Good Governance Day (GGD) is observed on December 25 each year, since 2014, on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

• Good governance can be referred to as an effective and efficient process of decision making and the process by which decisions are implemented keeping the amelioration of citizens as the topmost priority.
• The United Nations outlines eight traits of good governance (see infographic).

New Initiatives 

Observing GGD, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions launched some key initiatives:

• Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi: Part of broader ‘Prashasan Gaon Ki Aur’ campaign, it aims to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) through innovative tools and capacity-building frameworks.
  • Piloted in Odisha, Assam, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh, it leverages e-learning platforms, AI-powered chatbots, and mobile apps to bridge knowledge gaps and enhance service delivery.
• Single Simplified Pension Application Form: Revolutionizes pension processing with end-to-end digitization through the integration of e-HRMS (Electronic Human Resource Management System) with Bhavishya (online pension sanction & tracking system). 
• Compendium of Pension Related Instructions, 2024: Consolidates all updated rules, procedures, and guidelines related to pensions. 

Challenges to Good Governance in India: Corruption, lack of accountability, criminalization of politics, low level of awareness of rights and duties, ineffective implementation of laws etc.