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UPSC Public Administration — Previous Year Questions

Every question from Public Administration papers in UPSC Civil Services Mains (2021–2026), organised by year. 96 questions in total, each with directive-word analysis, model answer points, and a full evaluation rubric.

96Questions
6Years covered

2026 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

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Paper I 8 Qs · 400 marksPaper II 8 Qs · 400 marks
All 16 questions from 2026

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) “There is an urgent need to incorporate the contribution of other disciplines into debates and analyses about… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) Different paradigms of public administration deal with the questions of ‘How’ and ‘Why’, but do not negate the… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Bureaucratic features have remained constant in organisations despite the development of different forms under NPM… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) Abraham Maslow propounded the theory of needs, which identified the basic needs that human beings have in order of… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) The objective of policy sciences is to develop policy knowledge for better policy-making. Comment. (10 marks) (b)… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) “Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization (LPG) successfully resolved the structural crisis of the welfare… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) The advent of Comparative Public Administration not only widened the knowledge of Public Administration, but also… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) Financial integrity, compliance with laws and performance standards, and efficient, economical and effective… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) Learnings from Arthasastra could make governance effective even today. Explore the potential. (10 marks) (b) The… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) An important characteristic of the British Civil Service was its open refusal to be influenced by commercial and… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Planning Commission planned for economic development and social justice, but NITI Aayog has been structured to… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) Doctrine of Pith and Substance, and the Doctrine of severability in the legislative relations between the Indian… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Lateral Entry in Government of India has not moved in the intended direction. Explain the reasons. (10 marks) (b)… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) Civil services is grappling with severe capacity issues and which is a major bottleneck in implementing ambitious… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Supreme Court of India in Prakash Singh case laid the foundation for effective police reforms in India, but the… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) Discuss the major management challenges faced by Indian Mega Cities and explore sustainable, inclusive urban… 50 marks

2025 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

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Paper I 8 Qs · 400 marksPaper II 8 Qs · 400 marks
All 16 questions from 2025

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) Imperfect market and political factors limit the application of Public Choice approach. Explain. (10 marks) (b) The… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) New Public Management has actually been a transitory state in evolution from traditional Public Administration to… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) In conflict situations in organizations, leadership migrates to the aggressive and relegates the emotionally… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) "Delegated legislation should be clear and should confine to the limits determined by the legislature." In light of… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) E-advocacy model of e-governance can facilitate democratization of public policy making. Discuss. (10 marks) (b)… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) F. W. Riggs's 'industria'-interdependent economy is a precursor for some features of post-modern Public… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) The objective of Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization and of New Public Management was to limit… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) The effectiveness of civil society in development process is only when state institutions are receptive to inputs… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) Arthashastra of Kautilya means the science of economics of livelihood of the people. Comment. (10 marks) (b) Trace… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) "The colonial legacy is responsible for many administrative problems in independent India as the role of company… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) While the Constitution offers a strong framework for decentralized and accountable governance, the real test lies… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) Experience of various States suggests that reorganization of districts was prompted more by politico-populist… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Low cyber awareness among officials is causing cyber security issues in the administration. Comment. (10 marks) (b)… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) does not effectively address local level… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Many elected women representatives in local governments in India, especially from marginalized backgrounds, often… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) Metropolitan cities are providing major portions of national wealth, but their governance is fraught with intricate… 50 marks

2024 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

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Paper I 8 Qs · 400 marksPaper II 8 Qs · 400 marks
All 16 questions from 2024

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) "Politics-administration dichotomy debate is still alive." Comment. (10 marks) (b) "Formal organisations are made… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) McGregor's 'Theory X' and 'Theory Y' provide insights into human motivation at workplace differently. Examine in… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Strengthening social audit through appropriate ways will promote inclusive government. Comment. (20 marks) (b) The… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) ERG theory of motivation attempts to reconceptualise the theory of Hierarchy of Needs. Comment. (20 marks) (b)… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) The Anti-Development Thesis is a critical perspective on the traditional development models. Comment. (10 marks)… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) A trend to adopt innovative practices in administrative ethics is gaining ground for improving public trust in… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Riggs' Prismatic Model has been criticised as overly gloomy and technical complex, but it remains as a useful… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) Bureaucracy in developing countries faces several challenges and tackling of these will make them more responsive… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) "Ethics in Public services has been the main concern of Kautilya's Arthashastra." Examine the statement. (10 marks)… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) The National Data and Analysis Platform (NDAP) of NITI Aayog facilitates a robust ecosystem to promote… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) "The role of State Finance Commission in distribution of finances between state and local governments is vital."… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) Public sector undertakings have been the bedrock of welfareism in India for many decades. Evaluate the pros and… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) The constitutional stature provided to the Public Service Commissions accord them the autonomy to work towards fair… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) "The success of administrative reforms in a country like India depends upon the political will." Comment. (20… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) The separation of police investigation and prosecution has its own benefits and challenges. Analyse in context of… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) Police-Public relations are poor in India. What measures are required to strengthen these relations? (20 marks) (b)… 50 marks

2023 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

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Paper I 8 Qs · 400 marksPaper II 8 Qs · 400 marks
All 16 questions from 2023

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) Public administration horizons have been expanding to cater to the complex needs of the citizens in the globalized… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) Follett firmly advocated for cultivating interdependence and collaboration among individuals as the key to… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) "Organization theory is not a single theory with a loosely knit of many approaches to organizational analysis, and… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) "Reddin model of leadership added third dimension to the existing two basic dimensions of leadership identified by… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) "The Constitution of French Republic does not prohibit ministers from being the leader of political party; it is… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) "The studies in Comparative Public Administration (CPA) got momentum in 1980's and 1990's with a new objective and… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) "Public policy-making is an effort to apply the methods of political analysis to policy areas but has concerns with… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) "The management of sound public finances used to be the backbone of administrative systems; but unfortunately, it… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) "Kautilya's Arthashastra is a theoretical work on the State and Statecraft." Comment. 10 (b) Critics, sometimes… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) "Indian Prime Minister is more empowered than his British counterpart in the Westminster model of democracy."… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) India has significantly advanced in its development goals, increased efficiency in the public sector and unlocked… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) "There shall be Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Governor in the… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) The district training component of Induction Training of IAS officers requires to be revisited. Examine. 10 (b)… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) "Civil Service Reforms along with a transparent transfer policy will go a long way in insulating civil servants… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Accountability of the Executive to the Parliament in the domain of financial administration is secured through CAG… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) In the context of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission recommendations, evaluate Public-Private Partnership… 50 marks

2022 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

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Paper I 8 Qs · 400 marksPaper II 8 Qs · 400 marks
All 16 questions from 2022

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) Public Management takes 'what' and 'why' from Public Administration and 'how' from Business Management. Elaborate… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) 'The administrative state is the creation of a power to bind us, with rules ... that are not made by legislature.'… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Barnard posits the zone of indifference as the human condition that animates authority relationships and… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) 'Leadership is seen as dealing with change, whereas administration is viewed as coping with complexity.' In this… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Development Administration 'embraces the array of new functions assumed by the developing countries'. Explain. (10… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) 'The more exogenetic the process of diffraction, the more formalistic and heterogenous its prismatic phase; the… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) The results of Washington Consensus were far from optimal for transitional economies. In this background, discuss… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) The audit function has always been viewed as an integral part of government financial management. Discuss the… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) "Mughal administrative system was centralised despotism". Comment. (10 marks) (b) "The office of the District… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) "The Indian federal structure is largely symmetric albeit with some asymmetric features". Examine the status of… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) "The New Economic Reforms during the past three decades have not only reduced the scope of industrial licensing and… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) "The Indian judicial system has failed to deliver justice expeditiously". Examine the challenges faced by the… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Examine the lateral entry recruitment in government in the context of Part XIV of the Indian Constitution. (10… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) The recommendations of National Finance Commissions are more norms based than the need based. In the light of this… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) In India, for the upliftment of majority of people, governmental intervention remains a central fact of life… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) The main objective of Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 is to enable tribal society to assume… 50 marks

2021 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

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Paper I 8 Qs · 400 marksPaper II 8 Qs · 400 marks
All 16 questions from 2021

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) "Governance is about managing self-organizing networks." Elaborate. (10 marks) (b) "Two-dimensional taxonomy was… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) Behavioural approach has been questioned on the basis of its utility in the analysis of administrative problems… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Integration of different streams of administrative thought to propound a universal administrative theory is… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) The new public service model approaches governance on the premises of an active and involved citizenship, wherein… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) The approach to the study of administration in its environmental context is especially more useful for developing… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) Emphasis on cost control and reducing public expenditure has diverted the focus of government budgets from the… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Policy problems are increasingly tending towards being wicked. Discuss the capacity and preparedness of the State… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) The successful attainment of SDGs objectives largely depends upon the wisdom, experience and farsightedness of the… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) The Preamble to the Constitution of India provides a foundational framework of ideals and values for the Indian… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) Kautilya envisages protection, welfare and prosperity of the State and its people as the utmost concern of a ruler… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Recruitment is the cornerstone of the whole public personnel structure and it revolves around the problem of… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) As a constitutionally mandated body the Finance Commission stands at the centre of fiscal federalism. Evaluate the… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) No rural development strategy can succeed unless it is complemented by appropriate Panchayati Raj Institutions… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) Budget proposals in the Parliament / State Legislatures fail to ensure their effective scrutiny. Identify the… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Contemporary urbanism advocates the integration of diverse modes of urban planning and management concerns. Discuss… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) In past two decades India's public policy on Disaster Management has shifted its focus from rescue, relief and… 50 marks

How Public Administration answers are marked

The shape the examiner expects, what earns the marks and the traps that lose them: the same card our rubrics for this subject are written from.

Answer skeleton

  1. Concept
  2. Thinker
  3. Indian institutional application
  4. Reform

What earns the marks

  • Pair every theory with an Indian administrative instance
  • Paper II: name the committee, commission or Article
  • Show the gap between theory and field reality
  • Distinguish administration from politics deliberately

What earns the extra mark

  • 2nd ARC recommendation
  • Recent governance reform

Traps that cost marks

  • GS-2 style answers
  • Theory with no Indian anchor
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