Public Administration for civils mains

Its better to cover topic by topic and have some thing to write about everything in syllabus. Remaining all depends on our understanding, application and awareness of current happenings. Hence, we should read news items critically from the Hindu, Yojana, Kurukshtra, Frontline etc. and quote them in our answers appropriately.

Initially, it would be difficult to comprehend the complete subject. I took guidance from Shambulingappa sir, IFS, Bangalore and Krishna Pradeep sir, 21^st Century Pubad, Hyderabad. This was very helpful and made my preparation easy.

Some books for pubad both for paper I and II:

1. Pub Ad – Laxmikant [this was for prelims but ok for mains too]

2. Administrative thinkers – Prasad and Prasad [Covers all thinkers but then we have to refer to Laxmikant to structure our answers and to get clarity of Classical Thinker, Human Relations School and Behavioural thinkers, Leadership theries, Motivation theories etc].

3. Public Administration by Avasti and Maheshwari – It is easier to frame answers from this book.

4. Nicholas Henry book – For paradigms of pubad/evolution and for budget types. Many refer this for public policy as well.

5. Indian Administration by Ramesh Arora and Rajni Goyal : This was written long back so doesn't cover some latest topics of Paper II. But it is interesting to read.

6. New Horizons of Public Administration – Mohit Bhattachary.

   Mostly for New Public Admin, New Public Mgmt, good governance, Comparitive PubAd, Development Administration.

7. Many read Fadia and Fadia for Indian Administration. I understand it is one point reference for Paper-II but I couldn't read it.

   8. Organization Behaviour - Stephen Robbins [Good book but i couldn't read it]

   9. The Hindu, Yojana[including old editions], Kurukshtra, Frontline.

   10. All topics which are latest can be taken from Wikipedia or other sources in internet. [Eg. New Localism, Self Help Groups, Civil Society etc., Democracy vis a vis Bureaucracy.]

Apart from these, it's better to understand various issues from pubad point of view. Eg. Lokpal – Will it play effective role in checks and balances system or does it contradict with priciple of 'superiority of democratically elected parliament'. Etc. We should see role of civil society in creation of Lok Pal institution-- is it proper to have civil society members in Bill drafting panel and not to have any representation from opposition parties etc.

Flowcharts, figures, etc. are suggested in exam, but I couldn't think innovatively in exam so didn't draw them. Major thing is our answer should be crisp, comprehensive and should have some enriching examples/citings.