Q8
(a) Bureaucracy in developing countries faces several challenges and tackling of these will make them more responsive, adaptive and align with development needs. Discuss. (20 marks) (b) Modern economists think public debt is an essential means of increasing employment, and element of economic policy, but it also shifts the burden to future generations. Analyse. (15 marks) (c) Unless there is a sound mechanism for policy evaluation, policy formulation process remains redundant. Examine. (15 marks)
हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें
(a) विकासशील देशों में नौकरशाही को कई चुनौतियों का सामना करना पड़ता है और इनसे निपटने से वे अधिक उत्तरदायी, अनुकूलनशील और विकास की जरूरतों के अनुरूप बन जाएंगी। विवेचना कीजिए। (20 अंक) (b) आधुनिक अर्थशास्त्री सोचते हैं कि सार्वजनिक ऋण रोजगार बढ़ाने का एक आवश्यक साधन और आर्थिक नीति का तत्व है, लेकिन इसका बोझ भावी पीढ़ियों पर भी पड़ता है। विश्लेषण कीजिए। (15 अंक) (c) जब तक नीति मूल्यांकन के लिए कोई ठोस तंत्र नहीं होता, नीति-निर्माण प्रक्रिया निरर्थक बनी रहती है। परीक्षण कीजिए। (15 अंक)
Directive word: Discuss
This question asks you to discuss. 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 primary directive is 'discuss' for part (a), while parts (b) and (c) require 'analyse' and 'examine' respectively. Allocate approximately 40% of word budget (~400 words) to part (a) given its 20 marks, and roughly 30% each (~300 words) to parts (b) and (c). Structure with a brief composite introduction, three distinct sections addressing each sub-part with clear sub-headings, and a unified conclusion that synthesizes insights across bureaucracy reform, sustainable fiscal policy, and evidence-based governance.
Key points expected
- Part (a): Colonial legacy, Weberian rigidity, and political interference as core challenges; need for adaptive capacity and development orientation in developing country bureaucracies
- Part (a): Reforms like lateral entry, e-governance, and Mission Karmayogi for responsive bureaucracy; reference to Riggs' prismatic model or Ferrel Heady's developing country bureaucracy analysis
- Part (b): Keynesian justification for deficit financing to boost aggregate demand and employment; crowding-out vs crowding-in debate; Ricardian equivalence on intergenerational burden
- Part (b): Indian context—FRBM Act, NK Singh Committee recommendations, and COVID-19 fiscal stimulus implications for future generations
- Part (c): Policy evaluation mechanisms—formative, summative, and impact assessment; role of NITI Aayog's Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) and Post-Implementation Review
- Part (c): Feedback loops between evaluation and formulation; examples like MGNREGA social audits or Aspirational Districts Programme data-driven course correction
Evaluation rubric
| Dimension | Weight | Max marks | Excellent | Average | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concept correctness | 20% | 10 | Accurately distinguishes between Weberian ideal-type and developmental bureaucracy for (a); correctly explains Keynesian multiplier and debt sustainability for (b); precisely differentiates monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment for (c) | Basic definitions correct but conflates related concepts (e.g., monitoring with evaluation) or presents one-sided view of debt without theoretical nuance | Fundamental errors like treating public debt as always harmful, confusing policy evaluation with policy implementation, or describing bureaucracy as neutral without development context |
| Theoretical anchor | 20% | 10 | For (a): cites Ferrel Heady, Riggs (prismatic model), or Dwivedi-Barbara thesis; for (b): deploys Keynes, Buchanan's public choice critique, or Ricardian equivalence; for (c): references Carol Weiss's typology or Wholey et al.'s evaluation frameworks | Mentions generic theories without application or cites only one theorist across all parts without depth | No theoretical framework; relies entirely on descriptive narrative or misattributes theories (e.g., calling Weber a development theorist) |
| Indian administrative examples | 20% | 10 | For (a): Mission Karmayogi, lateral entry, SVAMITVA, or district collector's evolving role; for (b): FRBM Act evolution, NK Singh Committee, COVID-19 fiscal response; for (c): DMEO, Aspirational Districts Programme dashboards, MGNREGA social audits, or PM-KISAN impact studies | Generic mention of schemes without specific mechanism (e.g., 'Digital India' without e-Office or PARIVESH) or outdated examples pre-2014 | No Indian examples; uses only Western case studies or entirely misses contemporary administrative reforms |
| Reform / policy angle | 20% | 10 | For (a): actionable reforms—competency frameworks, citizen charters, results-based management; for (b): debt management strategies, green bonds, counter-cyclical fiscal rules; for (c): institutionalizing evaluation culture, real-time data integration, evaluator general concept | Lists reforms descriptively without prioritization or implementation pathway; suggests generic solutions without administrative feasibility | No reform suggestions or unrealistic proposals ignoring fiscal/federal constraints; purely critical without constructive alternatives |
| Conclusion & forward look | 20% | 10 | Synthesizes three strands into coherent governance narrative—responsive bureaucracy enables effective policy, sustainable debt finances employment-generating investment, and rigorous evaluation ensures learning; ends with 2047 Viksit Bharat vision or SDG-aligned administrative transformation | Summarizes each part separately without integration; generic forward look without specific administrative reform commitment | No conclusion or abrupt ending; conclusion merely repeats introduction without synthesis; no forward-looking element |
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