This work analyzes the challenges of governance faced by contemporary India. It argues that while the expansion and growth of India's private sector and a vibrant civil society can fill in for some of the shortcomings of the public sector in the foreseeable future, there is a wide range of core functions from regulation to security, from social inclusion to public goods provision, where the State is-and will be-indispensable. The integrity and responsiveness of the Indian state to the multiple challenges facing the country, both internal and external, will fundamentally determine India's future. The contributions to this volume critically assess different institutions and frameworks-civil services, presidency, judiciary, Parliament, Election Commission, financial and federal institutions, audits and accountability framework, and institutions of local governance. The editors of the volume demonstrate that fundamental state reform will be a necessary condition for India to realize its potential and fulfil its people's aspirations in the twenty-first century.