The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) mains examination is a crucial step in the civil services recruitment process in India, and one of the optional subjects available to candidates is Public Administration. The previous year’s question papers for Public Administration optional provide valuable insights for aspiring civil servants. These papers serve as a comprehensive resource for candidates to understand the exam pattern, question types, and the depth of knowledge required for success. By studying previous year papers, candidates can gain a better understanding of the specific topics and areas that UPSC frequently tests. This information helps candidates in tailoring their preparation strategy, focusing on high-yield areas, and improving their time management skills during the mains examination.
Furthermore, analyzing previous year papers for Public Administration optional allows candidates to gauge the evolving nature of questions and anticipate potential trends in the examination. It is essential for aspirants to practice answering questions from these papers to enhance their problem-solving and writing skills. Additionally, the past year’s papers also help candidates in self-assessment and identifying their weak areas, enabling them to work on those areas to improve their overall performance in the UPSC mains examination. In conclusion, the UPSC mains Public Administration optional previous year papers are an indispensable resource for candidates seeking to crack the civil services examination, as they offer valuable guidance and a clear roadmap for success in this highly competitive arena.
Question Paper Specific Instructions
- Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions :
- There are EIGHT questions divided in two SECTIONS and printed both in HINDI and in ENGLISH.
- Candidate has to attempt FIVE questions in all.
- Questions no. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, THREE are to be attempted choosing at least ONE from each section.
- The number of marks carried by a question / part is indicated against it.
- Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one.
- Word limit in questions, wherever specified, should be adhered to.
- Illustrate your answers with suitable sketches, maps and diagrams. These shall be drawn in the space provided for answering the question itself.
- Attempts of questions shall be counted in chronological order. Unless struck off, attempt of a question shall be counted even if attempted partly. Any page or portion of the page left blank in the answer book must be clearly struck off.
Public Administration Optional Question Paper-1 (2019)
SECTION – A
1. Write short answers to the following in about 150 words each : 10×5=50 marks
a). “Public Administration is constantly being reinvented because it is contextual.” Elaborate.
b). “Bureau pathology denigrates competence in organization.” Explain.
c). “If there is ever to be a science of Public Administration it must derive from an understanding of man’s behavior”. Explain.
d). “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.”
e). “Delegated legislation has become a strategic tool in the hands of the executive despite its utility.” Comment.
2. a). “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.
b). With the entry of the concept of ‘good governance’ the discipline of Public Administration has shed its statistical character. Explain.
c). Has New Public Management failed in promoting a democratic polity? Analyze in the contexts of individuals as a citizen and individuals as a customer.
3. a). “Globalization has constructed the administrative state to save and serve corporate power structure.” Discuss how transnational corporations impact government and public administration in the contemporary era.
b). “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.
c). “The advent of the regulatory regimes indicates the demise of the arbitrator state.” Comment.
4. a). Contingency theory of organization is founded on the interplay of ‘external fit’ and ‘internal fit’. Discuss.
b). Mary Parker Follett traced the foundational value of business and enterprise on her way to understand the organism of governmental machinery. Comment.
c). “Media the Fourth estate is in chains.” Examine the statement in the context of governmental accountability.
SECTION – B
5. Answer the following:
a). Contractualism has became a favorite policy of the neoliberal forces, but now without its share of controversy. Argue.
b). The failure to discard its elitist character and west-centric orientation has led to the decline of Comparative Public Administration. Explain.
c). “Maximum social gain” in public policy making is an attractive goal which is rarely found in practices. Discuss.
d). A narrow view of information comes in the way of successful implementation of MIS in organization. Analyze.
e). Has e-governance led to debureaucratization and decentralization? Assess its impact on bureaucratic inertia.
6. a). “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.
b). A more effective system of performance appraisal should acknowledge the subjective elements in it and be less obsessed with the objective criteria. Elucidate.
c). Is William Niskanen’s “Budget Maximising Model” relevant today? Argue.
7. a). Performance measurement remains an emerging issue 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.
b). The imperatives of administrative ethics are necessarily an audile to “I was only obeying the orders” argument by public official. Explain.
c). Discuss the major areas of change in the Tax-Reforms of the post liberalisation era. How do you justify the importance of the direct Tax reforms in this context?
8. a). 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.
b). 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.
c). 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 reasons.
Public Administration Optional Question Paper-2 (2019)
SECTION – A
1. Write short answers to the following in about 150 words each : 10×5=50 marks
a). In the text of Artha shastra, ‘the state is neither a police State nor merely a tax gathering State’. Comment.
b). The economic reforms have significantly infringed the basic values and spirits of the Indian Constitution. Examine.
c). Macaulay’s ideas on Indian Civil Service Corresponded to the elite theory of bureaucracy, which continue to persist. Do you agree? Justify.
d). There has been an opinion that the ethos of Indian Judicial System continues to be colonial. Suggest measures for raising the level of judicial excellence for achieving speedy justice.
e). 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.
2. a). 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.
b). 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.
c). 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.
3. a). “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 Council of Ministers in the light of this statement.
b). 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.
c). 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. The government policy of large-scale privatization of the key sectors of economy may affect India’s economic health. Comment.
4. a). 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?
b). It is observed that the non-functioning of District Planning Committees is preventing the convergence of rural and urban planning needs. Do you agree? Justify.
c). The police-public interface is punctuated with distrust and fear. Suggest how the police can reform their image in the eyes of the public.
SECTION – B
5. Answer the following:
a). The evidence suggests 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.
b). “The RTI has started its journey, but is far from its destination.” In the view of the statement, examine the present status of the RTI movement.
c). The concept of new localism arrangement may defeat the very purpose of local self-governance. Do you agree? Justify.
d). Effective ‘Performance Management System’ needs to precede ‘taking deadwood out’ from bureaucracy. Comment.
e). All weather rural connectivity schemes to even unconnected rural habitations have the potential to transform the rural economy. Do you agree? Justify.
6. a). 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.
b). Minimal accountability being the dominant norm in the political system, the Lokpal can only be an ideal institution with limited effectiveness. Explain.
c). ‘Sevottam Scheme’ had great potential to reform service delivery, but opportunity is frittered away. Comment.
7. a). The National Policy on Disaster Management envisages a paradigm shift from hitherto reactive post-disaster relief centric regime to a more pro-active and enabling environment. Examine the responses of State Governments in this regard.
b). 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 an example.
c). Accountability of regulatory bodies would address the problem of over-regulators and help make them truly facilitators. Analyze the present status of regulators and suggest measures to induce accountability in the mechanism.
8. a). ‘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 far less than its predecessor. Analyze.
b). 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.
c). Performance grants devolved by Finance Commission of India have increased the financial accountability of the local bodies. Elaborate.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the significance of studying UPSC mains Public Administration optional previous year papers?
Answer: Studying previous year papers helps candidates understand the exam pattern, question types, and important topics. It provides insight into what UPSC typically asks in the Public Administration optional paper and aids in effective preparation.
Q: Where can I access UPSC mains Public Administration optional previous year papers?
Answer: UPSC’s official website often provides access to previous year question papers. Additionally, there are various online platforms, coaching institutes, and books that compile and provide these papers for aspirants.
Q: How can I effectively use previous year papers for Public Administration optional preparation?
Answer: Candidates can use previous year papers for practice and self-assessment. Start by solving questions to test your knowledge and writing skills. Analyze your performance, identify weak areas, and work on improving them. Additionally, use them for time management practice and to get a feel for the actual exam.
Q: Are there any noticeable trends or changes in the UPSC mains Public Administration optional papers over the years?
Answer: Yes, there have been changes and trends in the types of questions and topics covered in the Public Administration optional papers. Analyzing previous year papers can help candidates identify these trends and adapt their preparation accordingly.
Q: Can studying previous year papers alone guarantee success in the UPSC mains Public Administration optional paper?
Answer: While studying previous year papers is crucial for preparation, it should be part of a comprehensive strategy. Candidates should also focus on building a strong understanding of the subject, practice answer writing, and keep up with current affairs related to Public Administration to increase their chances of success in the exam.
In case you still have your doubts, contact us on 9811333901.
For UPSC Prelims Resources, Click here
For Daily Updates and Study Material:
Join our Telegram Channel – Edukemy for IAS
- 1. Learn through Videos – here
- 2. Be Exam Ready by Practicing Daily MCQs – here
- 3. Daily Newsletter – Get all your Current Affairs Covered – here
- 4. Mains Answer Writing Practice – here
