UPSC Mains 2025 Public Administration Optional Paper I questions

28 questions from the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2025. Official UPSC paper (PDF) · All Public Administration Optional PYQs

1. Imperfect market and political factors limit the application of Public Choice approach. Explain.

2. The fine art of decision-making is not making decisions that others can make. Comment.

3. Has the media nixed its role in holding the governments accountable and ensuring transparency? Argue.

4. Is Herbert Simon justified in criticizing some principles of administration as proverbs? Analyse.

5. Administrative Law has evolved from the need to create a system of Public Administra- tion under law. Elucidate.

6. New Public Management has actually been a transitory state in evolution from traditional Public Administration to what is here called New Public Governance. Examine.

   20 marks

7. Mary Parker Follett pioneered the evolution of socio-psychological approach to the study of organizations. Explain.

8. Under the New Public Management framework 'Public Private Partnership' challenges the entropy of closed and open models of organization. Analyse.

9. In conflict situations in organizations, leadership migrates to the aggresive and relegates the emotionally matured to the background. Discuss.

   20 marks

10. The foundations of Public Administration, New Public Management and Public Governance rest on 'rule of law'. Discuss.

    5 marks

11. The principles of checks and balances count among the most fundamental constitutional values. Comment.

    5 marks

12. "Delegated legislation should be clear and should confine to the limits determined by the legislature." In light of the statement explain how misuse of administrative discretion can be checked?

    20 marks

13. Leadership is not only about taking credit for success but also owning up and being accountable for failures. Elucidate.

    5 marks

14. Bureaucracy constitutes the imaginary state and is the spiritualism of the State. Explain.

15. E-advocacy model of e-governance can facilitate democratization of public policy making. Discuss.

16. Neo-liberal policies have enhanced the scope and opportunities of taxation for the government. Explain.

17. Policy analysis process is limited if possible outcomes and alternate potential policies are neglected. Discuss.

18. Values and ethics in civil services are shaped by global practices and trends. Explain.

19. Economic development alone is not a sufficient component for women development and empowerment. Discuss.

20. W. Riggs's 'industria'-interdependent economy is a precursor for some features of post-modern Public Administration. Analyse.

    20 marks

21. The role and responsibility of the State in the development process has been overemphasized and given undue importance. Critically examine.

22. Affirmative action for equal opportunity is a corner-stone in recruitment to public services. Discuss it in global context.

    5 marks

23. The objective of Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization and of New Public Management was to limit government functions and reduce public expenditure. However both functions and expenditure has increased. Account for the paradox.

    20 marks

24. The basis of comparative study of Public Administration has evolved from institutional approach to the contemporary political economic process approach. Have all these approaches enabled the development of a theory of Comparative Public Administration? Justify your answer.

    5 marks

25. Can competency mapping linked to career development incentivise civil servants commitment to effective service delivery? Elaborate.

    5 marks

26. The effectiveness of civil society in development process is only when state institutions are receptive to inputs from the civil society organizations. Discuss.

    20 marks

27. Evaluate the role and scope of tacit knowledge and personal experience as an important source of knowledge in policy making process.

28. The efficacy of management aid tools depends on the purpose and appropriateness of tools and techniques. Explain with examples.