[Topicwise-Analysis] Public Administration Mains Paper 1 & 2 (2010)

Paper 1
Overall Topicwise Breakup

Thinkers, theories etc 120
Development administration 80
Organizations 60
Accountability and control 60
Comparative Pub.Ad 20
Policy making 60
Personnel administration 100
Finance 20

Thinkers & Theories(प्रशासनिक चिंतक)

Mc gregor’s view, the managerial cosmology meaningfully addresses the understanding of manager & his role perceptions. Explain 20
The successful management leaders are found in likert’s system-4 approach to organizational leadership examine 20
The study of administration should start from the base of management rather than the foundation of law explain 20
simon’s identifying decision-making as the core field of public administration appears logically acceptable but his positivist underpinning is problematic. Critically examine the statement . 40
new public management is dead; long live digital era of governance 20
Development Administration

not merely governance but good governance is the key factor in achieving the UN millennium goals 2000 20
concept of development is multi-dimensional & ever-expanding explain 20
management has become the new icon of developmetalism 20
do you think that there is a sort of paradox between e-governance & good governance 20
Organizations

explain the impact of privatization on public administration with special reference to :
·1 the issue of user fees
·2 public-private partnership
·3 outstanding technique 60
Accountability and control

basic principles underlying citizen’s charter with special reference to: 20×3 = 60
·1 its administrative philosophy
·2 promoting public accountability
·3 ensuring standards of public service.
60
Comparative Public Administration (तुलनात्मक प्रशासन)

prismatic model of riggs is equally applicable to developing as well as developed society. Comment 20
Policy Making (नीति निर्माण)

prismatic model of riggs is equally applicable to developing as well as developed society. Comment 20
p.a. can be portrayed as wheel of relationship focused on the formulation & implementation of public policy. Explain 20
cost benefit analysis is a very unsatisfactory view of evaluating public policy 20

Personnel Administration (कार्मिक प्रशासन)

explain the peter principle in respect of promotion policy in a hierarchical organization 20
discuss in this connection (Peter Principle) the case dor & against promotion based on seniority 40
distinguish fully between the syndicate method, role playing method & T-group training method in personnel management 40
discuss the principles of ensuring ethics in public service as recommended in the Nolan committee report 1994 20
Financial Administration (वित्तीय प्रशासन)

distinguish between PPBS & performance budget 20

Observations: Paper 1
You’ve to answer totally 5 questions out of 7 questions (5x 60 marks =300 Marks)
you know Q#1 and #5 are compulsory so no escape from that.
Paper is divided into two sections (A and B) and you’ve to at least attempt one question from each.
Section-wise breakup (Paper-1)

Section Question
1 Thinkers, Theory Compulsory
2 NPA + Herbert A. Simon
3 Organizations (PPP)
4 Accountability
5 D.A,CPA, Policy Compulsory
6 Personnel only!
7 Mixed bag of Personnel, Finance, E-gov


Thinkers and theories- the usual static stuff (after all what new can you ask from ‘history’!). But as NPA, NPM not given so much importance like they were given in 2009.
Citizen’s carter, its getting so clichéd like Sas-Bahu serials. - there were questions last years too.
The trend of asking a ‘big thinker’ for 40 marks is continued, last year it was Taylor so this year its Herbert A. Simon. May be it’ll be M.P.Follet or C.I. Barnard’s turn in 2011.
Mcgregor and Likert are ‘small-time thinkers’ so they get only 20 marks worth question each as per their ‘aukaat’ (औकात) but it was in Compulsory Question #1.
Thankfully no ‘quotes’ were asked (to show that UPSC now puts more emphasis on ‘understanding’ rather ‘cramming’ but then why was UPSC sleeping all these years!).
In the early 90’s there was a trend: In GS paper they’d always ask about Tagore and his nationalist thoughts, like there was no one else to ask about. May be because all the GS History questions were set by same examiner for 3-4 years constantly. I’m seeing something similar here.
Public Administration papers become more relevant to the contemporary issues: that’s why much weightage is given to Development administration, and personnel administration.
No question from Tech. for Administrative improvement (That PERT, CPM stuff). There was question on E-governance but you’ve to prepare it even for Development administration, Essay and GS portion.
CPA was for namesake only! But was in compulsory #5
Question from Financial administration asked only for namesake formality! I was expecting a lot from this, given the fiscal deficit, 3G auction and GST issues in current affairs and the general emphasis given to economy related topics both in GS mains and prelims. But may be coaching classes had put heavy emphasis on this, that’s why UPSC ignored it like Chandrayaan last year.
As usual the questions are designed in such a way that whole (boring) Public-Policy topic can be safely skipped: just the way coaching classes like it. But CSAT-2011 ‘syllabus has public-policy as a topic, so it might not be the same trend next year.
Thankfully no SHG (Self-Help group) questions. Material is hard to compile!
Coaching classes & Paper
Most coaching class ‘sirs’, teach on the basic principle that certain topics in optional subjects, can be safely ignored (Public Policy and Development administration): may be because those sirs themselves don’t understand these topics well and material is hard to compile and they put heavy emphasis on Thinkers and Accountability part. Just like they do to History part in GS papers. I think someday UPSC going to run a bulldozer on that trend, like they did with History (GS) this year.

Paper 2
Overall
PSU 20
Rural 20
Urban 20
Planning 30
Evolution 50
Civil services 50
Reforms 60
Issues in Administration 60
Finance 70
Polity 100


Evolution of Indian Administration

rule of kings depend primarily on written orders….. “ why did kautilya favor codification of laws? 20
it is said that the british made a significant contribution towards modernizing the Indian administrative system on rational-legal basis. Justify the assessment with reference to the period from 1830-1865 30

Polity

does the emergence of an empowered group of ministers at the central level impair the doctrine of cabinet responsibility? 20
in an era of hung parliaments the power of the president expands, more so when the incumbent decides to be assertive. Comment on the statement with reference to the situation in India during the last two decades. 30
judges & courts have creatively reinterpreted this statutory authority & expanded their own power & enhanced their standing vis-à-vis the legislature & executive critically examine this assessment 30
public interest litigation (PIL) has undergone several changes since its inception in 1980s. 20
PSU

is it correct to state that one of the major reasons for the failure of many……public sector undertakings was due to departures from the original concept of autonomy? 20

Civil services

more developed an administrative system because the grater the likelihood that it would that it would have development effects. 15
thrust of development administration failed to energies the Indian bureaucracy 15
civil service neutrality is a fiction. How many thinking person can be neutral? 20
Administrative reforms (प्रशासनिक सुधार)

with reference to India , discuss the assertion that administrative reforms are multi-dimensional & need to be substantiated by reforms in other related areas of state action. 30
the 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission in its 10th report, observes that the common perception is that the incentive structure in government is too weak & inadequate to motivate better performance 30
Financial Management

prevalence of multiple channels for transfer of resources from the center to the states is stated to have compounded the problems of federal fiscal arrangements. Discuss 30
states with record of good governance, it is argued by spokesperson of some states, lost their earlier share from the finance commissioner’s award. 20
optimism expressed by proponents of the financial responsibility & budget management act 2003, in ensuring fiscal discipline appears to be unwanted 20
Plans and Priorities

planning commission is an armchair advisor 15
planning commission should reinvent itself a systems reforms commission in the backdrop of changed global domestic scenario. 15
Rural Development

non-government organizations play a catalytic role in enabling communities to define their own priorities. 20

Urban Local Government

Jawaharlal National Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM) is one of the biggest reforms-linked develop programmes taken upt by the government. 20

Significant issues in Indian Administration

it is argued that the Bhopal gas disaster & the response pattern to it reflect multiple vulnerabilities relating to system of corporate social responsibility, governance at local state & central levels, legal safeguards liabilities. Comment on this assessment.
(you can put this in disaster Management as well) 30
creation of new regulatory agencies in the wake of liberalization, overlapping jurisdiction & conflicts became the new trend. Is there need for the creation of a super-regulator/unified regulator? 30

Section wise Breakup (Paper-2)

Section Question
1 Polity, PSU,Kautilya Compulsory
2 British Administration + Civil services today
3 Reform + Finance
4 Polity only (that too, only static part!) Relief!
5 Mixed bag : Polity, Finance and Civil services Compulsory
6 Planning Commission + 2nd ARC
7 Mixed bag: Rural, Urban and Financial
8 Disaster + Administrative Adjudication

Conclusion : Paper-2
No question on Law and Order (the whole Naxal issue ignored)
Routine questions Panchayati Raj (73rd and 74th) are ignored
Routine questions from PSU and planning Commission are asked.
Static part from polity worth 100 marks
Judicial activism and PIL: alone total 50 marks.
Financial Management portion, (which was ignored in paper-1) gets good treatment here.
State, central and district Administration: ignored.
Overall, the paper was more issue and latest current affairs related
a. Manmohan Singh’s comment on Judicial activism
b. New CJI’s approach over PILs
c. ‘Arm-chair advisor’ comment by Kamal Nath.
d. Disaster Management
e. JNNRUM
If you count above 5 current affairs topics: totally about 130+ Marks (=almost 50%) was from current affairs related questions. Rest paper from (relatively) static portion.