The shift from government to governance necessitated the role of multiple stakeholders in policy process and called for an approach that could optimally facilitate the process. Resulting adoption of the stakeholder engagement approach in public policy from the domain of corporate governance has come as a mainstay as one of the most sought after diagnostic technique for the achievement of good governance in the realm of public delivery. Although the concept of stakeholder engagement possesses an imported character, it is being widely practiced across all kinds of public and private organizations whereby the various stakeholders enjoy the opportunity to influence decision-making in a desired manner. Public policy process has also acknowledged and made use of this concept as a tool, both formal and informal, for policy development, monitoring and evaluation realizing and admiring the intertwined interests of the two domains, as also the stakeholders getting increasingly involved into the process of public policy thereby enabling better alignment of the public policy with their needs and aspirations than ever before. Public policy and governance are closely interwoven and interdependent for their efficiency and efficacy. It is due to the shift experienced in both these spheres as a clear impact of the global changes of neo-liberalism and globalization that enhanced role has been assigned to informed, aware and proactive stakeholders. Stakeholders hold a substantial position in terms of institutional framework as well as achievement of the established goals. Stakeholder engagement, an effort towards collaborative partnerships and proactive involvement towards the exchange of information, ideas and resources critically important for a contextual policy perspective, therefore, forms an integral part of present times policy process and is a significant determining factor in policy development right from identifying priorities to drafting a blueprint, from formulation to implementation, for decision-making and monitoring at all levels. The present paper attempts to understand the prospects, significance and challenges of stakeholder engagement in public policy sphere of India. It intends to draw inference on the basis of document analysis as regards some of the current Indian government's development initiatives, like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Namami Gange Programme, Smart City Mission and assess the status of stakeholder engagement therein. The prerequisites of stakeholder engagement are many and complex calling for a continuum across the multiple stakeholders associated with a project in varying capacities and differing levels of engagement as per the authority or power they wield to influence decisions. Although the concept of stakeholder engagement is gaining increased acceptance and significance across various domains, there are yet no established normative frameworks and practices of the stakeholder engagement method courtesy the varying social, economic and political conditions across settings. Besides, being a direct...

A participative and representative democracy like that of India cannot deny media's significant role in strengthening its democratic fabric. However, while media has offered a huge platform for creating awareness, educating and sensitising people, the quality of knowledge disseminated, the kind of awareness created, the way of connecting with the masses as also, the content flashed and the intention behind it are clouded with dubiousness. This paper proposed to conduct a qualitative study into analysing the role and performance of media towards nurturing democratic principles in Indian context through narrative analysis of certain instances picked deliberately for the purpose; and suggested certain measures for enhancing the effectiveness of media in this context. The paper reaffirmed media in the country, contrary to the expected role, to be biased, indulging in blatant fabrication of news, manipulating facts and spreading propaganda, hence fast losing its credibility, integrity and sanctity under the garb of reinforcing democracy.