Public Administration
- Paper-I and II: Each 3 hours and 250 marks.
- There are 8 questions divided into two sections, printed in both Hindi and English.
- You’ve to attempt 5 questions. No.1 and 5 are compulsory and out of remaining, 3 are to be attempted choosing atleast 1 question from each section.
- Word limit, wherever specific, should be adhered to. (Mrunal- they did not specify wordlimit in questions, except for Q1 and Q5).
- Attempt all questions in chronological order, unless struck off, attempt of a question shall be counted even if attempted partially. Any page of portion of the page left blank in the question-cum-answer booklet must be clearly struck off.
Paper1: SECTION-A
Q1 (Compulsory) Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10 x 5 = 50 marks.
- What are the implications of the post-structuralist perspective on the discrete aspects of Public Administration, coming from its epistemological positions?
- “Adaptive, problem-solving, temporary systems of diverse specialists, linked together by coordinating executives in an organic flux-this is original form that will gradually replace bureaucracy”. Discuss, in the light of this statement, the ‘end of bureaucracy’ thesis and its strengths and limitations.
- “Karl Marx’s interpretation of bureaucracy was rooted in the history of the nature of the State”. Evaluate.
- “The conceptual division between administrative and constitutional law is quite porous, and that along many dimensions, administrative law can be considered more constitutional in character that the constitutions.” How would you justify the statement?
- Is Peter Drucker justified in saying, “Management principles should not tell us what to do, but only tell us what not to do”? Comment.
Q2. Answer following (20+15+15=50 marks)
- “Governance theory and the nation of governmentality have many points of convergence, but they run on parallel lines.” Comment. 20 marks.
- “Taylor’s ideas need modification in the context of post-industrial economies in contemporary era.” Justify with reasons. 15 marks
- How does the Strategic Contingencies Theory of organizational design deal with problems arising from sub-unit centrality and non-substituability? 15 marks.
Q3. Answer following (20+15+15=50 marks)
- According to Macgregor, “true professional help is not in playing God with the client, but in placing professional knowledge and skills at the client’s disposal.” In the light of above statement, justify how theory-Y is indicative and not prescriptive. 20 marks
- the notion of informal organisation is a residual or cafeteria concept of diverse and sprawling contents. How does Gouldner established the need for understanding the interdigitations between the formal and informal organisation. 15 marks
- The right to information is not all about citizens empowerment, it essentially redefines the concept of accountability. Discuss. 15 marks
Q4. Answer following (20+15+15=50 marks)
- New public management and post new public management reforms initiatives ever affected the balance between managerial, political, administrative, legal, professional and social accountability. Analye.
- Delegation to independent agencies has taken place in an interdependent progress driven by emulation. Discuss in the context of independent regulatory agencies in the modern regulatory state.
- Voluntary organizations have become tools of sensitization of governmental agencies. comment.
Paper1: SECTION-B
Q5. (Compulsory) Answer following in 150 words each. (5 x 10 = 50 marks)
- Critically examine the Riggsian concept of differentiation in context of post-globalisation era.
- The term development Administration can be used only in a broad sense to mark the variety of approaches and point of view. Discuss
- The bottom line for governance outcome rather than the outputs of government. Analyse in context of e-government and e-governance.
- “Policies determine politics as governments constrain.” Attempt a critique of this statement.
- Instead of reforms to budgetary process Wildavsky proposes to redefine the role of political institutions and rules by which politics leads to agreement on budget. Explain
Q6. Answer following (20+15+15=50 marks)
- The fact that we call something performance auditing means that we imply salient features which can distinguish it from other forms of enquiry. Discuss with reference to the main majors or indicators of performance measurement.
- The output studies approach to public policy analyses ovestresses the rational techniques and allocative dimension of public policy. Analyse the statement.
- The field of MIS is not necessarily an extension of computer science, but of management and organisation theory. Elucidate
Q7. Answer following (20+15+15=50 marks)
- The technical and multidisciplinary nature of e-governance has created an interdependent relationship within government between policymakers, program administrators and technical specialists. Analyse in context of generalist – specialist relationship
- Self-help groups have not only empowered women, but have also brought about attitudinal change among all stakeholders towards women development. Discuss
- Many African and Asian countries have inherited the colonial idea of civil service as a privileged elite. Hence, the social status of the civil services is an important aspect of the bureaucracy’s unsuitability for change. Comment.
Q8. Answer following (20+15+15=50 marks)
- Identify the main elements of program budgeting, output budgeting and new performance budgeting. What do they have in common with PPBS?
- According to Y.Dror, “the science of modelling through is essentially a reinforcement of pro inertia and anti-innovation ideas in policy-making.” Comment
- British philosophy of Administration is based on a unification of science of Administration with ethics. Analyze.
PubAd: Paper-2 Section-A
Q1. (Compulsory) 150 words x 10 marks each x 5 = 50 marks
- Ethics in public services has been the central concern of Kautilya’s Arthashastra. Critically examine the statement
- discuss the valuable premise of constitutionalism in India which the bureaucracy cannot violate
- the functional role of 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.
- Despite the adoption of decentralised planning, participatory initiative remain marginalised and divisive live in many regions. Discuss
- 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 administrive, commission). Do you agree? Give reasons to support your arguments.
Q2. 20+20+10 marks
- “public sector undertakings must learn to survive and be entrepreneurial, without assured government budgetary support.” In the light of the statement give your suggestions for strengthening their autonomy and reviving the health of sick public sector undertakings.
- Indian administration is said to be characterised by its three features viz.Weberian structures, Kautilyan practice and Gandhian rhetoric. Examine the statement.
- District collector is a legacy of the British Raj and has largely remained insulated from the demands of contemporary professionalism. Discuss
Q3. 20+20+10 marks
- gender responsive budgeting has infused greater accountability of planning departments towards women empowerment programs. Examine the statement.
- The Gubernatorial position of the Governor is comfortably placed in the fuzzy area between “withdrawal of the pleasure of the Presiden” and “compelling reasons for removal.” Discuss with some recent examples.
- Beneath the soft outer shell of democratic administrative framework lies unscathed the steel frame of Indian administration which has survived through ages. In the light of the statement, examine the relationship between bureaucracy and development in the last one decade.
Q4. 20+20+10 marks
- management of intergovernmental relations is as important as that of intergovernmental relations. Examine its impact upon the performance of the government.
- How far do you agree with the view that national development Council could resonate the demands of the state governments as long as planning commission is Subservient to it? Critically examine.
- Critically examine the statement: “Thana (police station) as the last bastion of the waning British administrative legacy in India.”
PubAd: Paper-2 Section-B
Q5. (Compulsory) 150 words x 10 marks each x 5 = 50 marks
- Discuss the changes in the powers of controller and auditor General of India, following a recent Supreme Court judgement concerning a private service provider. #Mrunalarticle=10 marks be counted under Bogus Marketing Propoganda.
- Parliamentary committees bring about accountability and public expenditure. Discuss
- do you think that the role of Panchayati Raj should go beyond development Administration? Give reasons for your answer.
- Police – public relations are a story of insincere efforts made both sides. Elaborate
- from coalition government to one-party dominance is of the change that is bound to affect the governmental system. Explain why and how
Q6. 20+20+10 marks
- Assess the role of honest and upright civil servants in regulatory and development administration in India. Give examples to substantiate your arguments.
- “Social auditing of flagship programmes of the Central government facilitates the performance of the Comptroller and Auditor-General.” Elaborate the statement with appropriate examples.
- Explain the notion of one hundred ‘smart cities’ and its likely impact on India’s urbanization.
Q7. 20+20+10 marks
- Elaborate the features of the grievance redressal mechanism of the civil services in India. Does this mechanism satisfy the objectives of its creation?
- The 13th Finance Commission highlighted an indispensable need to improve the finances of rural and urban level bodies. Does this make local bodies more accountable in the discharge of their functions?
- “Unimplemented reforms in administration weaken the administrative reforms process most.” Do you agree? Give your answer citing specific cases as illustrations.
Q8. 20+20+10 marks
- Discuss the need for civil service neutrality in development administration. Suggest some measures for achieving and strengthening it in practice.
- Supreme Court ruling on 31st October, 2013 in respect of bureaucracy’s functioning would help achieve good governance. Analyze this ruling and add your comments on it.
- 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.
Other odd optionals
UPSC will upload official paper within 35-40 days, like they did after Mains-2013. So no point in filling RTIs. Just wait and watch. and if you already have the paper then upload on google drive and share link in comments.
Some of the papers were shared by readers such as Mathametics, Electrical Engineering etc. you can find them on following folder:
https://files.secureserver.net/0fiTObWTXNUtV4
Compulsory Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati language
Exam is scheduled on 20th December and I’ve contacts for all three. Will upload tomorrow night on this same page.

Amit bhai P 2 GEO bhi daal do
Geology question..pls upload
Yes, i am from geology background. But do have lots of doubts and insecurities for deciding it as my optional subject. Can you mail me up then we can be touch on whatsapp or FB
nmcoolnik@gmail.com
Geog paper seemed okay…but i couldnt wrire well. Screwed up. My fault. Wht abt other guys? Somebody plz console me :(
Hugs will be better :((
@ Mrunal:- Plz Upload Sociology Paper
thanks bhardwaj ji
Any 1 sociology paper ..plzz
Sir please give some strategy and sources to deal with increased difficulty level of pubad paper1
Hi guys,
Find geography question papers here.
https://drive.google.com/folder/d/0B1nGbw7FdbXLTkppam83Z0o3S0E/edit
Thanks a lot.. U r really relief-giver..
Best of luck for your upcoming adventures !!
Best of luck to you too!!
Hi.suthakar, please share me how u uploaded this paper on Google . Thanks
I snapped the pictures with my mobile and uploaded through the Google drive android app.
Thanks Suthakar, very neat scan. Geography paper has been uploaded..
Welcome Mrunal sir. Thanks for your selfless service.
@Maharathees
plz if anybody can post history optional papers.
sir,waiting for Anthropology paper…do upload it without fail
Sir how are BA and MA Ignou notes for pub ad preparation? Plz give your opinion about them sir.
Mrunal sir plzz upload medical science optional paper..
thanks for the 1 st paper ,,,can i get the 2nd paper also
Here are links for the Political Science papers. Apologies for the ticks, and any other marks on the paper!
Paper 1: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3Lfttg6ThD5d0FyTENET2FXcDA/view?usp=sharing
Paper 2: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3Lfttg6ThD5TDlyWHpPcHZNWHM/view?usp=sharing
P.S. – Don’t think it was difficult for those who were well prepared, my prep fell short so didn’t do too well, though managed to attempt most of the paper. Aglee baar!! :-)
Thanks for the paper
Thank you so much Nimisha for the upload.I have taken Pol science as optional for 2015 and I am quite satisfied with the questions asked reinforcing my choice of optional.Is it fine if you can share your email id so that I can discuss with you my queries regarding this optional as and when I dig more in the subject. … Thanks in advance… All the best :) …. Umeed hai is baar hi aapko accha score aaye !! :) tc
Hi, What is your comment on pol.sci. paper 1. About no / less traditional thinkers questions?
Do we need to expect such continuation?
saj.ambitions to gmail.com
My corrected mail id- saj.ambitiondt @gmail.com
Thanks.
Hi. Am appering in 2015 ias exams .just saw the pub ad paper.i had started my preparation with pub ad but I find ppr 1 totally unreachable. Do you advice sociology might be a better option? am from engineering background.
start preparing for prelims from now.. remember choose optional carefully and start preparing simultaneously for that also, try to get good suggestions from seniors and ppl who have cleared first 2 stages of the exam, dont pile up the books now itself, try to go through some materials available in the market. And sociology would be better than pubad….. ATB!
Thank you amit… plz upload geography paper 2
Sir, if you can arrange papers of philosophy, it’d be greatly helpful.
Sir please, if possible, could u post commerce accounts optional paper as well.
Thanks
geography paper looked easy at first but while writing all meshed up :-(….
Thanks Amit………Best wishes for your future
Please share Questions Geography Paper II Specially Map question…..thanks
Awaiting for history optional..
commerce. optional. plz. shr. strategy. 4. nxt. yr. n. suggested. readin……
i m widout coacing(except. mrunal). 4rm. westbengal….
For Paper 1 All CA inter books plus cost accounting standards
For Paper 2 CA PE-1 organization and management book and CB Gupta
If you prepare thoroughly you can score 250-300 for sure
Bro i m thinkin to folo my coleg buk and. Had orderd. xerox. Notes of rankers….
N how much. Hrs i wil hav to study to complit sylabus in 4 months
Hi Anup, from where you ordered?
Siddhartha Garg > UPSC civil services, IAS, IPS, PCS 2015 aspirants: self-study
group
Hi everyone,
If anyone is in need of buying material for IAS exam (UPSC exam) for prelims or for
Mains for General studies (prelims paper-I), CSAT(prelims paper-II), General studies
(Mains 4 papers) from Vajiram or from any other institute for any optional like Public
Administration (from M.K.Mohanty or vajiram), Sociology (Dharmendra Sir or Upendra
Sir), History (S.Baliyan or Hemant Jha), Geography (K.siddhartha or neetu Singh or
Alok Ranjan), Commerce & Accountancy (Rankers classes) or Philosophy or for any
other optional, you can mail me at upscmaterial@yahoo.com or can cal him
09015326252.
Thank you sir………waiting for history optional
If any body has Electrical Engg paper then please send me at my mail id satishkt1@rediffmail.com or at bits.tripathi@gmail.com. Thanks Alot
thanks in advance
please send maths papers
Any one please upload paper for Civil Engg?
thanks
Hi ashutosh.. posted links in page 3… Anup’s reply… njoy…. :)
please post medical science paper
sir if possible pls upload poly science papers
Please upload Chemistry optional papers friends!!!
hey, mail me if you somehow find chemistry optional papers.. email id: rahulg583@gmail.com