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

Overview

The 1980s saw the emergence of New Public Management (NPM), a reform movement aimed at improving government accountability, efficiency, and citizen-centeredness. It was influenced by management techniques used in the private sector.

Core Features

• Managerialism: A focus on performance metrics, results, and accountability.
• Decentralization: Delegation of authority to lower levels and agencies.
• Market mechanisms include public-private partnerships, contracting out, and competition.
• Customer orientation is the practice of seeing citizens as clients whose level of satisfaction may be measured.
• Performance budgeting: Connecting spending to quantifiable outcomes.

Relevance to India

• Reflected in Mission Karmayogi, Sevottam model, e-Governance, and PPP projects.
• Inspired Outcome Budgeting and Performance Management and Evaluation System (PMES).
• Criticized for disregarding fairness and social justice in developing democracies.

Conclusion
NPM offers excellent managerial tools but must be applied to India’s socio-political setting. India’s reform path is characterized by a combination of democratic accountability and NPM efficiency.

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