41.

Governance,
Tra
b·fty
nsparency & A c
counta t t
❖ Governance 4'n
❖ Social Audit in I
ndia, I
477
❖ Transparen 478
cy
❖
❖ Accountability
Transparency & A
ccountability: T w
48Q

❖ Impediments to Tr
ansparency a n d A
o S id e s o f t h e S a
me Coin
482
c c o u n ta b il it y 483
❖
❖ Right to Inform
Suggestive Meaasti on
ures t o I m p r o v e T
484
ransparency and
Accountability
in Governance 486
❖ e-Govema
nce 486
❖ Citizen's C
harter 491
 42. Role of Civil Services in Democracy 497-518
❖ Democracy: Meaning and Definition 497
❖ Bureaucracy: Meaning and Definition 497
❖ Role of Civil Services in Democracy 498
❖ Ailments/ Issues Afflicting Indian Civil Services 504
❖ Refo~ming Bureaucracy to Strengthen Democracy 505
❖ 2 ARC' s Recommenda tions Regarding Civil Services
nd 507
❖ 2 ARC's Recommendations on Improving Personnel Administration
nd 509

43. Developmen t Processes & Developmen t Industry 519-537

❖ Third Sector Organisation s 520
❖ Classification 520
❖ Constitutiona l Provisions 521
❖ National Policy on the Voluntary Sector, 2007 521
❖ Non-Governm ental Org 521
❖ Self Help Groups (SHG 526
❖ Societies, Trusts and 0 528
❖ Co-operative Societies 530

44. Pressure Groups 538-545

❖ Definition and Characteristics 538
❖ Types of Pressure Groups 539
❖ Role of Pressure Groups 539
❖ Methods Adopted by Pressure Groups 540
.
❖ Drawbacks of Pressure Groups 540
❖ Pressure Groups in India 540
❖ Political Parties 542
❖ Difference Between Political Parties and Pressure Groups 544

45. Human Resource and Human Capital 546-550

❖ Human Resource 546
❖ Human Capital 546
❖ Way Forward 550
46. Schemes & Policies 551-618
❖ Ministry of Finance 551
❖ Ministry of Commerce & Industry 556
 .. -·- --- -· -... -. .

S)
PREVIOUS YEARS' QUESTIONS (M AIN
nt del ive ry sys tem thr oug h the Dir ect Ben efit Transfer Scheme is a pro gre ssi ve
1. Reforming the gov ern me (2022)
ion s too . Co mm ent . (15 0 wo rds )
step, bu t it has its lim itat
ticu lar ly in rur al are as, cou ple d wit h lac k of Inf orm atio n and Co mm uni cat ion
2. Has dig ital illiteracy, par pment? Examine wi th justification.
ibil ity hin der ed soc io-e con om ic dev elo
Technology (ICT) access (2021)
(250 wo rds ) •
h Ind ust ria l Re vol utio n (Di gita l Rev olu tion ) has ini tiat ed e-G ove rna nce as an
3. "The em erg enc e of Fo urt (2020)
" Dis cus s. (15 0 wo rds )
· integral par t of gov ern me nt.
n and Co mm uni cat ion Tec hno log y (IC T) bas ed pro jec ts/ pro gra mm es usu ally
4. Implementation of Inf orm atio sug ges t me asu res for the ir effective
al fac tor s. Ide ntif y the se fac tors and
suffers in ter ms of cer tai n vit (2019)
imp lem ent atio n. (15 0 wo rds )
liza tio n of the pow er of new tec hno log y, but also mu ch abo ut cri tica l
5. E-governance is no t onl y abo ut uti (2018)
'us e val ue' of inf orm atio n. Exp lain . (15 0 wo rds )
importance of the
er is an ide al ins tru me nt of org ani zat ion al tra nsp are ncy and acc oun tab ilit y, bu t it has
e 6. The Cit ize ns' Ch art
nti fy the lim itat ion s and sug ges t me asu res for gre ate r effectiveness of the Cit ize ns'
l its ow n lim itat ion s. Ide (2018)
Charter. (250 wo rds )
DRISHTI PUBLICATIONS \\\\\\\\\&
 -
drishti
7. In the integrity index of Transparency International, India stands very_ low. Disc~ss briefl_Y ~e legal,
political, economic, social and cultural factors that have caused the decline of pubhc morality m India.
(200 words) (2016)
8. Has the Indian governmental system responded adequately to the demands 0 ~ Liber~~tion, Privatiz.ation
and Globalization started in 1991 ? What can the government do to be responsive to this nnportant change?
(200 words) (2016)
9. In the light of the Satyam Scandal (2009), discuss the changes brought in corporate governance to ensure
transparency, accountability. (200 words) (2015)
10. "If amendment bill to the Whistleblowers Act, 2011 tabled in the Parliament is passed, there may be no
one left to protect." Critically evaluate. (200 words) (2015)
11. "For achieving the desired objectives, it is necessary to ensure that 'the regulatory institutions remain
independent and autonomous." Discuss in the light of the experiences in recent past. (200 words)
(2015)
12. Two parallel run schemes of the Government, viz. the Adhaar Card and NPR, one as voluntary and the
other as compulsory, have led to debates at national levels and also litigations. On merits, discuss whether
or not both schemes need run concurrently. Analyse the potential of the schemes to achieve developmental
benefits and equitable growth. (200 words) (2014)
13. Electronic cash transfer system for the welfare schemes is an ambitious project to minimize corruption,
eliminate wastage and facilitate reforms. Comment. (200 words) (2013)
14. Though Citizens' charters have been f blic service delivery organizations, there is
no corresponding improvement in th •on and quality of services being provided.
Analyse. (200 words) (2013)
 lU

PREVIOUS YEARS' QUES TION S (MAI NS)

sugge st reforms in
1. "Insti tution al qualit y is a crucial drive r of economic perfo rmanc e". In this conte xt
(2020)
Civil Service for streng thenin g democracy. (150 words )
effectiveness, which
2. Initia lly Civil Services in India were desig ned to achieve the goals of neutr ality and
s are required
seem s to be lackin g in the prese nt context. Do you agree with the view that drasti c reform
• (2017)
in Civil Services. Comm ent. (250 words )
mic development
3. "Trad itiona l bureaucratic struct ure and culture have hamp ered the process of socio-econo
(2016)
in India ." Comm ent. (200 words )
in India ? Critically
4. Has the Cadre based Civil Services Organ izatio n been the cause of slow chang e
(2014)
exam ine. (200 word s)
 PREVIOUS YEARS' QUESTIONS (MAINS)

1. Do you agree with the view that increasing dependence on donor agencies for development reduces the
importance of community participation in the development process? Justify your answer.(250 words)
(2022)
2. Can Civil Society and Non-Governmenta l Organizations present an alternative model of public service
delivery to benefit the common citizen. Discuss the challenges of this alternative model. (250 words)
(2021)
3. The need for cooperation among various services sectors has been an inherent component of development
discourse. Partnership bridges the gap among the sectors. It also sets in motion a culture of' collaboration'
and 'team spirit'. In the light of statements above examine India's development process. (250 words)
(2019)
 4. 'Theemer genceofS elfH I drishti •
e P Groups(SHG ) .
s m contemporary times points to the slow but steady withdrawal
of the state from developmental acti. 'ti , .
the measures taken by the G vi es • Examine the role of the SHGs in developmental activities and

I s. "In the Indian govemance system

this statemen t. (200 w d 8 )
. .. or
overnmen t of India to promote the SHGs. (250 words)
th
~ e ro1e of non-state actors has been only marginal." Critically examine
(2017)

(2016)
6. Exanune critically the rece t h .
Contribu tion (R . n c anges m the rules governing foreign funding of NGOs under the Foreign
1
egu ation) Act (FCRA), 1976. (200 words) • (2015)
(SHG) Bank Linkage Programme (SBLP), which . 1s. India's . . , has
. own innovation
7. The Self-Help
d b Group
prov_e to e one of the most effective poverty alleviation and women empowerm ent programmes.
Elucidate . (200 words) • (2015)
8. How can the role of NGOs be strengthe ned in India for development works relating to protection of the
environm ent? Discuss throwing light on the major constraints. (200 words) (2015)
9. The penetrati on of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in rural areas in promoting participation in developm ent
program mes is facing socio-cult ural hurdles. Examine. (200 words) (2014)
10. Though 100 percent FDI is already allowed in non-news media like a trade publication and general
entertain ment channel, the Governm ent is mulling over the proposal for increased FDI in news media
for quite some time. What difference would an increase in FOi make? Critically evaluate the pros and
cons. (200 words) (2014)
11. The le ·timacy and account~bility of S~lf !;:!£-. G~ou~s-~~1:Gs) and their patrons, the ~cro-fina nce outfits,
gt ~ ssessmen t and scrutiny- for tne·~usti:ffif4'success of the concept. Discuss. (200 words)
1 ·.,
f .·• ~ , ~-', ,··~~· _:,... •.. , ·,. ~
need systemau c a (2013)
.. ~. ..
•· •__ fu Mrar~ s MA) is rooted in establishing connectivity.
12: The basis of providin g urban ame -. • •· _ ·~ J • ~·· : ~ • (2013)
Commen t. (200 words)
 PREVIOUS YEARS' QUESTIONS (MAINS)
." Explain how the busin ess
1. "Pre s~~e grou ps ~lay a vital role in influencing public policy maki ng in India (2021)
associations cont ribut e to publ ic policies. (150 words)
th y-makers in India and how
2. What_are e meth ods used by the farm ers' organisation to influence the polic (2019)
effective are these meth ods? (150 word s)
resulted in inade quate
3. "Policy Cont radic tions amon g various competing sectors and stakeholders have
ant illustrations. (150 words)
'protection and prev entio n of degradation' to environment." Comment with relev
(2018)
with this view that infor mal
4. How do pres sure grou ps influence India n political process? Do you agree
t years? (150 word s)
press ure grou ps have emer ged as powe rful as formal pressure grou ps in recen
(2017)
to be full of contr adict ions
5. "The Indi an party syste m is passi ng throu gh a phas e of transition whic h looks
(2016)
and para doxe s." Disc uss. (200 word s)
cipat ion in the gove rnan ce
6. "Effe ctive ness of the gove rnme nt syste m at vario us levels and ·people's parti
. (200 word s) (2016)
syste m are inter -dep ende nt." Discuss their relatiopshiB fu the context of India
With regar ds to the abov e,
7. Pres s~e grou p polit ics is some time s seen as th~ informal face of politics.
(2013)
assess the struc ture and func tioni ng of press ure grou ps in India. (200 words)