Are you aspiring to join the prestigious civil services in India and considering public administration as your optional subject for the UPSC mains examination? If so, you’ve made a wise choice. Public administration is a subject that not only provides a comprehensive understanding of the functioning of government and public institutions but also offers a unique perspective on the development dynamics that shape our society. In this blog series, we’ll dive deep into the previous year questions from the UPSC mains exams, focusing on the “Development Dynamics” section. By exploring questions from 2013 to 2023, we’ll help you grasp the nuances of this crucial topic and equip you with the knowledge and insights needed to excel in your UPSC mains examination.
The “Development Dynamics” section in the UPSC mains exam is essential for candidates opting for public administration as their optional subject. It covers a wide array of topics, ranging from economic and social development to governance and public policies. Through this series, we aim to not only dissect past questions but also provide you with valuable insights and strategies to tackle them effectively. By the end of this journey, you’ll have a clear understanding of the evolving landscape of development dynamics in India and be better prepared to ace your UPSC mains examination. So, let’s embark on this educational voyage, where we unravel the intricacies of public administration and help you make your dreams of becoming a civil servant a reality.
Development Dynamics – Public Administration – Previous Year Questions (UPSC CSE Mains Psychology Optional)
Concept of Development
1. Development Administration ’embraces the array of new functions assumed by the developing countries’. Explain. (2022)
2. “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. (2019)
3. “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? (2018)
4. “Development administration and administration development have a chicken and egg kind of relationship” – (Riggs). Elaborate. (2017)
5. “The term Development Administration can be used only in a broad sense to mark the variety of approaches and point of view.” Discuss. (2014)
6. 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. (2011)
7. “The concept of development is multi-dimensional and ever-expanding.” Explain. (2010)
8. “People’s participation is crucial to development administration.” Comment. (2007)
9. Do you agree with the view that development administration has in recent years lost its impetus without making any significant intellectual breakthrough? Discuss. (2006)
10. “Development Administration is starved for theories which will guide the pooling of empirical knowledge, orient new research, and recommend administrative policy.” Explain. (2005)
11. “Development Administration has two important aspects viz. ‘the administration of development’
and ‘the development of administration’.” Explain. (2003)
12. “Development administration is concerned with maximising innovation for development.” – Discuss. (2002)
13. What are the objectives of Development Administration? Also examine the demands D.A. places on the structure and practices of administration. (1998)
14. Development administration is basically an action-oriented, goal-oriented administrative system.” Comment. (1997)
15. Outline the features of development administration and explain the reasons for its marginal performance. (1995)
16. ‘Development administration calls for some revolutionary changes in the attitudes, behaviour, orientation and out-look of public services at all levels of administration.’ Comment. (1991)
17. Development administration is “an action-oriented goal oriented administrative system.” (Edward Weidner). Comment. (1989)
18. Examine the positive and negative roles of ideology and culture in administrative development. (1988)
Washington Consensus; Development
1. The results of Washington Consensus were far from optimal for transitional economies. In this background, discuss the change of direction towards post-Washington Consensus. (2022)
Changing profile of development administration
1. Contractualism has become a favourite policy of the neoliberal forces, but not without its share of controversy. Argue. (2019)
2. How does ethnocentrism impact development administration in achieving sustainable goals? Argue with examples. (2018)
3. “Lenin’s concept of Socialist management refers to directing the organisational development of Socialist society.” Explain. (2015)
4. Indicate the milestones in the story of development from the Nehruvian Model to the Liberalisation Model. (2011)
5. “The market has become the new icon of developmentalism.” Comment. (2010)
6. “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, what role of bureaucracy can be envisaged? (2008)
7. Describe the changing profile of Development Administration and identify its efforts towards people’s empowerment. (2004)
Anti-development thesis
1. “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 examine the anti-development thesis. (2016)
2. ‘The anti-development thesis … reduces development to an idea without history, impervious to change’, but for all its faults, development can be empowering.’ Discuss. (2012)
3. An attack has been made on the “top down” character of the an alternative ‘bottom up’ ‘approach has been developed.’ Comment. (1996)
Bureaucracy and Development
1. In order to be development-oriented, bureaucracies need to be innovative, flexible, citizen-centric and result-orented, 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. (2018)
2. “Bureaucracy has inbuilt limitations to act as the prime catalyst to multi-faceted development in a democratic country.” Analyse this statement with appropriate examples. (2017)
3. “Bureau-Shaping Model has been developed as a response to the Budget-Maximizing Model.” Comment. (2016)
4. “Adaptive, problem-solving, temporary systems of diverse specialists, linked together by coordinating executives in an organic flux-this is original form that will gradually replace bureaucracy”. Discuss, in the light of this statement, the ‘end of bureaucracy’ thesis and its strengths and limitations. (2014)
5. “Many Asian and African countries have inherited the colonial idea of civil service as a privileged elite. Hence, the social status of the civil services is an important aspect of the bureaucracy’s unsuitability for change.” Comment. (2014)
6. “The principle of bureaucratic neutrality is more superfluous and redundant in the context of developing countries.” Comment. (1999)
Strong state versus the market debate, Impact of liberalisation on administration in developing countries
1. It is widely agreed that the government ought to provide ‘the goods that market fails to provide or does not provide efficiently. Argue. (2021)
2. A striking feature of economic development is an apparent symbiotic evolution of strong States and strong market economies. Analyze. (2021)
3. “Liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation have transformed the nature of development administration.” Discuss. (2017)
4. “The problems is to achieve the right balance between a competitive market economy and an effective State: markets where possible; the State where necessary.” Justify your answer. (2016)
Women and development-the self-help group movement
1. Gender equality and women’s rights have laid down down a strong foundation of development. Elaborate. (2021)
2. Affirmative action in socio-economic development has not altogether eliminated discrimination. Discuss it in the context of women empowerment. (2020)
3. 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. (2019)
4. “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? (2018)
5. “Self-Help Groups are considered as one of the most significant tools to adopt participatory approach for economic empowerment of women.” Comment. (2016)
6. Show in what way the Gender and Development approach differs from the Woman and Development approach. (2015)
7. “Self-help groups have not only empowered women, but have also brought about attitudinal change among all stakeholders towards women development.” Discuss. (2014)
8. “In organizational analysis, there is always gender around.” (Gouldner). Argue. (2013)
9. 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? (2012)
10. Consider the statements below:
(a) Self-Help Groups (SHGs) enable women to realise their full potential in some spheres of life.
(b) Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are providing avenues of political mobilisation. Examine the
implications of these two statements and assess the potential of SHGs for development. (2009)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is Development Dynamics in public administration?
A: Development Dynamics in public administration refers to the ever-evolving process of economic, social, and political changes within a society. It involves analyzing the factors and forces that shape a nation’s development, including policies, governance, and socio-economic challenges.
Q: Why is understanding Development Dynamics important for UPSC aspirants?
A: Understanding Development Dynamics is crucial for UPSC aspirants because it equips them with the knowledge to assess the complex issues related to development in India. It enables them to formulate effective policies and strategies to address the nation’s socio-economic challenges and foster inclusive growth.
Q: What are the key components of Development Dynamics in India?
A: Development Dynamics in India comprises economic growth, poverty alleviation, healthcare, education, governance, environmental sustainability, and more. It’s a multidimensional approach that encompasses various aspects of societal progress.
Q: How can I stay updated on the latest trends in Development Dynamics?
A: To stay informed about the latest trends, read academic journals, government reports, and research papers. Additionally, following reputable news sources and participating in discussions on public policy and development issues can help you stay up to date.
Q: How can I effectively answer questions related to Development Dynamics in the UPSC mains examination?
A: To answer questions on Development Dynamics, focus on understanding the key concepts, policies, and their impact. Use real-world examples and statistics to support your arguments. Make sure your answers are well-structured, concise, and address the specific points asked in the question. Practice writing essays and answers to past questions to improve your exam performance.
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