Promoted by Transparency International India, this book has been compiled to create awareness about the current state of governance in India and directions needed to improve governance in the country. The volume seeks to analyse the efforts made in this direction and the various tools available to the common man for availing hassle free public services one is entitled to.

— The first part deals with the perception about governance since time              immemorial.

— Part two covers the state of governance in four major monopolistic services, namely, the police, judiciary, income tax and property registration, and the efforts required to improve these services.

— Part three attempts at creating awareness amongst readers about various tools of improving governance and means and ways to use them. These tools include: Citizens' Charters, Right to Information, e-Governance, Social Audits, Report Card and Integrity Pact.

— Part four contains some exemplary initiatives to enable the concerned quarters to replicate them in order to improve the public service delivery system in some of the major public services.

S.K. Agarwal, Ph.D. in Economics from Lucknow University, has worked in various capacities in Lucknow University, State Health and Family Welfare Department of Uttar Pradesh, and the Government of India, including a posting as a diplomat in the Indian Embassy, Tokyo (Japan).

Post retirement, he has been working as an honorary volunteer in Transparency International India (TI India) and Lok Sewak Sangh, a wing of Lala Lajpat Rai's “Servants of the People Society.” He has been associated with almost all of their programmes and activities, and is working as Vice Chairman, TI India.

He has authored/co-authored several publications on economic and social issues, beside numerous research papers and articles published in various periodicals and journals.