Steering at a distance state role – UGC NET Question

The phrase “steering at a distance” captures a governance style in which governments step back from day-to-day control yet still shape institutional behaviour through indirect tools such as funding rules and performance metrics. The stem describes this arrangement, so the missing word is “distance.”

Option A:
Option A is correct because “distance” emphasises arm’s-length control: the state remains involved but does not micromanage universities.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as “centre” would imply centralised direct control, which this model explicitly seeks to replace.

Option C:
Option C is wrong since “campus” refers to the physical site of the institution, not to a governance technique used by the state.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because “ritual” suggests formal ceremony and has no recognised meaning in this context of performance-based steering.