Evolution of Indian Administration – Public Administration Optional PYQs (1995–2026)

Here are all 44 Evolution of Indian Administration questions asked in UPSC Public Administration Optional Paper II from 1995 to 2026, arranged under the 6 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.

1.1] Kautilya’s Arthashastra

16 questions

1. Comment on: Learnings from Arthasastra could make governance effective even today. Explore the potential. [2026/10m/150w/1a]

2. Arthashastra of Kautilya means the science of economics of livelihood of the people. Comment. [2025/10m/150w/1a]

3. “Ethics in Public services has been the main concern of Kautilya’s Arthashastra.” Examine the statement. [2024/10m/150w/1a]

4. “Kautilya’s Arthashastra is a theoretical work on the State and Statecraft.” Comment. [2023/10m/150w/1a]

5. Kautilya envisages protection, welfare and prosperity of the State and its people as the utmost concern of a ruler. In this context, discuss the significance of Kautilya’s emphasis on governing, accountability and justice in contemporary India. [2021/20m/2a]

6. In the text of Arthashastra, “the State is neither a police State nor merely a tax gathering State.” Comment. [2019/10m/150w/1a]

7. “In contemporary times, Kautilya’s Arthashastra is relevant more in the field of international relations than in economic affairs.” Analyse the statement. [2016/20m/2a]

8. “Ethics in public services has been the central concern of Kautilya’s Arthashastra.” Critically examine the statement. [2014/10m/150w/1a]

9. ‘The Arthashastra is a book of political realism.’ Elaborate. [2012/15m/4c]

10. “The rule of kings depends primarily on written orders ….” Why did Kautilya favour Codification of Laws? [2010/20m/200w/1a]

11. Comment on the view that despite different contexts, administrative maxims of Kautilya’s Arthashastra bear considerable similarity with features of Weber’s ideal bureaucratic model. [2009/20m/200w/1b]

12. “Kautilya was not only the foremost politico-administrative thinker of ancient India but he was an advocate and preacher of moral values too.” Comment. [2007/20m/200w/1a]

13. “In the happiness of his subjects lies the king’s happiness; in their welfare his welfare.” Comment on Kautilyan state administration. In what respects is modern democratic rulers’ behaviour different from Kautilyan rulers? [2006/20m/200w/1a]

14. Comment on: “The Arthashastra is India’s oldest complete text on public administration.” [2003/20m/200w/1a]

15. Comment on: “The machinery of government designed in Kautilya’s Arthashastra does not exactly resemble our modern-day polity, but it does contain some principles which could be said to be the part of today’s science of public administration.” [2001/20m/200w/1a]

16. Comment on: “Kautilya’s Arthashastra has significant relevance to the contemporary Indian administration.” [1998/20m/200w/1a]

1.2] Mughal administration

7 questions

1. “The Mughal Administration was by nature centralised.” Analyse. [2024/10m/150w/1b]

2. “Mughal administrative system was centralised despotism.” Comment. [2022/10m/150w/1a]

3. Mughal administration incorporated a combination of Indian and extra-Indian elements. Discuss. [2020/10m/150w/1a]

4. “A significant legacy of the Mughal rule in India is a well-organized revenue administration at the State and District levels.” Comment. [2016/10m/2c]

5. “The Mughal Administrative System was military rule by nature and a form of centralised despotism.” Analyse. [2012/12m/150w/1a]

6. ‘Some features of Mughal Administration, in essence, do exist in Indian Administration.’ Elaborate. [2008/20m/200w/1d]

7. Comment on: “The Mughal Administrative System was a military rule by nature and was centralized despotism.” [2005/20m/200w/1a]

1.3] Legacy of British rule in politics and administration

12 questions

1. An important characteristic of the British Civil Service was its open refusal to be influenced by commercial and industrial interests of India in the name of neutrality. Explain. [2026/20m/2a]

2. “The colonial legacy is responsible for many administrative problems in independent India as the role of company agents and traders evolved into Magistrates, Governors and Civil Servants.” Analyze. [2025/20m/2a]

3. “The Regulating Act of 1773 not only introduced values in administration but also laid the foundation of centralized administration in India.” Explain. [2016/10m/150w/1a]

4. “The Charter Act of 1853 marked the beginning of parliamentary system in India.” Explain. [2013/10m/150w/1a]

5. It is said that the British made a significant contribution towards modernising the Indian Administrative System on a ‘rational-legal’ basis. Justify the assessment with reference to the period from 1830 to 1865. [2010/30m/2a]

6. Comment on: “The main features of British governmental and administrative system continue to influence the present Administrative System.” [2004/20m/200w/1a]

7. Comment on: “Though India emerged as a sovereign state after Independence, the administrative system remained the same as was during the British period.” [2003/20m/200w/1b]

8. “After independence, despite the change in socio-economic and political milieu, the basic features of colonial impact on administration continues to exist in our administrative system.” Comment. [2002/60m/2]

9. Comment on: “The period of British rule generated most of the structural and behavioural values of Indian Administration not by imitation but through interaction.” [2000/20m/200w/1a]

10. Comment on: “Under the Company’s rule a distinction was drawn between Regulation and Non-Regulation Provinces.” [1997/20m/200w/1a]

11. Comment on: “It is not wholly correct to suggest that British rule had seriously attempted to bring about unity in India’s administration.” [1996/20m/200w/1a]

12. Comment on: “The purpose of Clive’s famous ‘double government’ was to mask Company’s sovereignty.” [1995/20m/200w/1a]

1.4] Indianization of public services

5 questions

1. An important characteristic of the British Civil Service was its open refusal to be influenced by commercial and industrial interests of India in the name of neutrality. Explain. [2026/20m/2a]

2. The public services in India are an evolution of the British Raj. Trace the Indianization of the services. [2020/10m/2c]

3. Macaulay’s ideas on Indian Civil Service corresponded to the elite theory of bureaucracy, which continue to persist. Do you agree? Justify. [2019/10m/150w/1c]

4. “Indianisation of Public Services is a slow but steady process.” Explain. [2017/20m/3b]

5. Comment on: “All India Services as an institution is the result of history.” [2002/20m/200w/5a]

1.5] Revenue administration

2 questions

1. “Digitalisation of land records is a necessary but not sufficient precondition for ensuring transparent district administration.” Explain. [2017/10m/3c]

2. “A significant legacy of the Mughal rule in India is a well-organized revenue administration at the State and District levels.” Comment. [2016/10m/2c]

1.7] Local self-government

2 questions

1. Local self-government in India is the interplay of several factors — historical, ideological, and administrative. Critically examine these factors. [2012/30m/6a]

2. “Bureaucracy developed by the British stifled the village self-rule.” Comment. [2009/20m/200w/1a]

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Last updated: 30 October 2026