Current Public Administration Magazine (JANUARY 2024)

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Online Course

Sample Material of Current Public Administration Magazine

(JANUARY 2024)

1.Accountability & Responsibility

Freebies by the Government

Freebies by the government are goods or services that are provided free of charge or at a subsidized rate to the public, usually as part of the government's welfare or electoral agenda. Some examples of freebies are free electricity, water, laptops, TVs, bicycles, etc.

There are different opinions and debates on the merits and demerits of freebies by the government. Some of the arguments in favor of freebies are:

They help the poor and marginalized sections of the society, who otherwise may not be able to afford or access the basic necessities or amenities.
They improve the quality of life and human development indicators, such as health, education, and income, of the beneficiaries.
They stimulate the demand and consumption in the economy, and create positive externalities, such as environmental benefits, social cohesion, and innovation.

Some of the arguments against freebies are:

They create a culture of dependency and entitlement among the recipients, and reduce their incentive and motivation to work or earn.
They distort the market forces and prices, and create inefficiencies and wastage of resources.
They burden the government's finances and fiscal deficit, and limit the scope for spending on other productive or essential sectors.
The impact and effectiveness of freebies by the government may depend on various factors, such as the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the schemes, the availability and allocation of resources, the political and economic context, and the needs and preferences of the target population.
A welfare state is a system of government that provides social support and services to its citizens, such as health care, education, pensions, unemployment benefits, etc. The aim of a welfare state is to promote the well-being and equality of its people, and to reduce poverty and social problems.

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2. Indian Government and Politics

Concept of Freedom

The concept of freedom is a guiding principle in our lives. It refers to the ability to act or change without any constraints. However, freedom is not an absolute or simple idea, and it has different meanings and implications for different people and situations.

One way to understand the concept of freedom is to distinguish between two types of freedom: negative freedom and positive freedom. Negative freedom means the absence of external obstacles or interference that prevent us from doing what we want. Positive freedom means the presence of internal conditions or opportunities that enable us to do what we want. For example, negative freedom is when no one stops you from going to school, while positive freedom is when you have the skills and resources to go to school.

Another way to understand the concept of freedom is to consider the different domains or aspects of freedom, such as political freedom, economic freedom, social freedom, and personal freedom. Political freedom means the right to participate in the governance of one's society, such as by voting, protesting, or joining a party. Economic freedom means the right to own, use, and exchange property, goods, and services, such as by working, trading, or investing. Social freedom means the right to associate with others and express one's identity, beliefs, and values, such as by joining a group, practicing a religion, or speaking one's mind. Personal freedom means the right to make choices about one's own life and body, such as by marrying, having children, or pursuing one's interests.

A third way is to list the specific rights or liberties that advance a person's potential, such as freedom of opinion, freedom of expression, freedom of choice, freedom of demonstration, freedom of association, freedom of movement, freedom of worship, etc.

The concept of freedom is not only descriptive, but also normative and evaluative. This means that different people and groups may have different views and values about what freedom is, how much freedom is desirable, and how freedom should be balanced with other goals or principles, such as equality, justice, security, or order. Therefore, the concept of freedom is often contested and debated, and it may change over time and across contexts.

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3. Social Administration

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence, or AI for short, is a field of science and technology that aims to create machines or software that can perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning, decision making, perception, etc. AI has many applications and benefits for various domains, such as health, education, entertainment, business, and more. However, AI also poses some challenges and risks, such as ethical, social, and economic implications, that need to be addressed and regulated.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Intelligence (HI) are two different types of intelligence that have some similarities and differences. AI is the ability of machines or software to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning, decision making, perception, etc. HI is the ability of humans to use their cognitive processes and biological structures to adapt to new situations and environments.

Some of the similarities between AI and HI are:

Both AI and HI can learn and improve over time, based on data, feedback, experience, or intuition.
Both AI and HI can be used to solve complex problems and make decisions, using logic, analysis, creativity, or judgment.
Both AI and HI can process and interpret information from the world around them, using sensors, vision, language, or memory.

Some of the differences between AI and HI are:

AI is based on algorithms and mathematical models, while HI is based on cognitive processes and biological structures.
AI can process data and perform tasks much faster than humans, but HI has creativity, intuition, and emotional intelligence that AI lacks.
AI is limited by its programming and may not be able to adapt to new or unexpected situations, while HI can adapt to new and unexpected situations.

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4. Current Topics

Made in India Applications

Made in India applications are apps that are developed and launched by Indian developers or companies, usually for the Indian market or audience. These apps may belong to various categories, such as social media, entertainment, education, health, gaming, etc. Some of the reasons why Made in India applications are gaining popularity are:

They support the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, which encourages self-reliance and innovation in India.
They cater to the needs, preferences, and tastes of the Indian consumers, who are diverse and heterogeneous in terms of language, culture, income, education, etc.
They offer quality and competitive products or services, that can rival or surpass the global players in terms of features, performance, and user experience.

Some examples of popular and successful Made in India applications are:

Meesho: This app is a social commerce platform that enables users to start their own online businesses by reselling products from various categories, such as fashion, beauty, home, etc. The app also provides training, logistics, and payment support to the users. The app has over 50 million downloads on Google Play and has been recognized by Facebook and Google as one of the best apps in India.
PhonePe: This app is a digital payments platform that allows users to send and receive money, pay bills, recharge, shop online, and more, using UPI, wallets, cards, or bank accounts. The app also offers various rewards, cashbacks, and offers to the users. The app has over 500 million downloads on Google Play and has been rated as one of the best apps in India by Economic Times.
Flipkart: This app is one of the leading e-commerce platforms in India, offering a wide range of products and services across categories such as fashion, electronics, home, grocery, and more. The app has been constantly innovating and improving its features, such as voice search, video streaming, social commerce, and more, to cater to the diverse and evolving needs of the Indian consumers. The app has over 500 million downloads on Google Play and has been awarded as one of the best apps in India by Google Play .
Ludo King: This app is a digital version of the popular board game Ludo, which has been enjoyed by millions of Indians for generations. The app has been customized for the Indian market, with features such as local languages, themes, chat options, and more. The app has also been updated with new modes, such as online multiplayer, tournaments, and snakes and ladders. The app has over 500 million downloads on Google Play and has been featured as one of the best apps in India by Google Play.

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5. Indian Administration

Shrinking Span of Attention in Organizations

Shrinking span of attention in organizations is a phenomenon that refers to the reduced ability or willingness of employees to focus on their work tasks and goals, due to various factors such as information overload, digital distractions, multitasking, stress, or boredom. Shrinking span of attention in organizations can have negative consequences for the productivity, performance, creativity, and satisfaction of both individuals and teams.

Some of the possible causes and solutions for shrinking span of attention in organizations are:

Information overload: Employees may be overwhelmed by the amount and complexity of information that they have to process and manage, such as emails, reports, data, etc. This can lead to cognitive fatigue, confusion, and reduced attention span. A possible solution is to prioritize and filter the information that is relevant and important, and to use tools and techniques that can help organize and simplify the information, such as summaries, visualizations, or categories.
Digital distractions: Employees may be constantly interrupted or tempted by the notifications and alerts from their devices, such as smartphones, laptops, or tablets, or by the online platforms and applications, such as social media, news, or games. This can lead to reduced concentration, focus, and memory. A possible solution is to limit or eliminate the use of these devices and platforms during work hours, or to use tools and settings that can block or mute the notifications and alerts, such as do not disturb mode, airplane mode, or apps like Freedom or Forest.
Multitasking: Employees may be required or expected to perform multiple tasks or projects at the same time, or to switch frequently between different tasks or projects. This can lead to reduced efficiency, accuracy, and quality, as well as increased stress and frustration . A possible solution is to focus on one task or project at a time, or to group similar or related tasks or projects together, and to avoid or minimize the switching costs, such as by using tools and techniques that can help resume or recall the previous task or project, such as checklists, reminders, or notes.