UPSC CSE (Main) 2026 · Optional
Public Administration · Paper I · 2026
28 questions from UPSC's own paper, Administrative Theory.
Transcribed from UPSC's printed question paper (the paper code is on each page).
- Section A
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Q1(a) · 10 marks · 150 words
"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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Q1(b) · 10 marks · 150 words
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.
2. Administrative Thought Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q1(c) · 10 marks · 150 words
A transparent organisation keeps the staff in the loop. Describe.
3. Administrative Behaviour Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q1(d) · 10 marks · 150 words
Have governments under governance become more transparent and accountable? Elucidate.
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Q1(e) · 10 marks · 150 words
"Dicey's three principles of the 'Rule of Law' have been further developed to meet the immense needs of a democratic society." Discuss.
6. Administrative Law Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q2(a) · 20 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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Q2(b) · 15 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'.
2. Administrative Thought Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q2(c) · 15 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.
3. Administrative Behaviour Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q3(a) · 20 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.
2. Administrative Thought Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q3(b) · 15 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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Q3(c) · 15 marks
The fine demarcation between judicial control and judicial overreach disappears when judicial prudence is replaced by activism. Critically examine.
5. Accountability and Control Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q4(a) · 20 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.
3. Administrative Behaviour Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q4(b) · 15 marks
Examine the tension between the functional efficiency of delegated legislation and the risks it poses to accountability and the rule of law.
6. Administrative Law Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q4(c) · 15 marks
Hierarchical structures do not align with the modern business world. Discuss the different forms of structuring modern organisations.
- Section B
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Q5(a) · 10 marks · 150 words
The objective of policy sciences is to develop policy knowledge for better policy-making. Comment.
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Q5(b) · 10 marks · 150 words
Administrative ethics is an abstract concept, and in practice, is an unresolved dilemma between 'what is' and 'what ought to be'. Comment.
9. Personnel Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q5(c) · 10 marks · 150 words
Is state-led development an artificial distortion of market forces? Analyse.
8. Development Dynamics Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q5(d) · 10 marks · 150 words
"No tax shall be levied or collected except by authority of law." Analyse.
12. Financial Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q5(e) · 10 marks · 150 words
Work study and Work measurement are techniques for improving administrative efficiency. Comment.
11. Techniques of Administrative Improvement Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q6(a) · 20 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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Q6(b) · 15 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.
7. Comparative Public Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q6(c) · 15 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.
11. Techniques of Administrative Improvement Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q7(a) · 20 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.
7. Comparative Public Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q7(b) · 15 marks
Rationality in policy-making is a challenge, and its absence is a predicament for the policy process. Examine.
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Q7(c) · 15 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.
12. Financial Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q8(a) · 20 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.
12. Financial Administration Write this answer — get it evaluated →
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Q8(b) · 15 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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Q8(c) · 15 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.
11. Techniques of Administrative Improvement Write this answer — get it evaluated →