District Administration since Independence: Public Administration Optional Topic-wise PYQs

District Administration since Independence: Changing role of the Collector; Union-state-local relations; Imperatives of development management and law and order administration; District administration and democratic decentralization.

Changing role of the Collector

1. “There is a need to redefine and realign the functions of the Deputy Commissioner/ District Collector. Elaborate. (2023)
2. The district training component of Induction Training of IAS officers requires to be revisited. Examine. (2023)
3. “The office of the District Collector admirably survived the changing times from colonialism to the present times”. Comment. (2022)
4. District Collector is the most important functionary in district administration in India. In light of the above statement, discuss the multidimensional responsibilities of District Collector in effecting coordinated developmental administration in India. (2021)
5. At the district level, police functions under the overall supervision and control of the District Magistrate. Comment. (2020)
6. The office of the District Collector has merely become a bureau for funnelling government schemes, collecting statistics and an officer on attendance for unending VIP duties. Critically examine its role in the light of the recommendations of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission. (2019)
7. “The separation between regulatory and development functions in many States has not only  weakened the District Collector but also development administration.” Critically examine the need to relook at this policy. (2016)
8. “District Collector’s role in the development process has been overemphasised.” Comment on the statement. (2015)
9. “District collector is a legacy of the British Raj and has largely remained insulated from the demands of contemporary professionalism.” Discuss. (2014)
10. “Reducing the size (geographical area) of the district will provide relief to the overburdened and overworked collector.” Comment. (2013)
11. Explain the emerging ambiguity in respect of the developmental role of the District Collector in the wake of the 73^rd Constitutional Amendment Act. (2012)
12. “District Administration is like a small tortoise carrying the load of an elephant.’ Discuss. (2008)
13. “The District Collector, the Additional Deputy Commissioner and Sub-Divisional Officer, have virtually become ‘officers-in-attendance’ and have lost initiative and independent of judgement.” Comment. (2006)
14. “One of the most distinctive characteristics of Indian Administrative Service is its multipurpose character.” Comment. (2005)
15. “District Collector Has increasingly become multi-dimensional.” Comment. (2003)
16. “Collector is the representative of the State government in the district and also represents public interest.” Comment. (2002)
17. “The District Collector admirably survived the historical change of role from an alien regime to a national one.” Comment. (2001)
18. ‘The office of collector created by the British forms the basis of district administration in India, but today it needs a new look to metamorphise itself into a Key office of District Government.’ Comment. (1992)
19. ‘The designation “District Collector” is a misnomer at the present juncture, the correct designation would be “Chief District Administrator”. He is the pivot, in district administration, of the stability and progress of the district, but his performance in both these respects depends on the co-operation of and co-ordination with the officials in various departments in the district.’ Elucidate the statement in the light of the experience, particularly during the eighties and nineties. (1990)
20. ‘The role of District Collector has changed but not diminished for now he has an additional function of guiding democratic bodies and has to carry conviction with members of these democratic institutions.’ Comment. (1987)

Union-state local relations

1. The Union government develops and practices strategies to administer increasing number of existing local government services by sidelining local initiatives and discretion. Examine. (2021)
2. “Indian federalism is passing through a state of potential maturity.” Discuss this statement in the context of the views of the Commission on Centre-State Relations (Justice M.M. Punchi). (2011)
3. “Many of the programmes of development being implemented at the State and the Local level have been initiated or financed by the nature of Indian federalism.” Critically examine this assessment. (2009)
4. “Autonomy of local bodies is conditioned by state-local relations and the managerial capability of the local bodies themselves.” Comment. (1994)
5. Examine some of the Challenges to Development Administration in the Panchayati democracy of rural India. Do you think that the Constitutionalisation of three-tier Federalism will be a viable model for future?  (1992)

Imperatives of development management and law and order administration

1. “Development management advocates self-sustaining customer-friendly institutions at the district level.” Comment. (2018)
2. “The primary emphasis in District Administration has to be on implementation of development programmes in cooperation with active support of people.” Elucidate. (2005)
3. “The District Collector is an overburdened officer due to the expansion and increasing developmental activities.” Comment. (2005)
4. Critically review the evolving relationship between the district magistrate and the superintendent of police in the fiend of law-and-order management in a district.” (1995)

District administration and democratic decentralization

1. District administration is the most important unit in governance. Most of the Central and State Government schemes and programmes are directed towards the district administration. In this context, discuss the challenges and problems posed to the district administration. (2020)
2. It is observed that non-functioning of District planning Committees is preventing the Convergence of rural and urban planning needs. Do you agree? Justify. (2019)
3. “Digitalisation of land records is a necessary but not sufficient precondition for ensuring transparent distict administration.” Explain. (2017)
4. NGOs demand greater autonomy from the State and are now ‘new actors’ in development. How effective are they as instruments of decentralisation and debureaucratisation? Critically evaluate. (2012)
5. “The district officer as a chief agent and representative of state serves as a channel of communication between the Government and the residents of the district.” Explain. (2004)
6. “It is at the district level that the common man comes into direct contact with the administration.” Elucidate. (2003)
7. “It is a major challenge to balance the role of District Collector with the powers of democratic bodies.” Comment. (2000)
8. “The Bengal pattern of district administration was based on the Zamindari system of land tenure.” Explain. (1994)