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UPSC CSE Mains 2025 — Public Administration Questions with Answers
All 56 Public Administration previous-year questions from UPSC CSE Mains 2025, each with the correct answer and a full explanation. Practise them as a free, timed mock test with instant scoring.
Practice Public Administration as a timed test →- Q1.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
Imperfect market and political factors limit the application of Public Choice approach. Explain.
- Q2.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
The fine art of decision-making is not making decisions that others can make. Comment.
- Q3.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
Has the media nixed its role in holding the governments accountable and ensuring transparency? Argue.
- Q4.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
Is Herbert Simon justified in criticizing some principles of administration as proverbs? Analyse.
- Q5.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
Administrative Law has evolved from the need to create a system of Public Administration under law. Elucidate.
- Q6.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
New Public Management has actually been a transitory state in evolution from traditional Public Administration to what is here called New Public Governance. Examine.
- Q7.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
Mary Parker Follett pioneered the evolution of socio-psychological approach to the study of organizations. Explain.
- Q8.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
Under the New Public Management framework ‘Public Private Partnership’ challenges the entropy of closed and open models of organization. Analyse.
- Q9.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
In conflict situations in organizations, leadership migrates to the aggresive and relegates the emotionally matured to the background. Discuss.
- Q10.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
The foundations of Public Administration, New Public Management and Public Governance rest on ‘rule of law’. Discuss.
- Q11.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
The principles of checks and balances count among the most fundamental constitutional values. Comment.
- Q12.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
“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?
- Q13.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
Leadership is not only about taking credit for success but also owning up and being accountable for failures. Elucidate.
- Q14.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
Bureaucracy constitutes the imaginary state and is the spiritualism of the State. Explain.
- Q15.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
E-advocacy model of e-governance can facilitate democratization of public policy making. Discuss.
- Q16.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
Neo-liberal policies have enhanced the scope and opportunities of taxation for the government. Explain.
- Q17.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
Policy analysis process is limited if possible outcomes and alternate potential policies are neglected. Discuss.
- Q18.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
Values and ethics in civil services are shaped by global practices and trends. Explain.
- Q19.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
Economic development alone is not a sufficient component for women development and empowerment. Discuss.
- Q20.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
F. W. Riggs’s ‘industria’-interdependent economy is a precursor for some features of post-modern Public Administration. Analyse.
- Q21.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
The role and responsibility of the State in the development process has been overemphasized and given undue importance. Critically examine.
- Q22.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
Affirmative action for equal opportunity is a corner-stone in recruitment to public services. Discuss it in global context.
- Q23.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
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.
- Q24.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
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.
- Q25.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
Can competency mapping linked to career development incentivise civil servants commitment to effective service delivery? Elaborate.
- Q26.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
The effectiveness of civil society in development process is only when state institutions are receptive to inputs from the civil society organizations. Discuss.
- Q27.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
Evaluate the role and scope of tacit knowledge and personal experience as an important source of knowledge in policy making process.
- Q28.Public Administration Optional — Paper I
The efficacy of management aid tools depends on the purpose and appropriateness of tools and techniques. Explain with examples.
- Q29.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Arthashastra of Kautilya means the science of economics of livelihood of the people. Comment.
- Q30.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Trace the reasons for limited effectiveness of the NITI Aayog.
- Q31.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Highlight the constitutional provisions and judicial interventions to promote gender equality in India.
- Q32.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
In contemporary times, the District Collector should prioritize teamwork over hierarchical structures. Comment.
- Q33.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Examine the significance of field organizations in enhancing policy implementation of projects like MGNREGA and Swachh Bharat Mission.
- Q34.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
“The colonial legacy is responsible for many administrative problems in independent India as the role of company agents and traders evolved into Magistrates, Governors and Civil Servants.” Analyze.
- Q35.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Despite the division of subjects, the Union Government contributes towards subjects in the State and Concurrent Lists. Discuss its pros and cons in the light of fiscal federalism.
- Q36.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Divergent political interests and financial constraints hinder the spirit of ‘cooperative federalism’. Comment.
- Q37.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
While the Constitution offers a strong framework for decentralized and accountable governance, the real test lies in how institutions, civil society and citizens uphold constitutional values in practice. Examine.
- Q38.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Liberalization of Indian economy has forced public enterprises to enhance their efficiency, but the effects of these reforms have been a topic of debate. Analyze.
- Q39.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Centre-State administrative relations are a matter of debate as constitutional provisions created a strong Centre. Discuss.
- Q40.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Experience of various States suggests that reorganization of districts was prompted more by politico-populist convenience rather than ease of administration. Discuss.
- Q41.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Lack of clear demarcation of roles between the State Secretariat and the Directorate has serious implications for policy making and policy implementation. Do you agree?
- Q42.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Decentralized planning in India signifies a shift towards context-sensitive development, but inadequate resources and local politics complicate the realization of social justice goals. Comment.
- Q43.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Low cyber awareness among officials is causing cyber security issues in the administration. Comment.
- Q44.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
The ‘guillotine’ hastens the budgetary process to meet the timeline. Evaluate the procedure.
- Q45.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
New localism plays a crucial role in empowering the local actors. Expand.
- Q46.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Gram Sabha aims to enlist community participation. Explain.
- Q47.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Identify the implementation challenges and issues of the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
- Q48.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) does not effectively address local level issues. Give your opinion.
- Q49.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Do you think ‘Aadhaar’ initiative has promoted inclusive governance and administrative credibility? Throw light.
- Q50.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Smart Policing and Community Policing programmes have been initiated to address socio-technological challenges in law and order. Discuss.
- Q51.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Many elected women representatives in local governments in India, especially from marginalized backgrounds, often struggle to govern effectively. Examine.
- Q52.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Budget is the pivot around which the whole financial administration revolves. Discuss the socio-economic and political implications of budget.
- Q53.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Assess the role of Government Process Reengineering (GPR) in promoting good governance.
- Q54.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Metropolitan cities are providing major portions of national wealth, but their governance is fraught with intricate institutional relationships. Explain.
- Q55.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Training and capacity building represent different scope and objectives. Explain the key differences.
- Q56.Public Administration Optional — Paper II
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as an innovative tool in disaster management. Illustrate with examples.
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