UPSC CSE (Main) 2018 · Optional
Public Administration · Paper II · 2018
28 questions from UPSC's own paper, Indian Administration.
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
"A government next-door is the government that matters most for the people." Discuss the statement with special reference to the values of local government.
11. Rural Development Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q1(b) · 10 marks · 150 words
"The philosophy of the Westminster model is at odds with the political culture of India." Critically analyse.
2. Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q1(c) · 10 marks · 150 words
"The attached offices and subordinate offices are integral to the functioning of the Cabinet Secretariat." Discuss.
4. Union Government and Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q1(d) · 10 marks · 150 words
It is apprehended that lateral entry will lead to politicisation of bureaucracy. Do you agree? Justify.
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Q1(e) · 10 marks · 150 words
"Contracting out tasks without effective accountability mechanisms can be counter-productive for effective service delivery." Comment.
14. Significant issues in Indian Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q2(a) · 20 marks
"The market-driven profitability concerns have shaken the foundation of the public sector undertakings." Do you agree? Give reasons.
3. Public Sector Undertakings Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q2(b) · 20 marks
It is argued that the NITI Aayog has broken the edifice of planning into fragments. Comment.
5. Plans and Priorities Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q2(c) · 10 marks
"Autonomy of civil society is crucial for responsive and effective administration." Examine the statement.
14. Significant issues in Indian Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q3(a) · 20 marks
Critically examine the criteria adopted by the 15th Finance Commission for allocation of resources to States. What have been the major issues of contention since the 10th Finance Commission?
6. State Government and Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q3(b) · 20 marks
"In the coalition era with elusive majority of a single party in the State Legislature, the role of the Governor becomes even more challenging." Discuss.
6. State Government and Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q3(c) · 10 marks
"Development management advocates self-sustaining customer-friendly institutions at the district level." Comment.
7. District Administration since Independence Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q4(a) · 20 marks
"Climate change issues pose new challenges for district administration to be proactive." Elaborate.
7. District Administration since Independence Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q4(b) · 20 marks
"Judicial overreach to a large extent is a consequence of ineffective executive." Examine.
4. Union Government and Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q4(c) · 10 marks
"In the transition from the State-led economy to the market economy, India should rely more on 'indicative planning'." Do you agree? Explain your position.
5. Plans and Priorities Write this answer — get it evaluated →
- Section B
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Q5(a) · 10 marks · 150 words
"The 'enablers' and 'facilitators' are yet to replace the 'inspectors' and 'controllers' in the civil service in India." Do you agree? Justify.
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Q5(b) · 10 marks · 150 words
"Financial inclusion needs legal backing but it also requires increasing awareness for it to become a reality." Discuss.
9. Financial Management Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q5(c) · 10 marks · 150 words
"Gender budgeting requires rethinking beyond allocations to become a powerful tool of gender mainstreaming." Discuss.
9. Financial Management Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q5(d) · 10 marks · 150 words
"Social audit has lent a critical edge to the implementation of programmes such as MGNREGA." Comment.
11. Rural Development Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q5(e) · 10 marks · 150 words
"The AFSPA debate reveals that the Indian paramilitary forces are caught between the imperatives of national security and protection of human rights." Discuss.
13. Law and Order Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q6(a) · 20 marks
"Competency mapping is important for effective allocation of responsibilities to administrators." Do you think that a generalist administrator can handle all issues as effectively as a specialist? Discuss.
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Q6(b) · 20 marks
"The recommendations of various commissions on administrative reforms have not made a radical departure from the Paul Appleby Report." Do you agree? Give reasons.
10. Administrative Reforms since Independence Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q6(c) · 10 marks
"Performance management requires identification of indicators and measures to ensure that goals are achieved efficiently." Discuss.
10. Administrative Reforms since Independence Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q7(a) · 20 marks
"Rural development programmes have failed to effectively address the problems of small and marginal farmers." Analyse and give suggestions.
11. Rural Development Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q7(b) · 20 marks
"In the Network Era the TRAI has the challenging task of protecting the Net Neutrality from digital aggression." Comment.
14. Significant issues in Indian Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q7(c) · 10 marks
"Neighbourhood management provides an appropriate glocal strategy of dealing with social exclusion in the urban development scenario." Comment.
12. Urban Local Government Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q8(a) · 20 marks
"Effective public grievance redressal requires administrative commitment. But process reengineering can help prevent some grievances." Discuss.
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Q8(b) · 20 marks
"Institutional change is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for reducing criminalisation of politics." Examine.
13. Law and Order Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q8(c) · 10 marks
"The disempowerment and depoliticisation of urban local government has happened in multiple ways." Comment.
12. Urban Local Government Write this answer — get it evaluated →