With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements : 1. N. Gopalaswamy Iyengar Committee suggested that a minister and a secretary be designated solely for pursuing the subject of administrative reform and promoting it. 2. In 1970, the Department of Personnel was constituted on the recommendation of the Administrative Reforms Commission, 1966, and this was placed under the Prime Minister's charge. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Why the answer is (b)
• Statement 1 is treated as incorrect in the official key. The N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar report on the Reorganisation of the Machinery of Government (1949) recommended restructuring the Central Secretariat (a Department under a Secretary, a Ministry under a Minister) and setting up Organisation and Methods machinery; it did not propose a minister and a secretary devoted solely to administrative reform. The O&M Division came in 1954 (following Paul Appleby's report) and a separate Department of Administrative Reforms only in 1964.
• Statement 2 is correct: on the recommendation of the first Administrative Reforms Commission (1966–70), the Department of Personnel was set up in 1970 in the Cabinet Secretariat and placed under the Prime Minister's charge.
• Hence 2 only, option (b) — the official UPSC answer.
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 only
- The official key treats statement 1 as incorrect and statement 2 as correct.
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- Only statement 2 is correct per the official key; statement 1 is treated as incorrect.
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
- Statement 2 is correct: the Department of Personnel was set up in 1970 under the Prime Minister.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2021, held on 10 October 2021. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.