Public Administration 2022 Paper II 50 marks 150 words Compulsory Comment

Q1

Answer the following in about 150 words. 10×5=50 (a) "Mughal administrative system was centralised despotism". Comment. 10 (b) "The office of the District Collector admirably survived the changing times from colonialism to the present times". Comment. 10 (c) "The smooth transaction of business in Ministries and Departments depends on the role played by Cabinet Secretariat". Discuss. 10 (d) "The Government of India Act, 1935 is the most important source of Indian constitution". Identify its features. 10 (e) "The Chief Secretary is the chief communication link between the state and central government". Explain. 10

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

निम्नलिखित में से प्रत्येक का लगभग 150 शब्दों में उत्तर दीजिए। 10×5=50 (a) "मुगल प्रशासनिक व्यवस्था केन्द्रीकृत निरंकुशतावादी थी।" टिप्पणी कीजिए। 10 (b) "उपनिवेशवाद से लेकर वर्तमान तक बदलते हुए समय के बावजूद जिला कलेक्टर का पद सराहनीय रूप से अब भी टिका हुआ है।" टिप्पणी कीजिए। 10 (c) "मंत्रालयों एवं विभागों में कार्यों का निर्बाध संपादन मंत्रिमण्डलीय सचिवालय की भूमिका पर निर्भर करता है।" विवेचना कीजिए। 10 (d) "भारत सरकार अधिनियम, 1935 भारतीय संविधान का सबसे महत्वपूर्ण स्रोत है।" इसकी विशेषताओं की पहचान कीजिए। 10 (e) "मुख्य सचिव राज्य और केन्द्र सरकार के बीच मुख्य संचार-कड़ी है"। व्याख्या कीजिए। 10

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Directive word: Comment

This question asks you to comment. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

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How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The primary directive is 'comment' for parts (a) and (b), while (c) requires 'discuss', (d) asks to 'identify features', and (e) demands 'explain'. Allocate approximately 30 words (20% time) per sub-part, ensuring balanced coverage across all five. Structure each part as: brief contextual statement → analytical content addressing the specific directive → concluding observation. Avoid over-elaborating on any single part; precision and coverage across all five components is essential for scoring.

Key points expected

  • (a) Mughal administration: Mansabdari system as tool of centralisation; Emperor as fountain of justice; limited local autonomy; comparison with feudal decentralisation; despotism tempered by administrative pragmatism
  • (b) District Collector: Evolution from revenue collector to development officer; continuity through ICS to IAS; post-Independence expansion of functions (DRDA, DM, CEO ZP); survival despite Panchayati Raj and 73rd/74th Amendments
  • (c) Cabinet Secretariat: Coordination of inter-ministerial business; preparation of Cabinet agenda; Rule 12 of Transaction of Business Rules; crisis management role; secretarial assistance to PM and Cabinet
  • (d) GoI Act 1935: Federal structure with provincial autonomy; All-India Federation (never implemented); bicameral legislature; separation of powers; emergency provisions; direct election principle; retained in Constitution Parts V-VI
  • (e) Chief Secretary: Administrative head of state civil service; Secretary to state Cabinet; channel for central directives and state reports; role in Planning Commission/NITI Aayog interactions; crisis coordination during disasters

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness20%10Accurately defines Mansabdari hierarchy, distinguishes Collector's pre/post-Independence roles, correctly identifies Cabinet Secretariat's coordinating functions, precisely lists 1935 Act's federal features, and accurately describes Chief Secretary's constitutional position in Articles 163-167 contextBroadly correct definitions with minor errors—e.g., conflating Cabinet Secretariat with PMO, vague on 1935 Act's unimplemented federation, or treating Chief Secretary merely as senior-most officer without specifying coordinating roleFundamental conceptual errors—e.g., calling Mughal system democratic, suggesting Collector was abolished post-1947, confusing Cabinet Secretariat with Cabinet, or describing 1935 Act as unitary constitution
Theoretical anchor20%10Deploys appropriate frameworks: for (a) uses Weberian patrimonial bureaucracy or Ali Athar's 'centralised despotism' thesis; for (b) applies administrative continuity theory; for (c) references Haldane Committee principles; for (d) cites Granville Austin's 'cornerstone' assessment; for (e) uses S.S. Khera's framework on Centre-State relationsMentions one or two thinkers without systematic application—e.g., names Abul Fazl for (a) but doesn't connect to despotism argument, or cites Khera without explaining Chief Secretary's linkage functionNo theoretical grounding; purely descriptive answers without scholarly reference or analytical framework for any sub-part
Indian administrative examples20%10Rich specificity: for (a) contrasts Akbar's zabt system with Sher Shah's reforms; for (b) cites specific post-Independence roles (DM during 1975-77 Emergency, COVID-19 district coordination); for (c) names current Cabinet Secretary; for (d) traces specific articles (352, 356) to 1935 origins; for (e) references Sarkaria Commission on Chief Secretary's roleGeneric examples—e.g., 'Collector handles elections' without specifying ECI duties, 'Cabinet Secretariat helps PM' without naming Transaction of Business Rules, or '1935 Act had provinces' without naming specific featuresNo Indian examples; purely abstract treatment or incorrect examples (e.g., suggesting Chief Secretary is elected, or that 1935 Act created Lok Sabha)
Reform / policy angle20%10Demonstrates reform consciousness: for (a) notes how Mughal precedents influenced British district system; for (b) discusses Second ARC recommendations on separating DM from Collector roles; for (c) references recent reforms in Cabinet Secretariat functioning; for (d) explains how 1935 Act's shortcomings informed Constituent Assembly debates; for (e) cites Punchhi Commission on Chief Secretary empowermentBrief mention of reforms without depth—e.g., 'some people want to abolish Collector' without citing ARC, or '1935 Act was improved' without specifying how Constitution addressed its defectsNo reform or contemporary policy perspective; treats all five topics as purely historical or static descriptions without evolution
Conclusion & forward look20%10Each sub-part ends with balanced, forward-looking synthesis: (a) acknowledges Mughal system's administrative sophistication alongside despotism; (b) evaluates Collector's continued relevance amid democratic decentralisation; (c) assesses Cabinet Secretariat's evolving role in coalition era; (d) recognises 1935 Act's foundational yet contested legacy; (e) projects Chief Secretary's role in cooperative federalismSimple summaries without synthesis—e.g., 'thus Mughals were despotic,' 'Collector is important,' or no conclusion for 2-3 sub-parts; repetitive restatement of points madeMissing or severely deficient conclusions; abrupt endings, or conclusions that contradict the body; no forward-looking element in any sub-part

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