Notes Class 11 Chapter 7 Political Science Maharashtra Board

Public Administration

Introduction

Public Administration is a part of Political Science that looks at how the government works to carry out its decisions. It’s like studying “government in action.” This chapter explains what Public Administration is, how it evolved, its role, and how it works in India.

What is Public Administration?

Definition: Public Administration is about organizing and managing people and resources to achieve the goals set by the government.

Key Points:

• It focuses on the executive branch (the part of the government that implements laws).
• It’s different from private administration, which happens in businesses or non-government organizations.
• Examples of definitions:

Herbert Simon: Public Administration is the work done by the executive branches of national, state, and local governments.

Dwight Waldo: It’s the art and science of managing state affairs.

Luther Gulick: It’s the part of administration that deals with government work, mainly in the executive branch.

Political Science and Public Administration

Political Science studies how a society governs itself, including the state, government, and politics at local, state, national, and international levels.

Public Administration is a sub-discipline that focuses on implementing the laws and policies made by the government.

Connection:

• Political Science looks at how policies and laws are created (e.g., by Parliament or political parties).
• Public Administration looks at how these policies are put into action (e.g., by bureaucrats or government workers).

Government Structure

The government has three branches:

1. Legislature: Makes laws (e.g., Parliament).

2. Executive: Implements laws. It has:

• Political Executives: Elected leaders like Ministers.
• Permanent Executives: Bureaucrats hired through exams like UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) or MPSC (Maharashtra Public Service Commission).

3. Judiciary: Interprets laws and settles disputes.

Public Administration mainly deals with the executive branch.

Public Administration vs. Private Administration

Public Administration:

• Done by the government.
• Focuses on public welfare (e.g., education, health, law and order).
• Examples: District Collector, Police Officer, Anganwadi Worker.

Private Administration:

• Done by private companies or NGOs.
• Focuses on profit or specific goals.
• Examples: Private schools, hospitals.

Scope of Public Administration

The scope can be viewed in two ways: Narrow and Broad.

1. Narrow Perspective (POSDCORB)

This view, given by Gulick and Urwick, focuses only on the executive branch. The acronym POSDCORB stands for:

• P – Planning: Creating a blueprint for what needs to be done (e.g., NITI Aayog plans at national, state, and local levels).
• O – Organization: Setting up a structure to achieve goals (e.g., All India Services, State Services).
• S – Staffing: Hiring and training people (e.g., through UPSC or MPSC exams).
• D – Directing: Giving instructions and making decisions.
• CO – Coordination: Ensuring all parts of the organization work together without overlap or conflict.
• R – Reporting: Keeping records and informing higher authorities to ensure accountability.
• B – Budgeting: Managing money for activities (planning and controlling finances).

Example Activity: Organizing a cricket match in college involves planning the event, assigning tasks, coordinating with authorities, and preparing a budget.

2. Broad Perspective

• This view includes all three branches (Legislature, Executive, Judiciary) and their interactions.
• It also involves working with private groups or individuals to provide services like education, health, or defense.

It focuses on:

• Techniques (like POSDCORB).
• Substantive matters (like policy-making and public welfare).

Example: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) where companies work on social issues like clean water or education.

Evolution of Public Administration

Ancient Times:

• Kautilya’s Arthashastra: A book on administration in ancient India during Chandragupta Maurya’s time.
• Aristotle’s Politics and Machiavelli’s The Prince: Early texts on governance.

18th Century:

Cameralism in Germany and Austria focused on managing government affairs systematically.

Modern Times:

• Woodrow Wilson (1887) wrote an essay called The Study of Public Administration, which started it as an academic subject in the USA.
• He said administration is the most visible but least discussed part of government.

Today:

Public Administration includes new areas like:

• Comparative Public Administration.
• Development Administration.
• New Public Management.
• Public Policy.
• Good Governance.

Public Policy

Definition: Public Policy is about the government making and implementing plans to solve public problems and improve welfare.

Why It’s Important:

• Governments today deal with complex issues like technology, globalization, and public needs.
• Public Policy goes beyond just administration—it focuses on creating solutions.

Examples:

• Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana: A policy to provide electricity to rural areas.
• Ayushman Bharat: A policy for affordable healthcare for all.

Steps in Public Policy:

1. Policy Choice: Identifying a problem (e.g., garbage disposal) and deciding how to solve it (e.g., segregating waste).
2. Policy Output: Implementing the plan (e.g., collecting and treating waste separately).
3. Policy Impact: Checking if the plan worked and improving it if needed (evaluation stage).

Example: For waste management in your area, the government might decide to segregate waste, implement a collection system, and later check if it improved hygiene.

Administrative System in India

Historical Background:

• Pre-British: India had structured administration under Mauryas (Kautilya’s Arthashastra), Guptas, Mughals, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
• British Rule: They introduced a centralized system through laws like the Government of India Acts (1909, 1919, 1935).
• Post-Independence: India became a Union of States with a federal system and parliamentary democracy, guided by the Constitution’s values (Liberty, Equality, Justice, Fraternity, Secularism).

Levels of Administration:

1. National Level: Central Government with ministries (e.g., Health, Defence) and institutions like UPSC, NITI Aayog.
2. State Level: State Governments with ministries and commissions, similar to the central level.

Local Level:

• Urban: Municipal Corporations (led by Municipal Commissioners) or Councils.
• Rural: Zilla Parishad, Panchayat Samiti, Gram Panchayat (led by Collectors, BDOs, or Sarpanch).

How It Works:

• Ministries: Each ministry is led by a Minister and supported by bureaucrats.
• Bureaucracy: Hired through competitive exams (UPSC, State PSC) and follows political neutrality (loyal to the Constitution, not political parties).

Local Administration:

• Rural: Collector (district), Tehsildar (tehsil), Gram Sevak (village).
• Urban: Municipal Commissioner or elected council members.

Political-Administrative Link: Ministers and elected leaders work closely with bureaucrats to implement policies.

Local Government Administration

Rural:

• Zilla Parishad: Led by a President and Chief Executive Officer; Collector handles revenue and law and order.
• Panchayat Samiti: Led by a Chairman and Block Development Officer (BDO).
• Gram Panchayat: Led by a Sarpanch and Gram Sevak.

Urban:

• Municipal Corporation: For cities with a population above 3 lakh; led by a Mayor and Municipal Commissioner.
• Municipal Council: For smaller towns; led by a President.
• Cantonment Board: For military areas; led by an armed forces administrator.