Public Administration

Public Administration PYQs

Every question UPSC has set in Public Administration since 2000, 1,208 in all. Open one to see how to tackle it, or write an answer and have it checked.

1,208 questions

202656 questions

Paper I10 marks

“There is an urgent need to incorporate the contribution of other disciplines into debates and analyses about governance, not the prevalence of disciplinary silos.” Comment.

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Paper I10 marks

The ideas of Frederick Taylor remain highly relevant in today’s business world, in both the public and private sectors, including the ‘gig economy’. Comment.

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Paper I10 marks

A transparent organisation keeps the staff in the loop. Describe.

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Paper I10 marks

Have governments under governance become more transparent and accountable? Elucidate.

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Paper I10 marks

“Dicey’s three principles of the ‘Rule of Law’ have been further developed to meet the immense needs of a democratic society.” Discuss.

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Paper I20 marks

Different paradigms of public administration deal with the questions of ‘How’ and ‘Why’, but do not negate the centrality of the discipline. Discuss.

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Paper I15 marks

Douglas McGregor’s ‘Professional Manager’ is a rational, emotive individual whose primary role is to work through the differences and build a managerial team. Explain how his idea of the ‘Professional Manager’ is distinct from Theory ‘Y’.

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Paper I15 marks

Individuals’ perception of fairness and equity at the workplace motivates them to give their best. How can fairness and equity be reinforced to improve productivity in an entity? Discuss.

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Paper I20 marks

Bureaucratic features have remained constant in organisations despite the development of different forms under NPM and Public Governance approaches. Give reasons for the persistence of these bureaucratic features.

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Paper I15 marks

There is no single best way to manage an organisation. Instead, it is about the optimal structure and strategic fit between the organisation’s internal sub-systems and its dynamic external environment. Elucidate.

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Paper I15 marks

The fine demarcation between judicial control and judicial overreach disappears when judicial prudence is replaced by activism. Critically examine.

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Paper I20 marks

Abraham Maslow propounded the theory of needs, which identified the basic needs that human beings have in order of their importance. McClelland believes that we all have three motivators, and individuals with different motivators exhibit distinct characteristics. Critically examine.

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Paper I15 marks

Examine the tension between the functional efficiency of delegated legislation and the risks it poses to accountability and the rule of law.

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Paper I15 marks

Hierarchical structures do not align with the modern business world. Discuss the different forms of structuring modern organisations.

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Paper I10 marks

The objective of policy sciences is to develop policy knowledge for better policy-making. Comment.

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Paper I10 marks

Administrative ethics is an abstract concept, and in practice, is an unresolved dilemma between ‘what is’ and ‘what ought to be’. Comment.

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Paper I10 marks

Is state-led development an artificial distortion of market forces? Analyse.

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Paper I10 marks

“No tax shall be levied or collected except by authority of law.” Analyse.

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Paper I10 marks

Work study and Work measurement are techniques for improving administrative efficiency. Comment.

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Paper I20 marks

“Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization (LPG) successfully resolved the structural crisis of the welfare state with emphasis on market efficiency, undermining the social equity goals essential to public service.” Explain.

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Paper I15 marks

Critically analyse the differences between Ferrel Heady’s focus on administrative structures and Fred Riggs’s ecological ‘Prismatic’ model. Which one of these frameworks provides a more effective tool for the study of developing nations? Examine.

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Paper I15 marks

New communication technology has not only enabled more robust public engagement with the government, but also serves as a new means of internal organizational teamwork. Discuss.

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Paper I20 marks

The advent of Comparative Public Administration not only widened the knowledge of Public Administration, but also contributed to developing its understanding in a cross-cultural and cross-national framework. Examine.

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Paper I15 marks

Rationality in policy-making is a challenge, and its absence is a predicament for the policy process. Examine.

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Paper I15 marks

Deficit budgeting as a tool for stimulating economic development emerged with government investment and initiative. Is deficit budgeting still relevant in the era of liberal ideology? Justify your answer.

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Paper I20 marks

Financial integrity, compliance with laws and performance standards, and efficient, economical and effective service delivery performance are mandatory for every government. Discuss the existing practices in ensuring public financial accountability and also give suggestions to improve it.

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Paper I15 marks

“Modernization of public services has become an unavoidable priority of governments worldwide.” Discuss the key global trends driving the modernization of public services in the light of the above statement.

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Paper I15 marks

PERT provides a sophisticated framework for managing temporal uncertainties in large-scale projects. Evaluate the strategic utility and inherent limitations of this technique in complex environments.

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Paper II10 marks

Learnings from Arthasastra could make governance effective even today. Explore the potential.

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Paper II10 marks

The reforms in public sector enterprises is not only enduring but also evolving. Explain.

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Paper II10 marks

The present model of strategic planning has roots in indicative planning. Comment.

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Paper II10 marks

Linkages between the district administration and local self governments have not evolved to the desired extent. Evaluate.

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Paper II10 marks

Constitutionalism in India paves the way for rule of law and social justice. Elaborate.

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Paper II20 marks

An important characteristic of the British Civil Service was its open refusal to be influenced by commercial and industrial interests of India in the name of neutrality. Explain.

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Paper II20 marks

The political culture in India shapes bureaucratic behaviour, professional integrity and civil service conduct. Explain with suitable examples.

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Paper II10 marks

Under the Indian Constitution fundamental rights are usually enforced only vertically, whereas Vishaka case represents the horizontal application. Comment.

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Paper II20 marks

Planning Commission planned for economic development and social justice, but NITI Aayog has been structured to realise growth potential across the sectors. Discuss.

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Paper II20 marks

Government of India has done Corporatisation of Ordnance Factory Boards. Discuss the rationale in the light of Disinvestment Policy of the government.

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Paper II10 marks

Competitive federalism in India while intended to have healthy competition among states has shown tendencies towards parochialism. Comment.

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Paper II20 marks

Doctrine of Pith and Substance, and the Doctrine of severability in the legislative relations between the Indian Union and states are supplementary in nature but distinct in application. Discuss.

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