“New Public Management (NPM) aimed to make administration more business-like.” Discuss its relevance in India.

The goal of the reform movement known as New Public Management (NPM) was to improve efficiency, accountability, and service quality by incorporating private-sector concepts into public administration. NPM has had a big impact on administrative changes in India, especially following the 1990s economic liberalization, when the government started moving from direct control to regulatory and facilitation functions.

The importance of NPM in India is evident in a number of domains. Through mission–mode programs, outcome budgeting, dashboards, and results-oriented monitoring systems, the government is placing more focus on performance-based management. Decentralization, which reflects the managerial flexibility encouraged by NPM, has strengthened independent organizations like UIDAI, TRAI, and regulatory agencies. Infrastructure, transportation, and service delivery now heavily rely on public-private partnerships, which bring efficiency and innovation from the private sector. Through programs like Citizen Charters, Sevottam, and digital service portals, citizen-centric governance has also grown, increasing accessibility and cutting down on red tape. Online taxation, passport services, and welfare delivery are examples of e-governance changes that demonstrate NPM’s emphasis on openness and less discretion.

However, accountability gaps in outsourced services, the possibility of commercialization in crucial industries, and a lack of administrative capability in numerous ministries present challenges for NPM in India. As long as its efficiency-oriented changes are balanced with equity, openness, and public welfare, NPM will continue to be important in spite of these obstacles.

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