Public Administration 2024 Paper II 50 marks Comment

Q6

(a) "The success of administrative reforms in a country like India depends upon the political will." Comment. (20 marks) (b) The journey of transformation of local governance has been long. Examine the challenges to realise the spirit of gram swaraj. (20 marks) (c) With what aims and objectives was the Capacity Building Commission established? Evaluate how far it has come in realising the goals. (10 marks)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) "भारत जैसे देश में प्रशासनिक सुधारों की सफलता राजनीतिक इच्छा शक्ति पर निर्भर करती है।" टिप्पणी कीजिए। (20 अंक) (b) स्थानीय शासन के रूपांतरण की यात्रा लंबी रही है। ग्राम स्वराज की भावना को प्राप्त करने में चुनौतियों का परीक्षण कीजिए। (20 अंक) (c) क्षमता निर्माण आयोग को किन लक्ष्य और उद्देश्यों के लिए स्थापित किया गया था ? मूल्यांकन कीजिए कि वह कहां तक उन लक्ष्यों को प्राप्त कर पाया है। (10 अंक)

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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 directive 'comment' for part (a) demands a balanced, analytical stance with personal insight, while 'examine' in (b) requires systematic exploration of challenges, and 'evaluate' in (c) calls for judgment against stated aims. Allocate approximately 40% of time/words to part (a) given its 20 marks and conceptual depth, 35% to part (b) for its multi-dimensional challenge analysis, and 25% to part (c) for focused evaluation. Structure: brief integrated introduction touching all three themes; then dedicated sections for each sub-part with clear sub-headings; conclude with synthesis on administrative transformation.

Key points expected

  • Part (a): Political will as necessary but not sufficient condition—distinguish between political commitment, bureaucratic resistance, and systemic constraints; cite ARC II recommendations on political-bureaucratic interface
  • Part (a): Counter-arguments—reforms like GST, DBT succeeded with political will; contrast with stalled police reforms despite SC directives in Prakash Singh case showing will-deficit
  • Part (b): Historical trajectory from Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) to 73rd/74th CAA 1992 to PESA 1996—identify structural-implementation gap
  • Part (b): Five key challenges: fiscal autonomy (own revenue <10% in most states), functionaries (absence of dedicated cadre), functional overlap (line departments vs PRIs), social hierarchies (dominant caste capture), and digital divide in e-governance
  • Part (c): CBC established 2021 post-SPMG recommendations—aims: harmonize training, create competency frameworks, benchmark capacity building; evaluate through iGOT-Karmayogi platform rollout, district collector training modules, and gaps in state-level adoption
  • Part (c): Critical assessment—CBC's limited statutory backing, reliance on executive orders, uneven penetration in Schedule V/VI areas, and need for constitutional status akin to UPSC/Election Commission

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness20%10Precisely defines 'political will' in (a) as sustained executive commitment beyond electoral cycles; distinguishes gram swaraj from mere decentralization in (b) referencing Gandhi's Hind Swaraj vision of self-sufficient village republics; accurately identifies CBC's institutional placement under DoPT in (c) with correct year of establishmentLoose understanding of political will as generic government interest; conflates gram swaraj with 73rd Amendment provisions; mentions CBC but confuses aims with functions of earlier training bodies like IIPA or ASCIMisidentifies political will as public opinion; treats gram swaraj as rural development scheme; fundamental errors on CBC's mandate or treats it as constitutional body
Theoretical anchor20%10For (a): Cites Peters' 'politics of bureaucracy' or Klitgaard's corruption equation; for (b): Applies Iswaran's 'democratic decentralization' framework or Oakerson's polycentric governance; for (c): References competency-based HRM theory or World Bank's capability trap frameworkGeneral references to LPG reforms for (a), basic federalism principles for (b), and training importance for (c) without specific theoretical scaffoldingNo theoretical framework; relies on textbook generalizations or misapplies unrelated theories like Maslow's hierarchy for administrative reform
Indian administrative examples20%10For (a): Contrasts successful Aadhaar/PDS reform with failed Lokpal implementation; for (b): Cites Kerala's People's Plan Campaign, Maharashtra's MRTP Act dilution affecting local bodies, or Odisha's Mission Shakti empowering women SHGs in PRIs; for (c): Specific iGOT modules for health workers during COVID-19, district skill mapping pilotsGeneric mention of 73rd Amendment, some state names without specific schemes; vague reference to 'online training' for CBC without platform detailsNo Indian examples or factually wrong ones (e.g., attributing 74th Amendment to Rajiv Gandhi era); irrelevant examples from foreign jurisdictions without comparative purpose
Reform / policy angle20%10For (a): Analyzes how Model Code dilutes reform windows, role of NITI Aayog's Aspirational Districts Programme as political will instrument; for (b): Evaluates 15th Finance Commission recommendations on local body grants, SVAMITVA scheme's potential; for (c): Assesses CBC's integration with Mission Karmayogi, civil service reform linkages, and gaps in lateral entry capacity buildingLists reforms without causal analysis; mentions PESA without implementation status; describes CBC functions without evaluative judgment against aimsReform discussion confined to pre-1990 era; no engagement with contemporary policy; treats CBC evaluation as description of training calendar
Conclusion & forward look20%10Synthesizes three parts into coherent argument: administrative reform requires political will (a) channeled through localized capacity (c) to achieve genuine gram swaraj (b); proposes actionable path—constitutional status for CBC, state-level capacity commissions, and political reform (state funding of elections) as precondition for administrative reformSeparate conclusions for each part without integration; generic recommendations like 'political will needed' or 'more training'; no forward-looking elementNo conclusion or abrupt ending; mere summary of points; unrealistic or irrelevant recommendations (e.g., abolishing PRIs, reverting to colonial structure)

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