Administrative Accountability and Control – UPSC Civils IAS Main Examination Topic wise Comprehensive Material

Concepts of accountability and control; Legislative, Executive and Judicial control over administration; Citizen and Administration; Role of media, interest groups, voluntary organizations; civil society; Citizen’s Charters; Right to Information; Social Audit.

Concepts of Accountability and Control
1. Autonomy and accountability in Public Enterprises cannot walk together”. Explain. (06/1/ld/20)

2. “The weakest aspect of Indian Administrative System is utter disregard of accountability.” Examine the current mechanism for enforcing accountability. What steps are necessary to make it more effective? (00/17/60)

3.  It would be fatal for administration if the public functionaries indulge in procrastination, betray inaction, or more in circles simply because the demand for accountability has overawed and benumbed them .’ Comment. (92/1 b/20)

Legislative, Executive and Judicial Control over administration
1. What is judicial activism? How far has it been successful in exercising a check over administration? (2005/60)

2. write short note on Judicial control over ministration in India and concept of judicial activism? (2000/20)

3. “Public Interest innovation in realizing social justice.”Comment. (1999/20)

4. Executive over administration is much more real.” Comment (1998/20)

5. The controls exercised over administration by legislature are, in sum, of greater theoretical efficiency. Comment. (1997/20)

6. Atone extreme, the vig our of judicial control may analyse effective administration, at the other the result may be offensive bureaucratic tyranny, exactly where the balance may be best struck is a major problem of judicial administration relationship. Comment. (1996/20)

7. “The Judicial Control over administration operates through a system of writs.’ Comment. (1987/20)

Citizen and Administration
1). What are the various institution a devices available for the redressal of citizen’s grievances against the excesses and malfunctioning of administration? How successful have they been? (2003/60)

Role of media, interest groups voluntary organizations
1. “Instruments of public accountability can be truly effective only if the people and their associations backed by a responsible media are assertively pro-active Comment (2008/20)

2. “Voluntarism is not anti-thesis of state-centricism.” Comment. (1999/20)

Civil Society
i) Define the term “civil society’. How does civil society influence the public policy? (200660)

ii) “Civil society exists to ensure that government does provide good governance.” Discuss (2002/20)

Citizens Charter
1. Explain the basic principles underlying Citizen’s Charter with special reference to (10/1/4/60)

2. “Citizens’ charter is the most important innovation in the context of promotion of customer  – orientation of administration.” Discuss. (03/1/1d/20)

Right to Information
1. “Right to information promotes transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.” Explain. (2007/60)

2. Discuss the legal and political implications of Right to information. Is it a feasible concept in the developing countries? (2004/60)