General Studies-2

PAPER 5: GENERAL STUDIES-2

(MAIN EXAMINATION- DESCRIPTIVE)

The structure of the question paper shall be as below.

(A)    Indian Polity and Constitution:

1. Indian Constitution and its salient features.
2. Functions and duties of the Indian Union and the State Governments.
3. Issues and challenges pertaining to the Federal structure – Role of Governor in States.
4. Distribution of powers between the Union and States (Union list, State list and Concurrent list) – Issues and challenges.
5. Rural and Urban Local Governance under 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment.
6. Constitutional Authorities and their Role.
7. Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
8. Judiciary in India – Structure and functions, important provisions relating to emergency and constitutional amendments, judicial review, Public Interest Litigation, Landmark Judgments.

(B)    Public Administraation and Governance:

1. Meaning, Nature and Scope of Public Administration – Evolution in India – Administrative ideas in Kautilya’s Arthashastra; Mughal administration; Legacy of British rule.
2. Role of Civil Services in Democracy.
3. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues and problems of implementation.
4. Development processes - the role of civil society, NGOs and other stakeholders.
5. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial authorities.
6. Good governance and e-governance- Transparency, accountability and responsiveness in governance – Citizen’s Charter. RTI, Public Service Act and their implications, Concept of Social Audit and its importance.

(C)    Ehics in Public Service:

1. Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human behavior; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships, ethics, integrity and accountability in public service – RTI, Public Service Act and its implications.
2. Attitude: content, functions; its influence and relation with thought and behavior; moral and political attitude; role of social influence and persuasion.
3. Emotional intelligence- concept, utilities and application in administration and governance.
4. Human values- role of family, society and educational institutions in imparting values to citizens.
5. Issues and challenges in ethics- Corruption, Lok pal, Lok Ayukta.
6. Case studies in the above areas.