| Abstract: | Good governance has emerged as a cornerstone for sustainable development in the 21st century, particularly in a diverse and democratic country like India. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015, emphasize inclusive institutions, accountability, transparency, social justice, and equitable growth—principles that directly resonate with the ideals of good governance. In the Indian context, governance is confronted with challenges such as bureaucratic inefficiency, corruption, digital divides, regional disparities, and the growing demand for participatory decision-making. At the same time, significant opportunities have been created through e-governance initiatives, decentralization, public service reforms, civil society participation, and technological innovations in service delivery. Strengthening institutional capacity, ensuring citizen-centric policy implementation, and promoting cooperative federalism are vital to align governance mechanisms with the targets of SDGs. This paper critically examines the dual dimensions of challenges and opportunities in India’s governance framework, arguing that sustainable development can only be realized when governance systems evolve to be more transparent, accountable, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all sections of society. |
