View source for Good Governance Day

{{Short description|Indian holiday}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox holiday
| type = National
| observedby = [[India]]
| significance = Birth anniversary of former Prime Minister [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
| scheduling = Same day each year
| duration = One day
| frequency = Annual
| date = 25 December 
| firsttime = 2014
}}
{{Atal Bihari Vajpayee series}}
{{Narendra Modi}}

'''Good Governance Day''' ([[Hindi]]: सुशासन दिवस, [[International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration|IAST]]: ''Suśāsan Divas'')<ref>[http://www.pib.nic.in/goodgov/default.aspx National Informatics Centre Good Governance Day Page]</ref> is observed in [[India]] annually on the twenty-fifth day of December, the birth anniversary of former-[[Indian Prime Minister|Prime Minister]] [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]].<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Centre-to-celebrate-Good-Governance-Day-on-Christmas/articleshow/45612802.cms Centre to celebrate 'Good Governance Day' on Christmas]</ref><ref>[http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-government-unveils-mega-plan-for-good-governance-day-2046209 Government unveils mega plan for Good Governance Day]</ref> Good Governance Day was established in 2014 to honor Prime Minister Vajpayee by fostering awareness among the Indian people of accountability in government.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-25|title=Good Governance Day 2020: History,Quotes,Ideal Governance,Importance|url=https://news.jagatgururampalji.org/good-governance-day/|access-date=2020-12-25|website=S A NEWS|language=en-US}}</ref>

In keeping with this principle, the [[Government of India]] has decreed Good Governance Day to be a working day for the government.<ref>[http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pmo-note-says-christmas-is-a-working-day-for-government/1/408323.html Now, a PMO note says Christmas is a working day for government]</ref>

==Establishment==
On 23 December 2014, the ninety-year old<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/government-press-release/pib-launches-webpage-on-good-governance-114122300546_1.html|title = PIB launches webpage on Good Governance|newspaper = Business Standard India|date = 23 December 2014}}</ref> former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Pandit [[Madan Mohan Malaviya]] (posthumously) were announced as recipients of India's highest civilian award for merit, the [[Bharat Ratna]],<ref>[http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Bharat-Ratna-to-Be-Conferred-on-Vajpayee-Madan-Mohan-Malaviya/2014/12/24/article2586574.ece Bharat Ratna to Be Conferred on Vajpayee, nutai Mohan Malaviya]</ref> by Indian [[President of India|President]] [[Pranab Mukherjee]].

Following the announcement, the newly elected administration of Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] established that the birth anniversary of the former Prime Minister would be henceforth commemorated annually in India as Good Governance Day.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 25, 2020|title=Good Governance Day 2020: Date, significance and quotes|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/good-governance-day-2020-date-significance-and-quotes-1752864-2020-12-25|access-date=2020-12-25|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>

The [[Indian National Congress]] has criticized the ruling-[[Bharatiya Janata Party]] government for both setting Good Governance Day on the same date as Christmas as well as for declaring this date as a government working day, questioning the secularism in the nation.<ref>[http://www.firstpost.com/india/india-is-secular-congress-lambasts-bjp-for-trying-to-reduce-importance-of-christmas-2003611.html India is secular: Congress lambasts BJP for trying to reduce importance of Christmas]</ref>

==See also==
* [[Good governance]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.pib.nic.in/goodgov/default.aspx| Official Good Governance Day information page}}

[[Category:Modi administration initiatives]]
[[Category:2014 establishments in India]]
[[Category:December observances]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 2014]]
 
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