SMART Governance Full Form

What is the full form of SMART Governance?

Government operations involving the use of ICT (Information and Communications Technology) are referred to as "e-governance" or "e-governance". Since SMART governance stands for Simple, Moral, Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent governance, it may be said that e-government is fundamentally a step toward SMART governance. Through this article, let's learn more about SMART governance.

e-Governance

Countries all across the world have embraced electronic government, often known as e-governance. In a nation with a fast-growing and demanding economy like India, e-governance has become essential. Due to the growing expansion of digitalization, many governments all around the world have begun to implement and integrate technology into their operations. The use of information and communication technology (ICT) by the government to deliver and facilitate government services, information exchange, communication transactions, and integration of diverse stand-alone systems and services is known as electronic governance or e-governance.

In other words, it is the use of technology to the accomplishment of governmental goals and the performance of official duties. Government services are made easily, quickly, and transparently available to citizens and companies through e-governance. Since SMART governance stands for simple, moral, accountable, responsive, and transparent governance, it may be said that e-government is fundamentally a step toward SMART governance. Digital India programme, National Portal of India, Prime Minister of India portal, Aadhaar, online tax filing and payment, digital land management systems, Common Entrance Test, etc. are some examples of e-governance.

SMART Governance

SMART Governance is about utilizing technology to enable and support improved planning and decision making. It focuses on enhancing democratic procedures and modernising the delivery of public services. It incorporates mobile working, the efficiency agenda, and e-government. A good example is the National Institute of Smart Governance.

It is about how public services will evolve in the future, with increased effectiveness, local leadership, mobile working, and continual innovation-driven improvement.

It is the next step in the e-government process that will bring about Simple, Moral, Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent Governance. It suggests fundamental adjustments to how the government functions by imposing new duties on the legislative branch, the executive branch, the judicial branch, and the general public.

Meaning of SMART Governance

• Simple- i.e., using ICTs to simplify government rules, policies, and procedures in order to create a more user-friendly system of government.

• Moral- implying the establishment of a completely new set of ethical principles in the political and administrative systems Technology interventions boost the efficiency of anti-corruption authorities, police, the judiciary, and so on.

• Accountable- facilitating the creation, development, and deployment of efficient management information systems and performance measurement mechanisms to ensure public service accountability.

• Responsive- streamlining processes to improve service delivery and system responsiveness.

• Transparent- bringing information that was previously only available in government documents into the public realm and creating transparent processes and functions, which would then lead to equity and the application of the rule of law in administrative agencies' responses.

Importance of SMART Governance in Indian Bureaucracy:

• As we have transitioned from a rule-based state to a socialist and welfare-focused one, SMART Governance includes characteristics like simplicity, morality, accountability, responsibility, and transparency, which are seen as vital qualities of civil servants in modern India.

• The modern bureaucracy is also in charge of developing and carrying out the government's many programs and policies, which calls for a SMART approach.

• By enabling People’s Participation, Accountability and Efficiency, Transparency, User-Friendly Government Processes, the Removal of Hierarchical Barriers and Red Tapism, and the Elimination of Red Tapism, Better Service Delivery will be made possible.

USE of SMART Technology

Utilizing technology in the governance process would undoubtedly significantly change administrative procedures like:

• Automation of administrative procedures: This will reduce human involvement, resulting in impartial service delivery and putting an end to the culture of red tape. Additionally, this will increase administrative effectiveness. Each department will be able to conduct operations and move files online thanks to the availability of online information, which will also make budgeting, accounting, and data flow easier.

• Paper-Work Reduction: This makes it possible for files and mail (information) to be transferred across wires to each employee's desk, minimising physical activity and energy use as well as the need to store mountains of paper. As a result, there is less waste produced, aiding in environmental protection.

• Excellent of Services: Access to information online enables organisations to function efficiently and provide quality services, enhancing their credibility with the general public. Since people can obtain services effectively, immediately, and affordably, they are able to work with greater accountability, responsibility, and sensitivity. Monitoring video teleconferences has improved central oversight, reporting, and face-to-face interaction, leading to higher service quality.

• Elimination of Hierarchy - With the advent of Intranet and LAN, there has been a decrease in the procedural delays brought on by hierarchical processes in organizations. This is because it is now possible to instantly send and receive data and information across various organizational levels, facilitating the participation of all levels in decision-making.

• Change in Administrative Culture - With the advent of e-government, public action has been brought into the public eye, causing the administrative culture to change and become more efficient and responsive by instilling norms and values of accountability, openness, integrity, fairness, equity, and justice.

• Effective Service Delivery- Effective Service Delivery is made possible by SMART Governance, which guarantees:

1. Transparency - Through the dissemination and publication of information online, which entails thorough public inspection, enhancing the effectiveness and accountability of service delivery.

2. Economic growth - SMART Governance lowers transaction costs, resulting in more affordable services. For example, rural areas suffer from a lack of information about markets, products, agriculture, health, education, weather, and so on, and if all of this information could be available online, it would clearly lead to greater and more opportunities and prosperity in such locations.

3. Social Development - Citizens who have access to information are more empowered to take part in program/project creation, implementation, monitoring, and service delivery because their concerns can be heard. Web-enabled involvement will also combat the prejudices influencing our social conduct.

4. System of Strategic Information Public functionaries are under pressure to perform to the best of their abilities because of the current level of competition in the workplace. However, this can only be done when management has access to all relevant information at all times so that it can effectively use SMART Governance to make both routine and strategic decisions.

5. Governments' priorities have altered in the twenty-first century to focus on achieving economic competitiveness, offering citizens digital services, promoting e-democracy, and fostering e-communities that will prepare their inhabitants for the next "knowledge century."

6. The five SMART Governance guiding principles are applicable to how the public sector operates. If e-Government systems are created and developed to improve these SMART principles in practise, they can provide their users a number of advantages.