Public administration is a crucial subject in the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) examination, especially for aspirants opting for it as their optional subject. As the UPSC Mains demands in-depth knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of public administration, it’s vital to be well-prepared. In this blog series, we will delve into the specific topic of “Public Policy” and explore the past decade’s questions from 2013 to 2023. These questions not only provide insight into the evolving trends and focus areas of the UPSC, but they also serve as valuable resources for aspirants aiming to ace their examinations.
Public Policy, as a subject, plays a pivotal role in shaping the functioning of governments and the overall welfare of a society. In this blog series, we will analyze the questions posed in the UPSC Mains examinations, focusing on the period from 2013 to 2023. This comprehensive review will help aspirants gain a deeper understanding of the subject’s relevance and evolving perspectives. By delving into these past questions, you’ll be better equipped to formulate well-informed responses and develop a holistic approach to tackling public policy-related topics in the UPSC Mains, ultimately enhancing your chances of success in the highly competitive examination. So, let’s dive into the intricate world of public policy within the context of UPSC examinations and unravel the key trends, insights, and strategies for mastering this vital aspect of public administration.
Public Policy Public Administration – Previous Year Questions (UPSC CSE Mains Psychology Optional)
Models of policy – making & their critique
1. ‘Lindblom regarded rational decision-making as an unattainable goal.’ In the light of the statement, suggest measures to avoid policy failures. (2022)
2. Policy problems are increasingly tending towards being wicked. Discuss the capacity and preparedness of the State to tackle such problems. (2021)
3. Have political realities thwarted the move towards evidence based policy making ? Critically examine. (2020)
4. “Globalization is impacting the context of national policy making. The national policy agenda is becoming international.” Explain. (2020)
5. “Maximum social gain” in public policy making is an attractive goal which is rarely found in practice. Discuss. (2019)
6. “A public policy without the active involvement of people in its formulation, implementation and evaluation is only a façade.” How can this anomaly be corrected? (2018)
7. “In Public Making, ‘Rationalism’ is the opposite of ‘Incrementalism’.” Examine. (2016)
8. “In the appreciative systems of policy makers, goals are subsidiary to norms and values.” (Vickers). Explain. (2015)
9. “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 analyse Dror’s contribution. (2015)
10. “Policies determine politics as governments constrain.” Attempt a critique of this statement. (2014)
11. According to Y.Dror, “The Science of Muddling through is essentially a reinforcement of pro inertia and anti-innovation ideas in policy-making.” Comment. (2014)
12. “The policy process was not structured in the way required by bureaucratic planning. “Arguably, incrementalism now stands most in contrast to neo-liberal nationality that impose markets against both gradual change and democratic liberalism.” Analyse these two statements. (2013)
13. ‘Policy judgements comprise reality judgements, value judgements and instrumental judgements’ (Geoffrey Vickers). Elucidate. (2012)
14. Would you agree with Bachrach and Baratz that along with decisions, non-decisions are also part of policy? Give reasons for your answer. (2012)
15. Critically examine the following statements in the field of Policy Sciences:
(i)The incrementalist paradigm posits a conservative tendency in public policy making.
(ii)Dror’s Optimal Model is a fusion of the economically rational model with the extra-rational model. (2011)
16. ‘Policy is being made as it is being administered and administered as it is being made.’ Comment. (2011)
17. “Yehezkel Dror’s normative models of policy making tend to be academic in perspective with poor operational utility.” Comment. (2009)
18. Policy is a decision driven model of research use. Explain. (2004)
19. Public Policy is not an independent variable and human history shows little evidence of systematic learning from policy experience. Discuss. (2004)
20. “Public policy is what politics is about.” – Substantiate. (2002)
21. Elucidate the political process of policy formulation. Bring out its distinguishing features in developing countries. (1999)
22. “Policy- making does not and once a decision is made. The implementation of the decision can have just as great an impact on public policy as the decision itself.” Discuss. (1997)
23. Sketch and overview of the State of Public Policy Analysis as it is most likely to interest those who have a public administration perspective. (1996)
24. ‘Policy- making is a series of continuing dynamic processes which are plural and composite.’ Explain. (1992)
25. ‘The emerging discipline of policy science aims to work out solutions of problems in policy making. Comment. (1990)
26. “Incrementalism in administration is not, in principle, a slow- moving tactic of conservatism, instead, it is a fast moving sequence of small changes that after the status que” Examine, in the light of this statement, the desire of development administration, for incrementalist policy-making. (1988)
Processes of conceptualisation
1. Groups work to elevate issues on the policy agenda or seek to deny other groups the opportunity to place issues. In this background, discuss the role of interest groups in agenda setting in the developing countries. (2021)
2. “… 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. (2009)
3. “The activities of public administrators at various stages of the policy process illustrate the difficulty of divorcing politics from administration.” Comment. (1993)
4. ‘There has been an increasing emphasis on the need for policy formulation and policy analysis in order to ensure improved performance and to avoid ad hoc or fragmented approach to administration, particularly in the context of active role of the state in economic, social, defence and scientific areas.’ Discuss. (1991)
5. ‘Every public policy is a government decision aimed at solving a problem of its planning and implementation. Comment. (1991)
6. “Policy process must take account of the political complexion of an authority, demography and the historical pattern of service.” Comment. (1989)
Planning, Implementation
1. Failure of Public policies has often been attributed to problems of implementation, while implementors question the policy design. Discuss the contestation. (2022)
2. The successful attainment of SDGs objectives largely depends upon the wisdom, experience and farsightedness of the actors involved and their willingness to cooperate in the implementation process. Analyze. (2021)
3. “Of all the processes involved in public policy, implementation is of greatest importance.” Examine the impediments in policy implementation. (2017)
4. “Policy analysis is incomplete without taking into account policy delivery.” Argie. (2015)
5. “The term policy implementation is, in some respects preferable to the label public administration.” Argue. (2015)
6. Suppose the Government of India is thinking of constructing a dam in a mountain valley girded by forests and inhabited by ethnic communities. What rational techniques of policy analysis should it resort to for coping with likely uncertainties and unforeseen contingencies. (2013)
7. ‘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 Wildavsky). Comment. (2012)
8. “Public administration can be portrayed as a wheel of relationships focused on the formulation and implementation of public policy.” Explain. (2010)
9. “Implementation a public policy is a process of discovering what works and what does not.” Examine. (2007)
10. “Nothing comes across more strongly than the great naivete about policy implementation.” Discuss. (2006)
11. Give an assessment of the processes of policy formulation and discuss the problems of policy implementation. (2005)
12. Comment on the role of public administration in policy making and its implementation. What are the other factors influencing the policy process? (2003)
13. “Policy implementation in Less Developed Countries needs to be effective.” Comment. (1998)
14. Explain how factors such as communications, resources, self interests and bureaucratic structures affect implementation of public policies. (1995)
15. Elucidate the concept of policy implementation. How does implementation assessment focus on the operation of a public policy? (1994)
16. “The basic issue of administrative accountability relates to that part of Public Administration which has something concrete to contribute towards not only policy execution but also policy formulation and policy adjudication.” Comment. (1994)
17. “One way of analysing implementation problems is to begin by thinking about what “perfect administration” would be like, comparable to the way in which economists employ the model of perfect competition.” Discuss. (1993)
18. Define Public Policy. How does its formulation and implementation involve participation byadministrators, voluntary agencies and pressure groups in a democracy? (1987)
Monitoring
1. “Collaboration and its cognates for public service delivery need to be viewed from the governance lenses.” Comment. (2020)
2. “Laxity in monitoring and evaluation can render even the best policies infructuous.” Discuss. (2008)
Evaluation and review and their limitations
1. Policy evaluation contributes fundamentally to sound public governance. Discuss. (2022)
2. Has policy analysis become a major source of legitimation of status quo in political and social order? Discuss. (2020)
3. “Public interest is still inadequate as a ground concept to evaluate public policy.” Discuss. (2013)
4. “Cost-benefit analysis a very unsatisfactory view of evaluating public policy.” Comment. (2010)
5. Outline the traditional and Cost-Benefit approaches to policy-evaluation. (1988)
State theories and public policy formulation
1. “The output studies approach to public policy analyses ovestresses the rational techniques and allocative dimension of public policy.” Analyse the statement. (2014)
2. “All policy-making is decision-making, but all decision-making is not policy-making.” Elaborate. How does a policy emanate and what course does policy-making in government follow? (1998)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is public policy?
A: Public policy refers to a set of government actions, decisions, and programs designed to address specific issues or problems within a society. It encompasses the rules, regulations, and initiatives that governments create and implement to achieve various goals, such as improving public welfare, enhancing economic development, or addressing environmental concerns.
Q: How is public policy formulated and implemented?
A: Public policy formulation typically involves a series of steps, including problem identification, agenda setting, policy analysis, decision-making, implementation, and evaluation. It often requires collaboration among government agencies, stakeholders, and the public. Successful policy implementation hinges on effective coordination, resource allocation, and monitoring to ensure desired outcomes are achieved.
Q: What role do stakeholders play in public policy?
A: Stakeholders, which can include citizens, interest groups, businesses, and nonprofits, play a significant role in shaping public policy. They provide input, influence decision-makers, and hold governments accountable. Public policy is often more effective when it considers diverse perspectives and engages with stakeholders to address their concerns.
Q: How do public policies impact society?
A: Public policies have a profound impact on society, influencing areas such as healthcare, education, the economy, the environment, and more. They can bring about positive changes by addressing societal problems and enhancing the quality of life. However, policies may also have unintended consequences, so they require continuous evaluation and adaptation.
Q: What is the difference between public policy and public administration?
A: Public policy and public administration are related but distinct fields. Public policy focuses on the formulation and analysis of policies, while public administration deals with the implementation and management of these policies within government agencies. Public policy shapes the “what” and “why” of government actions, while public administration deals with the “how” and “who” of executing those actions. Both fields are essential for effective governance.
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