UPSC Public Administration Previous Year Question Papers holds significant importance within the UPSC examination. Analyzing UPSC Public Administration Previous Year Question Papers is important as it offers insights into Exam Pattern, Question trends. It helps candidates understand the weightage of topics, refine their preparation strategy, and identify areas of focus.
With Public Administration Optional consisting of two papers worth 500 marks out of a total of 2025 marks, these previous year papers become crucial for achieving success in the UPSC main exams. By comprehending the Public Administration Optional Syllabus and actively working through these Previous Year Question Papers, aspirants can gain valuable insights into time management and identifying the specific topics to concentrate on.
In this article, you will discover UPSC Public Administration Previous Year Question Papers along with a detailed topic-wise analysis.
Public Administration Paper 1 Topic-Wise Marks Distribution
| Topic | Sub Topic | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Introduction |
Meaning, Scope and Significance of Public Administration |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
10 |
|
Wilson's Vision of Public Administration |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Evolution of the Discipline and its Present Status |
0 |
10 |
10 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
10 |
|
|
New Public Administration |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
|
|
Public Choice Approach |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Challenges of Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation |
10 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
20 |
|
|
Good Governance: Concept and Application |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
35 |
|
|
New Public Management |
25 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
10 |
25 |
|
|
Administrative Thought |
Scientific Management and Scientific Management Movement |
0 |
30 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Classical Theory |
25 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Weber's Bureaucratic Model - its Critique and Post Weberian Developments |
0 |
30 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
10 |
|
|
Mary Parker Follett |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
15 |
|
|
Human Relations School |
25 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Functions of the Executive C.I. Barnard |
0 |
20 |
15 |
0 |
15 |
15 |
10 |
|
|
Simon's Decision-Making Theory |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
|
|
Participative Management |
10 |
20 |
0 |
20 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Other Administrative Thinkers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
35 |
0 |
|
|
Administrative Behaviour |
Process and Techniques of Decision-Making |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Communication |
0 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
|
|
Morale |
15 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Motivation Theories- Content, Process and Contemporary |
30 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Theories of Leadership-Traditional and Modern |
0 |
0 |
10 |
20 |
10 |
10 |
0 |
|
|
Organizations |
Systems Theory and Contingency Theory |
0 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
15 |
20 |
|
Structure and Forms |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Ministries and Department, Corporations, Companies |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
|
|
Regulatory Authorities |
0 |
15 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
|
|
Max Weber- Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, |
15 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Accountability and Control |
Concepts of Accountability and Control |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Citizen and Administration |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
|
|
Role of Media, Interest Groups, Voluntary Organizations |
0 |
30 |
15 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
15 |
|
|
Civil Society |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Citizen's Charter |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Right to Information |
0 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Social Audit |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Administrative Law |
Meaning, Scope and Significance |
0 |
10 |
0 |
15 |
10 |
0 |
15 |
|
Dicey on Administrative Law |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
|
|
Delegated Legislation |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
10 |
|
|
Administrative Tribunals |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Comparative Public Administration |
Historical and Sociological Factors Affecting Administrative Systems |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
|
Administration and Politics in Different Countries |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Current Status of Comparative Public Administration |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
|
|
Riggsian Models and their Critique |
0 |
10 |
0 |
30 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Development Dynamics |
Concept of Development |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
|
Changing Profile of Development Administration |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
|
|
Anti-Development Thesis |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Bureaucracy and Development |
0 |
15 |
0 |
15 |
15 |
20 |
0 |
|
|
Strong State Versus The Market Debate, |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Women and Development - The Self-Help Group Movement |
10 |
15 |
10 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
20 |
|
|
Personnel Administration |
Importance of Human Resource Development |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
|
Recruitment |
0 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Training |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
|
|
Career Advancement |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Position Classification |
0 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Discipline and Performance Appraisal |
0 |
20 |
0 |
30 |
10 |
0 |
15 |
|
|
Promotion, Pay and Service Conditions |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
|
|
Employer-Employee Relations |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Grievance Redressal Mechanism |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Code of Conduct |
0 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Administrative Ethics |
0 |
15 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
30 |
|
|
Public Policy |
Models of Policy-Making and their Critique |
0 |
40 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
|
Processes of Conceptualisation |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Planning and Implementation |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Evaluation and Review and their Limitations |
25 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
State Theories and Public Policy Formulation |
0 |
10 |
45 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Techniques of Administrative Improvement |
Organisation and Methods |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Work Study and Work Management |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
|
|
E-Governance and Information Technology |
10 |
10 |
15 |
15 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
|
|
Management Aid Tools Like Networking Analysis, MIS |
0 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
|
|
PERT, CPM |
0 |
0 |
25 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Financial Administration |
Monetary and Fiscal Policies |
15 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
15 |
30 |
|
Public Borrowings and Public Debt |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Budget - Types and Forms |
25 |
20 |
0 |
20 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Budgetary Processes |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Accounts and Audit |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
15 |
20 |
Public Administration Paper 1 Topic-Wise PYQs
| Topic | Sub Topic | Questions |
|---|---|---|
|
INTRODUCTION |
Meaning, Scope and Significance of Public Administration |
Q. “Public Administration is constantly being reinvented because it is contextual.” Elaborate. 10M (2015)
Q. "The scope of the discipline of Public Administration is determined by what an administrative system does." Does it mean that the scope of this discipline is boundaryless? Explain. 10M (2018)
Q. "Public Administration is the translation of politics into reality that citizens see everyday." (Donald F. Kettl and Janies W) 10M (2016)
Q. "The study of administration should start from the base of management rather than the foundation of law. "Explain. 20M (2010)
Q. "Public and Private Administrations are two species of the same genus, but they also have special values and techniques of their own. "Comment. 20M (2007)
Q. "If public administration is to play a major legitimising role in governing our complex society, it needs to be more fully conceptualised. "Discuss. 20M (2006)
Q. "Administrative questions are not political questions." Discuss. 20M (2005)
Q. "Though there are certain points of similarity between public and private administration yet no private organisation can ever be exactly the same as a public one." Examine 20M (2002)
Q. "Publicness Comment" of Public Administration in an ideal democratic government remains the ultimate value in theory and practice. 'Elucidate. 20M (2002)
Q. "A science of admministration would be a body of formal statements describing invariant relationships between measurable ojects, units or elements. unquestionably, administrative research has produced definite precepts and hypotheses that are applicable to concrete situation." (Fritz Morsetin Marx) Comment. 20M (2000) |
|
Wilson's Vision of Public Administration |
Q. "Even after 130 years of its publication. Woodrow Wilson's essay "The Study of Administration' continues to have great relevance even today." Comment. 10M (2017)
Q. "The field of Public Administration is a field of business." (Woodrow Wilson) 20M (2009)
Q. "Calling Woodrow Wilson, the father of Public Administration is doing injustice to equally or even more eminent contributions made prior to him. " Comment. 20M (2008) |
|
|
Evolution of the Discipline and its Present Status |
Q. “If there is ever to be a science of Public Administration it must derive from an understanding of man’s behaviour”. Explain. 10M (2019)
Q. "With every major transformation in the applied world of Public Administration. The study of Public Administration has grown in scope and intensity." Discuss the relationship between the evolution of the discipline and profession of Public Administration. 20M (2017)
Q. Waldo's The Administrative State' provides a fundamental challenge to some of the orthodox premises. Explain. 10M (2015)
Q. What are the implications of the post- structuralist perspective on the discrete aspects of Public Administration, coming from its epistemological positions? 10M (2014)
Q. How would you trace the development of paradigms from the politics/ administration dichotomy of 190-1926 to the rise of Public Administration as Public Administration after the formation of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) in the USA in 1970? 30M (2012)
Q. From Woodrow Wilson to herbert Simon most writers on administration have taken the achievement of efficiency as the central objective. Justify the statement with references to the work of major writers. 60M (2009)
Q. "The advent of the concept of roll back of the state" since the nineteen eighties had been altering the role of Public Administration but certainly not diminishing its central place in human society. "Discuss. 20M (2003)
Q. Given an account of major landmarks in the growth of the discipline of Public Administration in the 20th century. What are the possible trends in its growth in the first decade of 21st century? 60M (2003)
Q. Describe the evolution of the discipline of public administration with special emphasis on post - 1971 developments. 60M (2002)
Q. " The paradigms of public administration may be understood in terms of locus and focus. " Golembiewski. In the light of the above statement describe the evolutions of the discipline of public administration . 60M (2000) |
|
|
New Public Administration |
Q. “The Phenomenological Approach advocated by the New Public Administration has obstructed the path of theory building in Public Administration." Comment. 20M (2018)
Q. "The New Public Administration has seriously jolted the traditional concepts and outlook of the discipline and enriched the subject by imparting wider perspective by linking it closely to the society. " (Felix A. Nigro and Lloyd G. Nigro) Elucidate. 15M (2016)
Q. In the evolution of the discipline of Public Admnistration, Minnowbrook Conferences I, II and III reflect the discipline's reconceptualisation and its changing values. Elucidate. 30M (2011)
Q. "New Public Management is dead: long live digital era of governance." Comment. 20M (2010)
Q. "New Public Administration is - A revolution or radicalism in words, and (at best) status - quo in skills or technologies. 20M (2009)
Q. Minnow brook Conference in USA identified four features crucial to 'new public administration'. Explain. 20M (2001) |
|
|
Public Choice Approach |
Q. Discuss how the Public Choice Theory promotes the concept of 'Steering'. And visualising efficient and effective administration. 10M (2015)
Q. What is administrative elitism? How does it evolve in public administration? Elaborate your response with reference to historical examples. 10M (2013)
Q. On a more sophisticated plane public choice is concerned with "Pareto optimality", or at least with "Pareto improvements". Comment 12M (2012)
Q. Whereas Downs' Model is largely dependent on a theiry of psychological motivation, Niskanen's model is framed by neo - classical thinking. In the light of the above, discuss the public choice approach to decision - making. 30M (2011) |
|
|
Challenges of Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation |
Q. “Globalization has constructed the administrative state to save and serve corporate power structure.” Discuss how transnational corporation impact government and public administration in the contemporary era. 20M (2019)
Q. "Liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation have transformed the nature of development administration." Discuss 20M (2017)
Q. "Globalisation has transformed the nature and character of State from traditional administrative Welfare State to a Corporate State." Analyse the changes in the nature of public administration in this context. 20M (2015)
Q. "In the globalized public administration, hierarchy creates more ethical problems than it solves. "Comment 10M (2013) |
|
|
Good Governance: Concept and Application |
Q. With the entry of the concept of ‘good governance’ the discipline of Public Administration has shed its statist character. Explain. 15M (2019)
Q. “Governance is neither a paradigm nor a panacea for all the ills of government. It may be a more useful approach when other methods fail in providing public service.” Critically evaluate. 20M (2019)
Q. "Good governance is respect for human rights and the rule of law, strengthening democracy, promoting transparency and capacity in Public Administration. " (Kofi Annan) In the light of the statement. Critically examine the criterial of good governance as provided by United Nations and Nayef Al- Rodhan. 15M (2016)
Q. Democracy and good governance are contradict - ions in terms. Discuss with examples 60M (2004) |
|
|
New Public Management |
Q. Contractualism has became a favourite policy of the neoliberal forces, but now without its share of controversy. Argue. 10M (2019)
Q. Has New Public Management failed in promoting a democratic polity? Analyze in the contexts of individuals as a citizen and individuals as a costumer. 15M (2019)
Q. “New Public Service approach is an improvement over its predecessor, New Public Management." Discuss 10M (2018)
Q. New Public Management has been branded by certain scholars as 'Neo - Taylorism.' It is a justified comparison? What factors have led to the decline of NPM so soon after its birth? 20M (2017)
Q. "New Public Management and post - New Public Management reforms initiatives have affected the balance between managerial, political, administrative, legal, professional and social accountability." Analyze. 20M (2014)
Q. "New Public Management may have neither been the saviour its enthusiasts promised nor the devil its critics worried it would be. "Discuss. 25M (2013)
Q. A crisis of credibility' in the administrative system can be overcome only by 'reinventing government' Comment. 20M (2011)
Q. It is said that "the perspective of public administration, developed over a century, with a tradition of management of public institutions and services has received a jolt from the novelty of New Public Management." Bring out the core values, approaches and show how the new Public Management has attempted to change or retain them, and to what extent. 60M (2009)
Q. "In the last two decades, almost all countries of the world have experienced transformations in their administrative systems. "Explain this phenomenon with examples from the developed and the developing nations in the context of New Public Management Movement. 60M (2008)
Q. "The 'New Public Management' (N2M) is an incarnation of a new model of public sector management n response of the challenges of liberalization, international competitiveness and technological changes. "Explain. 20M (2003) |
|
|
ADMINISTRATIVE THOUGHT |
Scientific Management and Scientific Management Movement |
Q. “Taylorism is considered very controversial despite its popularity.” (Stephen P. Waring ) Comment. 10M (2016)
Q. Peter Drucker justified in saying. “Management principles should not tell us what to do, but only tell us what not to do ? Comment. 10M (2014)
Q. “Taylor’s ideas and need modification in the context of post – industrial economies in contemporary era.” Justify with reasons. 20M (2014)
Q. In what respects is Taylor’s Scientific Management’ or classical motivational theory different from the classical organizational theory expounded by Gulick, Urwick etc? 15M (2012)
Q. What light does Antonio Gramsci’s critique of Taylorism throw on its sociopsychological underpinnings? 15M (2012)
Q. “Taylor’s contribution was not a set of general principles for organizing work efficiency, but a set of operating procedures that could be employed in each concrete situation to secure their application.” 20M (2009)
Q. “Taylor’s scientific management ignored social and psychological factors.” Comment. |
|
Classical Theory |
Q. Structural theory is, by and large grounded in classical principles of efficiency, effectiveness and productivity. Explain 25M (2013)
Q. Discus the main approaches to increase the efficiency of government and public administration. 60M (2007)
Q. A fairly adequate analysis of the Administrative Organization in government is
Q. Critically examine the Classical Science of administration with special reference to its criticism by Dwight Waldo and Robert Dahl. 60M (2006)
Q. "The failure of classical science of administration lies in its capacity to confront theory with evidence." Discuss. 20M (2005)
Q. Why do all administrative organizations consider 'hierarchy' as the many splendoured technique? Discuss. 60M (2001) |
|
|
Weber's Bureaucratic Model - its Critique and Post Weberian Developments |
Q. “Bureau pathology denigrates competence in organization.” Explain. 10M (2019)
Q. "The concepts of rationality and efficiency are intertwined in the bureaucratic analysis of Max Weber." Comment. 10M (2018)
Q. “Weberian model of bureaucracy lacks emotional validity when applied to modern democratic administration.” Comment 15M (2015)
Q. "New Public Management and post - New Public Management reforms initiatives have affected the balance between managerial, political, administrative, legal, professional and social accountability." Analyze. 20M (2014)
Q. “Karl Marx’s interpretation of bureaucracy was rooted in the history of the nature of the State.” Evaluate. 10M (2014)
Q. ‘In the canonization of this abstract idea of ‘Staatsraison’ are inseparably woven the sure instincts of the bureaucracy for the conditions which preserve its own power in the State’(Weber). Explain 12M (2012)
Q. Consider the statements below: i) “Technically, the bureaucracy represents the purest type of legal – rational authority ii) “Bureaucracy does not represent the only type of legal authority. “Identify the theoretical context and analyse the above statements 30M (2009)
Q. Weber’s ideas of impersonal detachment and esprit de corps are incompatible. Explain. 60M (2004)
Q. "Bureaucarcy can exist only where the whole service of the state is removed from the common political life of the people, its chiefs as well as rank and file. Its motives, its objectives, its policy, its standards must be bureaucratic."Discuss. 20M (2004)
Q. “Weberian model of bureaucracy lacks empirical validity when applied to modern democratic administration.” Examine 20M (2003)
Q. Critically examine the models of Max weber and Chester I Barnard with reference to ‘bureaucratic authority’. 20M (2001) |
|
|
Mary Parker Follett |
Q. Mary Parker Follett traced the foundational value of business and enterprise on her way to understand the organism of governmental machinery. Comment. 15M (2019)
Q. “Conflict is the appearance of differences differences of opinions and of interests” (May Parker Follett), Comment 10M (2017)
Q. “Follett’s work was not directed towards the resolution of the conflict of ideas, but towards the resolution of structural conflicts between workers and capitalists.” In the right of the statement critically evaluate Follett’s idea of dynamic administration. 20M (2015)
Q. “Mary Parker Follett was far ahead of her times.” Discuss. 20M (2008)
Q. “The main problem with Mary Parker Follett’s work is that her idealism is showing.” Explain. 20M (2006)
Q. In Follett’s view. “Authority belongs to the job and stays with the job. “ Explain. 20M (2005) |
|
|
Human Relations School |
Q. “What is distinctive about the Classical and Human Relations schools of administration is their complementarity to each. “Analyse. 10M (2017)
Q. “The design of the physical structure, the anatomy of the organization came first, and was indeed the principal consideration.” “An organization is a system of interrelated social behaviours of participants. Analyse these statements and evaluate the contributions of the respective approaches to administration theory. 25M (2013)
Q. To what extent has the human relations movement contributed to the knowledge and practice within the field of personnel administration? 60M (2006)
Q. Explain the contribution of George Elton Mayo to the development of the Human Relations School. How did behavioural scientists modify his basic findings? 60M (2002) |
|
|
Functions of the Executive C.I. Barnard |
Q. “Chester Barnard in ‘The Function of the Executive’ injected ‘the social’ in the study of organization. Explain in this context how the executive is expected to play a much greater role than a manager.” 15M (2018)
Q. “Executive positions imply a complex morality and require a high capacity of responsibility” – (Chester Baranrd). Comment 15M (2017)
Q. “Contemporary Organizational theory seems further afield of Chester Barnard’s Functions of the Executive than of organizational ecology. “Examine the statement in the light of ecological elements in Barnard’s thought. 15M (2015)
Q. “Governance theory and the notion of governmentality have many points of convergence, but they run on parallel lines.” Comment. 20M (2014)
Q. “The Barnard – Simon Theory of Organisation is essentially a theory of motivation.” 20M (2009)
Q. “The distinction between line and staff is relative rather than absolute. “ Discuss. 20M (2007)
Q. ‘The inculcation of belief in the real existence of a common purpose is an essential executive function. ‘Comment 20M (2005)
Q. “Organisation is a system of consciously coordinated activities or forces of two or more persons. “Comment. 20M (2005)
Q. A more thorough consideration leads to the understanding that communication, authority, specialization and purpose are all aspects comprehended in coordination. (chester I. Barnard) – Comment. 20M (2000) |
|
|
Simon's Decision-Making Theory |
Q. “Herbert Simon's book Administrative Behavior presents a synthesis of the classical and behavioural approaches to the study of Public Administration." Explain 10M (2018)
Q. “Decisions are not made by ‘organizations’ but by ‘human beings’ behaving as members of organizations. “How do Bernard and Simon conceptualize the relation between the decisions of the individual employee and the organizational authority? 20M (2013)
Q. ‘Three features characterize Simon’s original view of bounded rationality search for alternatives, satisficing, and aspiration adaptation. Elucidate. 20M (2012)
Q. “Simon’s identifying decision – making as the core field of public administration appears logically acceptable but his positivist underpinning is problematic.” Critically examine the statement. 40M (2010)
Q. “Simon’s work has had major implications for the study of public administration and the practice of public administration professionalism." Comment 20M (2006)
Q. The ‘decision – making scheme’ and ‘satisfying model’ of Herbert A Simon is the major component of administrative theory. Comment. 60M (2001)
Q. “Administrative efficiency is enhanced by keeping at a minimum the number of organizational levels through which a matter must pass before it is acted upon.”- (Herbert. Simon) Comment. 20M (2000) |
|
|
Participative Management |
Q. The Participative Management School of Argyris and Likers advocates democracy within the administrative system. Will this approach be equally useful to developing countries with evolving democracies? 20M (2017)
Q. “Douglas McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y describe two contrasting by managers in an organization.” Examine. 20M (2016)
According to McGregor, “True professional help is not in playing God with the client, but in placing professional knowledge and skill at the client’s disposal”. In the light of the above, justify how theory Y is indicative and not
Q. The theory of ‘organizational incompetence’ has two separate and distinct faces. Examine Chris Argyris ‘views on this. 10M (2013)
Q. Critically examine conflict resolution according to M.P.Follett. Explain how MacGregor took forward her ideas in the context of complex organizations. 30M (2011)
Q. “The successful management leaders are found in Likert’s “system – 4’ approach to organizational leadership”. Examine. 20M (2010)
Q. Analyse Mcgregor’s Theory X and Theroy Y. Do you agree with the view that with every passing year, McGregor’s message has become more relevant and
Q. “In McGregor’s view, the managerial cosmology meaningfully addresses the understanding of manager and his role perceptions. “Explain. 20M (2001) |
|
|
Other Administrative Thinkers |
Q. Dwight Waldo in his book, The Administrative State emphatically mentions that the roots of administrative theory lie in political theory. Critically examine Waldo's contention. 20M (2018)
Q. Edward Gibbon, the author of Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire remarked : "Corruption, the most infallible symptom of Constitutional liberty." Critically examine this statement. 15M (2018) |
|
|
ADMINISTRATIVE BEHAVIOUR |
Process and Techniques of Decision-Making |
Q. Examine the respective roles of facts and values in the decision – making process. Is it possible to make value – free decisions in government decisions be made more rational? 60M (2008) |
|
Communication |
Q. Communication represents the “Nerves of Government" (Karl Deutsch). How can the communication system in the government be made more effective, responsive and motivational? 20M (2018)
Q. “Information constitutes the life – blood of the functioning of an organization. “Explain the utility and significance of communication in decision – making. 15M (2015)
Q. “The nature and role of communication in administration indicates that “Communication is authority”. Comment. 20M (2001)
Q. “Information constitutes the life – blood of the functioning of organization.” In the light of this statement, explain the utility and importance of communication in decision – making. 60M (2000) |
|
|
Morale |
Q. Morale can drive an organization forward or can lead employees’ discontent, poor job performance and absenteeism.” Examine. 10M (2016)
Q. What is the nature of psychological contract pursued by organizational management trough authority and the employees through exertion of upward influence? 15M (2013)
Q. What is meant by morale? There is a belief that “moral and productivity go hand in hand and higher the morale, higher is the productivity. “Do you agree? Substantiate. 60M (2007)
Q. What is morale? State its significance and suggest methods to foster and sustain morale in an organization 60M (2003) |
|
|
Motivation Theories- Content, Process and Contemporary |
Q. Read the following instances carefully and suggest what specific perspectives on organizational psychology of motivation would help the concerned i) Mr. A comes to his office with clocklike punctuality; does his work with impeccable honesty and integrity; takes order ii)Mr.B is an efficient charge – hand at the welding shop. He is very outgoing and makes friends fast, but falls out with them very fast too. He is, however, easily pacified when anyone asks him to calm down in the name of the organization. iii) Dr. C is completely happy and absorbed when he is teaching in the classes, and does not at all mind when his iv) Mr. D is a metallurgist in the forge shop of the steel
Q. ‘Men’s motives...in different subparts of the same organization may be different’ [Edgar Schein]. Discuss. 12M (2012)
Q. “Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs’ and Frederick Herzberg’s “Two – Factor theory’, have commonalities in the analysis of human motivation. Comment. 15M (2007)
Q. “Motivation theory is not synonymous with behavior theory. The motivations are only one class of determinants of behavior while behavior is almost always motivated, it is also almost always biologically, culturally and situationally determined as well.” Comment. 20M (2004)
Q. Compare Abraham Maslow’s theory of motivation and Herzberg’s motivation – hygiene theory. Do you think that they are universally applicable? If so, why? If not, why not? 60M (2002) |
|
|
Theories of Leadership-Traditional and Modern |
Q. "A leader is a people's developer" (Napoleon) . Which aspects of subordinates' development can be positively influenced by a leader ? Discuss. 10M (2018)
Q. “Leaders do the right things; managers do them rightly”- (Warren Bennis) . Is this distinction by him valid? Explain 10M (2017)
Q. Do you agree with the view that the charismatic approach of the mid 1970s is a “new version” of the Classical Trait Theory of Leadership? Give reasons. 10M (2015)
Q. Leadership is the ‘influential increment over and above mechanical compliance with the routine directives of the organization’ [Katz and Kahn]. Analyze. 12M (2012) |
|
|
ORGANIZATIONS |
Systems Theory and Contingency Theory |
Q. Contingency theory of organization is founded on the interplay of ‘external fit’ and ‘internal fit’. Discuss. 20M (2019)
Q. "Political and administrative systems have reciprocal relationship.” Discuss. 15M (2018)
Q. “Systems Theory in essence is not a theory, but an approach to the study of administrative phenomena. “Comment. 15M (2017)
Q. How does the Strategic Contingencies Theory of organizational design deal with problems arising from sub- unit centrality and non-sub stitutiability ? 20M (2014)
Q. “The essence of the contingency theory paradigm is that organizational effectiveness results from fitting characteristics of the organization, such as its structure, to contingencies that reflect the situation of the organization.; Give your reactions to this statement. 20M (2012)
Q. In the light of your discussion on 3(b) (i) above, also show where and how this ‘fitting’ differs essentially from the ‘coping’ with ‘stress’ from the environment emphasized by the systems theory of organization. 20M (2012)
Q. The system Approach is relevant even today for organizational analysis. Discuss how chester Barnard and David Easton how Chester Barnard and David Easton adopted this approach in their respective areas of study. 30M (2011) |
|
Structure and Forms |
Q. “A variety of different organizational arrangements can be used to provide different public goods and service Explain theory underlying this proposition and its potential contribution." 15M (2013)
Q. “The distinction between line and staff is relative rather than absolute. “ Discuss. 20M (2007)
Q. A fairly adequate analysis of the Administrative Organization in Government is possible when we treat bureaucracy’ as a ‘structure’ and ‘administration’ as a ‘function’. Discuss. 60M (2001) |
|
|
Ministries and Department, Corporations, Companies |
Q. “Form of an organisation influences the success of a public enterprise, but the choice of a form has always remained problematic." Discuss the statement in the context of the comparative merits and limitations of departments, corporations, companies and boards. Give illustrations. 20M (2018)
Q. “The autonomy of Public Corporations raised a great debate about their internal working and external relation with the Ministers and the Parliament." Discuss. 10M (2016)
Q. “There is no doubt the departmentalisation is fraught with complexities. These are in par technical. In par political. “Discuss. 20M (2009)
Q. “To claim that a company or a corporation form is always more effective than a departmental form of organization is an outdated view. The real test of a sound structure is its capacity to balance decisional autonomy and operational flexibility with optimal accountability." Critically examine this statement. 60M (2008)
Q. "Public corporations are not an end in themselves but an extension of the government activities designed to promote public welfare." Substantiate. 20M (2002) |
|
|
Regulatory Authorities |
Q. “The advent of the regulatory regimes indicates the demise of the arbitrator state.” Comment. 15M (2019)
Q. If the Regulatory Commissions…. Are wholly independent, they are completely irresponsible for the doing of very important policy determining and administrative work… on the other hand, to rob the commissions of their independence is seriously to menace the impartial performance of their judicial work”. (Cushman) Examine. 20M (2016)
Q. “Delegation to independent agencies has taken place in an interdependent process driven by emulation.” Discuss in the context of independent regulatory agencies in the modern Regulatory State 15M (2014) |
|
|
Public-Private Partnerships |
Q. “PPPs serve too many parties and too many interests … to be focused. “Identify in the context of the statement. The parties involved in Public – Private Partnerships and their conflicting aims. 15M (2015)
Q. “To talk about the regulatory framework is to talk about governance.” Analyse the statement in the context of public – private partnerships and identify the elements of regulation. 15M (2013)
Q. Explain the impact of privatization on public administration with special reference to a) the issue of user fees b) public – private partnership c) outsourcing technique. 60M (2010) |
|
|
Accountability and Control |
Concepts of Accountability and Control |
Q. How did traditional public administration “resolve a fundamentally irresolvable problem – creating an administration strong enough to be effective but not strong enough to endanger accountability”? 10M (2013)
Q. Public Administration in the new – liberal era is governed less by instruments of internal accountability and more by those of external accountability. Elaborate. 10M (2013)
Q. “Autonomy and accountability in Public Enterprises cannot walk together”. Explain. 20M (2006)
Q. “The weakest aspect of Indian Administrative system is utter disregard of accountability. “Examine the current mechanism for enforcing accountability. What steps are necessary to make it more effective? 60M (2000) |
|
Citizen and Administration |
Q. "The political approach to Public Administration stresses on the values of representativeness political responsiveness and accountability through elected officials to the citizenry" (David H. Rosembloom).. Comment. 15M (2018) |
|
|
Role of Media, Interest Groups, Voluntary Organizations |
Q. “Media the Fourth estate is in chains.” Examine the statement in the context of governmental accountability. 15M (2019)
Q. When the media is controlled by vested interests, how can it control the vested interests in the government? How can the media become more responsible and impartial? 15M (2017)
Q. How far do you agree with the view that the growing influence of media comes in the way of agenda-setting by the Government ? 15M (2015)
Q. "The notion of information organization is a residual or cafeteria concept of diverse and sprawling contents." How Gouldner establish the need for understanding the interdigitations between the 'formal' and 'informal' organization? 15M (2014)
Q. "Voluntary organizations have become tools of sensitization of governmental agencies." Comment. 15M (2014)
Q. Should media exposure be included in rules for administrative accountability in India ? State your views. 15M (2012)
Q. Media is a Parliament of citizens' Explain. 20M (2011)
Q. "Instruments of public accountability can be truly effective only if the people and their associations, backed by a responsible media, are assertively pro active." Comment. 20M (2008) |
|
|
Civil Society |
Q. Civil Society supplements and complements the State. However, its capacity and role depend upon the will of the State. Comment. 15M (2017)
Q. "Civil society performs a key role in defending people against the State and market and in asserting the democratic will to influence the State." Analyze the statement with suitable examples ? 15M (2016)
Q. Comment on the of Civil Society in facilitating administrative accountability with special reference to the 'Janlokpal' issue in India. 30M (2012)
Q. Define the term 'civil society'. How does civil society influence the public policy? 60M (2006)
Q. "Civil society exists to ensure that government does provide good governance." Discuss. 20M (2002) |
|
|
Citizen's Charter |
Q. "Right from the days of the 'Peoples' Charter to the new concept of 'Precariat Charier', the concept of Citizen's Charter and its scope is constantly evolving." Comment. 20M (2015)
Q. Explain the basic principles underlying Citizen's Character with special reference to (a) its administrative philosophy. (b) promoting public (c) ensuring standards of public service. 60M (2010)
Q. Citizens charter' is the most important innovation in the context of promotion of customer-orientation of administration." Discuss. 20M (2003) |
|
|
Right to Information |
Q. "The Right to Information is not all about citizens' empowerment, it essentially redefines the concept of accountability." Discuss. 15M (2014)
Q. Open access to government records is ... the hallmark of a democratic government', but 'governments are not hesitant about destroying records-very deliberately-in order to prevent investigations, as well as to generally weaken accountability'. Do you think that in this situation right to information complete declassification and `de-archivization' of government records?
Q. "Right to information promotes transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority." Explain. 60M (2007)
Q. Discuss the legal and political implications of Right to information. Is it a feasible concept in the developing countries? 60M (2004) |
|
|
Social Audit |
Q. Can we say that statutory audit and social audit are two sides of the same coin? Or, are they two separate coins with varying values? Discuss. 15M (2017)
Q. "In spite of certain advantages, Social Audit arrangements have mostly been ineffective because there is no legal provision for punitive action." Comment. 10M (2016) |
|
|
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW |
Meaning, Scope and Significance |
Q. “Red light and Green light theories provide contrasting approaches to the role of administrative law.” Which of the two theories will be effective in achieving the objectives of administration law? Justify your choice. 15M (2019)
Q. "Administrative law is recognised by its substance rather than its form."
Q. 'The central concern of Administrative Law has been the legal limitation of administrative discretion." Give reasons. 15M (2016)
Q. "Today the content of administrative law is driven primarily by the scope of
Q. "Today the content of administrative law is driven primarily by the scope of |
|
Dicey on Administrative Law |
Q. "The Journey of Administrative Law has moved much beyond A. V. Dicey.”
Q. Do you think that there is an unresolved and often overlooked tension in Dicey's concept of rule of law, considering that the other principle of
Q. Would you agree that the strong Rechsstaat version of the rule of law found on the Continent never existed in England because of its particular history? 20M (2012)
Q. Why is le droit administratif regarded alongside the Napoleonic Code as the
Q. Make a critical assessment of Dicey's understanding of the Rule of Law and
Q. "Dicey was wrong not only in his concept of the rule of law, but he also |
|
|
Delegated Legislation |
Q. “Delegated legislation has become a strategic tool in the hands of the executive despite its utility.” Comment. 10M (2019)
Q. The principle of delegated legislation, is I think right, but I must emphasise that it is well for Parliament to keep a watchful and even zealous eye on it at all stages"- (Herbert Morrison) . Analyze. 15M (2017)
Q. "Delegated Legislation is a necessary evil." Comment 10M (2015)
Q. Make out a case for Delegated Legislation. 15M (2011)
Q. "Delegated legislation is a necessary evil." Examine. 20M (2007)
Q. Delegated Legislation is not absolute. Explain 20M (2004) |
|
|
Administrative Tribunals |
Q. Write short note on Effectiveness and utility of Central and State Administrative Tribunals. 20M (2000) |
|
|
Comparative Public Administration |
Historical and Sociological Factors Affecting Administrative Systems |
Q. "Administrative systems across the world can be understood only in their respective historical and social contexts." Explain the statement giving examples. 20M (2018)
Q. "No science of public administration is possible unless there is a body of comparative studies from which it may be possible to discover principles and generalities that transcend national boundaries and peculiar historical experiences." Discuss. 20M (2005)
Q. "Comparative Public Administration both resembles and differs from modern organization theory." Elaborate. 10M (2003)
|
|
Administration and Politics in Different Countries |
Q. "In most cases newly independent states, of the nations of Africa, Asia and Latin America, despite their difference are in transition." (Ferrel Heady). What common features are indicative of characteristics of their administrative patterns (cultures) ? 15M (2013)
Q. Non-western states often, if not always, have unbalanced politics, but these may not necessarily be bureaucratic politics." Discuss. 20M (2009) |
|
|
Current Status of Comparative Public Administration |
Q. The failure to discard its elitist character and west-centric orientation has led to the decline of Comparative Public Administration. Explain. 10M (2019)
Q. How does Ferrel Heady rationalize the three stages of development in comparative administration? 20M (2015)
Q. Comment on the reasons why universal theory remains elusive in comparative public administration. 20M (2012)
Q. "Truly comparative administrative studies are empirical, nomothetic and ecological." (Riggs) In this perspective, examine the current status of Comparative Public Administration. 20M (2008)
Q. Explain the meaning, significance and Models of Comparative Public Administration. 60M (2004) |
|
|
Riggsian Models and their Critique |
Q. "The Riggsian models of Fused-Prismatic Diffracted Societies and their administrative systems have been inspired by Max Weber's typology of Traditional Charismatic Legal-Rational Authorities." Analyze. 20M (2017)
Q. "Fred Riggs continuously changed his theory in order to create the perfect model." Comment. 20M (2016)
Q. "Riggs observed that three 'trends' could be discerned in the comparative study of Public Administration." Discuss. 10M (2016)
Q. Critically examine the Riggsian concept of differentiation in the context of post-globalization era. 10M (2014)
Q. `Rigg's classification of societies into fused, prismatic, and diffracted in built around the concept of differentiation.' Analyze. 12M (2012)
Q. "The prismatic model of Riggs is equally applicable to developing as well as developed society." Comment. 20M (2010)
Q. Which of the model (s) in development administration is/are characterized by `Selectivism', 'Attainment' and 'Poly-functionalism? Describe the corresponding theoretical roots and attributes. 30M (2009)
Q. "Not to be comparative is to be naively parochial"(Riggs) . Comment. 20M (2007)
Q. How did Fred W. Riggs conceptualize the interactions between administrative systems and their environment? 60M (2002)
Q. Critically comment on Riggsian Prismatic Sala model of administration of developing societies. To what extent Indian Administrative system exhibits prismatic characteristics? 20M (2001)
Q. "Political environment conditions admini¬strative system."- (F. W. Riggs). Comment. 20M (2000)
Q. Critically examine the approach and methodology adopted by Fred W. Riggs in his study of prismatic and sala societies. What is valid-content of Raj Krishna's criticism of refraction? 60M (2000) |
|
|
Development Dynamics |
Concept of Development |
Q. “Development dynamics is marked by a dilemma : the concept of development has a built-in participatory orientation but the practice of development has been inherently exclusionary.” Discuss. 20M (2019)
Q. "The process of administrative development is generally slower than the process of socio-economic development." How can the speed of administrative development be made faster ? 10M (2018)
Q. "Development Administration and Administrative. Development have a chicken and egg kind of relationship" -(Riggs) . Elaborate. 10M (2017)
Q. Neither Edward Weidner nor Fred Riggs was able to describe the process of development administration adequately. Explain the drawbacks and weaknesses in their theoretical analyses. 30M (2011)
Q. "The concept of development is multidimensional and ever-expanding." Explain. 20M (2010)
Q. "People's participation is crucial to development administration." Comment. 20M (2007)
Q. Do you agree with the view that development administration has in recent years lost its impetus without making any significant intellectual breakthrough? Discuss. 60M (2006)
Q. "Development administration is starved for theories which will guide the pooling of empirical knowledge, orient new research, and recommend administrative policy." Explain. 20M (2005)
Q. "Development Administration has two important aspects viz. 'the administration of development' and 'the development of administration'." Explain. 20M (2003)
Q. "Development administration is concerned with maximising innovation for development." - Discuss. 20M (2002) |
|
Changing Profile of Development Administration |
Q. How does ethnocentrism impact development administration in achieving sustainable goals ? Argue with examples 20M (2018)
Q. "The term Development Administration can be used only in a broad sense to mark the variety of approaches and points of view." Discuss. 10M (2014)
Q. Indicate the milestones in the story of development from the Nehruvian Model to the Liberalization Model. 30M (2011)
Q. "The market has become the new icon of developmentalism." Comment. 20M (2010)
Q. "In certain discourses, there is a reflected basic distrust against bureaucracy as an instrument of development." Do you think bureaucracy is more appropriate for regulatory administration than for development administration? In the changing profile of development administration in a liberalizing environment, what role of bureaucracy can be envisaged? 60M (2008)
Q. Describe the changing profile of Development Administration and identify its efforts towards people's empowerment. 60M (2004) |
|
|
Anti-Development Thesis |
Q. "The idea of development stands like a ruin in the intellectual landscape" and it is time to dismantle this mental structure". (Wolfgang Sachs) In the light of the statement, critically examinar the anti-development thesis. 15M (2016) Q. The anti-development thesis reduces development to an idea without history, impervious to change', but 'fails to take account of the fact that for all its faults, development can be empowering.' Discuss. 12M (2012) |
|
|
Bureaucracy and Development |
Q. In order to be development-oriented, bureaucracies need to be innovative, flexible, citizen-centric and result-oriented, but they are slow in imbibing these virtues in a democratic system. Do we need to go beyond the traditional models of bureaucracy and create alternative structures ? Elaborate. 20M (2018)
Q. "Bureaucracy has inbuilt limitations to act as the prime catalyst to multifaceted development in a democratic country." Analyse this statement with appropriate examples. 15M (2017)
Q. "Bureau-Shaping Model has been developed as a response to the Budget- Maximizing Model." Comment 15M (2016)
Q. "Many Asian and African countries have inherited the colonial idea of civil service as a privileged elite. Hence, the social status of the civil service is an important aspect of the bureaucracy's unsuitability for change." Comment. 15M (2014) |
|
|
Strong State Versus The Market Debate, |
Q. "The problem is to achieve the right balance between a competitive market economy and an effective State: markets where possible; the State where necessary." Justice your answer. 15M (2016) |
|
|
Women and Development - The Self-Help Group Movement |
Q. In a society marked by social inequity and gender inequality women self-help groups are bound to play a marginal role. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer. 20M (2019)
Q. "The issue of development of women is closely related to the issue of women in development." How can women become equal partners in the process of socio-economic development? 10M (2018)
Q. "Self-Help Groups are considered as one of the most significant tools to adopt participatory approach for economic empowerment of woman." Comment. 10M (2016)
Q. Show in what way the Gender and Development approach differs from the Woman and Development approach. 10M (2015)
Q. "Self-Help Groups have not only empowered women, but have also brought about attitudinal change among all stakeholders towards women development." Discuss. 15M (2014)
Q. "In organizational analysis there is always gender around." (Gouldner) . Agree. 10M (2013)
Q. Given the importance of the issue of sex equality in development do you think the self-help group movement adequately addresses absence of women in the former mainstream development agenda? 20M (2012)
Q. Consider the statements below Self-Help Groups(SHGs) enable women to realize their full potential in some spheres of life. (b) Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are providing avenues of political mobilization. Examine the implications of these two statements and assess the potential of SHGs for development. 60M (2009) |
|
|
Personnel Administration |
Importance of Human Resource Development |
Q. 'Various components of Human Resources Management are inter-related." Discuss. 20M (2017)
Q. "To talk of administrative modernization and still continue with the conventional practice of public personnel administration is a grossincongruity." Offer suggestions to initiate radical reforms in Human Resource Management of public administrative systems. 60M (2008) |
|
Recruitment |
Q. "Lateral entry of competent experts into the government will promote freshness and innovation, but it can create problems of accountability." Discuss. 15M (2017)
Q. "The technical and multidisciplinary nature of e-government has created an inter-dependent relationship within government between policymakers, programme administrators and technical specialists." Analyze in the context of generalist-specialist relationship. 20M (2014)
Q. The 'selection model of recruitment rests on the assumption that the primary needs to be met are those of the organization.' Examine. 12M (2012)
Q. Recruitment is the backbone of Public Administration. Explain. 20M (2004) |
|
|
Training |
Q. Currently, administrative training focusses more on improving efficiency than on transforming the attitudes and behaviour of civil servants. What type of training will you suggest to fill this gap ? Elaborate. 15M (2018)
Q. "Training is considered as paid holidays." Comment. 10M (2016)
Q. Distinguish fully between the syndicate method, role playing method, and TGroup training method in personnel management. 40M (2010)
Q. "Training has proved its incapacity to change the attitudes, behavior and values of civil servants." Do you agree with this statement? 20M (2008)
Q. "Training is essential not only for efficiency and effectiveness but also for broadening the vision of the employees." Substantiate. 20M (2007)
Q. "Training is practical education in any profession, not only to improve skills but also to develop attitudes and scheme of values necessary for effective performance." Elaborate. 20M (2003) |
|
|
Career Advancement |
Q. What opportunities are available to All India Services and state services in career development? Do you agree that days of generalists in modern administrative state are numbered? 60M (2000) |
|
|
Position Classification |
Q. "The position-classification attempts to establish a triangular relationship between duties and responsibilities, working conditions and qualification requirements." Elucidate. 15M (2015)
Q. Position Classification can be problematic. A serious complaint in its practice is that it dehumanizes the employee.' Discuss. 20M (2011)
Q. It is said that 'position classification', as originally conceived is sound in terms of its operational characteristics, but complicated and unresponsive in practice. Why is it still considered better than other models of civil service classification?. 60M (2009)
Q. "If positions are the raw material of classification, class is the operating unit." Discuss. 20M (2005) |
|
|
Discipline and Performance Appraisal |
Q. A more effective system of performance appraisal should acknowledge the subjective elements in it and be less obsessed with the objective criteria. Elucidate. 15M (2019)
Q. "360° performance appraisal system is a rational idea, but it involves complex and inauthentic procedures." How can it be made foolproof ? 10M (2017)
Q. "A central reason for utilization of Performance Appraisal is performance improvement of the employees." In the light of the statement, analyze the needs of Performance Appraisal in an organization. 15M (2016)
Q. "Disciplinary action may be informal and formal." Explain and point out the provisions made in the Constitution or Statute to check the misuse of power to take disciplinary action. 15M (2016)
Q. "The fact that we call something performance auditing means that we imply salient features which can distinguish it from other forms of inquiry." Discuss with reference to the main measures or indicators of performance measurement. 20M (2014)
Q. Why do public organizations evaluate employees' performance? How can performance evaluation systems affect employees' behaviour? How can administration effectively evaluate employees? 60M (2005)
Q. What techniques the Government of India have employed to evaluate (appraise) the performance of senior level employees, i.e., Class I and Class II? Are you satisfied with these techniques? 60M (2001) |
|
|
Promotion, Pay and Service Conditions |
Q. “Lateral entry is an antidote to the complacency in civil service.” Discuss. 15M (2018)
Q.Discuss in this connection the case for and against promotion based on seniority. 40M (2010)
Q. "The widening gap in emoluments of government employees versus the public sector corporations and private sector employees has a strong bearing on the motivation and ability to work." Comment. 60M (2007) |
|
|
Employer-Employee Relations |
Q. Analyze the relevance of Whilteyism in contemporary employer - employee relationship. 10M (2015)
Q. Analyze the constitutional, political and operational dimensions of employer-employee relations. What are your suggestions to bring about a satisfactory relationship between them? 60M (2002) |
|
|
Grievance Redressal Mechanism |
Q. In what respects, the powers of proposed institution of Lok Pal in the Bill already introduced in Indian Parliament, will strengthen the institution as compared to Parliamentary Commissioner of UK? 60M (2001) |
|
|
Code of Conduct |
Q. "Administrative ethics includes the code of conduct of civil servants. but goes beyond it as well." Discuss. 15M (2017)
Q. Distinguish between 'Codes of Conduct' and 'Codes of Ethics'. Justify your answer. 15M (2015)
Q. Civil Service neutrality is a thing of the Past. Discuss. 20M (2004)
Q. "The doctrine of political neutrality and anonymity is no more relevant to modern civil service." - Comment. 20M (2002) |
|
|
Administrative Ethics |
Q. In the absence of a merit-based, fair and objective civil service a more partisan and corrupt government will emerge. Is the statement justified? Give reason. 15M (2019)
Q. The imperatives of administrative ethics are necessarily an antidote to “I was only obeying the orders” argument by public official. Explain. 15M (2019)
Q. Administrative values have no value unless they are valued by all stakeholders of the governance system." Comment. 15M (2018)
Q. "Administrative ethics is a process of independently critiquing decision standards, based on core social values that can be discovered, within reasonable organizational boundaries that can be defined, subject to the personal and professional accountability? (Denhardt) . Explain. 20M (2015)
Q. "British philosophy of administration is based on a unification of science of administration with ethics." Analyze. 15M (2014)
Q. Civil Servants must be social moralists in action, living up to Paul Appleby's dictum that. 'responsible government is ethical government'. Examine this statement in the light of good governance. 30M (2011)
Q. Briefly discuss the principles of ensuring ethics in Public Service as recommended in the Nolan Committee Report. 20M (2010)
Q. The administrator needs autonomy and discretion in much the same way as the politician needs control and intervention. Discuss. 20M (2004)
Q. Account for the increasing corruption in Administration. Suggest remedies to curb administrative corruption. 60M (2003) |
|
|
Public Policy |
Models of Policy-Making and their Critique |
Q. “Maximum social gain” in public policy making is an attractive goal which is rarely found in practices. Discuss. 10M (2019)
Q. "In Public Policy Making. 'Rationalism' is the opposite of 'Incrementalism'." Examine. 10M (2016)
Q. "The field of MIS is not necessarily an extension of computer science, but of management and organization theory." Elucidate. 15M (2014)
Q. "Policies determine politics as governments constrain? Attempt a critique of this statement. 10M (2014)
Q. According to Y. Dror, "The Science of Muddling through is essentially a reinforcement of pro-inertia and anti-innovation ideas in policy-making". Comment. 15M (2014)
Q. 'Policy judgments comprise reality judgments, value judgments and instrumental judgments' (Geoffrey Vickers) . Elucidate. 12M (2012)
Q. Would you agree with Bachrach and Baratz that along with decision, nondecisions are also part of policy ? Give reasons for your answer. 20M (2012)
Q. Dror's Optimal Model is a fusion of the economically rational model with the extra-rational model. 15M (2011)
Q. The incrementalist paradigm posits a conservative tendency in public policy making. 15M (2011)
Q. 'Policy is being made as it is being administered and administered as it is being made.' Comment. 20M (2011)
Q. "Yehezkel Dror's normative models of policy making tend to be academic in perspective with poor operational utility? Comment 20M (2009)
Q. Public Policy is not an independent variable and human history shows little evidence of systematic learning from policy experience. Discuss. 20M (2004)
Q. Policy is a decision driven model of research use. Explain. 20M (2004)
Q. "Public policy is what politics is about: -Substantiate. 20M (2002) |
|
Processes of Conceptualisation |
Q. “Arguably, incrementalism now stands most in contrast to neo-liberal nationality that impose markets against both gradual change and democratic liberalism”. Analyze these two statements. 20M (2013)
Q. "Even if policies are well-organized, efficiently operated, widely utilized, adequately financed and supported, we may still ask, so what? Do they work? What about their costs, outputs and impact?" Discuss. 60M (2009) |
|
|
Planning and Implementation |
Q. "Of all the processes involved in public policy, implementation is of greatest importance." Examine the impediments in policy implementation. 15M (2017)
Q. "The term policy implementation is in some respects preferable to the label public administration." Argue. 10M (2015)
Q. 'Our normal expectation should be that new programs will fail to get off the ground and that, at best, they will take considerable time to get started. The cards in this world are stacked against things happening' [Pressman and Wildayskyl. Comment. 12M (2012)
Q. “Public administration can be portrayed as a wheel of relationships focused on the formulation and implementation of public policy”. Explain. 20M (2010)
Q. "Implementing a public policy is a process of discovering what works and what does not." Examine. 20M (2007)
Q. "Nothing comes across more strongly than the great naivete about policy implementation." Discuss. 20M (2006)
Q. Give an assessment of the processes of policy formulation and discuss the problems of policy implementation. 60M (2005)
Q. Comment on the role of public administration in policy making and its implementation. What are the other factors influencing the policy process? 60M (2003) |
|
|
Evaluation and Review and their Limitations |
Q. "A public policy without the active involvement of people in its formulation, implementation and evaluation is only a facade." How can this anomaly be corrected ? 15M (2018)
Q. "Policy analysis is incomplete without taking into account policy delivery." Argue. 15M (2015)
Q. "Public interest is still inadequate as a ground concept to evaluate public policy." Discuss. 25M (2013)
Q. "Cost-benefit analysis is a very unsatisfactory view of evaluating public policy." Comment. 20M (2010) |
|
|
State Theories and Public Policy Formulation |
Q. "In the appreciative systems of policy makers, goals are subsidiary to norms and values." (Vickers) . Explain. 10M (2015)
Q. "Lenin's concept of Socialist management refers to directing the organizational development of Socialist society." Explain. 15M (2015)
Q. "The concept of political feasibility in policy alternative is a probabilistic concept and is related to each policy alternative." In the context of the above statement analyze Dror's contribution. 20M (2015)
Q. "Instead of reforms to budgetary process, Wildaysky proposes to redefine the role of political institutions and rules by which politics leads to agreement on budget." Explain. 10M (2014) |
|
|
Techniques of Administrative Improvement |
Organisation and Methods |
Q. What are the main functions of an O and M office?15M (2011)
Q. Bring out the various techniques of 0 & M adopted in India to improve efficiency in administration. 60M (2007) |
|
Work Study and Work Management |
Q. In the era of increasing stress on productivity work study provides the road ahead for the administration. Identify the positive attributes of work study in the light of the statement. 15M (2019)
Q. “The term 'work study' may be used in narrower and wider senses." Elucidate. 15M (2016)
Q. Write short note on Work study and work-measurement in Indian Administration. 20M (2000) |
|
|
E-Governance and Information Technology |
Q. Has e-governance led to debureaucratization and decentralization ? Assess its impact on bureaucratic inertia. 10M (2019)
Q. To what extent has e-governance made the administrative system more citizen-oriented ? Can it (e-governance) be made more participative ? 10M (2018)
Q. "Digitalization provides great impetus to E-governance." Discuss. 10M (2017)
Q. Information Technology brings efficiency and transparency to Public Administration." Examine the statement with suitable examples. 15M (2016)
Q. "E-Governance creates a direct relationship between the Citizen and the State." In this context, explain the changing role of the elected representatives. 15M (2015)
Q. "The bottom line for governance is outcomes than the outputs of government." Analyze in the context of e-government and e-governance. 10M (2014)
Q. The success rate of e-government projects in most developing countries is stated to be rather low. Assess the reason. 10M (2013)
Q. The apparent demise of e-Government and e-Business as the main organizing principles of society has created the conditions for the rise of e-Governance from the ashes'-In the context of the above statement show the distinctions between e-Government and e-Governance. 15M (2012)
Q. E-governance is the final arrival of Max Webber's 'iron cage of rationality'. Discuss. 20M (2011)
Q. Do you think that there is a sort of paradox between e-Governance and good governance? Explain fully. 20M (2010)
Q. "E-governance has the potentiality to emerge as the most effective instrument of efficiency, transparency and accountability." Comment. 20M (2008)
Q. "The rise of information technology is an opportunity to overcome historical disabilities". Explain. 20M (2006)
Q. In what ways and how can information technology play a crucial role in effective government-citizen Interaction in the context of good governance? 60M (2005)
Q. What is Information Technology? Describe its impact on Public Administration. 60M (2004)
Q. Examine the needs and facets of administrative reforms in the fast changing scenario of the 21st century. What are the obstacles to administrative reforms? Give suggestions to overcome them. 60M (2003) |
|
|
Management Aid Tools Like Networking Analysis, MIS |
Q. A narrow view of information comes in the way of successful implementation of MIS in organization. Analyze. 10M (2019)
Q. "The Output Studies Approach to public policy analysis overstresses the rational techniques and allocative dimension of public policy." Analyze the statement. 15M (2014)
Q. Relations are the building blocks of network analysis'-In the light of this statement summarize the form and content of relations in 'network analysis'. 15M (2012)
Q. A system of Information ties planning and control by managers to the operational system of implementation. Elaborate. 15M (2011) |
|
|
PERT, CPM |
Q. “Comparative Performance Measurement (CPM) bridges everyday work experience with the broader horizons of comparativism." Explain. 10M (2015)
Q. "MIS, PFRT and CPM have accelerated the process of reinventing O and M." In the context of the above statement, explain the recent developments in managerial techniques. 15M (2015)
Q. Draw a simple PERT chart for a seminar planning project. 15M (2012)
Q. Trace the background and development of PERT and enumerate the steps involved in the application of PERT. 15M (2012)
Q. “Techniques like PERT and CPM help in effective office management." Elaborate. 20M (2009) |
|
|
Financial Administration |
Monetary and Fiscal Policies |
Q. Discuss the major areas of change in the Tax-Reforms of the post liberalization era. How do you justify the importance of the direct Tax reforms in this context? 15M (2019)
Q. Is William Niskanen’s “Budget Maximising Model” relevant today? Argue. 15M (2019)
Q. “Monetary policy of a country can help or hinder its development process." Discuss. 15M (2018)
Q. "Fiscal policy and monetary policy are the two tools used by the State to achieve its macroeconomic objectives." Examine the statement and point out the differences between the tools. 20M (2016)
Q. Critically examine the monetary and fiscal policies of Government of India in the decade 1991 to 2001. Do you think world financial institutions had a role to play in opening Indian economy to global forces? Give reasons to substantiate your argument. 60M (2001) |
|
Public Borrowings and Public Debt |
Q. “A large public debt forces the adoption of tax and spending policies that result into higher taxes and reduced services”. Analyze. 10M (2017)
Q. “Public borrowing produces different effects on the economy”. Examine. 10M (2016) |
|
|
Budget - Types and Forms |
Q. "Budgeting is a political process" -(Aaron Wildaysky) . Examine. 10M (2017)
Q. "The key to understanding performance-based budgeting lies beneath the word 'result'." In the light of the statement, examine the elements of performance-based budgeting. 20M (2016)
Q. Identify the main elements of Program Budgeting, Output Budgeting and `New Performance Budgeting. What do they have in common with PPBS ? 20M (2014)
Q. What new models of budgetary capacity and incapacity have emerged after the decline of Planning Programming Budgeting and Zero-based Budgeting ? 10M (2013)
Q. Budget allocation involves series of tensions between actors with different backgrounds, orientations and interests and between short-term goals and long-term institutional requirements. Discuss. 15M (2013)
Q. Budget is a series of goals with price-tags attached.' Explain. 20M (2011)
Q. An administrator uses the budget as a framework for communication and coordination, as well as for exercising administrative discipline throughout the
Q. Distinguish between PPBS and performance budgeting. 20M (2010)
Q. What is performance budgeting? Bring out its merits, limitations and difficulties. 60M (2007)
Q. "Successfully implementing budgeting approach requires favorable incentive structures." Discuss. 20M (2006)
Q. Why does the issue of budgeting as politics versus budgeting as analysis remain important in the budgeting process? Do you agree that some synthesis of the two positions seems possible? Illustrate. 60M (2005)
Q. "The budget is an Instrument of coordination." Explain. 20M (2005)
Q. Examine the government budget as an instrument of public policy and a tool of legislative control. 60M (2002)
Q. Burekehead says: 'Budget in Government is a vehicle of fiscal policy and a tool of management.' Examine this statement. 20M (2001)
Q. Write short note on Budget as an instrument of socio-economic transformation. 20M (2000)
Q. Give reasons for the failure of Government of India to introduce the performance programme budgetary technique in Union Ministries. What type of budgetary system is being currently practiced in India and why? 60M (2000) |
|
|
Budgetary Processes |
Q. "No significant change can be made in the budgetary process without affecting the political process." (Wildaysky). Analyze. 10M (2015)
Q. Those who budget, deal with their overwhelming burdens by adopting heuristic aids to calculation' (wildaysky) Explain. 12M (2012)
Q. "Good economics and bad politics cannot coexist in a sound budgetary process." Discuss this statement in the context of the developmental challenges in countries experiencing competitive politics. 60M (2008) |
|
|
Accounts and Audit |
Q. Performance measurement remains an emerging issues but it is relegated to exclusively monitor and assess the use of funds. In light of the statement discuss various non-financial parameters of performance measurement to evaluate public sector organization. 20M (2019)
Q. "Sound Performance Auditing is impossible without systematic Performance or Outcome Budgeting." Explain the relationship between the two. 15M (2018)
Q. 'There can be no performance auditing without performance budgeting." Elucidate. 15M (2017)
Q. Whereas 'value for money' audit aims at economy and 'performance' audit seeks efficiency. `social' audit goes beyond both, to examine the effectiveness of a programme or activity. Examine this statement with suitable illustrations. 30M (2011)
Q. "Audit continues to be considered as something alien, something extraneous and something of the nature of an impediment." Explain. 20M (2006)
Q. "Auditing in Government is an exercise in post-mortem." - Examine. 20M (2002)
Q. "Statutory External auditing is one of the protectors of democracy in the parliamentary form of Government.' Comment. 20M (2001) |
Public Administration PYQ Paper 2 Topic-Wise Marks Distribution
| Topic | Sub Topic | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Evolution of Indian Administration |
Kautilya's Arthashastra |
0 |
30 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
|
Mughal Administration |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Legacy of British Rule in Politics and Administration |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Indianization of Public Services, Revenue Administration, District Administration |
22 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Philosophical and Constitutional Framework of Government |
Salient features and Value Premises |
0 |
0 |
10 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Political Culture |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
|
|
Bureaucracy and Democracy |
0 |
10 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Bureaucracy and Development |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
30 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Constitutionalism |
20 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
|
|
Public Sector Undertakings |
Public Sector in Modern India |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
20 |
|
Forms of Public Sector Undertakings |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Problems of Autonomy, Accountability and Control |
20 |
20 |
30 |
10 |
10 |
20 |
0 |
|
|
Impact of Liberalization and Privatization |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
|
|
Union Government and Administration |
Executive, Parliament, Judiciary-Structure, Functions, Work Processes |
50 |
20 |
30 |
20 |
10 |
20 |
0 |
|
Intra-Governmental Relations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Cabinet Secretariat |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
10 |
0 |
|
|
Prime Minister’s Office |
0 |
10 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
|
|
Central Secretariat |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Ministries and Departments |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Boards and Commissions |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Attached Offices; Field Organizations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Plans and Priorities |
Machinery of Planning |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
|
Indicative Planning |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Process of Plan Formulation at Union and State Levels |
12 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
|
|
Constitutional Amendments (1992) and Decentralized Planning for |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
State Government and Administration |
Union-State Administrative, Legislative and Financial Relations |
0 |
60 |
20 |
30 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
|
Role of the Finance Commission |
12 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
30 |
|
|
Governor |
10 |
20 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
10 |
|
|
Chief Minister |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Chief Secretary |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
State Secretariat, Directorates |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
District Administration Since Independence |
Changing Role of the Collector |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
40 |
20 |
|
Union-State-Local Relations |
0 |
0 |
10 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
|
|
District Administration and Democratic Decentralization |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
20 |
|
|
Civil Services |
Constitutional Position |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
10 |
10 |
|
Structure, Recruitment, Training and Capacity Building |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
20 |
|
|
Good Governance Initiatives |
40 |
0 |
20 |
20 |
30 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Code of Conduct and Discipline |
0 |
0 |
10 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Grievance Redressal Mechanism |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
30 |
0 |
|
|
Civil Service Neutrality |
12 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Civil Service Activism |
0 |
20 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Financial Management |
Budget as a Political Instrument |
30 |
40 |
10 |
20 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
|
Parliamentary Control of Public Expenditure |
10 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Role of Finance Ministry in Monetary and Fiscal Area |
0 |
0 |
0 |
50 |
20 |
0 |
10 |
|
|
Accounting Techniques |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Audit |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
|
|
Role of Controller General of Accounts and |
10 |
30 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Administrative Reforms since Independence |
Major Concerns |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
|
Important Committees and Commissions |
10 |
20 |
30 |
0 |
10 |
20 |
0 |
|
|
Reforms in Financial Management and Human Resource Development |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
|
|
Problems of Implementation |
0 |
0 |
40 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Rural Development |
Institutions and Agencies Since Independence |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Rural Development Programmes |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
10 |
|
|
Foci and Strategies |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
|
|
Decentralization and Panchayati Raj |
12 |
10 |
10 |
0 |
30 |
0 |
10 |
|
|
73rd Constitutional Amendment |
20 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Urban Local Government |
Municipal Governance: Main Features, Structures, Finance and Problem Areas |
10 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
74th Constitutional Amendment |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
New Localism |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
|
|
Development Dynamics, Politics and Administration with Special Reference to City Management |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
|
|
Law and Order Administration |
British Legacy |
10 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
|
National Police Commission |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Investigative Agencies |
0 |
0 |
40 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Role of Central and State Agencies Including Para Military Forces in Maintenance of Law and Order and Countering Insurgency and Terrorism |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
10 |
20 |
|
|
Criminalisation of Politics and Administration |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
|
|
Police-Public Relations; Reforms in Police |
0 |
20 |
30 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
|
|
Significant Issues in Indian Administration |
Values in Public Service |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
10 |
|
Regulatory Commissions |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
10 |
|
|
National Human Rights Commission |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Citizen Administration Interface |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
|
|
Corruption and Administration |
20 |
0 |
0 |
40 |
30 |
10 |
20 |
|
|
Disaster Management |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
20 |
0 |
20 |
Public Administration Paper 2 Topic-Wise PYQs
| Topic | Sub Topic | Questions |
|---|---|---|
|
Evolution of Indian Administration |
Kautilya's Arthashastra |
Q. In the text of Arthashastra, ‘the state is neither a police State nor merely a tax gathering State’. Comment 10M (2019)
Q. "In contemporary times, Kautilya's Arthashastra is relevant more in the field of international relations than in economic affairs." Analyse the statement. 20M (2016)
Q. “Indian administration is said to be characterized by its three features viz. Weberian structures, Kautilyan practice and Gandhian rhetoric.” Examine the statement. 20M (2014)
Q.The Arthashastra is a book of political realism.’ Elaborate. 15M (2012)
Q. “The rule of kings depends primarily on written orders” Why did Kautilya favour Codification of Laws? 20M (2010)
Q. Comment on the view that despite different contexts, administrative maxims of Kautilya’s Arthashastra bear considerable similarity with features of Weber’s ideal bureaucratic model. 20M (2009)
Q. “Kautilya was not only the foremost politicoadministrative thinker of ancient India but he was an advocate and preacher of moral values too.” Comment. 20M (2007)
Q. “In the happiness of his subjects lies the king’s happiness; in their welfare his welfare.” Comment on Kautilyan state administration. In what respects is modern democratic rulers’ behaviour different from Kautilyan rulers ? 20M (2006)
Q. Comment on “The Arthashastra is India’s oldest complete text on public administration.” 20M (2003)
Q. Comment on “The machinery of government designed in Kautilya’s Arthashastra does not exactly resemble our modern-day polity, but it does contain some principles which could be said to be the part of today’s science of public administration.” 20M (2001) |
|
Mughal Administration |
Q. “A significant legacy of the Mughal rule in India is a well-organized revenue administration at the State and District levels." Comment. 10M (2016)
Q. “The Mughal Administrative System was military rule by nature and a form of centralized despotism.” Analyse. 12M (2012)
Q. ‘Some features of Mughal Administration, in essence, do exist in Indian Administration.’ .’ Elaborate. 20M (2008)
Q. “The Mughal Administrative System was a military rule by nature and was centralized despotism.” 20M (2005) |
|
|
Legacy of British Rule in Politics and Administration |
Q. “District Collector is a legacy of the British Raj and has largely remained insulated from the demands of contemporary professionalism.” Discuss. 10M (2014)
Q. It is said that the British made a significant contribution towards modernizing the Indian Administrative System on a ‘rational-legal’ basis. Justify the assessment with reference to the period from 1830 to 1865. 30M (2010)
Q. “Bureaucracy developed by the British stifled the village selfrule.” Comment. 20M (2009)
Q. “Though India emerged as a sovereign state after
Q. The period of British rule generated most of the structural and behavioural values of Indian Administration not by imitation but through interaction. Comment 20M (2000) |
|
|
Indianization of Public Services, Revenue Administration, District Administration |
Q. “Indianisation of Public Services is a slow but steady process.” Explain 20M (2017)
Q. “Beneath the soft outer shell of democratic administrative framework lines unscathed the steel frame of Indian administration which has survived through the ages.” In the light of this statement, examine the relationship between bureaucracy and development in the last one decade. 10M (2014)
Q. “Public Administration today tends to be less public quantitative terms, but more responsive to public needs than before in qualitative terms.” Examine with reference to citizen-centric administration. 10M (2013)
Q. “The Charter Act of 1853 marked the beginning of parliamentary system in India.” Explain. 12M (2013)
Q. Comment on the following statements: i) “The more developed an administrative system become the greater the likelihood that it would have developmental affects.” ii) “The thrust of development administration failed to energise the Indian bureaucracy.” 30M (2010)
Q.“A distinctive feature of the Indian administration, since Independence, has been the noticeable efforts undertaken to make the administrative system effectively reach and respond to citizens’ grievances.” Comment 20M (2003)
Q. “All India Services as an institution is the result of history.” Comment 20M (2002)
Q. “After independence, despite the change in socioeconomic and political milieu, the basic features of colonial impact on administration continues to exist in our administrative system.” Comment. 60M (2002)
Q. “Indian administration is yet to fully appreciate and adopt the benefits of ‘the information technology.” Elucidate. 30M (2001)
Q. “The District Collector admirably survived the historical change of role from an alien regime to a national one.” Comment 20M (2001) |
|
|
Philosophical and Constitutional Framework of Government |
Salient features and Value Premises |
Q. Do you think that some of the ideals enshrined in the Preamble of the Constitution remain only on paper even today? Critically evaluate. 10M (2016)
Q. As Dr. B. R. Ambedkar observed, “the text of the Constitution can provide the organs of the State, but the final outcome of the governance process depends on how it has operationalized by the political parties and people”. Elucidate the statement. 10M (2015)
Q. Discuss the basic principles of ‘New Localism’ as a part of the global-local debate. 20M (2011) |
|
Constitutionalism |
Q. The economic reforms have significantly infringed the basic values and spirits of the Indian Constitution. Examine 10M (2019)
Q. “Constitutionalism is the foundation of the administrative edifice in India.” Discuss 10M (2017)
Q. "The Regulating Act of 1773 not only introduced values in administration but also laid the foundation of centralized administration in India." Explain. 10M (2016)
Q. “The liberal-democratic ideology of the West influenced the shaping of value premises of the India Constitution.” Discuss. 20M (2013) |
|
|
Political Culture |
Q. The philosophy of the Westminster model is at odds with the political culture of India.” Critically analyse. 10M (2018)
Q. To what extent has political culture influenced the administrative culture of India? Explain 20M (2015)
Q. Explain with appropriate illustrations the interface between political culture and bureaucratic culture in contemporary India. 20M (2011)
Q. “The basic values of the Constitution of India enshrine social, political and economic philosophy symbolising sovereignty of the people, rule of law and basic characteristics of a socialist, secular, democratic, republic.” Comment. 20M (2006)
Q. “Culturally sanctioned values and symbols have acted as important influencing catalyst in administration.” - Elaborate. 30M (2002)
Q. “It is axiomatic that a country’s public administration system, including its bureaucracy, must fit into and respond to its overall political system.” In the light of this statement discuss the mutual relations between the civil servants and the ministers since Independence. 60M (2001)
Q. “The use of the word ‘Socialist’ in the Indian Constitution has become redundant in the context of the liberalization of economy.” Comment 20M (2001) |
|
|
Bureaucracy and Democracy |
Q. “Democracy within bureaucracy is likely to reduce its effectiveness.” Do you agree with this view? Argue your case. 10M (2015)
Q. Discuss the value of premises of Constitutionalism in India which he bureaucracy cannot violate. 10M (2014) |
|
|
Bureaucracy and Development |
Q. “Bureaucracy has to make a balance the need for environmental sustainability and developmental imperatives.” Discuss.20M (2017)
Q. “Digitalization of land records is a necessary but not sufficient precondition for ensuring transparent district administration.” Explain 10M (2017)
Q. “Bureaucratic agencies, characterized by established procedures, specialization, leadership, clear objective, are not ideal to handle disaster management.” Examine with reference to the need for administrative flexibility in managing disaster. 20M (2013)
Q. ‘Bureaucrats should not play politics, but understand how politics works.’ Comment. 12M (2012)
Q. “Over-dependence on bureaucracy for bringing about socio-economic development in India has proved to be dysfunctional.” Comment. 20M (2011)
Q. “The problems of administrative improvement in India are larger and more complex than in any other country in the world.” - Comment. 30M (2002) |
|
|
Public Sector Undertakings |
Public Sector in Modern India |
Q. Public Sector Undertaking were expected to take the Indian economy to the “commanding heights” instead the successive governments have been pushing for disinvestment. Critically examine how the scenario has changed over the years. 20M (2019)
Q. “The market reforms have not infringed the basic structure of the Constitution of India, but have largely compromised the realization of the ideals of social and economic justice.” Comment 20M (2017)
Q. “The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM) is one of the bigges reforms-linked development programmes taken up by the Government.” Comment 20M (2010)
Q. Is it correct to state that “One of the major reasons for the failure of many public sector undertakings was due to departures from the original concept of autonomy”? 20M (2010)
Q. ‘The shift from the Nehruvian to the liberalisation model of development has necessitated reinventing government.’ Comment. 20M (2008)
Q. Comment on : “The role of public sector has been changing tremendously in the context of liberalisation.” 20M (2002)
Q. “Despite liberalization, privatization and globalization of economy, the public sector has its own relevance for India.” Discuss the functions and role of public sector in the new economic scenario and the changes that they need to bring about in them. 60M (2001) |
|
Forms of Public Sector Undertakings |
Q. Can the holding company’s structure act as in institutional change to add to efficiency? Give your answer with appropriate illustrations 30M (2011) |
|
|
Problems of Autonomy, Accountability and Control |
Q. "The market-driven profitability concerns have shaken the foundation of the public sector undertakings.” Do you agree? Give reasons 20M (2018)
Q. “Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in India face tough competition from the private enterprises and Multi-National Corporations (MNCs) . “ Explain 10M (2017)
Q. Evaluate the performance and efficacy of the Maharatna, Navratna and Miniratna type of Public Sector Undertakings in the context of Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization (LPG). 10M (2016)
Q. Argue the case for and against creating Indian Public Enterprises and Industrial Service for boosting the moribund public sector in India. 10M (2015)
Q. Explain fully how a balance can be struck between autonomy and accountability of India’s public enterprises. 20M (2015)
Q. “Public Sector Undertakings must learn to survive and he entrepreneurial without assured government budgetary support.” In the light of this statement give your suggestions for strengthening their autonomy and reviving the health of sick Public Sector Undertakings. 20M (2014)
Q. “Autonomy to public sector understating is a myth.” Analysis in the context of the use of government expenditure by politicians who control government at different levels. 20M (2013)
Q. “Memorandum of Understanding’ scheme between the Government and Public enterprises has forced public undertakings to improve their overall performance.” Do you agree with this statement? 12M (2012)
Q. “The blame for our poor public sector performance can be laid on the way our bureaucracy is structured.” Comment. 20M (2007)
Q. “Memorandum of understanding scheme’ between government and public enterprise has forced public undertakings to improve the overall performance.” Comment. 20M (2007)
Q. “The steady expansion and the gradual decline of the public sector has been one of the most conspicuous development in post-Independence India.” Discuss this statement and suggest measures to arrest the decline of the public sector in India. 60M (2003)
Q. Comment on : “Public undertakings no longer occupy ‘commanding heights’.” 20M (2002)
Q. Discuss the major problems of management and working of Public Sector Undertakings in India. Give suggestions in the light of liberalization policy to improve their performance. 60M (2000) |
|
|
Impact of Liberalization and Privatization |
Q. "In the transition from the State-led economy to the market economy, India should rely more on 'indicative planning'.” Do you agree? Explain your position. 10M (2018)
Q. How does New Localism impact Centre-State-Local relations in the era of LPG? 15M (2012)
Q. With the creation of new regulatory agencies in the wake of liberalization, overlapping jurisdictions and conflicts became the new trend. Is there need for the creation of a super-regulator or unified regulator? 30M (2010)
Q. “In the context of liberalisation the role of Public Sector and its welfarist approach is being drastically changed.” Elucidate. 30M (2004) |
|
|
Union Government and Administration |
Executive, Parliament, Judiciary-Structure, Functions, Work Processes |
Q. “Judicial overreach to a large extent is a consequence of ineffective executive.” Examine. 20M (2018)
Q. Do you agree that “All India Judicial Service (AIJS) would contribute to timely delivery of justice to the citizens? Argue your case 10M (2017)
Q. "The absence of congruence of views on appointments to judiciary between the Supreme Court and the Union Government has had an adverse impact on the judicial system." In the light of the above statement, examine the proposal to constitute an All India Judicial Service (AIJS). 20M (2016)
Q. Discuss the arguments for and against the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014. 20M (2015)
Q. “Ordinance-making power of the Executive needs to be suitably restrained.” Examine it critically. 10M (2015)
Q. Supreme Court ruling on 31st October, 2013 in respect of bureaucracy’s functioning would help achieve good governance. Analyse this ruling and add your comments on it. 20M (2014)
Q. “Judicial review of administrative tribunal’s decisions defeats the very objective of establishing tribunals.” Comment with reference to Central Administrative Tribunal. 10M (2013)
Q. “There is a tendency of centralism in Indian federalism, but it is not because of its institutional framework but because of its socialist goals and centrally devised plan development.” Explain the statement in the context of Union- State relationship. 20M (2013)
Q. “Laws are enacted without involving the police in the conception stage, with the result implementation of these laws leaves much to be desired.” Examine the role of police in protection of children. 20M (2013)
Q. ‘Parliament is an independent institution, not to be seen as an extension of government or of a party.’ Elaborate. 20M (2012)
Q. In the exercise of his/her functions, the President of India is a mere ‘Convenient working hypothesis’. Do you agree with this view? Justify your reasoning with illustrations. 30M (2012)
Q. ‘Judges should not govern the country. They can lay down a law, not interfere with governance.’ Discuss. 12M (2012)
Q. "Judges and Courts have creatively reinterpreted their statutory authority and expanded their own power and enhanced their standing vis-à-vis the legislature and executive.” Critically examine this assessment. 30M (2010)
Q. “In an era of hung parliaments the power of the President expands, more so when the incumbent decides to be assertive.” Comment on the statement with reference to the situation in India during the last two decades. 30M (2010)
Q. “The President of India acts like grand-parent in a family. If younger generation does not follow his/her advice, he/she is just unable to do anything.” Comment. 20M (2007)
Q. Indian Prime Minister should not only be accountable to the Indian Parliament but should appear to be so.” Comment on the accountability of the Prime Minister to the Indian Parliament in the context of extraconstitutional power. 60M (2006)
Q. “Not the Potomac, but the Thames, fertilizes the flow of Yamuna”. In the light of the statement comment on the symbolic institution of the President of India. 20M (2006)
Q. “The veto-power of the Indian President is a combination of the absolute, suspensive and pocket veto.” 20M (2005)
Q. “One of the greatest weakness inherent in a Federal polity is the possibility of conflict of loyalty and responsibility on the part of public servants as between Central and State Governments.” - Elaborate and comment. 60M (2004)
Q. Comment on : “Presidents of India prior to the passage of 42” and 44" amendment could afford to be more assertive.” 20M (2004)
Q. “Looking back to our past experience, the fear that the emergency provisions can be misused have at times proved right and wrong at other times.” Discuss with examples. 60M (2003)
Q. Comment on : “National Development Council has virtually become a super - cabinet and tries to arrogate itself the functions of Parliament.” 20M (2002)
Q. Comment on : “The Prime Minister stands out as the most powerful authority even today.” 20M (2001)
Q. Comment on :Indian Constitution confers vast legislative powers on the President. 20M (2000)
Q. Comment on :National Development Council, it seems, is like a super- Cabinet. 20M (2000)
Q. Comment on :Though the dictatorship of the Cabinet is a stark reality in modern times, it does not mean that the Cabinet is omnipotent. 20M (2000) |
|
Intra-Governmental Relations |
Q. “Indian federalism is passing through a state of potential maturity.” Discuss this statement in the context of the views of the Commission on Centre-State
Q. There is a separate Central Ministry or Department on each subject allocated to State List. Does it mean supremacy of the Union Government or an emphasis on development administration ? Analyse. 60M (2007)
Q. Comment on : “National Development Council was established to co-ordinate between Union government, the Planning Commission and the State governments.” 20M (2004)
Q. “State Directorates are administrative and implementation units assisting the Departments functioning from the Secretariat.” Explain. 30M (2001) |
|
|
Cabinet Secretariat |
Q. “The attached offices and subordinate offices are integral to the functioning of the Cabinet Secretariat.” Discuss. 10M (2018)
Q. “The status and functioning of the Cabinet Secretariat face a stiff challenge from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).” Argue both in favour and against the contention. 10M (2017)
Q. Critically examine the variables in the composition and functioning of Cabinet Committees. 12M (2012)
Q. “The respective roles of the Cabinet Secretary of the Government of India and of the Chief Secretary of a State are similar in certain respects, and dissimilar in other.” Explain. 30M (2009)
Q. “National Development Council is criticized as an usurping authority - functioning as a virtual super-cabinet.” Explain. 30M (2005)
Q. “The Cabinet Secretariat provides the eyes and ears for the Prime Minister to keep in touch with the process of official business in Central Government.” Comment. 30M (2005)
Q. “The highly significant and elevated position of Chief Secretary is significantly undermined in practice to-day.” Comment 20M (2005) |
|
|
Prime Minister’s Office |
Q. “Strong PMO is anti-thesis to the feature of collective responsibility of Council of Ministers”. Examine the issues in relation to the position of PMO via-a-vis
Q. "Dominant centralized administration is correlated with decisive and authoritative leadership provided by the Prime Minister's office." Explain with suitable examples since independence. 20M (2016)
Q. The functional role of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) depends on the Prime Minister’s policy orientation, personality and style of administration. Comment on the statement with suitable examples 10M (2014)
Q. Discuss the evolution of the role of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) since independence. 20M (2011)
Q. “A strong PMO is a salvation for any Indian Prime Minister, but concentration of power is a danger to democracy.” 20M (2005)
Q. Comment on : “Despite all the powers that he has, the Indian Prime Minister cannot become a dictator.” 20M (2003) |
|
|
Central Secretariat |
Q. “The chief secretary is often termed as the alter ego of the Chief Minister.” Discuss, with examples, the dynamics of their relationship in State administration. 20M (2017)
Q. “Central Secretariat is the nodal agency for administering the Union subjects and establishing coordination among the various activities of the government.” Discuss. 20M (2013)
Q. “The central secretariat is a policy formulating, co-ordinating and supervisory agency besides being the principal executive agency of the government.” Explain. 30M (2002) |
|
|
Ministries and Departments |
Q. “The position of council of ministers in a state is reduced to that of a body of a secretaries in the presence of a domineering of chief minister.” Critically analyse with examples 20M (2017)
Q. What factors have led to the expansion of the role of the Ministry of Affairs ? How can it coordinator its affairs more effectively with the Ministry of Defence? 20M (2016)
Q. Discuss the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission in respect of the National Development Council for improving Centre-State planning relations. 20M (2012)
Q. ‘Parliamentary Departmental Committees have played their role effectively in analyzing the demands for grants.’ Evaluate. 20M (2012)
Q. Does the emergence of an Empowered group of Ministers at the central level impair the doctrine of cabinet responsibility? 20M (2010)
Q. “Administrative talent of a Minister determined his ‘success.” 20M (2009)
Q. Examine the role of the Finance Ministry of the Union Government in designing and implementing monetary and fiscal policies. 30M (2009) |
|
|
Boards and Commissions |
Q. Discuss, with sustainable examples, the emerging challenges faced by the Regulatory Commission as to the arbitrary agents between the State and the market forces 20M (2017)
Q. “The Central Social Welfare Board has become an anomalous institution.” In light of this statement, examine the functions and role of the Central Social Welfare Board and suggest measures for making it an effective institution. 60M (2001) |
|
|
Attached Offices; Field Organizations |
Q. “Pro-Active Governance and Timely implementation (PRAGATI) is an innovative project of the Union Government.” Discuss its features and modalities 10M (2017) |
|
|
Plans and Priorities |
Machinery of Planning |
Q. ‘NITI Aayog’ has changed the way India strategized for economic development, but its effectiveness is yet to be seen, especially when its financial powers are
Q. Explain the context and perspectives of the following statements: i) The Planning Commission is “an armchair adviser”. ii) The Planning Commission should reinvent itself as a systems reforms commission in the backdrop of
Q. “Many of the programmes of development being implemented at the State and the Local level have been initiated or financed by the Union Government. This has transformed the nature of Indian federalism.” Critically examine this assessment. 30M (2009)
Q. What are the tension areas in Union-State relations in Planning ? 30M (2008)
Q. Discuss the problems in the planning process at the state and sub-state levels. 30M (2008)
Q. What concrete steps have been taken by the Union and the State Governments to protect child labour and prevent abuse of children ? 20M (2006)
Q. What measures have been taken by the Union and the States for the welfare of women in the profession of sex ? 20M (2006)
Q. Critically evaluate the policies of the Union Government with regard to the welfare of women and children of India. 20M (2006)
Q. Comment on : “Indian planning is highly centralized.” 20M (2003) |
|
Indicative’ Planning |
Q. “From highly centralized planning system, India has moved towards indicative planning under which long-term strategic vision of the future is built and nation’s priorities are decided.” Elucidate. 60M (2005)
Q. “The special development programmes taken up for poverty alleviation with a hope that benefits of these programmes may reach to the people living below poverty line - have utterly failed to achieve its objectives.” Comment. 60M (2004) |
|
|
Process of Plan Formulation at Union and State Levels |
Q. It is argued that the NITI Aayog has broken the edifice of planning into fragments. Comment. 20M (2018)
Q. "Legislatures have become a place for infighting rather than for proper policy making." Comment in the context of the working of State Governments. 10M (2016)
Q. "Planning in India has failed to meet the challenges of economic development and social change.” Discuss the statement in the context of the emergence of NITI Aayog. 10M (2016)
Q. “Planning enables comprehensive and scientific understanding of problems.” Examine the statements in the context of planning methodology. 12M (2013)
Q. NGOs demand greater autonomy from the State and are now ‘new actors’ in development. How effective are they as instruments of decentralization and debureaucratisation? Critically evaluate. 30M (2012)
Q. “In spite of having Constitutional status the District Planning Committee is not able to implement decentralised planning due to centralised nature of economic planning.” Comment. 20M (2007)
Q. “Effective implementation of plan projects has been the weakest link in the chain of the entire planning programme.” Elucidate. 30M (2004) |
|
|
Constitutional Amendments (1992) and Decentralized Planning for Economic Development and Social Justice |
Q. ‘Economic Development and Social justice are the hallmarks of the 1992 Constitutional Amendment Acts.’ Elucidate. 20M (2008)
Q. “Social (Welfare) Administration in India is witnessing specialization and faster expansion of its administrative agencies.” Evaluate. 20M (2007)
Q. Critically analyse the functions and role of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment with regard to development of disabled persons in India. 20M (2007) |
|
|
State Government and Administration |
Union-State Administrative, Legislative and Financial Relations |
Q. Article 356 acts, “very much like the proverbial bolt from the blue without giving an opportunity or notices to the State Government to correct its alleged shortcoming”. This phenomenon not only undermines the autonomy of the State Government, but also demeans the statue of the President of India. Critically analyze. 20M (2019)
Q. "The separation between regulatory and development functions in many States has not only weakened the District Collector but also development administration." Critically examine the need to relook at this policy. 20M (2016)
Q. Examine the efficacy of the measures taken to redefine and execute cooperative federalism in India . 10M (2016)
Q. The objectives, approaches and organizational arrangements for decisionmaking of the NITI Aayog aim at restoring the federal character of the Indian polity. Explain. 20M (2015)
Q. “From coalition government to one-party dominance is a big change that is bound to affect the government system.” Explain why and how. 10M (2014)
Q. How far do you agree with the view that the National Development Council (NDC) could resonate the demands of State governments as long as the Planning Commission is kept subservient to it? Critically examine. 20M (2014)
Q. “Management of intra-governmental relations is as important as that of intergovernmental relations.” Examine the impact upon the performance of the government. 20M (2014)
Q. “The Centre – State relations have acquired new dimensions in recent times due to several political parties being in power at the Centre and the States.” (Second Administrative Reforms Commission)] Do you agree? Give reasons to support your arguments 10M (2014)
Q. The prevalence of multiple channels for transfer of resources from the Centre to the State is stated to have compounded the problems of federal fiscal arrangements. Discuss. 30M (2010)
Q. “The main problem of Centre-State relations in India is bottlenecks in fiscal federalism.” Comment. 60M (2006)
Q. Comment on : Maintenance of law and order is a State subject but the Union Government can deploy armed forces in any State. 20M (2000)
Q. Among several other problems, the Problem of financial relationship is perhaps the most complex one. Explain in the context of recent developments in Union-State relations in India. 60M (2000) |
|
Role of the Finance Commission |
Q. Efforts to strengthen State Finance Commissions have faced apathy of State Governments over the years, which has also affected the successive Central Finance Commissions in recommending appropriate fiscal transfers to local bodies. Substantiate the answer with example. 20M (2019)
Q. Performance grants devolved by Finance Commission of India have increased the Financial accountability of the local bodies. Elaborate. 10M (2019)
Q. Critically examine the criteria adopted by the 15th Finance Commission for allocation of resources to States. What have been the major issues of contention since the 10th Finance Commission? 20M (2018)
Q. “Finance Commission in India performs the job of statics aggregation.” Comment 12M (2013) |
|
|
Governor |
Q. Various commissions have reiterated the crucial role of the Governor in Indian system of governance, but the successive governments have not heeded to make Governor’s office apolitical. Examine with example. 10M (2019)
Q. “In the coalition era with elusive majority of a single party in the State Legislature, the role of the Governor becomes even more challenging." Discuss. 20M (2018)
Q. “In very recent time, the role of the State Governor is found to be more of diplomatic than administrative nature.” Comment on the statement with suitable examples. 20M (2015)
Q. “The gubernatorial position of the Governor is comfortably placed in the fuzzy area between ‘Withdrawal of pleasure of the President’ and ‘Compelling reasons for removal’. “Discuss with some recent examples. 20M (2014)
Q. Is there a need to dispense with the office of the Governor? Examine the context of coalition governments. 10M (2013)
Q. ‘The authority of the Governor in the discretionary field is not unrestrained. If it is misused the President can check him/her and if necessary, he may even remover the Governor.’ Examine this statement critically in the context
Q. “Because of several judicial pronouncements, Governors in States are no longer viewed as agents of the ‘Party in Power’ at the Central level.” Evaluate. 20M (2007)
Q. “The position of Governors towards exercising their discretion and powers has considerably changed after 1967.” Discuss 60M (2004)
Q. “Article 163 makes the Governor the sole judge in matters in which he is required to act in his discretion.” Explain. 30M (2003) |
|
|
Chief Minister |
Q. The Chief Minister is the real executive of the State, whose effectiveness is largely related to his personality traits and equation with central leadership.’ Explain and illustrate with relevant examples. 60M (2008)
Q. “The Chief Minister symbolizes ruling power structure and is the real executive head of the State Government.” Discuss the above statement in the light of his position in a Coalition Government. 60M (2005) |
|
|
Chief Secretary |
Q. “The success and prestige enjoyed by a Chief Secretary, to a large, upon his equations with the varied sets of people and institutions that form the work environment.” Critically evaluate the statement and its relevance to the role of Chief Secretary in the discharge of his function. 30M (2012)
Q. In the Chief Secretary, the State Government has an officer whose counterpart does not obtain in the Union Government. Elucidate. 30M (2000)
Q. Reservation policy and its implementation has had some positive impact in relative terms on the socio-economic development of the SCs and STs but it is very meagre in absolute terms. Comment. 30M (2000)
Q. The leadership qualities of a civil servant are tested most during his tenure as the Cabinet Secretary-a dream-post for even-bureaucrat. Elucidate 30M (2000) |
|
|
State Secretariat, Directorates |
Q. “The dispute between Secretariat and Directorate is the result of Generalist vs Specialist controversy.” Analyse. 60M (2007) |
|
|
District Administration Since Independence |
Changing Role of the Collector |
Q. The office of the District Collector has merely become a bureau for funneling government schemes, collecting statistics and an officer on attendance for unending VIP duties. Critically examine its role in the light of the recommendations of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission. 20M (2019)
Q. Climate change issues pose new challenges for district administration to be proactive.” Elaborate 20M (2018)
Q. "Competency mapping is important for effective allocation of responsibilities to administrators.” Do you think that a generalist administrator can handle all issues as effectively as a specialist Discuss. 20M (2018)
Q. “District Collector’s role in the development process has been overemphasized.” Comment on the statement. 10M (2015)
Q. “Reducing the size (geographical area) of the district will provide relief to the overburdened and overworked collector.” Comment. 10M (2013)
Q. Describe the changing character and new orientations of Public Services in India since Independence. 60M (2008)
Q. “The generalist character of I.A.S. is its chief characteristic as well as its chief criticism.” Comment. 20M (2006)
Q. “One of the most distinctive characteristics of Indian Administrative Service is its multipurpose character.” 20M (2005)
Q. “The District Collector is an overburdened officer due to the expansion and increasing developmental activities.” 20M (2005)
Q. “The district officer as a chief agent and representative of state serves as a channel of communication between the Government and the residents of the district.” Explain. 30M (2004)
Q. Comment on : “District Collector has increasingly become multi-dimensional.” 20M (2003)
Q. Do you agree that globalization, liberalization and privatization policies are going to change the very fabric of Indian Administration? What, according to you, are the major challenges before it in the 21st century? 60M (2000) |
|
Union-State-Local Relations |
Q. “Development management advocates self-sustaining customer-friendly institutions at the district level.” Comment. 10M (2018)
Q. "The concept of new localism' is related to the emerging nature of the relationship between the State Governments and local government bodies." Explain. 10M (2016)
Q. Why has District Planning been marginalized in many States and remained prominent in a few States? Explain. 10M (2015)
Q. Comment on : “Indian federalism is described as federal in form but unitary in spirit.” 20M (2002) |
|
|
District Administration and Democratic Decentralization |
Q. It is observed that non-functioning of District Planning Committees is preventing the convergence of rural and urban planning needs. Do you agree? Justify. 20M (2019)
Q. “Contracting out tasks without effective accountability mechanisms can be counter-productive for effective service delivery." Comment. 10M (2018)
Q. “The District Collector, the Additional Deputy Commissioner and Sub- Divisional Officer, have virtually become ‘officers-in-attendance’ and have lost initiative and independent of judgement.” Comment. 60M (2006) |
|
|
Civil Services |
Constitutional Position |
Q. Emerging developmental aspirations of the society necessitate the constitutional amendment to change the present safeguards available to the civil servants. Evaluate the pros and cons of such amendment. 10M (2019)
Q. It is apprehended that lateral entry will lead to politicisation of bureaucracy. Do you agree? Justify 10M (2018)
Q. “The idea of lateral entry into the Civil Services would energies Indian administration.” What are its possible advantages and limitations? 20M (2017)
Q. “Values of Indian administration must be rooted in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.” Discuss. 30M (2009)
Q. Do State Services suffer in comparison with the All-India and Central Services? Suggest measures for enhancing the role, competence and impact of State Services. 30M (2009)
Q. The machinery for welfare administration at the national and state level trickling down to grassroots becomes meaningless in the context of global constitutionalism.” Discuss. 60M (2002)
Q. Comment on : “The value premises of our Constitution in the era of global constitutionalism.” 20M (2002)
Q. All India Services play a crucial unifying role in the whole administrative system of the country. Explain. 30M (2000) |
|
Structure, Recruitment, Training and Capacity Building |
Q. Capacity issues relating to employees have hampered the implementation of several government programmes. Trace the reasons in the context of the provisions of the National Training Policy, 2012 20M (2019)
Q. “The 'enablers' and 'facilitators' are yet to replace the inspectors' and “controllers' in the civil service in India. Do you agree? Justify. 10M (2018)
Q. "Autonomy granted to higher civil servants tends to increase their creativity and productivity." Argue the case to make the civil service more accountable as well as innovative. 10M (2016)
Q. ‘Performance Appraisal System’ with special reference to the Performance Management and Evaluation System (PMES) are expected to transform the bureaucratic culture of Indian administration. Do you agree? Give reason. 30M (2011)
Q. “A fixed tenure in Civil Service postings can increase productivity, accountability, and probity in Government.”
Q. Training of civil servants for capacity building should be in consonance with the needs of the socio-economic and technological development of the country.’ Explain. 30M (2008)
Q. “In-service training of officers belonging to higher civil services has been perhaps the most conspicuous development in Indian administration.” Discuss with reference to training designed for the Indian Administrative Service officers. 60M (2003)
Q. Comment on : “The need and significance of all-India services has been well recognized in political as well as administrative circles.” 20M (2001) |
|
|
Good Governance Initiatives |
Q. “The Prime Ministers awards for Excellence in Public Administration encourage good governance initiatives. “ Discuss some such initiatives by the Civil Servants in this context. 20M (2017)
Q. “There is a need for greater inclusion of technocrats in bureaucracy to ensure effective governance in India.” Do you agree” Elucidate 10M (2017)
Q. "The goals of good governance will remain utopian if local governments, responsible for providing all basic services directly to the citizens, are not empowered as mandated by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts." Critically evaluate the status of empowerment of the local bodies. 20M (2016)
Q. “Information Communication Technology (ICT) improves the quality of public service delivery, but fails to check bribery.” Comment. 10M (2015)
Q. ‘Minimum government, maximum governance’ is not just a slogan but a philosophy of administration with enormous potentialities.” Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer. 10M (2015)
Q. “Gandhian model of decentralization is similar to the process of reinventing governance. “ Analyze in the context of good governance. 20M (2013)
Q. “Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Panchayat’s functions enhances efficiency, transparency and accountability and also induces mass ICT culture.” Examine. 20M (2013)
Q. Indian administration is yet to fully appreciate and adopt the benefits of Information Technology. Elucidate. 15M (2012)
Q. Good governance is closely aligned with effective democratic governance.’ Discuss 12M (2012)
Q. Comment on : “Non-Governmental Organisations play a catalytic role in enabling communities to define their own priorities” 20M (2010)
Q. Comment on : States with a record of good governance, it is argued by spokespersons of some Commission’s award. 20M (2010)
Q. Right to Information Act has led to greater transparency and accountability of administration.’ Comment. 20M (2008)
Q. “If information is power, nothing can perhaps empower a citizen more than the secret and developmental informations held by various public authorities.” Analyse the merits and demerits of RTI Act, 2005 in the light of this statement. 60M (2007)
Q. “A well-designed module-based training for Civil Servants is the best way to achieve the goals of good governance.” Analyse. 20M (2007)
Q. “Information technology, if properly used, can bring about sweeping changes in the nature of governance in India.” Discuss the current status and future possibilities about the use of information technology in the governance of India. 60M (2003) |
|
|
Code of Conduct and Discipline |
Q. "In a democratic polity, any conception of ethics and integrity in public life must encompass not only politicians and civil servants but also citizens." Discuss. 20M (2016)
Q. Discuss the major highlights of the reforms introduced from time-to-time in Central Civil Services Conduct Rules and add your own comments. 10M (2015) |
|
|
Grievance Redressal Mechanism |
Q. “Autonomy of civil society is crucial for responsive and effective administration.” Examine the statement 10M (2018)
Q. "Effective public grievance redressal requires administrative commitment. But process reengineering can help prevent some grievances.” Discuss. 20M (2018)
Q. “Civil servants should avoid airing grievances in the media.” In the context , discuss the grievance redressal mechanisms available to the Civil Servants in India. 10M (2017)
Q. Do you think k that Public Service Guarantee Acts passed by various State Governments are an extension to the Citizen Charter? Give reasons 10M (2017)
Q. Elaborate the features of the grievances redressal mechanism of the civil services in India. Does this mechanism satisfy the objective of its creation? 10M (2014)
Q. Comment on : “Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has undergone several changes since its inception in 1980s.” 20M (2010) |
|
|
Civil Service Neutrality |
Q. Discuss the need for civil services neutrality in development administration. Suggest some measure for achieving and strengthening it in practice. 20M (2014)
Q. “Civil services neutrality is founded on the application of the principles of Rule of Law”. Comment. 12M (2013)
Q. Comment on “Civil service neutrality is a fiction. How any thinking person can be neutral?” 20M (2010)
Q. “Collector is the representative of the State government in the district and also represents public interest.” Comment. 30M (2002)
Q. Comment on "It is a major challenge to balance the role of District Collector with the powers of democratic bodies" 20M (2002) |
|
|
Civil Service Activism |
Q. “Most Civil Servants in India are competent administrators, but they pay little attention to encourage people’s participation in decision-making.” Comment on the statement. 10M (2015)
Q. Assess the role of honest and upright civil servants in regulatory and development administration in India. Give examples to substantiate your arguments 20M (2014)
Q. Do you agree with the view that Citizens’ Charters in India have not succeeded in their objective of making the administrative system citizencentric ? Analyze and give your suggestions in this regard. 30M (2009)
Q. Comment on : “There is no basic contradiction between Civil Service neutrality and Civil Service activism.” Comment. 20M (2009)
Q. Comment on : A middle way-should be worked out to utilize the services of both generalists and specialists for the national development. 20M (2000) |
|
|
Financial Management |
Budget as a Political Instrument |
Q. "Gender budgeting requires rethinking beyond allocations to become a powerful tool of gender mainstreaming." Discuss. 10M (2018)
Q. What merits do you foresee in the proposed merger of the Railway Budget with the General Budget ? 10M (2016)
Q. Justify the budgetary support to nationalized banks to overcome the crisis resulting out of Non-Performing Assets (NPA) 10M (2016)
Q. Explain how budget can be used as a political instrument. 10M (2015)
Q. The 13th Finance Commission highlighted an indispensable need to improve the finance of rural and urban level bodies. Does this make local bodies more accountable in the discharge of their functions? 20M (2014)
Q. “Gender Response Budgeting has infused greater accountability of planning departments towards women empowerment programmes.” Examine the statement. 20M (2014)
Q. “According is the essence of producing promptly and clearly the facts relating to financial condition and operations that are required as a basis of management.” Substantiate the statement in the context of accounting methods and techniques in government. 20M (2013)
Q. “Performance budgeting failed because it was applied to sectors/programmes where quantitative evaluation was not feasible.” Examine the principles underlying performance budgeting techniques. 10M (2013)
Q. What is an output-based performance budgeting system? Analyse this system in the context of India. 15M (2012)
Q. Comment on : The optimism expressed by the proponents of the Financial Responsibility and Budged Management Act, 2003, in ensuring fiscal discipline appears to be unwarranted. 20M (2010)
Q. ‘The Budget is more than the economic horoscope of the nation.’ Comment. 20M (2008)
Q. “The policy of the government is reflected by various items of the budget.” Explain by distinguishing between a commercial budget and a government budget. 30M (2001) |
|
Parliamentary Control of Public Expenditure |
Q. Parliamentary Committees bring about accountability in public expenditure. Discuss. 10M (2014)
Q. Justify the constructional provision to treat certain expenditure as charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India. 10M (2013)
Q. ‘Questions represent a powerful technique of parliamentary control over expenditure.’ Explain. 12M (2012)
Q. “Parliamentary Departmental Committees have played their role effectively in analysing the demands for grants.” Evaluate. 20M (2007)
Q. “Public Accounts Committee conducts a postmortem examination of Public Accounts.” 20M (2005)
Q. Comment on : “Questions represent a powerful technique of parliamentary control over expenditure.” 20M (2003)
Q. “Control over public expenditure is an essential feature of accountable and responsible financial administration.” In the light of this statement discuss various methods of control over public expenditure which are exercised by the Indian Parliament. 60M (2001) |
|
|
Role of Finance Ministry in Monetary and Fiscal Area |
Q. The strategy to deal with the non-performing assets of banks may lead to overburdened taxpayers. Examine the role of government to protect the interests of both. 10M (2019)
Q. “Implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) has led to a paradigm shift in the Centre-State relations , both financially and politically .” Analyze with examples. 20M (2017)
Q. Do you agree that the Seventh Pay Commission's recommendations do not reflect and correlate the need for civil service reforms and accountability with pay increase ? Justify your answer. 20M (2016)
Q. “The initiative of the Income Tax Department on disclosure of black money has had a mixed response.” Give suggestions for tackling this complex problem. 10M (2016)
Q. "Introduction of G.S.T. (Goods and Services Tax) no doubt has economic benefits, but tends to compromise the States' inherent right to impose taxes." In this context, comment on the changing nature of Union-State financial relations. 20M (2016) |
|
|
Accounting Techniques |
Q. Comment on the recent changes in the approach and methodology of devolution of responsibilities and transfer of funds from the Union to the States. 10M (2015) |
|
|
Audit |
Q. "Social audit has lent a critical edge to the implementation of programmes such as MGNREGA." Comment 10M (2018)
Q. “Audit, like the judiciary, the executive and the legislature is one of the important ingredients of democracy.” Comment. 20M (2006)
Q. “Audit provides a healthy safeguard against public money going down the drain.” Comment. 30M (2005) |
|
|
Role of Controller General of Accounts and Comptroller and Auditor General of India. |
Q. “Social auditing of flagship programmes of Central government facilitates the performance of the Comptroller and Auditor-General.” Elaborate the statement with appropriate examples. 20M (2014)
Q. Discuss the changes in powers of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG) following a recent Supreme Court judgement in a case concerning a private service provider. 10M (2014)
Q. “The concept of social audit is more comprehensive than that of traditional audit.” Comment. 10M (2013)
Q. Comment on the following statement: “The Comptroller and Auditor-General that hobbles its functioning, a judge without the power to sentence and a litigant with no right to appeal.” 30M (2011)
Q. Comment on : “The role of Comptroller and Auditor General is a limited one.” 20M (2002)
Q. Comment on : “It is the audit of propriety that distinguishes the audit of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) from the audit made by any professional auditor.” 20M (2001) |
|
|
Administrative Reforms since Independence |
Major Concerns |
Q. Considerable attention has been paid to the restructuring of the administrative systems at the Central and local levels, but very few reforms have been undertaken at the State level. What steps would you suggest to rectify it? 20M (2019)
Q. “All efforts in the field of reforms in public administration by the political executive have resulted in no significant output.” Comment. 20M (2006)
Q. “Efforts made towards administrative reforms so far have been lacking in a congruence between strategy, structure and substance.” 20M (2005)
Q. Comment on : Most administrative reforms have a political cost 20M (2000) |
|
Important Committees and Commissions |
Q. “The recommendations of various commissions on administrative reforms have not made a radical departure from the Paul Appleby Report.” Do you agree ? Give reasons. 20M (2018)
Q. “The Second Administrative Reform Commission (ARC) makes a strong case for the principle of subsidiary.” Elaborate. 10M (2017)
Q. What are the major concerns of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission on Civil Service reforms? Indicate the current status of their implementation. 10M (2015)
Q. Briefly discuss the main recommendations of the Punchhi Commission (2010) on Centre-State relations for transforming Indian Federal System. 20M (2015)
Q. “Unimplemented reforms in administrations weaken the administrative reforms process most.” Do you agree? Give your answer citing specific cases as illustrations. 20M (2014)
Q. Explain the important recommendation of V.T. Krishnamachary Committee (1962) on Indian and State Administrative Services and problems of District Administration. 10M (2013)
Q. Compare and contrast the Padmanabhaiah, Riberio and Mallinath Committee Reports. 25M (2012)
Q. Efforts made towards administrative reforms so far have been lacking in congruence between strategy, structure and substance.’ Discuss with illustrations. 30M (2012)
Q. “The real problem of administrative reforms in India at the State and the local levels in that they are imposed from above.” Comment. 20M (2011)
Q. The Second Administrative Reforms Commission, in its 10th Report, observes that “the common perception is that the incentive structure in government is too weak and inadequate to motivate better performance.” Elucidate. 30M (2010)
Q. With reference to India, discuss the assertion that administrative reforms are multi-dimensional and need to be substantiated by reforms in other related areas of state action. 30M (2010)
Q. In your view, which have been the five most important administrative reforms implemented after Independence? What has been their impact? 30M (2009)
Q. Briefly discuss the main recommendations of any two of the following: i) Paul Appleby (1953 and 1956) ii) Santhanam Committee iii) Hota Committee iv) Sixth Pay Commission 30M (2009)
Q. “The recommendations of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission on reforming the Civil Service are radical yet implementable.” Do you agree ? 30M (2009)
Q. National Commission to review the working of the Constitution has suggested revolutionary changes in administrative culture. Analyse its major recommendations on Civil Services and Administration. 60M (2007)
Q. “In spite of valuable suggestions through Administrative Reforms, still we have not been able to come up to the expectations of the people.” Discuss. 30M (2004)
Q. Comment on : The Estimates Committee is a continuous economy committee’.” 20M (2004)
Q. Comment on : “Administrative Reforms in India are not necessarily the result of the recommendations of any specific committees or commissions.” 20M (2001) |
|
|
Reforms in Financial Management and Human Resource Development |
Q. Effective ‘Performance Management System’ needs to precede ‘taking deadwood out’ from bureaucracy. Comment. 10M (2019)
Q. “Decentralised governance must serve as an instrument of realizing social change and social justice.” Comment on the statement. 10M (2015) |
|
|
Problems of Implementation |
Q. Do you agree that there has been a serious governance-deficit in development administration in India? Give reasons for your answer and add your suggestions. 20M (2015)
Q. “Excellent ideas but poor implementation have characterised the administrative reforms in India since Independence.” Critically examine the statement giving examples from the Union and State Governments. 20M (2015)
Q. Comment on : “The weakest aspect of Indian administration is the grievance redressal machinery.” Discuss. 20M (2009) |
|
|
Rural Development |
Institutions and Agencies Since Independence |
Q. Discuss the relationship between governance and development in any one Indian State, giving illustrations. 30M (2009)
Q. “It is at the district level that the common man comes into direct contact with the administration.” Elucidate. 30M (2003) |
|
Rural Development Programmes |
Q. All weather rural connectivity scheme to even unconnected rural habitations has the potential to transform the rural economy. Do you agree? Justify. 10M (2019)
Q. “Rural development programmes have failed to effectively address the problems of small and marginal farmers.” Analyse and give suggestions. 20M (2018)
Q. Do you think that the role of Panchayati Raj should go beyond development administration? Give reasons for your answer. 10M (2014)
Q. New Localism is identified with the new Local State and local activism. Examine how this has impacted city management in India. 60M (2008)
Q. “Despite the serious commitment on the part of the government, the benefits of the rural development programmes do not seem to reach the intended targets and they fail to serve fully the purpose for which they were intended.” Elucidate. 30M (2001) |
|
|
Foci and Strategies |
Q. “A government next-door is the government that matters most for the people.” Discuss the statement with special reference to the values of local government. 10M (2018)
Q. “Neighbourhood management provides an appropriate global strategy of dealing with social exclusion in the urban development scenario." Comment. 10M (2018)
Q. “Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have contributed to a change in the role of rural women in development — from symbolic participation to empowerment.” Discuss. 10M (2013)
Q. What are the basic hurdles and pitfalls in the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act ?30M (2008)
Q. The role of local self-government in the state administration is of considerable importance. Evaluate the statement in the context of the 73rd and 74th amendments made. 60M (2002) |
|
|
Decentralization and Panchayati Raj |
Q. The evidences suggest that the dream of deliberative democracy could not be realized in practice at the grassroot level. Evaluate the impediments in the functioning of Gram Sabha. 10M (2019)
Q. ’District Planning Committee (DPC) has been the weakest structure in the local self-government mechanism in India .” Analyze with examples 10M (2017)
Q. “The institution of Gram Sabha has very little connection with the Gandhian spirit of direct democracy.” Critically examine 10M (2017)
Q. “Effectiveness of local-self government institutions is hampered due to the lack of capacity building of the elected representative s.” Elaborate 10M (2017)
Q. Do you think that the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), in practice, reflects genuine devolution of powers and resources? Give reasons for your answer. 10M (2015)
Q. Despite the adoption of decentralized planning, participatory initiatives remain marginalized and divisive in many regions. Discuss. 10M (2014)
Q. “The second generation reforms in the Panchayati Raj institutions have changed Panchayats from the agency of development at local level into a political institution.” Discuss. 12M (2013)
Q. ‘Panchayati Raj Institutions are still affected by State control and domination by bureaucracy.’ Do you agree? 12M (2012)
Q. Local self-government in India is the interplay of several factors — historical, ideological, and administrative. Critically examine these factors 30M (2012) |
|
|
73rd Constitutional Amendment |
Q. "The objectives of fiscal devolution to local bodies as mandated by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts has been derailed by the actual working of the State Finance Commissions." Comment. 20M (2016)
Q. “The 73rd Amendment, it is felt, may accentuate fiscal indiscipline by establishing between State and Local Governments a system of transfers similar to the one in the place between the Central and State Governments.” (World Bank) Comment. 20M (2013)
Q. (i) Explain the emerging ambiguity in respect of the developmental role of District Collector in the wake of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (ii) Justify ‘indicative’ planning in the context of LPG.
Q. “73rd Constitutional Amendment has provided permanent structural framework to PRI’s resulting into silent social revolution.” Comment. 60M (2007)
Q. “Even after a decade of having adopted the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution, the Panchayat Raj institution still faces a number of problems towards making it a strong, and vibrant unit of Government.” Comment. 60M (2005) |
|
|
Urban Local Government |
Municipal Governance: Main Features, Structures, Finance and Problem Areas |
Q. “Municipal governance in India is not sufficiently prepared to meet the challenges of frequent natural disasters.” Elucidate the statement and add your own suggestions. 20M (2015)
Q. “Municipal Administration in India faces both structural and operational challenges.” Examine in the context of post-74th Amendment Act. 10M (2013)
Q. Examine the institutional vulnerability of municipal governance in the midst of an emerging spectre of multiple partnerships. 30M (2011)
Q. “Sound municipal governance requires a cadre of specialized municipal services executives equal in status to State Services.” 20M (2009)
Q. In urban governance, uni-functional agencies and development authorities create a “functional jungle.” Explain. 20M (2008)
Q. Comment on : “Although District Planning Committee and Metropolitan Planning Committees have been provided, those remain mostly on paper.” 20M (2001) |
|
74th Constitutional Amendment |
Q. To what extent has the 74the Constitutional Amendment Act created a ‘federation within a federation’ in India? 12M (2012)
Q. “The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments are major landmarks in India’s Constitutional History and Local Governance.” Comment. 20M (2006) |
|
|
New Localism |
Q. The concept of new localism arrangement may defeat the very purpose of local self-governance. Do you agree? Justify. 10M (2019)
|
|
|
Development Dynamics, Politics and Administration with |
Q. "The disempowerment and depoliticisation of urban local government has happened in multiple ways.” Comment. 10M (2018)
Q. Explain the notion of one hundred ‘smart cities’ and its likely impact on India’s urbanization. 10M (2014)
Q. “Absence of District Planning Committees in a large number of districts has prevented convergence of planning at the district level.” 20M (2011)
Q. Comment on : “Rural and urban development programmes have gained in importance, but implementation has been a failure.” 20M (2002) |
|
|
Law and Order Administration |
British Legacy |
Q. Macaulay’s ideas on Indian Civil Service Corresponded to the elite theory of bureaucracy, which continue to persist. Do you agree? Justify. 10M (2019)
Q. There has been an opinion that the ethos of Indian Judicial System continue to be colonial. Suggest measures for raising the level of judicial excellence for achieving speedy justices. 10M (2019)
Q. Is training of police in India still a reflection of the colonial mindset ? Give reasons for your answer. 10M (2016)
Q. Critically examine the statement: ‘Thana’ (Police Station) as the last bastion of the waning British administrative legacy of India. 10M (2014)
Q. The design of the Indian Polices was to subjugate the Indian People in the aftermath of 1857.” Aalyse in the context of the Indian Police Act of 1861. 10M (2013)
Q. Comment on : “The main features of British governmental and administrative system continue to influence the present Administrative System.” 20M (2004) |
|
National Police Commission |
Q. "Police reforms in India have remained a contentious issue." Critically analyse. 10M (2016) |
|
|
Investigative Agencies |
Q. Discuss critically the salient features of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) regarding its purposes and jurisdiction. 20M (2015)
Q. Discuss the significance and role of the Central Paramilitary Forces in maintaining law and order and countering insurgency as well as terrorism. 20M (2015) |
|
|
Role of Central and State Agencies Including Para Military Forces in |
Q. Even though the law and order administration is a State subject, it is paradoxical that the Central agencies- NIA or paramilitary forces under the Union Government-have restricted the powers of State Governments. Discuss. 20M (2019)
Q. "The AFSPA debate reveals that the Indian paramilitary forces are caught between the imperatives of national security and protection of human rights.” Discuss. 10M (2018)
Q. In view of the contemporary internal scenario should “law and order” be made a part of the Concurrent List of the Constitution of India? Justify your opinion 20M (2017)
Q. “Even though law and order administration is a State subject in the Indian Constitution, it is paradoxical that the para-military and other kinds of security forces under the Union Government have grown in recent years.” Critically analyse the statement. 20M (2012) |
|
|
Criminalisation of Politics and Administration |
Q. “Institutional change is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for reducing criminalisation of politics." Examine. 20M (2018)
Q. “There is both criminalization of politics and politicization of criminals in India.” Examine and identify the challenges they cause for law and order administration. 20M (2013)
Q. “By taking some offices out of the jurisdiction of the Office of Profit Act, the Government of India has doubly assured the public mind of its duplicity.” 20M (2006)
Q. “The role played by Central and State Governments in maintaining law and order is inadequate and unmatched to growing criminalization.” 20M (2005)
Q. Comment on : “Criminalisation of politics has been responsible for the problems related to law and order in our nation.” 20M (2004)
Q. “Criminalization of politics in India has been extended to politicization of criminals.” Comment. 30M (2003) |
|
|
Police-Public Relations; Reforms in Police |
Q. The police-public interface is punctuated with distrust and fear. Suggest how the police can reform its image in the eyes of the public. 10M (2019)
Q. ”The image of Indian Police can be improved if its structure and orientations are transformed radically.” Do you agree? Elaborate 10M (2017)
Q. How do the Union Government policies on Smart and AMRUT Cities address the problems of management of urban development? Explain. 20M (2015)
Q. Critically examine the concept of community policing as a tool for improving public-police relations. 10M (2015)
Q. Do you think that the Central para-military police forces have proven more effective than the State police service? Give your answer objectively in a critical vein. 10M (2014)
Q. “Police-Public relations are a story of insincere efforts make on both sides.” Elaborate.10M (2014)
Q. “Community policing has become a victim of elite capture.” 30M (2011)
Q. “The theme of Police Reforms continues to haunt the Parliament.” In the right of this statement, discuss the state of Criminal Justice System administration in India. 30M (2011)
Q. “Law and order problems of the twentyfirst century cannot be tackled through legislations and structures of the nineteenth century.” Give suggestions for transforming the law and order machinery at the State level. 30M (2009) |
|
|
Significant Issues in Indian Administration |
Values in Public Service |
Q. ‘Sevottam Scheme’ had great potential to reform service delivery, but opportunity is frittered away. Comment 10M (2019)
Q. "Performance management requires identification of indicators and measures to ensure that goals are achieved efficiently." Discuss.
Q. There is constant and continuous collision between bureaucratic values and democratic values which adversely affects development. In the light of this statement examine the role of bureaucracy in development. 60M (2008)
Q. ‘District Administration is like a small tortoise carrying the load of an elephant.’ Discuss. 20M (2008)
Q. Define Civil Society. Is it an effective organ to control administrative machinery? Comment. 20M (2007)
Q. “The primary emphasis in District Administration has to be on implementation of development programmes in cooperation with active support of people.” Elucidate. 30M (2005)
Q. “Welfare of the people has been a constitutional and legal obligation of the state, wherein both the Centre and State Governments are required to discharge the obligation within available resources.” Does this stand true in the context of globalization ? 60M (2004)
Q. Comment on : “Values, more than techniques are the eventual determinants of the actions of the administrators.” 20M (2004)
Q. “NGOs are fast replacing the government in the implementation of a large number of programmes.” Elucidate. 30M (2003)
Q. Comment on : “The size of the leviathan goes on expanding, despite the country’s recent commitment to downsizing or rightsizing.” 20M (2003)
Q. “Women’s development programmes of recent have shifted from welfarist approach to empowerment of women.” - Elaborate. 60M (2002)
Q. Do you think that our administration is sensitive to public grievances? Discuss the existing grievances redressal mechanism and give suggestions for enhancing its capabilities. 60M (2000) |
|
Regulatory Commissions |
Q. Accountability of regulatory bodies would address the problem of overregulators
|
|
|
National Human Rights Commission |
Q. “The National Human Rights Commission has done a commendable job in developing a sense of responsibility among organizations towards the protection of human rights.” Comment on this assessment 30M (2009)
Q. “The role played by the National Human Rights Commission in maintaining and preserving dignity of India’s citizen has been satisfactory and up to the expectations.” Elucidate. 60M (2006)
Q. Comment on : “The National Human Rights Commission is unable to play its role effectively due to various hindrances.” 20M (2004) |
|
|
Citizen Administration Interface |
Q. “The RTI has started its journey, but is far from its destination.” In the view of the statement, examine the present’s status of the RTI movement 10M (2019) |
|
|
Corruption and Administration |
Q. Minimal accountability being the dominant norm in the political system, the Lokpal can only be an ideal institution with limited effectiveness. Explain. 20M (2019)
Q. “Financial inclusion needs legal backing but it also requires increasing awareness for it to become a reality.” Discuss 10M (2018)
Q. “The ‘policy of non-action’ regarding the institutional mechanisms and legal provisions to eradicate corruption is a feature of Indian Administration.” Critically examine 20M (2017)
Q. “The Right to Information (RTI) has started its journey but is far from its destination.” Comment 10M (2017)
Q. The Right to Information Act is a path-breaking legislation which signals the march from darkness of secrecy to dawn of transparency." What hurdles do the citizens face in obtaining information from the government ? Explain how the reluctance of the government to part with information under R.T.I. can be addressed 20M (2016)
Q. "National Green Tribunal is viewed by many critics as a hindrance to economic development." Evaluate the statement and give arguments in support of your answer. 10M (2016)
Q. "The growing prominence of NGOs in development areas is strongly related to the declining legitimacy of the State.” Explain. 10M (2016)
Q. “The basic ethical problem for an administrator is to determine how he/she values.” Comment with reference to corruption in administration. 20M (2013)
Q. ‘Corruption is more of an environmental than an administrative problem.’ Discuss. 12M (2012)
Q. (i) “One Lok Pal, howsoever strong it may be, cannot eliminate corruption in the politico-administrative system in India.” Comment. (ii) “Grievance redressal system is perhaps the weakest link in India’s civil services management.” Comment. 30M (2011)
Q. “The performance of Lok Ayuktas in various States has been uneven.” Comment with examples. 20M (2011)
Q. “Lok-Ayuktas are judicial institutions without adequate teeth”. Comment 60M (2006)
Q. “The Lokayuktas in States have not succeeded in tackling maladministration, while the Bill on Lokpal still faces stiff opposition on the floor of the Parliament.” Comment. 60M (2005) |
|
|
Disaster Management |
Q. The National Policy on Disaster Management envisages a paradigm shift from hitherto reactive post-disaster relief centric regime to more pro-active and enabling environment. Examine the responses of State Governments in this regards. 20M (2019)
Q. “Disaster preparedness and management has become an important component of district administration in India.” Discuss with suitable illustrations. 20M (2017)
Q. Explain how the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) provides a framework and direction to the government agencies for all phases of disaster management cycle. 20M (2016)
Q. “Disaster insurance is desirable but not an easy proposition to implement.” Illustrate with suitable examples. 30M (2011)
Q. (i) Identify the different conceptual categories of disasters. ii) Write a note on the new culture of disaster management. 30M (2011)
Q. It is argued that the Bhopal gas disaster and the response pattern to it reflect multiple vulnerabilities relating to systems of corporate social responsibility, governance at local, state and central levels, and legal safeguards and
Q. “India has failed to devise a long-term strategy for drought management.” 20M (2009)
Q. In India, there appears to be more disaster of management than management of disaster.’ Comment. 20M (2008) |
