UPSC Public Administration Optional Previous Year Question Papers

UPSC Public Administration Optional Subject is one of the 48 optional subjects. It is among the most popular choices, especially for aspirants with a background in political science, governance, or those preparing for administrative roles. The subject is often considered scoring because of its direct relevance to the work of civil servants and its overlap with topics in General Studies papers, particularly GS 2 and GS 4.

UPSC Public Administration Optional Subject 2025

In the UPSC Mains Exam 2025, Public Administration consists of two papers Paper I and Paper II each worth 250 marks, making a total of 500 marks. For the exam, Paper I will be held on August 31, 2025 in the morning session (9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.), while Paper II (Paper-IX) will be conducted the same day in the afternoon session (2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.).

Public Administration as an Optional Subject

Choosing Public Administration as an Optional Subject has several advantages:

• Familiarity for Governance-Oriented Aspirants: Candidates from Political Science, Public Policy, or Administration backgrounds find the syllabus approachable, as it directly deals with governance, institutions, and policy implementation.
• High Scoring Potential: With precise definitions, structured writing, and practical examples from Indian administration, aspirants can score well, especially in questions on bureaucracy, accountability, and public policy.
• Overlap with General Studies and Essay: A significant portion of the syllabus overlaps with GS Paper 2 (Polity and Governance), GS Paper 4 (Ethics), and Essay, reducing the extra effort required.
• Balanced Syllabus: The subject is well-structured, covering both theoretical foundations (thinkers, theories) and applied aspects (Indian Administration, governance challenges), making it easier to prepare systematically.
• Availability of Resources: Public Administration is one of the oldest and most popular optionals, so aspirants can access a wide range of standard books, notes, topper’s copies, and coaching materials with ease.

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UPSC Public Administration Optional Previous Year Question Papers

Studying UPSC Public Administration Optional Previous Year Question Papers is an important part of UPSC preparation. These papers give aspirants a clear roadmap of what to expect and how to prepare effectively. They help candidates to:

• Identify recurring themes and important topics: Certain areas like bureaucracy, accountability, governance reforms, and administrative thinkers are asked repeatedly, highlighting their importance.
• Understand question framing and presentation requirements: Previous year papers show how UPSC expects analytical yet concise answers, often demanding examples from contemporary governance.
• Practice time management for descriptive answers: Attempting papers under exam conditions trains aspirants to write clear, structured answers within the limited three-hour timeframe.

UPSC Public Administration Optional Paper Syllabus

UPSC Public Administration Optional is divided into two papers- Paper 1 and Paper 2. The Public Administration Optional paper has the following syllabus:

UPSC Public Administration Optional Paper - 1

• Introduction:
  • Meaning, Scope, and Significance of Public Administration.
  • Wilson’s Vision of Public Administration.
  • Evolution of the discipline and its present status.
• Administrative Thought:
  • Scientific Management and Scientific Management Movement.
  • Classical Theory.
  • Human Relations School.
  • Behavioural Approach.
  • Systems Approach.
• Administrative Behavior:
  • Process and techniques of decision-making.
  • Communication.
  • Morale.
  • Motivation Theories-content, process, and contemporary.
  • Theories of Leadership.
• Organisations:
  • Theories-systems, contingency.
  • Structure and forms: Ministries and Departments, Corporations, Companies, Boards, and Commissions.
  • Ad hoc and advisory bodies; headquarters and field relationships; regulatory authorities; quasi-permanent bodies.
• Accountability and Control:
  • 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.
• Administrative Law:
  • Meaning, scope, and significance.
  • Dicey on Administrative law.
  • Delegated legislation.
  • Administrative Tribunals

UPSC Public Administration Optional Paper - 2

• Comparative Public Administration:
  • Historical and sociological factors affecting administrative systems.
  • Administration and politics in different countries.
  • Current status of Comparative Public Administration.
  • Ecology and administration.
  • Riggsian models and their critique.
• Development Dynamics:
  • Concept of development.
  • Changing profile of development administration.
  • ‘Antidevelopment thesis’.
  • Bureaucracy and development.
  • Strong state versus the market debate.
  • Impact of liberalisation on administration in developing countries.
  • Women and development—The self-help group movement.
• Personnel Administration:
  • Importance of Human Resource Development.
  • Recruitment and training of IAS, IPS, and IFS.
  • Code of conduct for civil servants.
  • Problems concerning personnel administration in India.
• Public Policy:
  • Models of policy-making and their critique.
  • Processes of conceptualisation, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
  • State theories and public policy formulation.
• Techniques of Administrative Improvement:
  • Organization and methods, work study, and work management.
  • e-governance and information technology.
  • Management aid tools like network analysis, MIS, PERT, CPM.
• Financial Administration:
  • Monetary and fiscal policies.
  • Public borrowings and public debt Budgets—types and forms.
  • Financial accountability and accounting.
  • Audit.
  • Role of Controller General of Accounts and Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
• Administrative Reforms since Independence:
  • Major concerns.
  • Important Committees and Commissions.
  • Reforms in financial management and human resource development.
  • Problems of implementation.
• Indian Administration:
  • Philosophical and Constitutional framework of government.
  • Public Sector Undertakings.
  • Union Government and Administration.
  • Plans and Priorities.
  • State Government and Administration.
  • District Administration since Independence.
  • Impact of liberalisation on administration in developing countries.
  • Civil Services.
  • Financial Management.
  • Administrative Reforms since Independence.
  • Rural Development.
  • Urban Local Government.
  • Law and Order Administration.
  • Significant issues in Indian Administration.