(Download) UPSC Mains 2014 Exam Papers : Public Administration Paper- 2
(Download) UPSC Mains 2014 Exam Papers : Public Administration
Subject: Public Administration Paper -2
Exam Date: 19th December 2014
File Size: 1.93 MB
File Type: PDF
Paper -2
:: Section – A ::
Q.1. Attempt the following in about 150 words each: 10 × 5 = 50
(a) “Ethics in public services has been the central concern of Kautilya’s
Arthashastra.” Critically examine the statement. 10
(b) Discuss the value of premises of Constitutionalism in India which he
bureaucracy cannot violate. 10
(c) The functional role of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) depends on the
Prime Minister’s policy orientation, personality and style of administration.
Comment on the statement with suitable examples. 10
(d) Despite the adoption of decentralized planning, participatory initiatives
remain marginalized and divisive in many regions. Discuss. 10
(e) “The Centre – State relations have acquired new dimensions in recent times
due to several political parties being in power at the Centre and the States.”
(Second Administrative Reforms Commission)] Do you agree? Give reasons to
support your arguments. 10
Q.2.
(a) “Public Sector Undertakings must learn to survive and he entrepreneurial
without assured government budgetary support.” In the light of this statement
give your suggestions for strengthening their autonomy and reviving the health
of sick Public Sector Undertakings. 20
(b) “Indian administration is said to be characterized by its three features
viz. Weberian structures, Kautilyan practice and Gandhian rhetoric.” Examine the
statement. 20
(c) “District Collector is a legacy of the British Raj and has largely remained
insulated from the demands of contemporary professionalism.” Discuss. 10
Q. 3.
(a) “Gender Response Budgeting has infused greater accountability of planning
departments towards women empowerment programmes.” Examine the statement. 20
(b) “The gubernatorial position of the Governor is comfortably placed in the
fuzzy area between ‘Withdrawal of pleasure of the President’ and ‘Compelling
reasons for removal’. “Discuss with some recent examples. 20
(c) “Beneath the soft outer shell of democratic administrative framework lines
unscathed the steel frame of Indian administration which has survived through
the ages.” In the light of this statement, examine the relationship between
bureaucracy and development in the last one decade. 10
Q. 4.
(a) “Management of intra-governmental relations is as important as that of
inter-governmental relations.” Examine the impact upon the performance of the
government. 20
(b) How far do you agree with the view that the National Development Council (NDC)
could resonate the demands of State governments as long as the Planning
Commission is kept subservient to it? Critically examine. 20
(c) Critically examine the statement: ‘Thana’ (Police Station) as the last
bastion of the waning British administrative legacy of India. 10
:: Section – B ::
Q.5. Attempt the following in about 150 words each: 10 × 5 = 50
(a) Discuss the changes in powers of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of
India (CAG) following a recent Supreme Court judgement in a case concerning a
private service provider. 10
(b) Parliamentary Committees bring about accountability in public expenditure.
Discuss. 10
(c) Do you think that the role of Panchayati Raj should go beyond development
administration? Give reasons for your answer. 10
(d) “Police-Public relations are a story of insincere efforts make on both
sides.” Elaborate. 10
(e) “From coalition government to one-party dominance is a big change that is
bound to affect the government system.” Explain why and how. 10
Q.6.
(a) Assess the role of honest and upright civil servants in regulatory and
development administration in India. Give examples to substantiate your
arguments. 20
(b) “Social auditing of flagship programmes of Central government facilitates
the performance of the Comptroller and Auditor-General.” Elaborate the statement
with appropriate examples. 20
(c) Explain the notion of one hundred ‘smart cities’ and its likely impact on
India’s urbanization. 10
Q.7.
(a) Elaborate the features of the grievances redressal mechanism of the civil
services in India. Does this mechanism satisfy the objective of its creation? 10
(b) The 13th Finance Commission highlighted an indispensable need to improve the
finance of rural and urban level bodies. Does this make local bodies more
accountable in the discharge of their functions? 20
(c) “Unimplemented reforms in administrations weaken the administrative reforms
process most.” Do you agree? Give your answer citing specific cases as
illustrations. 20
Q.8.
(a) Discuss the need for civil services neutrality in development
administration. Suggest some measure for achieving and strengthening it in
practice. 20
(b) Supreme Court ruling on 31st October, 2013 in respect of bureaucracy’s
functioning would help achieve good governance. Analyse this ruling and add your
comments on it. 20
(c) Do you think that the Central para-military police forces have proven more
effective than the State police service? Give your answer objectively in a
critical vein. 10
