Model Question and Answers for APSC | “In the Indian governance system, the role of non-state actors has been only marginal.” Critically examine this statement.

Ans: The term "non-state actors" refers to "a wide range of non-governmental development actors like civil society in all its diversity, economic and social partners, including trade union organisations and the private sector."

India's government has always been based on a "steel frame" that came from the colonial era. Non-state actors play an important role in making policies, putting them into action, and raising awareness because they know what's going on on the ground. However, in many cases, the role of non- state actors has been small, such as:

• Policy makers need to hear from a wide range of people, but the government makes decisions from the top down.
• NGOs are important to the way government plans and programmes are carried out, but they have been given a very small role.
• Non-state actors are key to achieving both national and international development goals, such as those about climate change. This helps a lot to make up for the gap in greenhouse gas emissions caused by national climate policies that aren't ambitious enough or aren't done well enough.

Non-State Actors (NSAs) continue to be an important part of any country's democratic process. It has to do some things to keep democracy going and make it stronger.

• Non-state actors teach people about their rights and responsibilities and why they are It also encourages groups that have been left out in the past, like women, dalits, and minorities, to use their rights and power.
• Political abuse and breaking the law are checked by civil society. If the government abuses its power, a non-state actor will be able to make the government answer for it.

• In democratic institutions, where there are many different kinds of interests, there are often disagreements. A strong civil society lessens the biggest differences and helps the state make sure that the best interests are taken care of.
• Non-state actors work to help people develop democratic traits like tolerance, willingness to compromise, and respect for different points of view.
• It lets political parties and other groups speak up for what they want. This makes democracy a better
• Political and economic reforms can't work without the support of the public and the government. Civil society does this and makes changes possible.
• If the state doesn't look out for the best interests of society and if its interests are narrow and stuck, nonstate actors can help find and train new political leaders to get the government moving again.
• People should be more involved in the government through tools like social auditing, which should be pushed.
• In many states, nonpartisan volunteer groups watched elections to make sure the process and results were fair. This makes people feel better about the government.
• NGOs like Akshay Patra and SEWA have helped a lot of people who are on the outside of society. So, the government should make sure to regulate and accredit NGOs that help society.

By doing its job, civil society can make a society more democratic by putting the needs of its members into consideration when making policy. But the government should give its people basic freedoms so that civil society can work well in democratic institutions. Civil society, which is not part of the government, is an important part of building and keeping democracy alive.