Introduction: Since the dawn of independence in the year 1947, India has achieved various land mark milestones be it was the creation of constitutional institutions to protect the meritocracy, the public purse, Nationalization of banks, democratic decentralization, Green Revolution, inception of Lok Pal & Lok Ayuktas, New Economic Policy, Citizen Charter, Right to information Act 2005, Jan Dhan Yojna, Swatch Bhart Abhyan, Digital India and so on. In all those efforts, regardless of the political questions and political intentions, the common things were public trust and bringing governance closer to the common citizens. Subsequently, as a nation we have performed well in several sectors to attain a good position on the world-wide indicators of good governance. However, during the last two decades the way public expenditure has decreased and modern collaborative governance on the basis of public private partnership has started. Largely it has shaken the roots of governance than to strengthen the same as it has been proven in the best performing economies of this world. The proof of this sorry state of affairs can be seen in various sectors be it is the case of collapse of roads and bridges, paper leaks and public recruitment scams, the worsening scenario of Indian Railways, the paradigm shift of public corporations into non-performing assets etc. Now, the questions arise, where we went wrong in term of policy making and policy implementation process. If this is the case, what are the alternatives which are being explored to rebuild the public trust?
The Incidents Of Public Recruitments Paper Leaks Across The Nation: During the last two decades most of the Indian states have witnessed the leakages of public recruitment papers which has always been a very confidential matter and many securities layered matter under the close supervision of Public Service Commissions and State Recruitment Boards. Let us begin this from the crown of India i.e., Jammu and Kashmir. In 2022, the Jammu and Kashmir Sub Inspector paper leak scandal rocked the region, revealing serious lapses in the administration and oversight of recruitment processes. The responsibility for setting the leaked paper was pinned on a controversial company named Aptech Pvt. Ltd., which had already faced bans in several Indian states due to previous instances of misconduct and irregularities in examination processes Aptech Ltd had garnered a reputation for unreliability and unethical practices, leading to its prohibition in states like Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Despite these bans, the company continued to operate in other regions, raising questions about the efficacy of regulatory measures and the integrity of outsourced examination processes. The leak of the Sub Inspector paper in Jammu and Kashmir underscored broader issues within the recruitment infrastructure, highlighting vulnerabilities that allowed unscrupulous entities to exploit and undermine fair competition. The incident not only jeopardized the credibility of the examination but also shook public trust in the transparency and fairness of government recruitment procedures.Moreover, because of the administrative delays in the conduct of these exams in fair manners some aspirants are about to cross the age limit fixed by the sate for several public jobs. Especially, in the region like Jammu and Kashmir where private sector hardly exists. In such an areas maximum youngster always dependent upon public sector jobs. The 2021 Rajasthan Teachers Recruitment Exam leak case involved a significant breach of examination integrity in which the question paper for teacher recruitment exams was compromised which wasthe State’s biggest examination for recruitment of teachers to the government schools, in which over 16 lakh candidates had appeared. During the investigation, the state investigating agency arrested 38 persons, including 14 candidates, and recovered ₹1.16 crore paid for gaining access to the paper. This raises question on the state security apparatus and intelligentsia that how a conspiracy was being hatched and public agencies had no clue in spite of having a robust administrative mechanism. Such cases have also been reported in different states like Telangana Group B Exam 2022, Uttar Pradesh Lekh pal Recruitment Exam 2022 etc. Similarly, the latest National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) Paper row 2024 conducted by the National Testing Agency is another attack on the meritocracy. Moreover, the teaching position recruitment in the Central Universities of the country are also doubtful. This was further highlighted on the floor of the house by the Leader of the Opposition (Sh. Malik Arjun Kharge) in the upper House of Indian Parliament. In Fact, more or less this has become the talk of Indian streets now a days, when the central universities are expecting quality papers published in the Scopus indexed Journals and Web of Science from their research scholars but not ensuring quality when it comes to their recruitment. Inputs decides output. The recruitment in the central universities of India have been entangled in the battle of political ideologies which is not good for the future of India. There is an urgent need of politics and academics dichotomy for the larger interest of Vikshit Bharat. In the wake of recurring paper leaks across various Indian states, the plight of students and their families becomes deeply concerning. For a student striving for a promising future, these leaks not only shatter their aspirations but also undermine their hard work and dedication. Parents, who eagerly await better days for their children, find themselves grappling with uncertainty and disillusionment over the reliability of state agencies entrusted with conducting fair examinations.The credibility of these agencies has been severely questioned, highlighting gaps in security and governance. Transparency and accountability, pillars of a fair system, are compromised, eroding public trust in the integrity of recruitment processes. Students and families are left in a state of distress, seeking answers and assurances that their efforts will not be in vain. As these incidents persist, there is an urgent need for stringent reforms to restore faith in the meritocracy of educational assessments and ensure that all students have a fair chance to succeed based on their abilities and hard work alone.
“Learning from global best practices, the administrative system should be benchmarked against countries known for protecting meritocracy and maintaining robust public infrastructure. Vigilance from state authorities is crucial, especially given the current governance model’s reliance on public-private partnerships. Local self-governments and their representatives should play an active role in overseeing infrastructure development, as these projects directly impact citizens’ daily lives. By prioritizing transparency, rigorous quality control, and community involvement, India can rebuild public trust and ensure that future infrastructure projects enhance safety, reliability, and accessibility for all.”
Flaws In Modern Public Infra: The water leakage in the lobby of recentlyconstructed new Parliament Building of India has raised several questions on the quality of modern public infrastructure. Moreover, during the moon -soon Season of this year, numerous bridges collapsed in the state of Bihar and over the recent years have highlighted significant concerns about infrastructure safety in the state. In Bhagalpur, parts of the under-construction Sultanganj Aguwani bridge collapsed twice, first due to a loose cable during a thunderstorm about 14 months ago, and again in June this year. The collapse of the Sattarghat bridge over the Gandak river in Gopalganj just 29 days after its inauguration in July 2020 raised questions about construction quality and oversight. In Saharsa, three laborers were injured in June 2022 when a section of a bridge collapsed at Kandumer village. A 136-year-old British-era road bridge collapsed in Patna due to excessive rain, while an under-construction bridge in Nalanda collapsed in November 2022, claiming a life. Most recently, in January 2024, an iron bridge collapsed in Darbhanga due to an overloaded truck, and in May 2024, an under-construction bridge in Purnia collapsed shortly after concretization, prompting allegations of the use of low-quality materials by contractors and engineers.Recently, in the year 2024 the same state has witnessed the collapse of 13 bridges in over two weeks. This shows that state’s concerning department has not learnt any lesson from the past such incidents. Many Highways and Express ways which were built recently have shorten the distance of several miles among the states and minimizes the logistic cost. However, at the same time, it has been seen the issue of quality compromised on many highways and express way. Let’s take the case of Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway which was inaugurated in the year 2023,built at a cost of Rs 8,480 crore, the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway was expected to reduce the travel time between the two cities from around 3 hours to 75 minutes. However, less than a week after its inauguration it was flooded by light shower of rain. Similarly, in the year 2022, Within Week of Inauguration, Parts of UP’s Bundelkhand Expressway Cave in due to Heavy Rain. Maharashtra’s Samruddi Highway which is 710-kilometer six lane express way connecting Mumbai and Nagpur has developed a 50 feets long crack of almost 3cms. Furthermore, India’s first light and sound proof elevated road which passes through the Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhapardesh’sSeoni built with the cost of 960 crores developed a large crack due to continuous rain. The crack was observed both in the middle and on the sides of the road leading to the closure of 200-meter stretch of the road for many days. On 30, October 2022, in the state of Gujrat,almost 135 people died and more than 100 were critical when a cable bridge collapsed on the Machchhu river (Morbi town) which was recently repaired by the state govt. This bridge was constructed in the year 1880 by the Britisher and was closed from last many years. The recent spate of bridge collapses and infrastructure failures across India, particularly in Bihar and other states, raises profound concerns about public safety and the effective utilization of funds. These incidents not only highlight the tragic loss of lives and livelihoods but also underscore a systemic failure in ensuring robust construction practices and oversight. In Bihar alone, multiple bridge collapses within a short span indicate a glaring lack of accountability and oversight in infrastructure projects. Despite significant investments aimed at improving connectivity and reducing travel times, such as the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway and the Bundelkhand Expressway, the recurring issue of compromised quality persists. These incidents are not just financial burdens on the common man but also endanger lives, undermining the trust citizens place in their governments to deliver safe and reliable infrastructure. It is alarming that modern technology, touted for its precision and efficiency, seems inadequate in guaranteeing the durability and safety of these structures. In contrast, ancient monuments across India stand as enduring testaments to craftsmanship and engineering prowess, having withstood centuries of natural disasters. This stark contrast begs the question: why does modern infrastructure, built with advanced technology and substantial investments, falter under relatively ordinary conditions like rain or usage? The absence of stringent quality control measures, coupled with inadequate local supervision and accountability, appears to be a critical factor. Effective governance demands not only the identification of culprits responsible for substandard work but also the swift establishment of mechanisms to prevent such lapses in the future. Local public administration must play a pivotal role in ensuring that contractors adhere to rigorous quality standards and that community interests are safeguarded. Ultimately, the challenge lies in reconciling modern advancements with the timeless principles of craftsmanship and accountability. For India to truly progress, it must harness technology for the greater good, ensuring that infrastructure investments uphold safety, durability, and public trust.
In conclusion, India must urgently enact stringent laws to ensure accountability in infrastructure projects and safeguard public funds. Learning from global best practices, the administrative system should be benchmarked against countries known for protecting meritocracy and maintaining robust public infrastructure. Vigilance from state authorities is crucial, especially given the current governance model’s reliance on public-private partnerships. Local self-governments and their representatives should play an active role in overseeing infrastructure development, as these projects directly impact citizens’ daily lives. By prioritizing transparency, rigorous quality control, and community involvement, India can rebuild public trust and ensure that future infrastructure projects enhance safety, reliability, and accessibility for all.
(The author is Head Department of Economics, Public Administration and Computer Applications, Loyola Academy, Old Alwal, Secunderabad, Telangana. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
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