Current Public Administration Magazine (SEPTEMBER 2023)

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Online Course

Sample Material of Current Public Administration Magazine

(SEPTEMBER 2023)

1.Accountability & Responsibility

Comparison between role of US President, Indian President and British Monarch

The role of the US President, the Indian President and the British Monarch are different in terms of their powers, functions and responsibilities. Here is a brief comparison between them:

The US President is the head of state and the head of government of the United States of America. He or she is elected by the people through an indirect system of electoral college for a term of four years. He or she can be re-elected for one more term.
The US President is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and has the power to declare war, make treaties, appoint judges, ambassadors and other officials, veto bills passed by the Congress, issue executive orders and pardons, and propose legislation.
The US President is also the leader of his or her political party and the chief spokesperson of the nation. He or she represents the US in various national and international forums and maintains diplomatic relations with other countries.
The Indian President is the head of state of India, but not the head of government. He or she is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both houses of Parliament and state legislatures for a term of five years. He or she can be re-elected for any number of terms.
The Indian President is the supreme commander of the armed forces, but does not have any executive powers. He or she acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, who are the real executive authority.
The Indian President has the power to appoint judges, governors, ambassadors and other officials, assent or withhold assent to bills passed by the Parliament, issue ordinances when the Parliament is not in session, grant pardons and clemency, and dissolve the Lok Sabha on the advice of the Prime Minister.
The Indian President is also a symbol of national unity and integrity and a guardian of the Constitution. He or she addresses both houses of Parliament at the beginning of each session and represents India in various national and international forums.
The British Monarch is the head of state of the United Kingdom, but not the head of government. He or she inherits the throne by hereditary succession and rules for life. The British Monarch is also the head of the Commonwealth, which consists of 54 independent countries that were formerly under British rule.
The British Monarch does not have any real executive powers, as he or she acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, who are the real executive authority. The British Monarch has the power to appoint and dismiss the Prime Minister and other ministers, assent to bills passed by the Parliament, summon or prorogue the Parliament, grant honours and titles, issue royal proclamations and orders in council, declare war and peace, and grant pardons.
The British Monarch is also a symbol of national identity and continuity and a source of stability and unity. He or she delivers a speech at the opening of each session of Parliament and represents the UK in various national and international events.

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2. Indian Government and Politics

Power and Functions of PM

The Prime Minister of India is the head of the government and the leader of the executive branch. He or she is appointed by the President of India after the general elections and is usually the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister has various powers and functions, which can be broadly classified into the following categories:

In relation to the President: The Prime Minister is the principal adviser to the President and communicates all decisions of the Cabinet to him or her. The Prime Minister also recommends persons who can be appointed as ministers, judges, governors, ambassadors, and other constitutional authorities by the President. The Prime Minister can also advise the President to summon or prorogue the Parliament, dissolve the Lok Sabha, or impose a national emergencyhttps://prepp.in/news/e-492-powers-and-functions-of-prime-minister-indian-polity-upsc-notes.
In relation to the Council of Ministers: The Prime Minister is the head of the Council of Ministers and presides over its meetings. He or she allocates and reshuffles various portfolios among the ministers and can ask any minister to resign or advise the President to dismiss him or her. The Prime Minister also guides, directs, controls, and coordinates the activities of all the ministers and is responsible for maintaining the unity and discipline among themhttps://byjus.com/question-answer/describe-the-powers-and-functions-of-the-prime-minister-of-india/.
In relation to the Parliament: The Prime Minister is the leader of the House to which he or she belongs, either Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. He or she announces government policies and programmes on the floor of the House and answers questions raised by the members. He or she also defends his or her government against motions of no-confidence, censure, or adjournment. The Prime Minister can also introduce bills and resolutions in the Parliament and influence their passagehttps://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/powers-and-duties-of-indian-prime-minister-1492423742-1.

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3. Economic Administration

Caste Survey in Bihar
The caste survey in Bihar is a recent initiative by the state government to collect and publish data on the caste-wise population and socio-economic status of the people. The survey was conducted in two phases, house listing and caste and economic enumeration, from January to August 2023. The data was released on October 2, 2023, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. The survey is expected to have significant implications for the politics, policy and society of Bihar.
According to the survey, Bihar has a total population of about 13 crore, of which 63% belong to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs). The OBCs constitute 27% and the EBCs constitute 36% of the population. The Forward Castes or General Category account for 15.5%, the Scheduled Castes (SCs) for 20%, and the Scheduled Tribes (STs) for 1.6% of the population. Among the religious groups, Hindus comprise 82% and Muslims 17.72% of the population. The rest are Buddhists, Christians, Sikhs, Jains and others.
The purpose of the caste survey is to gather detailed socio-economic data that can help in designing and implementing better policies and programs for the marginalized communities. The survey also aims to update the caste data that was last collected in 1931 by the British colonial administration. The survey may also lead to demands for increasing or revising the reservation quotas for different castes, especially the OBCs and EBCs, who claim to be under-represented in education, employment and politics. The survey may also influence the electoral strategies of various political parties, who seek to mobilize and appease different caste groups.
The caste survey in Bihar is a landmark exercise that reflects the importance of caste as a social reality and a political factor in India. It also raises questions about the need and feasibility of conducting a similar survey at the national level, which has been a long-standing demand of many groups and parties.
The caste survey in Bihar has implications for both electoral and reservation politics in the state. The survey reveals the numerical strength and socio-economic status of different caste groups, which can influence their voting preferences and demands. The survey also provides a basis for revising or increasing the reservation quotas for different castes, especially the OBCs and EBCs, who claim to be under-represented in education, employment and politics.

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4. Current Topics

“one nation, one election”
National elections and state elections together in India is a proposal to hold the elections to the Lok Sabha and the state legislative assemblies simultaneously, once in every five years. The idea is to reduce the cost, disruption and frequency of elections, and to improve governance and policy-making. However, the idea also faces several challenges, such as constitutional, logistical, legal and political issues.
The idea of simultaneous elections is not new to India. In fact, the first general election to the Lok Sabha in 1951-52 was held along with all state assemblies. This practice continued till 1967, when some state assemblies were dissolved prematurely, leading to separate elections. Since then, the elections to the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies have been held separately, sometimes even in the same year.
The idea of simultaneous elections has been revived by various leaders and experts in recent years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a vocal supporter of the idea, and has called for a wider debate on it. President Pranab Mukherjee and former President APJ Abdul Kalam have also endorsed the idea in their speeches. The Law Commission of India, the NITI Aayog, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, and some former chief election commissioners have also favoured simultaneous elections in their reports.

The main arguments in favour of simultaneous elections are:

It will reduce the expenditure incurred by the Election Commission and the political parties on conducting and campaigning for elections. According to a NITI Aayog paper, the estimated expenditure for conducting simultaneous elections in 2019 would be around Rs 4,500 crore, as compared to Rs 9,000 crore if held separately.
It will reduce the diversion of human resources and public buildings for election duties. A large number of government employees, security personnel and teachers are deployed for election-related work, affecting their regular responsibilities.
It will reduce the disruption of governance due to the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which restricts the announcement and implementation of new policies and programmes by the government during election season.
It will reduce the frequency of elections, which are seen as a source of corruption, casteism, communalism and populism. Simultaneous elections may also increase voter turnout and participation.

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5. Indian Administration

Review of Administrative Reforms in India
A review of administrative reforms in India in detail would require a lot of time and space, but I will try to give you a brief overview of the main features and outcomes of the various reforms that have been undertaken since independence.
Administrative reforms in India can be broadly classified into three phases: pre-independence, post-independence, and contemporary. Each phase has its own context, objectives, challenges, and achievements.
Administrative reforms in India are the efforts to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, accountability and transparency of the public administration in the country. Administrative reforms have been undertaken at various levels and in various sectors since independence, with the aim of making governance more responsive, participatory and citizen-centric. Some of the major administrative reforms in India are:
The First Administrative Reforms Commission (1966-1970): This was the first comprehensive attempt to review the machinery and procedures of the government of India and suggest reforms for better performance. The commission submitted 20 reports covering various aspects of administration, such as planning, center-state relations, financial administration, personnel administration, economic administration, district administration, agricultural administration and redressal of citizens' grievances. The commission made 537 major recommendations, some of which were implemented by the government.
The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2005-2009): This was set up to prepare a detailed blueprint for revamping the public administration system in the light of the challenges of the 21st century. The commission submitted 15 reports covering various themes, such as right to information, ethics in governance, local governance, e-governance, crisis management, public order, social capital, combating terrorism and administrative law. The commission made 1514 recommendations, some of which were accepted and implemented by the government.