(Paper) IAS Mains Previous Year Paper : Public Administration (2011)

IAS Mains Previous Year Paper Public Administration (2011)

Paper I

SECTION A

1. Answer the following questions in not more than 200 words each: 20x3 = 60
(a) 'A crisis of credibility' in the administrative system can be overcome only by 'reinventing government'. Comment.
(b) 'Media is a Parliament of citizens.' Explain.
(c) E-governance is the' final arrival of Max Weber's 'iron cage of rationality', Discuss,

2. (a) In the evolution of' the discipline of Public Administration, Minnowbrook Conferences I, II and III reflect the discipline's reconceptualisation and its changing values. Elucidate, 30
(b) Critically examine conflict resolution according to M.P. Follett. Explain how McGregor took forward her ideas in the context of complex organizations. 30

3. (a) Whereas Downs' model is largely dependent on a theory of psychological motivation, Niskanen's model is framed by neo-classical thinking. In the light of the above, discuss the public choice approach to decision-making. 30
(b) The Systems Approach is relevant .even today for organisational analysis. Discuss how Chester Barnard and David Easton adopted this approach in their respective areas of study. 30

4. (a) Whereas 'value for money' audit aims at economy and 'performance' audit seeks efficiency, 'social' audit goes beyond both, to examine the effectiveness of a programme or activity. Examine this statement with suitable illustrations.
(b) (i) Make a critical assessment of Dicey's understanding of the Rule of Law and Droit Administratif. 15
(ii) Make out a case for Delegated Legislation. 15

SECTION B

5. Answer the following questions in not more than 200 words each: 20 x 3 = 60
(a) 'Budget is a series of goals with price-tags attached.' Explain.
(b) 'Policy is being made .as it is being administered arid administered as it is being made.' Comment.
(c) 'Position Classification can be problematic. A serious complaint in its practice is that it dehumanises the employee.' Discuss.

6. (a) Neither Edward Weidner nor Fred Riggs was able to describe the process of development administration adequately. Explain the drawbacks and weaknesses in their theoretical analyses. 30
(b) Indicate the milestones in the story of development from the Nehruvian Model to the Liberalisation Model. 30

7. (a) Civil Servants must be social moralists in action, living up to Paul Appleby's dictum that 'responsible government is ethical government'. Examine this statement in the light of rod governance. 30

(b) Critically examine the following statements in the field of Policy Sciences.
(i) The instrumentalist paradigm posits a conservative tendency In public policy making. 15
(ii) Dror's Optimal Model is a fusion of the economically rational model with the extra-rational model. 15

8. (a) (i) What are the main functions of an O and M office? 15
(ii) A system of Information ties planning and control by managers to the, operational system of implementation. Elaborate. 15

(b) An administrator uses the budget as a framework for communication and co-ordination, as well as for exercising administrative discipline throughout the administrative structure Explain. 30

Paper II Section-A

1. Attempt the following m not more than 200 words each: 20 x 3 = 60
(a) "Over-dependence on bureaucracy for bringing about socio-economic development in India has proved to be dysfunctional." Comment.
(b) "The performance of Lok Ayuktas in various States has been uneven." Comment with examples.
(c) Explain with appropriate illustrations the interface between' political culture and bureaucratic culture in contemporary India.

2. (a) Discuss the evolution of the role of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) since independence. 30
(b) "Administrative reforms get diluted because of constant tinkering on the margin rather than a holistic transformation." Discuss the statement in the context of reforming district administration in India. 30

3. (a) Comment on the following statement: 30 "The Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) of India is a prosecutor with a law that hobbles. its functioning, a judge without the 'power to sentence and a litigant with no right to appeal."
(b) "Indian federalism is passing through a state of potential maturity." Discuss this statement in the context of the views of the Commission on Centre-State Relations (Justice M. M. Punchi). 30

4. (a) "The theme of Police Reforms continues to haunt the Parliament." In the light of this statement, discuss the state of Criminal Justice System administration in India. 30
(b) 'Performance Appraisal Systems' with special reference to the Performance Management and Evaluation System (PMES) are expected to transform the bureaucratic culture of Indian administration. Do you agree? Give reasons. 30

Section-B

5. Attempt the following in not more than 200 words each: 20x3=60
(a) "The real problem of administrative reforms in India at the State and the local levels is that they are imposed from above." Comment.
(b) Discuss the basic principles of 'New Localism' as a part of the global-local debate.
(c) "Absence of District Planning Committees in a large number of districts has prevented convergence of planning at the district level." Examine the above statement with examples.

6. (a) (i) "One Lok Pal, howsoever strong I it may be, cannot eliminate corruption in the , politico- administrative system in India." Comment. 15
(ii) "Grievance redressal system is perhaps the weakest link in India's civil service management," Comment. 15
(b) "Community policing has become a victim of elite capture." Discuss the concept of community policing and bring out the implications of the above statement. 30

7. (a) Can the holding company's structure act as an institutional change to add to efficiency? Give your answer with appropriate illustrations. 30
(b) Examine the institutional vulnerability of municipal. governance in the midst of an ‗emerging spectre of multiple partnerships. 30

8. (a) (i) Identify the different conceptual categories of disasters. 15
(ii) Write a note on the the new culture of disaster management. 15

(b) "Disaster insurance is 'desirable but not an easy proposition to implement." Illustrate with suitable examples. 30