UPSC CSE (Main) 2018 · Optional
Public Administration · Paper I · 2018
28 questions from UPSC's own paper, Administrative Theory.
UPSC's question paper: PDF ↗ (UPSC's file, as hosted by civilserviceindia.com)
- Section A
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Q1(a) · 10 marks · 150 words
"The scope of the discipline of Public Administration is determined by what an administrative system does." Does it mean that the scope of this discipline is boundaryless? Explain.
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Q1(b) · 10 marks · 150 words
"The concepts of rationality and efficiency are intertwined in the bureaucratic analysis of Max Weber." Comment.
2. Administrative Thought Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q1(c) · 10 marks · 150 words
"New Public Service approach is an improvement over its predecessor, New Public Management." Discuss.
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Q1(d) · 10 marks · 150 words
"A leader is a people's developer" (Napoleon). Which aspects of subordinates' development can be positively influenced by a leader? Discuss.
3. Administrative Behaviour Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q1(e) · 10 marks · 150 words
"Herbert Simon's book Administrative Behavior presents a synthesis of the classical and behavioural approaches to the study of Public Administration." Explain.
2. Administrative Thought Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q2(a) · 20 marks
Dwight Waldo in his book, The Administrative State emphatically mentions that the roots of administrative theory lie in political theory. Critically examine Waldo's contention.
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Q2(b) · 15 marks
"The Phenomenological Approach advocated by the New Public Administration has obstructed the path of theory building in Public Administration." Comment.
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Q2(c) · 15 marks
Discuss the essential characteristics of public sector-centred and market-centred perspectives in Public Private Partnerships and also compare the two.
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Q3(a) · 20 marks
"Communication represents the 'Nerves of Government'" (Karl Deutsch). How can the communication system in the government be made more effective, responsive and motivational?
3. Administrative Behaviour Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q3(b) · 15 marks
"Political and administrative systems have reciprocal relationship." Discuss.
7. Comparative Public Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q3(c) · 15 marks
"An effective Management Information System (MIS) is the key to successful headquarter-field relationships." Comment.
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Q4(a) · 20 marks
"Form of an organisation influences the success of a public enterprise, but the choice of a form has always remained problematic." Discuss the statement in the context of the comparative merits and limitations of departments, corporations, companies and boards. Give illustrations.
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Q4(b) · 15 marks
"Chester Barnard's model of 'Contribution-Satisfaction Equilibrium' is still considered a logical model of organisational motivation." Do you agree? Give arguments.
2. Administrative Thought Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q4(c) · 15 marks
"The political approach to Public Administration stresses on the values of representativeness, political responsiveness and accountability through elected officials to the citizenry" (David H. Rosenbloom). Comment.
- Section B
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Q5(a) · 10 marks · 150 words
"The Journey of Administrative Law has moved much beyond A. V. Dicey." Comment.
6. Administrative Law Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q5(b) · 10 marks · 150 words
Edward Gibbon, the author of Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire remarked: "Corruption, the most infallible symptom of Constitutional liberty." Critically examine this statement.
5. Accountability and Control Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q5(c) · 10 marks · 150 words
To what extent has e-governance made the administrative system more citizen-oriented? Can it (e-governance) be made more participative?
11. Techniques of Administrative Improvement Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q5(d) · 10 marks · 150 words
"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?
8. Development Dynamics Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q5(e) · 10 marks · 150 words
"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?
8. Development Dynamics Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q6(a) · 20 marks
In order to be development-oriented, bureaucracies need to be innovative, flexible, citizen-centric and result-oriented, 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.
8. Development Dynamics Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q6(b) · 15 marks
"Administrative values have no value unless they are valued by all stakeholders of the governance system." Comment.
9. Personnel Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q6(c) · 15 marks
"Lateral entry is an antidote to the complacency in civil service." Discuss.
9. Personnel Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q7(a) · 20 marks
How does ethnocentrism impact development administration in achieving sustainable goals? Argue with examples.
8. Development Dynamics Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q7(b) · 15 marks
"Monetary policy of a country can help or hinder its development process." Discuss.
12. Financial Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q7(c) · 15 marks
"Sound Performance Auditing is impossible without systematic Performance or Outcome Budgeting." Explain the relationship between the two.
12. Financial Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q8(a) · 20 marks
"Administrative systems across the world can be understood only in their respective historical and social contexts." Explain the statement giving examples.
7. Comparative Public Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q8(b) · 15 marks
Currently, administrative training focusses more on improving efficiency than on transforming the attitudes and behaviour of civil servants. What type of training will you suggest to fill this gap? Elaborate.
9. Personnel Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q8(c) · 15 marks
"A public policy without the active involvement of people in its formulation, implementation and evaluation is only a facade." How can this anomaly be corrected?