Always mention monitoring and feedback.

  Usually costs: 1-2 marks.

• ✗Mistake: Mixing up programme and scheme

  Both are steps after the policy.

  Wrong working

  Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is the National Health Policy.

  Right working

  NHP 2017 is the policy; strengthening the health system is a programme; PM-JAY is a scheme.

  ✓Do this: Purpose-Path-Step.

  Usually costs: 1 mark.

• ✗Mistake: Forgetting non-government stakeholders

  Students list only ministries.

  Wrong working

  Only ministers and officials make policy.

  Right working

  Citizens, representatives, officials, civil society, media, private sector and international organisations all contribute.

  ✓Do this: Use Table 4.1's six groups.

  Usually costs: 1-2 marks.

NCERT exercise guide: Governance and Public Policy

What each exercise in the NCERT chapter tests, how to approach it, and a question of the same kind solved step by step. Questions here are written in our own words.

Practice questions on Governance and Public Policy

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQExam level

   Which of these is a public policy?
   (a) A school bans phones in class (b) A company allows work from home (c) The government launches safe drinking water for every household (d) A housing society fixes parking slots

   Hint

   Made by government for all.

   Answer

   (c)

2. Q2 · 1 mark · Very short answerExam level

   What does CPGRAMS help citizens do?

   Hint

   Grievances.

   Answer

   Register and track public grievances with government departments.

3. Q3 · 1 mark · Very short answerExam level

   Who received the Sengol on 15 August 1947?

   Hint

   First Prime Minister.

   Answer

   Jawaharlal Nehru, from the Adheenam saints of Tamil Nadu.

4. Q4 · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder exam level

   Assertion (A): A good public policy can fail.
   Reason (R): Policies need proper implementation and monitoring to achieve their goals.
   Choose (a)-(d).

   Hint

   Tree-planting case.

   Answer

   (a) Both true and R explains A.

5. Q5 · 2 marks · Short answerExam level

   Why can't a single department handle a flood in a town? (2 marks)

   Hint

   Many tasks.

   Answer

   A flood creates many problems at once: blocked drains, broken roads, traffic, school closures, disease and stranded people. Each needs a different department (municipality, PWD, police, schools, health) plus residents, so coordination is essential.

6. Q6 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder exam level

   What did Mahatma Gandhi mean by Rām Rājya as a model of governance? (2 marks)

   Hint

   Principles listed.

   Answer

   An ideal of governance rooted in probity, transparency, compassion, welfare and people-centred policy: rule as service to people's well-being.

7. Q7 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder exam level

   What are the challenges to good governance mentioned in the chapter? (3 marks)

   Hint

   Four challenges.

   Answer

   Weak coordination between departments; unequal access to public services for groups facing social, economic or geographical barriers; malpractices and misuse of public office; and misinformation and fake news.

8. Q8 · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

   Suppose residents want a zebra crossing near a school. Trace who would be involved from request to completion. (3 marks)

   Hint

   Table 4.1.

   Answer

   Residents and the school identify the need and petition; the local representative raises it with the municipality; officials of the traffic or roads department assess and approve it and allocate funds; the work is done; residents and the media give feedback on whether it is used and maintained.

9. Q9 · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

   'Participation sometimes slows decision-making but improves governance.' Do you agree? Use NEP 2020 as an example. (3 marks)

   Hint

   Consultation scale.

   Answer

   Agree. NEP 2020 took years (2015 to 2020) partly because it consulted gram panchayats, blocks, urban bodies and districts and received about 2 lakh suggestions. But this made the policy reflect many viewpoints, and several recommendations were incorporated, giving it wider acceptance and better chances of success.

10. Q10 · 3 marks · Short answerExam level

    Compare government and governance in a table with three points. (3 marks)

    Hint

    Meaning, includes, focus.

    Answer

    Meaning: government = institutions with political authority; governance = process of decision-making and implementation. Includes: government = legislature, executive, judiciary; governance = government, citizens, media, civil society, private bodies. Focus: government = who governs; governance = how governing is done.

11. Q11 · 5 marks · Long answerHarder exam level

    Explain the five features that make a policy 'public'. (5 marks)

    Hint

    Fig. 4.4.

    Answer

    1. It exists for everyone in society, not a limited group. 2. It is formulated by the government. 3. It uses public resources, such as money collected through taxes. 4. Citizens participate by identifying issues, being consulted and giving feedback. 5. It promotes public welfare, addressing issues like education, health, sanitation and safety.

12. Q12 · 2 marks · Short answerExam level

    What is the national motto of India and why was it chosen over the colonial motto?

    Hint

    Muṇḍaka Upaniṣhad.

    Answer

    'Satyamev Jayate' (truth alone triumphs), from the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣhad. It replaced the colonial 'Heaven's Light, Our Guide' to reflect India's own ethical values in public life.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1. 1.Define governance.Show answer

   The way decisions for people's welfare are taken, carried out and checked, involving government and other actors.

2. 2.Where does 'Satyamev Jayate' come from?Show answer

   The Muṇḍaka Upaniṣhad.

3. 3.What is the Supreme Court's motto and its source?Show answer

   'Yato Dharmastato Jayaḥ', from the Mahābhārata.

4. 4.When is National Good Governance Day?Show answer

   25 December.

5. 5.What is e-governance?Show answer

   Use of ICT by government to provide services, share information, communicate, receive feedback and improve administration.

6. 6.Define public policy.Show answer

   A course of action adopted by the government to solve public problems, meet needs and promote welfare.

7. 7.Who chaired the committee that drafted NEP 2020?Show answer

   Dr K. Kasturirangan.

8. 8.Name two schemes under the National Health Policy 2017.Show answer

   Any two: Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, health and wellness centres, Janani Suraksha Yojana, Mission Indradhanush.

9. 9.What is the first stage of the policy cycle?Show answer

   Policy desirability (identifying the need or problem).

10. 10.Which policy launched in 2025 is the chapter's example of policy coordination?Show answer

    Khelo Bharat Niti 2025.

Quick revision checklist

The night before the exam: can you do each of these without looking?

• ☐Democracy needs transparent institutions, responsible representatives and continuous participation.
• ☐Government: institutions (who); governance: process of decide, implement, monitor (how).
• ☐Flood example: many departments plus residents; coordination.
• ☐India kept knowledge of pre-colonial institutions; Constitution in India's values.
• ☐Satyamev Jayate (Muṇḍaka Upaniṣhad); Yato Dharmastato Jayaḥ (Mahābhārata); Sengol (Chola tradition; 1947; Parliament 2023).
• ☐Rām Rājya, rājadharma, Kauṭilya: people's happiness is the ruler's happiness.
• ☐Good governance: transparency, rule of law, accountability, effectiveness, participation, responsiveness, inclusiveness.
• ☐Challenges: poor coordination, unequal access, malpractice, misinformation.
• ☐E-governance: UMANG, Aadhaar, GeM, DigiLocker, CPGRAMS, APAAR; needs inclusion.
• ☐Public policy: government course of action for public problems; feedback loop.
• ☐Public = for everyone, by government, public money, participation, welfare.
• ☐Stakeholders: citizens, representatives, officials, civil society/media, private sector, international bodies.
• ☐Policy cycle: desirability, prioritising, formulation, adoption, implementation, monitoring, evaluation.
• ☐NEP 2020: Kasturirangan; wide consultation; Cabinet July 2020.
• ☐Policy (direction) → programme (plan) → scheme (action); NHP 2017.
• ☐Khelo Bharat Niti 2025: coordination from Centre to block, private sector and families.

Governance and Public Policy: frequently asked questions