Public Administration Questions: first chapters of Paper 1&2.

Hello Friends,

In response to a request by one of you (Milan Damji) for practice questions, am reproducing the question paper of the test-series I have joined (Krishna Pradeep, Hyderabad). These question-paper does the useful task of combining topics from both papers of the optional- this way we are encouraged to utilise concepts and examples across the two. 

I will upload the key that we were given in a day's time. Best wishes for your prep.

Spurthi

KRISHNA PRADEEP’S 21^st CENTURY IAS: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION MAINS TEST SERIES 2012

GRAND TEST 1

Section A (Introduction to Public Administration)

1.       Comment on the following.                                                                                                        3 x 20 = 60 mks.

a.       “Public Administration is the use of managerial, political, and legal theories and processes to fulfil legislative, executive, and judicial governmental mandates for the provision of regulatory and service functions for the society as as whole or for some segments of it”.

b.       Woodrow Wilson’s ideology of “politics-administration dichotomy” is irrelevant in the present context of good governance.

c.       The new paradigm of public administration styled as New Public Management has emerged as a staunch advocate of a series of shifts of emphasis in the way in which public sector should be organised and managed.

2.       A. The discourse theory of public administration, developed by Fox and Miller, is a significant addition as well as contribution to public administration theorization in general and post-modern public administration in particular. Explain.                                                                20 M

B.  Politics-Administration dichotomy has two long-term effects of Paradigm 1, one practical and the other intellectual. Examine.                                                                                                     20 M

C.  Beginning in the 1980s a number of trends accelerated that harbour the possibility for fundamental change in how we perceive government and its administration. These developments are causing enormous change within and among the three sectors- public, private and nonprofit -  that are the  pillars of American institutional construct. Do you agree with this statement? 20M                                                                                                                                     

3.  A. Global pressures are increasingly changing the character of the State and the nature of Public administration. Explain those global pressures on public administration.                                30 M

B. The Minnowbrook conferences were the outcome of the existing conditions and the conferences have provided solutions to the problems of society to establish a better society using administration in the government as the basis. Explain.                                    30 M

4.       A. It is the absence of good governance that is responsible for the movements around the world in the recent past. Illustrate with examples.                                                                              40 M

B. New Public Management was adopted as a strategy to resolve the crisis in various states. But now NPM is itself in the crisis situation. Explain.                                                                     20 M

SECTION B (Evolution of Indian Administration)

5.       Comment on the following                                                                                          20 x 3 = 60M

a.       Arthashatra gives more attention to higher personnel than lower personnel.

b.      The federation created by the Government of India Act 1935 was a myth.

c.       Though Mughal administration was considered theocratic, it was actually secular.

6.    A. Indian Administration is both a legacy and deviation of British administration. Explain  30M

B. Indianisation of public services in India was a process done to Britishise the public services. Comment.                                                                                                                                                              30M

7.    A. Considering Lord Ripon as the father of local self government is to ignore the efforts made earlier towards the growth of local self governments in India. Nevertheless Ripon’s efforts must not be underestimated for introducing an element of popular and political education. Explain                                                      30 M

B. District Collector during British Rule was treated as mai-baap and Annadaata though he was a representative of the British monarch. Explain.                                                                                     30 M

8.       A. The art and science of administration is clearly distinguished in Kautilya’s Arthashastra. Comment 30M                                                                                                                                                        

B. The Mughal rule was described as kaagazi raj. Distinguish between Weber’s Bureaucracy and Mughal administration.                                                                                                                                 30 M