Q.1 Which of the following best describes the principle of 'separation of powers' in governance?
Concentration of all powers in a single authority
Division of government functions among legislative, executive, and judiciary
Allocation of powers only to elected officials
Separation of national and state governments only
Explanation - The separation of powers ensures that legislative, executive, and judiciary functions are held by different organs of the government to prevent concentration of power and promote checks and balances.
Correct answer is: Division of government functions among legislative, executive, and judiciary
Q.2 Which of the following is a key objective of public administration?
Generating private profits
Efficient implementation of government policies
Reducing citizen participation
Maintaining political dominance of the ruling party
Explanation - Public administration is concerned with implementing government policies and programs efficiently and effectively, ensuring public welfare.
Correct answer is: Efficient implementation of government policies
Q.3 Good governance emphasizes:
Transparency, accountability, and rule of law
Centralization of power and authority
Restricting public participation
Minimizing institutional oversight
Explanation - Good governance focuses on transparency, accountability, rule of law, responsiveness, equity, and inclusiveness in public administration.
Correct answer is: Transparency, accountability, and rule of law
Q.4 Which of the following is NOT a feature of bureaucracy in governance?
Hierarchical structure
Rule-based functioning
Political neutrality
Random decision-making
Explanation - Bureaucracy is characterized by a structured hierarchy, formal rules, and political neutrality; random decision-making is contrary to its principles.
Correct answer is: Random decision-making
Q.5 The concept of 'e-governance' primarily aims to:
Increase the role of political parties in administration
Use information technology to improve service delivery and governance
Eliminate all government offices
Centralize decision-making processes
Explanation - E-governance leverages IT tools to make government services more accessible, efficient, and transparent.
Correct answer is: Use information technology to improve service delivery and governance
Q.6 Which constitutional body in India is primarily responsible for auditing government expenditure?
Election Commission
Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)
Central Vigilance Commission
Finance Commission
Explanation - The CAG audits the accounts of the central and state governments and ensures financial accountability in public administration.
Correct answer is: Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)
Q.7 Decentralization in governance refers to:
Concentration of power at the national level
Delegating decision-making authority to local bodies
Reducing citizen participation
Centralizing administrative functions
Explanation - Decentralization empowers local governments and institutions to make decisions, ensuring better responsiveness and participation.
Correct answer is: Delegating decision-making authority to local bodies
Q.8 The term 'public policy' is best defined as:
Private decisions affecting a few individuals
Government actions and plans addressing public issues
Rules created by political parties for internal management
Randomized actions taken by bureaucrats
Explanation - Public policy refers to deliberate actions taken by government institutions to address societal problems and improve public welfare.
Correct answer is: Government actions and plans addressing public issues
Q.9 Which of the following is an example of participatory governance?
Top-down policy decisions
Citizen involvement in planning and implementation
Exclusive control by bureaucrats
Relying solely on market forces for public services
Explanation - Participatory governance encourages citizen engagement in decision-making and policy implementation for greater transparency and effectiveness.
Correct answer is: Citizen involvement in planning and implementation
Q.10 Which of the following best explains 'regulatory governance'?
Government regulation of private sector and public interests
Privatization of all government functions
Reducing government oversight
Ignoring legal frameworks
Explanation - Regulatory governance involves setting rules and monitoring compliance to balance public and private sector interests.
Correct answer is: Government regulation of private sector and public interests
Q.11 Which principle is central to Max Weber’s theory of bureaucracy?
Charismatic leadership
Rule-based hierarchical organization
Political favoritism
Arbitrary decision-making
Explanation - Weber emphasized a structured, rule-bound bureaucracy with a clear hierarchy to ensure efficiency and predictability.
Correct answer is: Rule-based hierarchical organization
Q.12 The 'Right to Information Act' in India promotes:
Transparency and accountability in governance
Centralization of decision-making
Reduction of citizen rights
Political secrecy
Explanation - The RTI Act allows citizens to access government information, strengthening transparency and accountability.
Correct answer is: Transparency and accountability in governance
Q.13 Which of the following is an advantage of decentralization?
Increased citizen participation and responsiveness
Greater central government control
Reduced local accountability
Uniform policies without local adaptation
Explanation - Decentralization empowers local governments to respond quickly to local needs and encourages active citizen participation.
Correct answer is: Increased citizen participation and responsiveness
Q.14 Which institution plays a key role in ensuring ethical governance in India?
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)
RBI
Supreme Court Registry
Explanation - The CVC monitors and investigates corruption within government institutions, promoting ethical governance.
Correct answer is: Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)
Q.15 In governance, the term 'efficiency' primarily refers to:
Minimizing resource wastage while achieving objectives
Maximizing political control
Reducing citizen involvement
Expanding government bureaucracy unnecessarily
Explanation - Efficiency ensures that government policies and programs achieve desired results with optimal use of resources.
Correct answer is: Minimizing resource wastage while achieving objectives
Q.16 Which of the following is an example of a non-governmental mechanism promoting good governance?
Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)
Rule-based bureaucracy
Executive orders
Legislative sessions
Explanation - PPPs involve collaboration between government and private entities to enhance service delivery and accountability.
Correct answer is: Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)
Q.17 Accountability in governance ensures that:
Officials are answerable for their actions and decisions
Citizens have no say in government
Decisions are made without oversight
All powers are concentrated in one office
Explanation - Accountability ensures transparency and responsibility, making public officials answerable to citizens and oversight institutions.
Correct answer is: Officials are answerable for their actions and decisions
Q.18 Which of the following is a key challenge in public administration in India?
Ensuring equity, efficiency, and responsiveness simultaneously
Lack of laws
Absence of government institutions
Unlimited resources
Explanation - Public administration must balance multiple objectives, including efficiency, equity, and responsiveness, often under resource constraints.
Correct answer is: Ensuring equity, efficiency, and responsiveness simultaneously
Q.19 Policy implementation failure often occurs due to:
Poor coordination, resource constraints, and bureaucratic inefficiency
Strong citizen participation
Effective use of technology
Transparent decision-making
Explanation - Implementation failures are usually caused by systemic inefficiencies, lack of resources, and inadequate coordination among agencies.
Correct answer is: Poor coordination, resource constraints, and bureaucratic inefficiency
Q.20 Which of the following best reflects participatory decision-making in governance?
Including citizens in planning and monitoring public projects
Decisions made solely by central ministries
Excluding local governments from policy implementation
Privatization of government services
Explanation - Participatory governance ensures citizens contribute to policy formulation, planning, and monitoring, promoting accountability.
Correct answer is: Including citizens in planning and monitoring public projects
Q.21 The term 'regulatory capture' refers to:
When regulatory agencies serve the interests of the industries they regulate
Efficient and impartial regulation
Citizen participation in regulation
Decentralized governance
Explanation - Regulatory capture occurs when regulators prioritize the interests of private entities over public welfare, undermining governance.
Correct answer is: When regulatory agencies serve the interests of the industries they regulate
Q.22 Which of the following reforms is aimed at improving administrative efficiency in India?
Civil Services Reforms and Performance Management Systems
Abolition of local bodies
Centralizing all powers in the PMO
Eliminating bureaucratic oversight
Explanation - Reforms in civil services aim to improve accountability, efficiency, and responsiveness in governance through systematic performance evaluation and modern management practices.
Correct answer is: Civil Services Reforms and Performance Management Systems
Q.23 Which of the following statements is true about accountability in governance?
It involves monitoring and evaluating officials’ performance
It reduces transparency
It allows arbitrary decision-making
It eliminates the need for public participation
Explanation - Accountability ensures that officials’ actions are monitored, evaluated, and aligned with laws, policies, and public interest.
Correct answer is: It involves monitoring and evaluating officials’ performance
Q.24 Which of the following is an essential element of ethical governance?
Integrity, fairness, and responsibility
Political favoritism
Bureaucratic secrecy
Ignoring citizen feedback
Explanation - Ethical governance requires officials to act with honesty, fairness, and accountability, maintaining public trust.
Correct answer is: Integrity, fairness, and responsibility
Q.25 Which of the following is a function of the Finance Commission in India?
Distributing financial resources between the central and state governments
Auditing government expenditure
Investigating corruption in public offices
Managing public sector enterprises
Explanation - The Finance Commission recommends the distribution of financial resources between the center and states, ensuring fiscal balance and equity.
Correct answer is: Distributing financial resources between the central and state governments