PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION at SANKALP IAS Forum, MumbaiI/Pune

                PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION  

                                           Dadar & Pune

Dear student friends

There is uncertainty about change in the syllabus of civil services (main) examination. The entire speculation is hovering around the fact that in restructured syllabus optional subjects will be replaced by common and compulsory papers for all the students appearing in the main examination. The speculation is not receding from the scene even after the response of minister of State in the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions placed in the Prime Minister’s office (PMO) in RajyaSabha on Dec. 01, 2011 for a starred question. The minister said that the Union Government of India has no plan to restructure the syllabus of civil services (main) examination. But the rumours are aired that UPSC can introduce new pattern of syllabus in 2013. In this situation it becomes really difficult for aspirants to decide their strategy for the examination. The students are in the fix whether to study subjects or not? What will happen if they study subjects and syllabus gets revised in 2013?

The crucial point is that you cannot wait and watch for the notification of UPSC in next year and accordingly plan. By the time notification comes you will be left with three months for clearing the preliminary examination. During this period you cannot prepare for new syllabus which will replace subjects. Thus you will be left with only 4 months to cope with the new syllabus. Here the role of study of public administration before waiting for next year’s notification becomes critical. But the question can be raised why public administration? How it will help in preparing for the new syllabus?

The answers lie in the present syllabus of public administration. The training institutions for All-India services and other services have asked for incorporation of more issues dealing with administrative structure, function and theoretical dimensions of the administration in the syllabus so that selected candidates have better understanding as background for their grooming as efficient administrator through training. Moreover the committees appointed for looking into the matter have recommended changes in Mains syllabus on the same lines. The expectation is that there will be 6 common and compulsory papers for all students in the mains examination. Out of these papers at least 2 papers will have strong dose of the present public administration. The recommended syllabus is expected to cover at least 70-80% of present paper-I of public administration. The second paper of public administration which deals with the Indian Constitution and Indian Administration will be incorporated in the new syllabus with more emphasis on the Constitutional understanding and its implications for the administration.

The understanding of public administration has already become part of preliminary examination in form of decision making questions and communication skills. In this backdrop it seems needless to emphasise the importance of public administration at the interview level. When UPSC is willing to test your administrative understanding and aptitude at preliminary and mains level obviously the understanding of administrative concepts and situation in India will be expected at the interview level.

So this is not time for sitting fingers crossed and loose crucial time for preparation. In this time of transition study of public administration can give you advantage over students of other subjects. Even if syllabus gets restructured with no subjects in new pattern most of the syllabus of public administration will be incorporated in the new syllabus. Now you have to decide whether you want to lag behind or capitalise upon the opportunity by studying public administration and get in advantageous position.

Why Public Administration?

·         Concepts can be understood with real life examples like public choice theory can be understood through the functioning of private mobile companies

·         Has strong bearing on general studies like Indian polity and social issues portion can be covered through the study of paper 2,all portions of paper 2 have some link with Indian polity and economy portion can be understood with fiscal and economic policies and budget

·         Useful in preparation of CSAT e.g. Decision making as motivation, leadership and other organizational behaviour related principles will help to attempt decision making questions

·         In case of revision of mains examination syllabus it will occupy maximum area as Alagh committee has recommended  almost 2 papers of public administration in proposed new syllabus for mains examination

·         Helpful in preparation of essay paper e.g. panchayati raj in 2007 

·                     Handy in preparation of interview as it covers national issues like governance and administrative reforms and other relevant national issues

OUR APPROACH

·         Emphasis on conceptual clarity and basics of the subject

·         Restructured syllabus for better interlinkage of concepts in teaching

·         Special emphasis on administrative thinkers

·          regularly Updating Indian administration with current affairs  and incorporation of inputs from recommendation of second administrative reforms commission

·         Application of Paper-I concepts into paper-II 

·         Updating students with current affairs development and its relevance for Public Administration

·         Contextualizing paper-II with general studies papers

OUR STRATEGY

·          Comprehensive printed notes supplemented with handouts explaining current developments in governance and Indian administration

·          Selected articles of IIPA on significant issues in both papers

·          Summary of newspapers articles relevant to Indian administration

·          Flowcharts of topics for better comprehension and presentation in answers

·          Regular classroom answer writing practice

·          Take away home questions test series

·          Simulation test series

·         Discussion of previous years questions along with topic

·         Simultaneous coverage of syllabus of both papers

·         Personal attention and feedback for  developing answer writing  skills

RECOMMENDED BOOK LIST-

Paper-1

·         Pubic administration- S. Polinaidu

·         Administrative thinkers-Prasad and Prasad

               Paper-2

·         Indian administration-R.K.Arora and Rajni Goyal

·         Constitution of India-D.D.Basu/ B.K.Sharma