(Sample Material) Study Kit on Current Affairs for UPSC Mains Examination
Polity, Governance and Social Justice: Utility and Governance Challenges Facing the NGO Sector
Non-Governmental organization, or NGO, is a legally constituted organization started by natural and legal persons operating independently from any government. The term has been originated from the United Nations (UN), referring to organizations that do not form part of the government and are not conventional for profit business. The cases in which NGOs are funded totally or partially by governments, the NGO maintains its non-governmental status by excluding government representatives from membership in the organization.
However, broadly, the term NGO could be applied to any non-profit organization which is independent from government. NGOs are typically value-based organizations which depend, in whole or in part, on charitable donations and voluntary service. Although the NGO sector has become increasingly professional over the last two decades, principles of altruism and voluntarism remain its key defining characteristics.