Model Answer

Introduction

In recent years, India's global rankings in governance-related indices have declined, raising questions about the transparency and fairness of existing methodologies. Against this backdrop, India has proposed developing a Global Governance Index in collaboration with global institutions like the World Bank and OECD.

Body

India's initiative stems from multiple strategic and conceptual rationales:

1. Countering Western-Dominated Narratives: Existing indices such as V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy Institute) and Freedom in the World often assess governance through a Western liberal lens, disregarding contextual variations in democratic practices. India's index seeks to promote a more balanced, multicultural understanding of governance standards.

2. Ensuring Objectivity and Transparency: Many current indices rely on perception-based surveys and lack clarity in methodology. India aims to create a data-driven and verifiable model of governance assessment that enhances credibility and minimises subjectivity.

3. Reclaiming Global Narrative Space: As a major democracy and emerging power, India aspires to contribute to the global discourse on governance rather than merely being evaluated by external frameworks. The initiative symbolizes intellectual independence and leadership in norm-setting.

4. Influence on Global Perception and Economic Parameters: Global indices often shape investment climate and sovereign credit ratings. A transparent and inclusive index could ensure that developing nations are fairly represented in global evaluations impacting their economic prospects.

5. Collaborative Global Approach: By partnering with institutions like the World Bank, OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), and UN DESA (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs), India seeks to ensure methodological rigour, international legitimacy, and shared ownership of the new governance framework.

Conclusion/Way Forward

Developing a Global Governance Index is not merely a technical exercise but a strategic effort to democratise the global evaluation of governance. If executed with transparency and inclusivity, it could redefine how governance quality is perceived across nations.