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PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: Your unofficially the compulsory subject (in the changed context)
M.K.Mohanty Let me start with a less than a humble statement! Public Administration has been the most popular, successful and scoring subject till now and with the changed syllabus for Civil Services Mains 2013, it will not only continue to remain as the most sought after optional paper but also is going to establish itself as the only choice for the students as an optional subject!! So, it is (in this changed syllabus) going to be the unofficially compulsory paper of UPSC!!! In the light of recent changes in the syllabus of General Studies, Public Administration if opted as an optional subject is going to place a student with ENORMOUS ADVANTAGE and a student without this subject as an optional is going to bear very high OPPORTUNITY COST. Let me try to explain this: First of all let me try to draw a comparison between General Studies and Public Administration in order to find out areas of overlapping between the two.

Areas of overlapping between Public Administration & General Studies Public Administration General Studies
(Following topics mentioned under various papers of General Studies relevant to Public Administration would be covered in detail within the course schedule of Public Administration itself. These topics will be covered by M.K. Mohanty.)

General Studies - II
The topics indicated on the other side are mostly covered within Paper II of Public Administration (Indian Administration) and certain chapters of PaperI (Administrative Theory): Administrative Behaviour, Accountability and Control, Public Policy, Financial Management and Development Dynamics. These are the Topics which will be covered while studying for Public Administration (Topics mentioned under various papers of General Studies relevant to Public Administration would be covered in detail within the course schedule of Public Administration itself. These topics will be covered by M.K. Mohanty.)). Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. Separation of powers between various organs, Dispute Redressal Mechanisms and institutions. Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary-Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity. Salient features of the Representation of Peoples Act. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures. Role of civil services in a democracy.

General Studies - III

Issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Government Budgeting. Disaster and disaster management. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security. Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

General Studies - IV
Aptitude and foundational values of Civil Services, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections. Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance. Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance. Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizens Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption. Case Studies on above issues Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries MUKHERJEE NAGAR: 102, Ist Floor, Manushree Building, Behind Post Office, Delhi-09, Ph: 011-27654518, 27653494 KAROL BAGH: 16-A/2, First Floor, Ajmal Khan Road, W.E.A., New Delhi-05, Ph:- 011-25744391, www.synergy.edu.in

Topics which are

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indirectly related Topics which are indirectly related Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Issues relating to poverty and hunger. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth. Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in - human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics - in private and public relationships. Human Values - lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values. Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.

What does the above mean? Why Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude (GS-IV) can be substantially attributed to Public Administration?
GS and Public Administration create mutually reinforcing virtuous cycles:

A student opting for Public Administration as an optional subject would be covering automatically a very large portion of the syllabus one actually would prepare for 11,00 to 12,00 marks (500 marks for Public Administration as an optional subject + more than 50% of the General studies as discussed under previously elaborated sections). This would help the students to cover a large section of the syllabus while preparing for a single optional. Besides, it also carries certain other advantages, i.e., time available for other sections of the GS would increase drastically which would further enhance the score. So, taking Public Administration would contribute towards students success in number of different ways. In addition to this, a student of Public Administration will always find a matching topic in Essay from Governance and Democracy. (Kindly find from the following:-) At the moment there are many claims and counter-claims about this paper being a part of a discipline or a particular optional paper. However, let me present my argument in favour of Public Administration. First of all, one needs to recognise that all the subjects are interdisciplinary & thereby, a particular area of study may be a part of number of subjects. So is the case with Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude. But, as the syllabus been designed in GS-IV, the concerned paper can be covered substantively through Public Administration, because 1. The sections in GS IV such as Aptitude and foundational values of Civil Services, Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration & Probity in Governance are beyond doubt a part of Public Admin. Only a novice or an individual with wrong intentions will deny it. These are topics those are studied only in Public Administration. 2. The sections in GS IV such as Emotional Intelligence and attitude in its concepts or theories are not exclusively studied in Public Administration but the syllabus requires their application in Public Administration or Government. So, its proper understanding can be developed only through Pub. Admn. 3. The sections in GS IV such as Ethics and Human Interface as concepts & theories are not dealt in public administration but it has covered under the Administrative values & ethics. Unless the basic concepts & foundational principles are understood, the Administrative values and ethics cannot be explained. That is what is relevant to the current syllabus. The topics for the essay paper those related to Governance and Democracy in the previous year Civil Services examination are as follows Public Private Partnership (IAS 2012) Formation of smaller states, and its implication on Administration, finance and development. (IAS 2011) Is our society ready for Indias Global leadership (IAS 2010) Globalization versus Nationalism. (IAS 2009) Role of media in Good Governance. (IAS 2008) Evaluation of Panchayati Raj System in India in the context of Poverty Alleviation to Empowerment. (IAS 2007) Globalization and its effect on Indias culture. (IAS 2004) What should be the conduct of Civil Services (IAS 2003) Indian Democracy and Judicial Activism (IAS 2004) If women ruled the world. (IAS 2005) Global peace and Terrorism. (IAS 2004) Liability of Media in Democracy. (IAS 2002) What did we learn from Democracy (IAS 2001) Implication of Globalization on India (IAS 2000) India needs a better Disaster Management system (IAS 2000) Judicial Activism. (IAS 2000) Need for Transparency in Public Administration. (IAS 1996) Whither Indian Democracy. (IAS 1995)

Kindly note:
While Political Science studies Constitution & Polity, Public Administration studies Constitution, Polity & Governance. While concepts like Ethics, Integrity, Attitude and Emotional Intelligence etc. are studied in other subjects but its application in governance and administration is studied in public administration this is what the essence of the new syllabus

(Following is a hypothetical description about a student opting for Public Administration in order to explain and justify the preceding statements):-

Why PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION?

In order to explain the preceding statements, let me argue while presenting a hypothetical description about a student opting for Public Administration:

MUKHERJEE NAGAR: 102, Ist Floor, Manushree Building, Behind Post Office, Delhi-09, Ph: 011-27654518, 27653494 KAROL BAGH: 16-A/2, First Floor, Ajmal Khan Road, W.E.A., New Delhi-05, Ph:- 011-25744391, www.synergy.edu.in

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Why SYNERGY?
In addition to above, interview has always been testing the candidates' suitability for Administration. Public Administration as an optional subject has helped the largest number of students to qualify in the Civil Service Examination as against any of the other optional subjects in the last number of years consecutively. In 2012 Public Administration alone produced a number of successful candidates which equaled almost all the optional subjects put together as an optional it has 2 in top 10, 6 in top 20, 21 in top 50, 44 in top 100 & 434 out of 910 selections. Moreover, the subject deals with the government in action or the Civil Service and that is what the civil service examination is all about. At SYNERGY, the class schedule for Public Administration has been reorganised to include in its usual course of coverage all the newly added portions of GS syllabus that is mentioned in the table above (that overlaps with Public Administration). That means, not hypothetically or superficially rather actually a student will cover such a vast portion (in terms of content and more importantly in terms of marks) of GS automatically while preparing Public Administration along with availing number of other additional benefits those mentioned earlier. In the last couple of years, most of the students those who have qualified with Public Administration as an optional subject belonged to SYNERGY. It's to be noted; in 2012 most of those selected with Public Administration are from SYNERGY including top most rank in Public Administration, i.e., rank-3 (Prince Dhawan).

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Date of commencement of the class: 6th June, 2013. Date of Admission: 23rd May, 2013 Students opting for combo courses would be given preference in the admission.

by M.K. Mohanty

For further query, kindly contact our office or visit our website www.synergy.edu.in
MUKHERJEE NAGAR: 102, Ist Floor, Manushree Building, Behind Post Office, Delhi-09, Ph: 011-27654518, 27653494 KAROL BAGH: 16-A/2, First Floor, Ajmal Khan Road, W.E.A., New Delhi-05, Ph:- 011-25744391, www.synergy.edu.in

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S.NO. SUBJECT
GENERAL STUDIES (ADDED PORTION) DATE OF COMMENCEMENT 06.06.2013

DURATION
12 & 1/2 weeks (3 Months 4 days)

TIMINGS
Batch-1 : Karol Bagh 7:15 -9:45am Batch-2 : Mukh. Nagar 6:15 8:45pm

TUTIO N FEE
22,348

SERVICE TAX
3152

TOTAL FEE
25,500/-

1.

(* For Synergy Students- 15,500/-) 48,702 6798 55,500/-

2.

GENERAL STUDIES MAINS

06.06.2013

5 Months

Batch-1 : Karol Bagh 10:30am-1:00pm Batch-2: Mukh. Nagar 2:45 5:15pm Batch-1: Karol Bagh 4:30 -6:30pm Batch-2: Mukh. Nagar 10:00am12:00 noon Batch-1: Karol Bagh 7:15 -9:15am Batch-2: Mukh. Nagar 6:15 8:15pm Batch-1: Karol Bagh 1:30 -3:30pm Batch-2: Mukh. Nagar 7:15 9:15am

3.

CSAT

20.06.2013

6 weeks (45 days)

14,500/-

3.

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIO N GEOGRAPHY

06.06.2013

4 Months

34,618

4882

39,500/-

4.

06.06.2013

4 Months

31,551

4449

36,500/-

5. 6.

GENEAL STUDIES PT CUM MAIN GENERAL STUDIES PT CUM MAIN & CSAT

7 Months 7 Months

74,932 83,696

10,568 11,804

85,500/95,500/-

COMBO OFFER
(The fee is applicable for the students opting the courses in the same academic session.) 7. 8. 9.
G.S. (MAIN) & PUB. ADMIN. G.S. (MAIN) & GEOGRAPHY CSAT 66,168 61,786 9332 8714 75,500/70,500/-

A student opting for CSAT along with any other course being offered will be eligible for 50% fee concession in the CSAT fee (i.e. Rs. 7,250/-). The fee for CSAT would be Rs. 14,500/-.

TEST SERIES
10. 11.
G.S. (MAIN) TEST SERIES PUB. ADMIN TEST SERIES 2nd week of June 2nd week of June 8632 5340 1217 660 9,850/6000/-

(*For synergy students- 4500/-)

12.

GEOGRAPHY TEST SERIES

2nd week of June

5340

660

6000/-

(*For synergy students- 4500/-)

13.
NB :

ESSAY (15 days intensive session)

Essay classes will be free of cost for students opting for any of the currently provided courses. For others, the fee will be Rs. 3,500/-.

Synergy Students can avail a discount of 10% while opting for any of the above courses. This is not applicable to the discounted fee that is already mentioned above within row 1, 11 and 12 for the SYNERGY students. Students opting for combo courses would be given preference in the admission. Date of admission 23rd May, 2013.

MUKHERJEE NAGAR: 102, Ist Floor, Manushree Building, Behind Post Office, Delhi-09, Ph: 011-27654518, 27653494 KAROL BAGH: 16-A/2, First Floor, Ajmal Khan Road, W.E.A., New Delhi-05, Ph:- 011-25744391, www.synergy.edu.in