Evolution of Public Administration in India

<<2/”>a >a href=”https://exam.pscnotes.com/public-administration/”>Public Administration is a sub-division of the broader concept of administration. Administration means ‘to serve’, or ‘to manage affairs’. In this sense, administration means management of the affairs of an organization. And Public administration means management of Governmental affairs and activities. Thus, Public administration is primarily concerned with the implementation of Governmental policies.
History of Indian administration traces its root to the Ancient India. Since the earliest times, the monarchical system was used in public administration in the execution of governmental functions. There are two basic features of the Indian administrative system which continued right down the ages- the importance of the villages as a primary unit and co-ordination between the two opposite trends of centralisation and decentralisation.
The powers of administering the states were centralised in the hands of the king during the ancient period in India. During the Vedic period the king was assisted in his work by many officers. He was surrounded by a circle of his friends and principal officers. There is a reference regarding this in the two Epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. A similar reference is also to be found in Manu Smriti and Sukra Niti. In Kautilya‘s Arthashastra is obtained a detailed account about the offices of the state for the first time in the history of India.
Mugal Administration
British Administration
The year 1773 was a landmark in the Growth of Indian Administration. Before 1773 there was no central authority in the country. The 1773 Act restricted the powers of the presidencies from making war or treaties without the sanction of the Governor-General in Council. This confirmed the British Parliament’s control over East India Company’s affairs. The Pitt’s India Act of 1784 placed Indian Affairs under the direct control of the British Government, by establishing a Board of Control representing the British Cabinet, over the court of Directors.
The Indian administrative structure is largely, a legacy of the British rule. The various structural and functional aspects of Indian Administration like secretariat system , all-India Services , recruitment, training, office procedures, local administration, District Administration, BUDGETING, Auditing, centralising tendency, police administration, revenue administration, and so on, have their roots in the British rule. The British rule in India can be divided into two phases- the Company Rule till the year 1858 and the Crown Rule from 1858-1947. The year 1858 itself was a year of great event in that the administration of the Government of India passed into the hands of the British Government from the East India Company.
The important stages during the period 1858-1950 were as under: Government of India Act 1858, Indian Councils Act 1861, Indian Councils Act 1892, Indian Councils Act also known as Morley-Minto Reforms 1909, Government of India Act also known as Montague-Chelmsford Reforms 1919, Government of India Act 1935, Indian Independence Act 1947, and the Adoption of Indian Constitution 1949.,

The evolution of public administration in India can be traced back to the Mughal Empire. The Mughals were a Muslim dynasty that ruled over India from the 16th to the 18th centuries. They established a centralized Bureaucracy that was responsible for collecting taxes, maintaining law and order, and providing public services.

The British Raj, which lasted from the 18th to the 20th centuries, further developed the Mughal system of public administration. The British introduced a number of reforms, including the establishment of a civil service, the creation of a judicial system, and the development of a system of Education.

The Indian National Congress, which was founded in 1885, played a major role in the struggle for Indian independence. After independence, the Congress party formed the first government of India. The Congress party’s policies focused on Economic Development and social welfare.

The Government of India Act of 1935 was a major turning point in the evolution of public administration in India. The Act introduced a number of reforms, including the establishment of provincial governments, the creation of a federal legislature, and the development of a system of Local Government.

The Indian Independence Act of 1947 granted India independence from British rule. The Act also divided India into two separate countries, India and Pakistan.

The Constitution of India, which was adopted in 1950, is the supreme law of the land. The Constitution provides for a parliamentary System of Government and a Federal System of Government.

The First Five-Year Plan, which was launched in 1951, was the first of a series of five-year plans that were designed to promote economic development in India. The First Five-Year Plan focused on agriculture, Irrigation, and power.

The Green Revolution, which began in the 1960s, was a major agricultural development program that led to a significant increase in agricultural production in India. The Green Revolution was based on the use of high-yield varieties of crops, the use of Fertilizers and pesticides, and the development of irrigation systems.

The Mandal Commission, which was appointed in 1979, was a commission that was tasked with investigating the social, educational, and economic status of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The Mandal Commission’s report recommended a number of affirmative action measures for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The Economic Reforms of 1991 were a major economic Liberalization-2/”>Liberalization program that was designed to promote economic growth in India. The Economic Reforms of 1991 included a number of measures, such as the Devaluation of the rupee, the reduction of tariffs, and the Privatization of state-owned enterprises.

The 21st Century has seen a number of significant developments in public administration in India. These developments include the Decentralization of government, the introduction of e-governance, and the fight against Corruption.

The decentralization of government has been a major trend in public administration in India in the 21st Century. The 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution of India, which were adopted in 1992, provide for the establishment of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) at the village, block, and district levels. PRIs are responsible for a number of functions, such as rural development, education, and Health.

E-governance has also been a major development in public administration in India in the 21st Century. E-governance refers to the use of information and Communication technologies (ICTs) to improve the delivery of government services. The Government of India has launched a number of e-governance initiatives, such as the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) and the Digital India initiative.

The fight against corruption has also been a major focus of public administration in India in the 21st Century. The Government of India has launched a number of anti-corruption initiatives, such as the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The evolution of public administration in India has been a long and complex process. The Mughal Empire, the British Raj, the Indian National Congress, the Government of India Act of 1935, the Indian Independence Act of 1947, the Constitution of India, the First Five-Year Plan, the Green Revolution, the Mandal Commission, the Economic Reforms of 1991, and the 21st Century have all played a role in shaping the development of public administration in India.

What is public administration?

Public administration is the implementation of government policy and also an academic discipline that studies this implementation and prepares civil servants for this work. As a ‘field of inquiry with a recognized body of theory and methods’, public administration “addresses the management of public programs”.

What are the different types of public administration?

There are many different types of public administration, but some of the most common include:

  • National government administration: This is the administration of the national government, which is responsible for carrying out the laws and policies of the country.
  • State Government administration: This is the administration of the state government, which is responsible for carrying out the laws and policies of the state.
  • Local government administration: This is the administration of the local government, which is responsible for carrying out the laws and policies of the local area.
  • Public sector administration: This is the administration of the public sector, which is the part of the economy that is owned and operated by the government.
  • Private sector administration: This is the administration of the private sector, which is the part of the economy that is owned and operated by private individuals or businesses.

What are the main functions of public administration?

The main functions of public administration are to:

  • Provide public services: This includes services such as education, healthcare, and transportation.
  • Regulate the economy: This includes activities such as setting prices, licensing businesses, and enforcing laws.
  • Protect the Environment: This includes activities such as monitoring air and water quality, and managing natural Resources.
  • Provide national security: This includes activities such as maintaining the military, and protecting the country from terrorism.
  • Promote social welfare: This includes activities such as providing Unemployment benefits, and ensuring access to healthcare.

What are the challenges of public administration?

Some of the challenges of public administration include:

  • Bureaucracy: Bureaucracy is a system of government in which officials are appointed to carry out the laws and policies of the government. Bureaucracy can be slow and inefficient, and it can be difficult to hold officials accountable for their actions.
  • Corruption: Corruption is the abuse of power for personal gain. Corruption can be a major problem in public administration, and it can lead to waste, fraud, and abuse.
  • Inefficiency: Public administration can be inefficient, and it can be difficult to get things done. This can be due to a number of factors, such as bureaucracy, corruption, and lack of resources.
  • Ineffectiveness: Public administration can be ineffective, and it can fail to achieve its goals. This can be due to a number of factors, such as poor planning, lack of resources, and lack of coordination.

What are the future trends in public administration?

Some of the future trends in public administration include:

  • The rise of the digital government: The digital government is the use of information technology to improve the delivery of government services. The digital government is becoming increasingly important, and it is expected to continue to grow in the future.
  • The increasing importance of data analytics: Data analytics is the use of data to make better decisions. Data analytics is becoming increasingly important in public administration, and it is expected to continue to grow in the future.
  • The increasing importance of collaboration: Collaboration is the process of working together to achieve a common goal. Collaboration is becoming increasingly important in public administration, and it is expected to continue to grow in the future.
  • The increasing importance of citizen engagement: Citizen engagement is the process of involving citizens in the decision-making process. Citizen engagement is becoming increasingly important in public administration, and it is expected to continue to grow in the future.
  1. Which of the following is not a feature of the Indian administrative system?
    (A) It is a highly centralized system.
    (B) It is a hierarchical system.
    (C) It is a rule-bound system.
    (D) It is a flexible system.

  2. The Indian administrative system is based on the principle of
    (A) unity of command.
    (B) decentralization.
    (C) ministerial responsibility.
    (D) parliamentary supremacy.

  3. The Indian administrative system is divided into
    (A) the civil services and the police.
    (B) the central government and the state governments.
    (C) the Union Public Service Commission and the State Public Service Commissions.
    (D) all of the above.

  4. The Indian administrative system is headed by the
    (A) Prime Minister.
    (B) President.
    (C) Cabinet Secretary.
    (D) Home Minister.

  5. The Indian administrative system is staffed by
    (A) civil servants.
    (B) politicians.
    (C) both civil servants and politicians.
    (D) none of the above.

  6. The Indian administrative system is funded by
    (A) the central government.
    (B) the state governments.
    (C) both the central government and the state governments.
    (D) none of the above.

  7. The Indian administrative system is accountable to
    (A) the people.
    (B) the Parliament.
    (C) the judiciary.
    (D) all of the above.

  8. The Indian administrative system has been criticized for being
    (A) inefficient.
    (B) corrupt.
    (C) both inefficient and corrupt.
    (D) none of the above.

  9. The Indian administrative system has been praised for being
    (A) efficient.
    (B) honest.
    (C) both efficient and honest.
    (D) none of the above.

  10. The Indian administrative system is likely to be reformed in the future in order to
    (A) make it more efficient.
    (B) make it more honest.
    (C) both make it more efficient and make it more honest.
    (D) none of the above.