PUBLIC POLICY AND FACTORS INFLUENCING PUBLIC POLICY

Ms. Hardeep Kaur

ABSTRACT

public policy is a new subfield in political science. In democratic governments, public policy is the main component which focuses on the public and its problems. It is a very complex process. Public policy is affected by socio-economic conditions. These conditions have a different impact on each and every public policy. Public policy is a purposive course of action designed by governmental institutions to attain specific goals and objectives. The major function of public policy is to shape society for betterment. Public policy comprising several elements aiming at achieving certain goals and objectives. It is a skilful, comprehensive, enforceable, binding, legitimate, authoritative, deliberate and purposeful framework of and for interaction within which a multiplicity of policy decisions can be made by political office – bearers and different courses of action can be put into operation by public officials in order to realize the predetermined governmental aims and objectives as economically, efficiently and effectively. However, the policy is a dynamic process so; it should be reformulated and adapted continually on the basis of experience, research in the relative field of operation, and changing circumstances. In policy formulation various governmental and non-governmental agencies participate directly or indirectly. Some agencies that participate in policymaking are the legislature, cabinet, state governments, civil servants, judiciary, boards and commissions, mass media, political parties, pressure groups and public etc. This basic objective of this paper is to examine the role of various agencies in the formulation of public policy in India.

Keywords: Public policy; goals and objectives; changing circumstances and needs; factors, framework of and for interaction.