Techniques of Administrative Improvement – Public Administration Optional PYQs (1995–2026)

Here are all 49 Techniques of Administrative Improvement questions asked in UPSC Public Administration Optional Paper I from 1995 to 2026, arranged under the 4 topics of the official syllabus. Within each topic the latest questions come first.

Each question ends with a code such as [2024/15m/3b] – the year, the marks, the word limit (where UPSC set one) and the question number in the paper.

11.1] Organisation and methods

10 questions

1. “Modernization of public services has become an unavoidable priority of governments worldwide.” Discuss the key global trends driving the modernization of public services in the light of the above statement. [2026/15m/8b]

2. Administrative reform is “an artificial inducement of administrative transformation against resistance.” (Gerald Caiden). Identify the nature of resistance and inducements required to overcome it. [2020/15m/7c]

3. “MIS, PERT and CPM have accelerated the process of reinventing O&M.” In the context of the above statement, explain the recent developments in managerial techniques. [2015/15m/8c]

4. (i) What are the main functions of an O and M office? (15) (ii) A system of Information ties planning and control by managers to the operational system of implementation. Elaborate. (15) [2011/30m/8a]

5. Bring out the various techniques of O & M adopted in India to improve efficiency in administration. [2007/60m/6]

6. Discuss the main approaches to increase the efficiency of government and public administration. [2006/60m/8]

7. Examine the needs and facets of administrative reforms in the fast changing scenario of the 21st century. What are the obstacles to administrative reforms? Give suggestions to overcome them. [2003/60m/6]

8. Comment on: “Administrative reforms are induced changes in the machinery of government undertaken in order to bridge the gap between reality and desirability.” [1997/20m/200w/5d]

9. Bring out the importance of Organization and Methods (O & M). Do you think that there should be a separate O & M organization? [1997/60m/6]

10. “Whatever its purpose, it is true that reform always takes place against ‘resistance’ and that failure to recognize the various sources of opposition, and to plan and to neutralize them, is a major reason for the widespread failure of reform efforts.” Examine. [1996/60m/6]

11.2] Work study and work management

5 questions

1. Work study and Work measurement are techniques for improving administrative efficiency. Comment. [2026/10m/150w/5e]

2. In the era of increasing stress on productivity work study provides the road ahead for the administrators. Identify the positive attributes of work study in the light of the statement. [2019/15m/8b]

3. “The term ‘work study’ may be used in narrower and wider senses.” Elucidate. [2016/15m/8c]

4. Write a short note on: Work study and work-measurement in Indian Administration. [2000/20m/200w/5d]

5. “Work study succeeds because it is systematic in investigating a problem and also in developing a solution for it.” Explain. Also discuss the components of Work Study and their usefulness. [1998/60m/6]

11.3] e-governance and information technology

22 questions

1. New communication technology has not only enabled more robust public engagement with the government, but also serves as a new means of internal organizational teamwork. Discuss. [2026/15m/6c]

2. E-advocacy model of e-governance can facilitate democratization of public policy making. Discuss. [2025/10m/150w/5a]

3. The future of e-governance is shaped by emerging trends for making government services efficient and accessible. Analyse. [2024/15m/6b]

4. “Information Communication Technology (ICT) can harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to execute the policies more intelligently creating an efficient and effective Government.” Examine and identify the challenges. [2023/15m/7c]

5. ICT has immense potential to transform governance and empower citizens. Examine. [2021/15m/7c]

6. “Disruptive nature of developments in Information Technology has changed the contours of e-governance in the last one decade.” Analyse. [2020/20m/8a]

7. Has e-governance led to debureaucratization and decentralization? Assess its impact on bureaucratic inertia. [2019/10m/150w/5e]

8. To what extent has e-governance made the administrative system more citizen-oriented? Can it (e-governance) be made more participative? [2018/10m/150w/5c]

9. “Digitalisation provides great impetus to E-governance.” Discuss. [2017/10m/150w/5c]

10. “Information Technology brings efficiency and transparency to Public Administration.” Examine the statement with suitable examples. [2016/15m/6c]

11. “E-Governance creates a direct relationship between the Citizen and the State.” In this context, explain the changing role of the elected representatives. [2015/15m/7c]

12. “The bottom line for governance is outcomes rather than the outputs of government.” Analyze in the context of e-government and e-governance. [2014/10m/150w/5c]

13. “The technical and multidisciplinary nature of e-government has created an interdependent relationship within government between policymakers, programme administrators and technical specialists.” Analyze in the context of generalist-specialist relationship. [2014/20m/7a]

14. The success rate of e-government projects in most developing countries is stated to be rather low. Assess the reason. [2013/10m/150w/5d]

15. ‘The apparent demise of e-Government and e-Business as the main organizing principles of society has created the conditions for the rise of e-Governance from the ashes’ — In the context of the above statement show the distinctions between e-Government and e-Governance. [2012/15m/8b]

16. E-governance is the final arrival of Max Weber’s ‘iron cage of rationality’. Discuss. [2011/20m/200w/1c]

17. Do you think that there is a sort of paradox between e-Governance and good governance? Explain fully. [2010/20m/7b]

18. “e-governance has the potentiality to emerge as the most effective instrument of efficiency, transparency and accountability.” Comment. [2008/20m/200w/5b]

19. “The rise of information technology is an opportunity to overcome historical disabilities.” Explain. [2006/20m/200w/5a]

20. In what ways and how can information technology play a crucial role in effective government-citizen interaction in the context of good governance? [2005/60m/2]

21. What is Information Technology? Describe its impact on Public Administration. [2004/60m/6]

22. “Organisations today seem to invest in information and information systems, but their investments often do not seem to make sense.” Comment. [2003/20m/200w/5a]

11.4] Management aid tools: network analysis, MIS, PERT, CPM

12 questions

1. PERT provides a sophisticated framework for managing temporal uncertainties in large-scale projects. Evaluate the strategic utility and inherent limitations of this technique in complex environments. [2026/15m/8c]

2. The efficacy of management aid tools depends on the purpose and appropriateness of tools and techniques. Explain with examples. [2025/15m/8c]

3. Critical Path Method (CPM) is a project management technique used to plan and manage project effectively. Discuss. [2024/10m/150w/5c]

4. The ultimate goal of using Management Information System (MIS) is to increase values and productivity in organizations. Explain. [2023/10m/150w/5b]

5. MIS has evolved and gone far beyond its traditional advantages due to technological advancements. Comment. [2021/10m/150w/5e]

6. A narrow view of information comes in the way of successful implementation of MIS in organizations. Analyse. [2019/10m/150w/5d]

7. “An effective Management Information System (MIS) is the key to successful headquarter-field relationships.” Comment. [2018/15m/3c]

8. “MIS, PERT and CPM have accelerated the process of reinventing O&M.” In the context of the above statement, explain the recent developments in managerial techniques. [2015/15m/8c]

9. “The field of MIS is not necessarily an extension of computer science, but of management and organization theory.” Elucidate. [2014/15m/6c]

10. (i) ‘Relations are the building blocks of network analysis’ — In the light of this statement summarize the form and content of relations in ‘network analysis’. (15) (ii) Trace the background and development of PERT and enumerate the steps involved in the application of PERT. (15) (iii) Draw a simple PERT chart for a seminar planning project. (15) [2012/45m/8a]

11. (i) What are the main functions of an O and M office? (15) (ii) A system of Information ties planning and control by managers to the operational system of implementation. Elaborate. (15) [2011/30m/8a]

12. “Techniques like PERT and CPM help in effective office management.” Elaborate. [2009/20m/200w/5b]

« Previous: Public Policy | Next: Financial Administration »

Back to: Public Administration Optional PYQs – Topic-wise | Also see: Public Administration Optional year-wise question papers

Last updated: 30 October 2026