Editorial

This issue of the Indian Journal of Public Administration comprises fourteen articles and two Notes.

Varun Chhachhar analyses the processes of elections of the Speakers of the Indian Lok Sabha and those of his counterpart: the US House of Representatives. This includes their judicial roles as well. It is aptly remarked that ‘it is most important for developed as well as developing democracies to respect constitutional positions to be fair, just and reasonable as per law’.

Satyanarayana Murthy Dogga, Princy Tak and Jeevan Kumar Cheruku offer an interesting analysis of fiscal discipline and its interface with economic growth in India. They suggest that more probably than not fiscal discipline leads to economic growth in India but also caution that their study is based on evidence provided by only seventeen cases.

Maithili S. Sane opines that in India, judiciary needs to be understood as a bureaucratic and public organisation which is not only tasked with justice delivery but also value creation.

Kavita Kachhawa and Renu Mogra turn their analytical focus to large-scale fortification and public distribution system of rice in India. Fortification of rice can be a cost-effective tool to combat anaemia at the community level but more conclusive evidence are still required.

Parul Jain examines the working of Goods and Services Tax in India and opines that taxation policy has to be transparent, predictable and inclusive for investment and growth.

Shivangi Seth and Vishnu Priya Temani study the emerging trends of cybernated transactions in India specifically during the COVID-19 period. The authors aptly notify that the digital mode of payment became a lifesaver as it not only eliminated the risk of social contact but also provided safety from leakage in the economy with better security as well as an easy and convenient way of transferring money.

V.V. Mallika measures the effectiveness of e-governance reforms in Telangana by way of introducing Palle Samagra Seva Kendram and found that the ‘lack of direct accountability of village-level entrepreneurs to the panchayat was impeding accountability’.

Prabhat Kumar Datta focuses on the working of gender quota and women’s participation in rural local bodies in India and their contextual constraints and effects.

G. Durga Rao and Manik Sharma analyse the civil society’s attempts to control industrial pollution in the Kathua Industrial Area in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The article discusses the issues like severity and impact of pollution on the affected population, awareness, participation and role of civil society in influencing the policy actions and outcomes in the study area.

G. Varalakshmi delves into the perceptions of the stakeholders in the management and working of the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas. The Special Officers, appointed for the management, have to face several constraints such as service conditions like contract jobs, low level of salary and management issues.

Chandra Shekhar Kumar and Manoj Sharma measure the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals through the Panchayati Raj Institutions.

Protecting unorganised domestic workers in Delhi, like in many other parts of the world, is a complex issue that involves legal, policy and societal challenges. These workers are often vulnerable to exploitation, low pay and lack of job security. Skylab Sahu emphasises the need to register domestic workers and to spread awareness among them about various welfare policies and laws that can ensure their rights and dignity.

Protecting the human rights of HIV-infected persons in India is not only a moral imperative but also essential for controlling the spread of HIV and providing those affected with a chance to live a dignified and healthy life. Rajagopal P.K. in his article underlies the need to focus on the practical solutions to alleviate inequality associated with AIDS.

Pushpender Yadav highlights the increasing rate, number and forms of violence against women in the country. To protect women at individual level, it is essential to know about the forms and severity of the crimes. Further, this article is based on a theoretical analysis of a review of literature and the kind of offences women suffer.

The journal’s final edition of this year offers a variety of perspectives and approaches to address contemporary challenges while providing a valuable resource for those interested in public administration and governance.