UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Participatory governance is characterised by the inclusion of various stakeholders in decision-making processes. In universities, this can mean having teachers, students, non-teaching staff and external members in bodies such as boards, councils and committees. The stem describes exactly such involvement of diverse stakeholders in governance, which is the hallmark of participatory governance. Thus, Option C is the correct answer.

Option A:
Participatory models aim to improve legitimacy, transparency and responsiveness of decisions by harnessing multiple perspectives. They can also enhance commitment to implementation because stakeholders feel ownership of decisions. These benefits correspond to the governance approach described in the question.

Option B:
Authoritarian governance concentrates power in the hands of a few individuals and restricts participation. It is the opposite of the shared decision-making depicted in the stem, so this option is incorrect.

Option C:
Bureaucratic governance emphasises formal rules and hierarchical procedures, often with limited stakeholder voice. While some bureaucracy exists in any system, the term does not capture the inclusive nature highlighted in the question.

Option D:
Militaristic governance suggests strict discipline and command structures like those in armed forces, which is not the model of collaborative academic governance being referred to. Hence, this option does not fit here.