PUB. AD. Optional (Paper 1 Section B) (Development Dynamics) by Rajeev Choudhary Sir

Model Answer

Question #1. The concept of development is multidimensional and ever expanding. Explain

Approach:

• Highlight various Characteristics of DA.

There is no unanimous definition of Development Administration as such as everyday it is being given newer ones and updated but yes, there are certain characteristics and features of Development Administration that help identify it. Those are:

1. Change Orientation - It is an anti status-quo(continuing present situation). It looks to formulate strategies to develop administrative capacities viz-a-viz external environment as well as building activating internal structures in order to speed up socio-economic change.
2. Goal oriented - It is result oriented that pertains to social,economic,political and cultural goals(including technological) which are progressive in nature.
3. Motivation - Motivation and that too a high degree of it is a backbone of any organisation and personal vested interests should be thwarted if progressive goals have to be achieved.
4. Client orientation - It is people centered and aims to provide the maximum services and products to the people/clients.
5. Greater participation of citizens - It involves a great amount of people participation in the formulation and implementation of development goals and policies. It looks to facilitate people's participation and in India the block level and district planning level is part of the government. initiative to do so at the grass root level.
6. Effective integration - Effective integration among groups and authorities involved while achieving development goals both at the small and big level.
7. Innovativeness - Development administration has the approach of problem solving which it does through  applying new methods,structures,procedure,plans,projects and programmes for achieving its objectives.
8. Responsiveness - Fulfilling the needs of people and responding to the demands and needs of society are its top priorities.

Question #2. Development Administration and administrative development have a chicken egg kind of relationship. (Riggs). Elaborate.

Approach :

•       The two points mentioned in the question are distinct yet important pillars of Development Administration.
•       Explain the two points from the Riggsian angle.
•       Elaborate on how two converge in Development Administration.
•       Give Examples.
•       Conclude.

Two goals of Development Administration:

1. Administration Of Development:

Administration of Development means the arrangement and tasks needed to control the operation/plan of development. It is how development plans and policies are carried out or implemented,in short administered. Administration of development involves the following goals/objectives:

1. application of innovative strategies for development. Administrative systems and machinery capacities should be reinforced and built up to implement the programmes and policies in the most optimum way.
2. emphasis on development at the grassroots level. Development has to be a need-oriented and self-reliant process.
3. Stress on social development and human capital as a major resource.
4. Development has to be viewed not merely as a technological problem but also as an ideological norm.
5. Profound and rapid change in order to establish a distinct and just social order.
6. Recognising and highlighting the unity,rather than the dichotomy between politics and administration.
7. Effective and efficient use of scarce resources.
8. Creation of a politics-administrative environment which is oriented towards securing basic needs of the population.
9. Freedom of administrative machinery to express its values and beliefs without fear or favour on programmes and projects.

2. Development of Administration or Administrative development:

Simply speaking it refers to that aspect of development administration where administrative systems and capacities are developed for efficient and optimum utilisation of scarce resources to implement the development policies. It looks to bring out not only procedural,technical or organisational changes to keep the administrative machinery up to date with the societal goals but also to bring about political development,economic growth and social change. It also looks to bring about adaptability,autonomy and coherence in administration and remove corruption.

So now since we have understood the term of Development Administration and its two aspects which need to be fulfilled because they both are interdependent and if one aspect is not fulfilled the other cannot persist. Also we can see the difference between traditional administration of the earlier periods where all that was prioritised was increase in production and efficiency and profits,development administration is concerned about social justice and economic as well as administrative machinery and political development.