Topic wise analysis of Public Administration Mains Paper I - (2010)

v Overall Topic wise analysis: Paper I

1.    Thinkers & Theories (प्रशासनिक चिंतक):

·         Mc gregor’s view, the managerial cosmology meaningfully addresses the understanding of manager & his role perceptions. Explain	20
·         the successful management leaders are found in likert’s system-4 approach to organizational leadership examine	20
·         the study of administration should start  from the base of management rather than the foundation of law explain	20
·         simon’s identifying decision-making as the core field of public administration appears logically acceptable but his positivist underpinning is problematic. Critically examine the statement.	40
·         new public management  is dead; long live digital era of governance	20

 

2.    Development Administration:

·         not merely governance but good governance is the key factor in achieving the UN millennium goals 2000	20
·         concept of development is multi-dimensional & ever-expanding explain	20
·         management has become the new icon of developmetalism	20
·         do you think that there is a sort of paradox between e-governance & good governance	20

 

3.    Organizations:

explain the impact of privatization on public administration with special reference to : ·         the issue of user fees ·         public-private partnership ·         outstanding technique

60

 

4.    Accountability and control:

basic principles underlying citizen’s charter with special reference to: 20×3 = 60 ·         its administrative philosophy ·         promoting public accountability ·         ensuring standards of public service.

60

 

5.    Comparative Public Administration (तुलनात्मक प्रशासन):

·         prismatic model of riggs is equally applicable to developing as well as developed society. Comment

20

 

6.    Policy making (नीति निर्माण):

·         prismatic model of riggs is equally applicable to developing as well as developed society. Comment	20
·         p.a. can be portrayed as  wheel of relationship focused on the formulation & implementation of public policy. Explain	20
·         cost benefit analysis is a very unsatisfactory view of evaluating public policy	20

 

7.    Personnel Administration (कार्मिक प्रशासन):

·         explain the peter principle in respect of promotion policy in a hierarchical organization	20
·         discuss in this connection (Peter Principle) the case dor & against promotion based on seniority	40
·         distinguish fully between the syndicate method, role playing method &  T-group training method in personnel management	40
·         discuss the principles of ensuring ethics in public service as recommended in the Nolan committee report 1994	20

 

8.    Financial Administration (वित्तीय प्रशासन):

·         distinguish between PPBS & performance budget

20

 v Observations of Paper:

·         You’ve to answer totally 5 questions out of 7 questions (5x 60 marks =300 Marks)

·         You know Q#1 and #5 are compulsory so no escape from that.

·         Paper is divided into two sections (A and B) and you’ve to at least attempt one question from each.

Ø  Section-wise breakup (Paper-1):

Section	Question
A	1	Thinkers, Theory	Compulsory
	2	NPA + Herbert A. Simon
	3	Organizations (PPP)
	4	Accountability
B	5	D.A,CPA, Policy	Compulsory
	6	Personnel only!
	7	Mixed bag of Personnel, Finance, E-gov

1.       Thinkers and theories- the usual static stuff (after all what new can you ask from ‘history’!). But as NPA, NPM not given so much importance like they were given in 2009.

2.       Citizen’s carter, its getting so clichéd like Sas-Bahu serials. - there were questions last years too.

3.       The trend of asking a ‘big thinker’ for 40 marks is continued, last year it was Taylor so this year it’s Herbert A. Simon. May be it’ll be M.P.Follet or C.I. Barnard’s turn in 2011.

4.       Mcgregor and Likert are ‘small-time thinkers’ so they get only 20 marks worth question each as per their ‘aukaat’ (औकात) but it was in Compulsory Question #1.

5.       Thankfully no ‘quotes’ were asked (to show that UPSC now puts more emphasis on ‘understanding’ rather ‘cramming’ but then why was UPSC sleeping all these years!).

6.       In the early 90’s there was a trend: In GS paper they’d always ask about Tagore and his nationalist thoughts, like there was no one else to ask about. May be because all the GS History questions were set by same examiner for 3-4 years constantly. I’m seeing something similar here.

7.       Public Administration papers become more relevant to the contemporary issues: that’s why much weightage is given to Development administration, and personnel administration.

8.       No question from Tech. for Administrative improvement (That PERT, CPM stuff). There was question on E-governance but you’ve to prepare it even for Development administration, Essay and GS portion.

9.       CPA was for namesake only! But was in compulsory #5

10.   Question from Financial administration asked only for namesake formality! I was expecting a lot from this, given the fiscal deficit, 3G auction and GST issues in current affairs and the general emphasis given to economy related topics both in GS mains and prelims. But may be coaching classes had put heavy emphasis on this, that’s why UPSC ignored it like Chandrayaan last year.

11.   As usual the questions are designed in such a way that whole (boring) Public-Policy topic can be safely skipped: just the way coaching classes like it. But CSAT-2011 ‘syllabus has public-policy as a topic, so it might not be the same trend next year.

12. Thankfully no SHG (Self-Help group) questions. Material is hard to compile!

Ø  Coaching classes & Paper:

     Most coaching class ‘sirs’, teach on the basic principle that certain topics in optional subjects, can be safely ignored (Public Policy and Development administration): and they put heavy emphasis on Thinkers and Accountability part. Just like they do to History part in GS papers. I think someday UPSC going to run a bulldozer on that trend, like they did with History (GS) this year.

For Paper II analysis click here ......