Abstract: The state is committed to curbing formalism and reducing burdens in primary-level governance.Indicator mobilization provides a critical analytical lens forunderstanding burden alleviation,empowerment,and cadre motivation at the primary level.Indicators carry inherent governance functions,acting not only as governance instruments and tasks but also as performance metrics.Following the operational logic of indicators,indicator mobilization drives task allocation,responsibility refinement,key task implementation,and goal fulfillment through indicator design,decomposition,implementation,and assessment.Based on assessment outcomes,administrative incentives and constraints are established to regulate personnel mobility and position adjustment,thereby improving the efficiency and quality of primary-level governance.As a key organizational mechanism,indicator mobilization integrates "tiao-kuai" (vertical and horizontal) resources and motivates primary-level staff.Nevertheless,it may risk falling into the "indicator trap",triggering excessive task-driven mobilization and governance suspension,thus failing to effectively respond to real governance demands.Therefore,governance contexts must be fully considered to maintain flexibility in indicator mobilization.Indicator-based minimalist governance should be promoted locally with scientifically designed systems.The initiative of primary-level staff should be enhanced,rigid assessment orientations weakened,and indicator formalism prevented.

Key words: governance, indicator, primary-level governance, indicator mobilization, indicator-based governance, indicator assessment, administrative incentive