Public Administration
Exercise
1. (A) Choose the correct alternative and complete the following statements.
1. The backbone of any administrative system is human resource. (material resource, human resource, natural resource, geographic resource)
2. Gulick and Urwick put forth the acronym POSDCORB. (Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Simon,
Urwick, Dwight Waldo)
(B) Identify the incorrect pair in every set, correct it, and rewrite.
Incorrect pair:
(c) Machiavelli – Republic
Corrected pair:
(c) Machiavelli – The Prince
(Explanation: The document mentions Machiavelli’s work as The Prince, not Republic. Republic is associated with Plato.)
Corrected set:
(a) Kautilya – Arthashastra
(b) Aristotle – The Politics
(c) Machiavelli – The Prince
(C) State the appropriate concept for the given statement.
1. The systematic management of governmental affairs in 18th century Germany and Austria – Cameralism
(Explanation: The document describes Cameralism as a system of administrative practices in Germany and Austria during the 17th and 18th centuries.)
2. Efforts of companies to integrate social and environmental concerns – Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
(Explanation: The document defines CSR as companies’ efforts to address social and environmental issues, such as pollution control and educational programs.)
2. State whether the following statements are true or false with reasons.
1. The first step in administration is staffing.
False.
Reason: According to the POSDCORB framework in the document, the first step in administration is planning, where a blueprint or outline is prepared, followed by other steps like staffing.
2. Public Administration as an academic discipline was born in India.
False.
Reason: The document states that Public Administration as an academic discipline was born in the United States, with Woodrow Wilson’s essay in 1887 laying its foundation.
3. Explain the correlation between the following.
1. Political Science and Public Administration
Political Science and Public Administration are closely related. Political Science studies the state, government, and how society governs itself, including the making of laws and public policies. Public Administration, a sub-discipline of Political Science, focuses on implementing these policies and laws through the executive branch. While Political Science deals with policy formulation (e.g., by Parliament), Public Administration ensures their execution (e.g., by bureaucrats). For example, a law passed by the legislature is carried out by public administrators like District Collectors or Police Officers.
2. National Administration and State Administration
National and State Administration are interconnected within India’s federal structure. National Administration operates at the central level through ministries like Home or Defence, headed by ministers and supported by bureaucrats recruited via UPSC. State Administration functions at the state level with similar ministries, also led by ministers and staffed by bureaucrats selected through State PSCs (e.g., MPSC in Maharashtra). Both levels work together to implement policies, with the national level setting broader guidelines and the state level adapting them to regional needs. For instance, a national policy like Ayushman Bharat is implemented by states with local adjustments.
4. Answer the following.
1. Explain the functioning of the administration.
The administration in India functions at three levels: national, state, and local, with each level having specific roles:
- National Level: The Central Government operates through ministries (e.g., Agriculture, Health), each headed by a minister and supported by bureaucrats. Institutions like the Election Commission and NITI Aayog also require administrators. The UPSC conducts recruitment for these posts.
- State Level: State Governments have ministries similar to the central level, headed by ministers and staffed by bureaucrats recruited via State PSCs (e.g., MPSC). They implement state-specific policies.
- Local Level: This includes urban (Municipal Corporations/Councils) and rural (Zilla Parishad, Panchayat Samiti, Gram Panchayat) administration. Officers like Collectors, Municipal Commissioners, or Tehsildars manage these areas.
The bureaucracy remains politically neutral, following the Constitution. Political leaders (ministers, elected members) guide policies, while bureaucrats execute them. For example, a Sarpanch works with a Gram Sevak to implement village-level programs.
2. Explain the steps in public policy making.
Public policy making involves three steps:
- Policy Choice: This is the decision-making stage where issues (e.g., waste management) are identified by politicians, bureaucrats, or citizens. Various options are discussed, and a specific policy or program is chosen. For example, deciding to segregate waste at source for better disposal.
- Policy Output: This is the implementation stage, where the chosen policy is put into action. Government and non-government agencies may be involved. For instance, waste segregation plans are executed by local authorities.
- Policy Impact: This is the evaluation stage, where the policy’s effectiveness is assessed. Problems in implementation are identified to improve future outcomes. For example, checking if waste segregation reduced pollution in the area.
5. Answer the following in detail with reference to the given points.
1. Discuss the scope of public administration with reference to the following points.
The scope of public administration, as per the narrow perspective (POSDCORB), includes:
- Planning: The first step where a blueprint is prepared for achieving goals. For example, NITI Aayog plans national development from the grassroots level upward.
- Organisation: Establishing a formal structure to coordinate work, like All India Services or state-level departments, to achieve planned objectives.
- Staffing: Recruiting and training personnel to run the administration. For instance, UPSC recruits bureaucrats, ensuring favorable working conditions for them.
- Co-ordination: Aligning different parts of the organization (e.g., branches, divisions) to avoid overlap and conflicts. This ensures smooth functioning, like coordinating between ministries.
- Reporting: Sharing information about ongoing or completed tasks with higher authorities to maintain accountability. For example, a District Collector reports progress to the state government.
These elements collectively ensure the executive branch operates efficiently to implement government policies.
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