The article discusses the implementation of Aadhaar, the unique identification system for Indian citizens introduced by the central government in 2009. It analyzes the policy’s objective to provide a unique lifetime digital ID and evaluates its impact on the public, focusing on problems with implementation and corruption.
Policy evaluation is crucial to determine the success or failure of a policy and improve it accordingly. It requires assessing objective indicators, conducting before and after analysis, and evaluating the cost-benefit analysis. A sound analytical framework, including qualitative and quantitative research, is necessary to evaluate policies over time, and practitioners can use different frameworks such as implementation, policy design, externalities, process, program, and politics to assess success or failure.
The policy cycle is a model used by governments to address and solve problems. It consists of five stages: Agenda Setting, Policy Formation, Decision Making, Policy Implementation, and Policy Evaluation. However, the stages are often not followed in order, and the model oversimplifies the messy and complex real world. The process of policy making depends on the ideologies and interests of the ruling government. The decision-making process can neglect the social impact of policies, and the implementation process can be affected by bureaucratic ineffectiveness, maladroitness, and corruption. The evaluation of policies is challenging, as they can have multi-fold objectives, harm the public, and provide opposing results. Overall, the policy cycle model provides a framework for problem-solving, but it is important to be aware of its limitations and the complexities of real-world policy-making.
