Public Administration 2023 Paper II 50 marks Elucidate

Q4

(a) "There shall be Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions, except .... ." This constitutional provision is being intensively debated nowadays. Elucidate. 20 (b) There is a need to redefine and realign the functions of the Deputy Commissioner/District Collector. Elaborate. 20 (c) Examine Project Bharatmala – Road to Prosperity – launched in 2017. 10

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) "...... को छोड़कर राज्यपाल को अपने कृत्यों का प्रयोग करने में सहायता और सलाह देने के लिए एक मंत्रिपरिषद् होगी जिसका प्रधान मुख्यमंत्री होगा ।" इस संवैधानिक प्रावधान पर आजकल व्यापक बहस चल रही है । स्पष्ट कीजिए । 20 (b) उपायुक्त/जिला कलक्टर के कार्यों को पुनः परिभाषित तथा पुनः संगठित करने की आवश्यकता है । विस्तार से समझाइए । 20 (c) भारतमाला – समृद्धि का मार्ग – 2017 में प्रारम्भ की गई एक परियोजना का परीक्षण कीजिए । 10

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Directive word: Elucidate

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

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'elucidate' in part (a) demands clear explanation with examples; 'elaborate' in (b) requires detailed expansion; 'examine' in (c) needs critical assessment. Allocate approximately 40% time/words to part (a) given its constitutional complexity and 20 marks, 35% to part (b) for comprehensive functional analysis, and 25% to part (c) for structured examination of Bharatmala. Structure: Introduction linking constitutional evolution with contemporary administrative challenges → Body with three distinct sections addressing each sub-part → Conclusion synthesizing themes of democratic decentralization and administrative reform.

Key points expected

  • Part (a): Article 163(1) exception clause and the 'except' provision relating to discretionary powers; Sarkaria Commission and Punchhi Commission recommendations on Governor's role; recent controversies in states like West Bengal, Kerala, Maharashtra regarding Governor-CM conflicts; judicial interpretations in Shamsher Singh vs State of Punjab (1974) and Nabam Rebia judgment
  • Part (b): Historical evolution from District Collector as revenue collector to development administrator; L.M. Singhvi Committee and Second ARC recommendations on district governance; conflict between magisterial and developmental roles; need for separation of regulatory and promotional functions; District Collector's role in disaster management and SDG localization
  • Part (c): Bharatmala Pariyojana's four components (economic corridors, inter-corridor connectivity, feeder routes, border/STRategic roads); comparison with NHDP; funding mechanism through NHAI bonds and EPC/HAM models; achievements and delays (2022 deadline extension); connectivity to North-East and Himalayan regions
  • Inter-linkage: How constitutional tensions at state level (a) affect district administration effectiveness (b), and how infrastructure projects (c) require coordinated governance across these levels
  • Contemporary relevance: Recent Supreme Court observations on Governor's conduct; D.K. Singh Committee on district administration; Gati Shakti Master Plan's integration with Bharatmala Phase-II

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness20%10Precise citation of Article 163(1) and 163(2) distinction; accurate description of Governor's discretionary powers under Article 356, 200, 201; correct delineation of District Collector's statutory roles under CrPC, IPC, Land Revenue Codes; factual accuracy on Bharatmala's 34,800 km scope and Phase-I/II distinctionGeneral awareness of Governor-CM tension and Collector's multiple roles; basic description of Bharatmala as road project without component breakdown; minor constitutional article misattributionsConfusion between Article 163 and 164; treating District Collector only as legacy colonial post; describing Bharatmala as generic highway program without specific features
Theoretical anchor20%10Application of Granville Austin's 'Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation' on federal tensions; K. Santhanam on Governor's office; Riggs' prismatic model for district administration; New Public Management principles for Collector's role redefinition; infrastructure-led growth theory for BharatmalaMention of federalism concepts without specific theorists; general administrative reform vocabulary; basic connectivity-economics linkage for BharatmalaNo theoretical framework; purely descriptive treatment missing conceptual depth; irrelevant theories applied mechanically
Indian administrative examples20%10Specific state-level instances: Tamil Nadu Governor-RSS appointment controversy (2021); Punjab Governor-Chandigarh UT administration conflict; Kerala's unique 'District Collector as CEO of District Development Committee' model; Maharashtra's District Planning Committees under 74th Amendment; Bharatmala's Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Chardham connectivity, and economic corridor mappingGeneric reference to 'some states' without naming; standard Collector functions without state variations; mention of Golden Quadrilateral as predecessor without analytical comparisonNo Indian examples; hypothetical illustrations; confusion with international administrative models
Reform / policy angle20%10Critical evaluation of Punchhi Commission's Model Governor Bill; Second ARC's 15th Report on District Administration recommendations; need for District Collector's accountability to Zila Parishad vs state government; Bharatmala's integration with Sagarmala, UDAN, and Gati Shakti; suggestions for independent infrastructure regulatory authorityListing of reform recommendations without critical assessment; general support for 'more autonomy' without specificity; uncritical praise of Bharatmala achievementsNo reform suggestions; status quo justification; missing policy implementation gaps and delays
Conclusion & forward look20%10Synthesized conclusion connecting: constitutional morality (B.R. Ambedkar's warning on Governor's office) → administrative decentralization (District Collector as facilitator, not controller) → infrastructure as enabler of cooperative federalism; forward-looking suggestions: codified Governor's conduct rules, District Collector's charter under PESA, Bharatmala's climate-resilient design; balanced tone acknowledging political realities while advocating institutional reformSeparate conclusions for each part without integration; generic 'need for cooperation' ending; no specific future roadmapNo conclusion or abrupt ending; purely summary repetition; unrealistic or politically partisan closing

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