UPSC CIVIL SERVICES MAINS EXAM 2017: Public Administration Question Paper

 Paper-I

Section A

Q1) Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

a) Even after 130 years of its publication, Woodrow Wilson’s essay “The Study of Administration” continues to  have great relevance even today.” Comment (10 marks)

b) “What is distinctive about the Classic al and Human Relations Schools of thought administration is their complementarity  to each other “. Analyse(10 marks)

c)“Conflict is the appearance of differences –the difference of opinion s and of interest”. (Mary Parker Follet). Comment(10 marks)

d) “Leaders do the right things; managers do them rightfully” –(Warren Bennis) . Is this distinction by him valid ? Explain(10 marks)

e) “Administrative Law is recognized by its substance rather than its form .” Discuss(10 marks)

Q2)  (a) New Public Management has been branded  by certain  scholars as ‘Neo-Taylorism’ . Is it a justified comparison? What factors have led to the decline of NPM as soon after its birth?(20 marks)

(b) “Abraham Maslow’s ‘ Hierarchy of Needs’ and  Frederick Herzberg’s  “Two Factor Theory”  have commonalities in the analysis  of human motivation .” Comment (15 marks)

c) Civil Society supplement s and complements the State. However, its capacity and role depend upon the will of the State. Comment (15 marks)

Q3) a)The Participative Management  School of Argyris  and Likert advocates  democracy within the administrative system. Will this approach  be equally  useful to developing countries with evolving  democracies?(20 marks)

b) “Executive position imply a complex morality and require a high capacity of responsibility” – (Chester Bernand). Comment (15 Marks)

c) When the media is controlled by vested interest s, how can it control the vested interests in the government? How can the media become more responsible and impartial?(15 marks)

Q4)a) “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.(15 marks)

b)”Systems Theory”  in essence  is not a theory , but an approach to the study of administrative phenomena .” Comment (15 marks)

c) The principle of delegated legislation is, I think right, but I was emphasise that  it is well for Parliament to keep a watchful and even zealous eye on it at all stages “- (Herbert Morrison ) Analyze. (15 marks)

SECTION B:

Q1) Answer the following questions in about 150  words each:

a) “Budgeting is apolitical process” – (Aaron Wildavsky) 10 marks

b) “Development Administration and Administrative Development have a chicken and egg kind of relationship”.-(Riggs) . Elaborate (10 marks)

c) “Digitalization provides great impetus to E-governance .” Discuss (10 marks

d) “360 degree performance appraisal system is a rational idea, but it involves complex and inauthentic procedures”. How can it be made foolproof?(10 marks

e) “A large public debt forces the adoption of tax and spending policies that result into higher taxes and reduced services.” Analyze (10 marks)

Q6(a) “Liberalization, Privatization and   Globalization  have transformed  the nature of development administration .” Discuss (20 marks)

b)” Lateral entry of competent experts into the government will promote freshness and innovation, but it can create problems of accountability.” (15 marks)

c) “There can be no performance auditing without performance budgeting “.( 15 marks)

Q7(a) “The Riggsian  models of Fusion –Prismatic-Diffracted Societies and their administrative systems have been inspired by Max Weber’s typology of Traditional Charismatic  Legal-Rational Authorities .” Analyze( 20 marks)

(b) “Bureaucracy has inbuilt limitations to act as the prime catalyst to  multi-faceted development in a democratic country”. Analyze this statement with appropriate examples ( 15 marks)

c) Can be say that statutory audit and social audit are two sides of the same coin? Or, are they separate coins with varying values?(15 marks)

Q8( a) “Various components of Human Resource Management a re inter-related .” Discuss (20)

b) “Administrative ethics includes the code of conduct of civil servants, but goes beyond it as well.” Discuss (15)

c) “Off all the processes involved in public policy, implementation is of greatest importance.”Examine the impediments in policy implementation (15)

Paper II

SECTION A

Q1) Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

a) “Constitutionalism is the foundation of the administrative edifice e in India.” Discuss (10 marks, 150 words)

b) “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.(10 marks, 150 words

c) “Effectiveness of local-self government institutions is hampered due to the lack of capacity building of the elected representative s.” Elaborate (10 marks, 150 words)

d) “Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in India face tough competition from the private enterprises and Multi-National Corporations (MNCs) . “ Explain(10 marks, 150 words)

e) Do you agree that “All India Judicial Service (AIJS) would contribute to timely delivery of justice to the citizens? Argue your case(10)

Q2) a) “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 (20 marks)

b) “The idea of lateral entry into the Civil Services would energies Indian administration.” What are its possible advantages and limitations?(20)

c) “Pro-Active Governance and Timely implementation (PRAGATI) is an innovative project of the Union Government.” Discuss its features and modalities (10)

Q3)a) “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 (20)

b) “Indianisation of Public Services is a slow but steady process.” Explain (20)

c)” Digitalization of land records is a necessary but not sufficient precondition for ensuring transparent district administration.” Explain (10)

Q4( a) “ Bureaucracy has to make a balance the need for environmental sustainability and developmental imperatives .” Discuss (20)

b) “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. (20)

c)’District Planning  Committee  (DPC)  has been the weakest structure in the local self-government mechanism in India .” Analyze with examples (10)

Section B

Q5) Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

a) “The institution of Gram Sabha has very little connection with the   Gandhian spirit of direct democracy.” Critically examine (10)

b) “There is a need for greater inclusion of technocrats in burearocracy to ensure effective governance in India.” Do you agree” Elucidate (10)

c) “Civil servants should avoid airing grievances in the media.” In the context , discuss the grievance redressal mechanisms available to the Civil Servants in India.(10)

d)Do you think k that Public Service Guarantee Act s passed by various State Governments are an extension to the Citizen Charter? Give reasons (10).

Q6) a) “The Prime Ministers awards for Excellence in Public Administration encourage good governance initiatives. “ Discuss some such initiatives by the Civil Servants in this context.(20)

b) “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 (20)

c) “The Right to Information (RTI) has started its journey but is far from its destination.” Comment (10).

Q7(a) “Disaster preparedness and management has become  an important component of district administration  in India.” Discuss with suitable illustrations (20)

b) 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 (20)

c)”The image of Indian Police can be improved if its structure and orientations are transformed radically.” Do you agree? Elaborate (10)

Q8) a) Discuss, with sustainable examples, the emerging challenges faced by the Regulatory Commission s as to the arbitrary agents between the State and the market forces (20).

b) “The ‘policy of non-action’ regarding the institutional mechanisms and legal provisions to eradicate corruption is a feature of Indian Administration.” Critically examine (20)

c) “The Second Administrative Reform Commission (ARC) makes a strong case for the principle of subsidiary .”Elaborate (10)