Author: Dr. Mukesh Jain
ISBN: 9789373350318
Publisher: Evincepub Publishing
Year: 2026
Governments exist to serve people, yet for many citizens, dealing with government offices remains one of the most stressful parts of daily life. Whether it is applying for a certificate, accessing welfare benefits, filing a complaint, or completing a digital form, the experience often feels slow, confusing, and emotionally draining. At the same time, government officers themselves work under immense pressure, strict rules, and complex systems that limit their ability to help citizens easily.
Citizens Are from Jupiter and Governments from Saturn by Dr. Mukesh Jain explores this deep disconnect with sensitivity, intelligence, and practical insight. The book presents a simple but powerful argument: the problem in governance is not bad intentions or lack of effort it is poor design. Through the lens of design thinking, the author shows how governments can become more humane, efficient, and citizen-friendly without massive reforms or huge budgets.
Meaning Behind the Title
The title of the book is creative and immediately relatable. By comparing citizens to Jupiter and governments to Saturn, Dr. Jain captures the feeling that both sides operate in entirely different worlds. Citizens think in terms of life situations education, health, safety, livelihood while governments think in terms of departments, rules, files, and procedures. This difference in thinking creates frustration, mistrust, and inefficiency.
The book’s central mission is to reduce this distance and bring both worlds into alignment by redesigning governance around real human experiences.
Author’s Background and Authority
Dr. Mukesh Jain’s background adds strong credibility to the book. As a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer with decades of administrative experience, he has seen governance from the inside at the ground level as well as at the policy level. His academic journey through IIM Ahmedabad, Harvard Kennedy School, and IIT Delhi gives him a strong theoretical foundation, while his role in major government initiatives like the Accessible India Campaign demonstrates his commitment to inclusive and practical governance.
This rare combination of field experience and academic understanding allows Dr. Jain to speak honestly, without idealism or blame. He does not criticise government officers, nor does he dismiss citizen complaints. Instead, he positions both as victims of poorly designed systems.
Core Theme: Design Thinking in Governance
At the heart of the book lies design thinking, explained not as a fashionable concept but as a practical mindset. Dr. Jain clarifies that design thinking is not about visual design or technology alone. It is about:
- Understanding people deeply
- Observing real problems instead of assuming them
- Asking better questions
- Testing small ideas quickly
- Improving continuously based on feedback
In governance, this means shifting focus from internal convenience to citizen experience. Instead of asking, “Is this rule followed correctly?”, the better question becomes, “Does this service actually help the citizen?”
Structure and Approach
The book is divided into four broad sections, each building logically on the previous one.
1. Rethinking Traditional Governance
In the opening section, Dr. Jain explains why traditional bureaucratic systems are struggling today. He traces the evolution of governance models from Weberian bureaucracy to New Public Management and New Public Service. While acknowledging their contributions, he shows how these models fail to address modern expectations shaped by digital services and personalised experiences.
Citizens today compare government services not with other government departments, but with apps like Google Pay, Amazon, or Swiggy. This shift has dramatically raised expectations of speed, clarity, and transparency.
2. The Design Thinking Mindset
The second section focuses on mindset. Dr. Jain emphasises empathy as the starting point of all good governance. He encourages officers to step into the shoes of citizens to stand in queues, fill forms, navigate portals, and experience uncertainty themselves.
This section is especially powerful because it challenges long-held assumptions. Many problems that appear to be “citizen ignorance” are actually design failures confusing language, unnecessary steps, or poorly planned processes.
3. The Design Thinking Process
This is the most practical part of the book. Dr. Jain explains the five stages of design thinking Discover, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test in simple language, supported by governance-related examples.
What stands out is the emphasis on small, low-cost experiments. The author repeatedly shows that transformation does not require expensive consultants or large-scale restructuring. Even small change simplifying a form, reorganising a waiting area, clarifying instructions can dramatically improve citizen experience.
4. Embedding Innovation and Looking Ahead
The final section looks at how governments can institutionalise design thinking through innovation labs, GovTech initiatives, and time-bound action plans. Dr. Jain also discusses the future of governance, where design thinking and artificial intelligence can work together to create proactive and anticipatory services.
Global and Indian Case Studies
The book is rich in examples from around the world. Countries like Estonia, Singapore, Denmark, the UK, and New Zealand are highlighted for redesigning services around life events rather than departments. These examples show that citizen-centric governance is not a theory it is already working in many places.
Equally important is the strong Indian context. Initiatives like UPI, Passport Seva, Direct Benefit Transfer, Aadhaar, and DigiLocker are used to show how thoughtful design can work even at massive scale. Dr. Jain makes a sharp observation: digitising a bad process only makes it faster; not better. True transformation starts with redesign, not automation.
Writing Style and Accessibility
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its language. Despite discussing governance theory, systems thinking, and policy reform, the writing remains clear and approachable. The tone is calm, reflective, and encouraging. The book does not feel like a lecture; it feels like guidance from a senior mentor.
There is no unnecessary jargon, and complex ideas are broken down into relatable examples. This makes the book accessible not only to policymakers and administrators, but also to students and general readers.
Emotional and Ethical Dimension
Beyond processes and frameworks, the book strongly emphasises dignity and trust. Dr. Jain repeatedly reminds readers that governance is not abstract. It is deeply personal. Every interaction between a citizen and the state shapes how people feel about authority, fairness, and belonging.
He also highlights that officers themselves suffer in poorly designed systems. Many want to help but are constrained by rigid rules and outdated procedures. Design thinking, according to the author, restores meaning and satisfaction to public service by reconnecting officers with real human impact.
Who Should Read This Book
This book is valuable for multiple audiences:
- Civil servants and government officials who want to improve service delivery
- Students of public administration and policy seeking modern governance perspectives
- Political leaders and decision-makers aiming to rebuild public trust
- Researchers and reform advocates working on citizen-centric systems
- Informed citizens who want to understand how governance can improve
The book is especially relevant for India, where scale, diversity, and complexity demand thoughtful and empathetic system design.
Balanced Perspective
The book is largely optimistic, focusing on what can be done rather than what cannot. Some readers may feel that political constraints or institutional resistance are not explored in great depth. However, this appears intentional. Dr. Jain’s goal is not to analyse obstacles endlessly, but to show that meaningful improvement is possible even within existing structures.
Final Verdict
Citizens Are from Jupiter and Governments from Saturn is a thoughtful, timely, and highly relevant contribution to the discussion on governance reform. It does not promise quick fixes, but it offers something more valuable, a shift in thinking. The book shows that when governments design services with empathy and clarity, trust follows naturally.
In a time when citizens often feel distant from institutions, this book reminds us that governance can still be kind, responsive, and human. This book deserves a place on the reading list of every serious public servant and policy student. It is not just about improving systems; it is about improving relationships between citizens and the state. A deeply insightful and practical book that reimagines governance for the modern age.
