New public management (NPM):
Developed in the 1980s, with influences from private-sector practices. It emphasised efficiency, cost-cutting, performance management, and managerialism. Citizens were considered as clients, and bureaucrats as managers.
In 2000, Janet and Robert Denhardt developed the “citizen as customer” model, which the New Public Service (NPS) rejected. Instead, it emphasised democratic values, the public interest, and participatory governance. Citizens are regarded as owners of government rather than passive recipients.
Differences: NPM prioritises efficiency, market orientation, and contractualism.
The NPS encourages democracy, accountability, teamwork, and citizen participation.
The NPM emphasises on “managing government like a business.”
The NPS prioritises “serving citizens and strengthening democracy.”
Relevance Today:
NPS is crucial in an era of growing public knowledge, social media activity, and complex governance issues (climate change, pandemics, digital governance). Instead of considering governance as an economic endeavour, it merges public administration, democratic accountability, and ethical duty.
- UPSC General Studies Paper Preparation
| Topic | |
| UPSC Syllabus | GS Genius-50 Program |
| Public administration crash course | UPSC GS Mains 2025 Study Material |
| About the Author: Jyoti Verma |
