Solved Question Of Public Administration Mains Exam 2013 (Paper - I)

1 (a). How did traditional public administration ''resolve a fundamentally irresolvable problem-creating an administration strong enough to be effective but not so strong enough to endanger accountability''? 10 Marks

Answer: To start with politics-administration dichotomy, once Public Administration was separated out, its effectiveness had to be improved. Also, being independent , even accountability had to be ensured. So, for this, classical structures and scientific principles were introduced. Traditional Public Administration inevitably posed problems as it grew and developed. It sought to resolve a fundamentally irresolvable problem-creating an administration strong enough to be effective but not so strong enough to endanger accountability. It sought to do so by creating a theory of public administration insulated from the pressures of politics. This manifested as hierarchy, control, command, POSDCORB, POCCC etc. The accountability was more internal and part of organizational set up itself. Methods like legislative control, internal accountability in hierarchy , discipline and conduct rules, separation of individual from means of production of administration etc. through Bureaucratic structure ,clearly defined roles, impersonal detachment and merit selection etc efficiency and effectiveness was achieved and at the same time hierarchy was also meant to control the officials. Even Wilsonian and Hamiltonian traditions saw virtually no barrier to the ability of public administration to improve government –if only government administrators could be protected from political meddling.