GS 2 Strategy by UPSC Topper Ravishankar Sharma IFoS AIR 37

Structure, Organization and Functioning of Executive

Questions can relate to the size of cabinet and council of ministers: minimum government and maximum governance- rationalization of governance machinery.
- The size of the cabinet should be as big as governmental work justifies and as big as the Prime Minister can manage as a team. How far the efficacy of a government then is inversely related to the size of the cabinet? Discuss.
Procedures in normal functioning, whether they need a rethink?
- Instances of President’s delay in commuting death sentences has come under public debate as a denial of justice. Should there be a time limit specified for the President to accept/reject such petitions? Analyse.

Representation of People’s Act: Salient Features

Questions usually come with current affairs related electoral reform proposals viz. simultaneous elections, state funding of elections etc. Challenges to free and fair elections are of prime importance.
- ‘Simultaneous election to the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies will limit the amount of time and money spent in electioneering but it will reduce the government’s accountability to the people’ Discuss.
- To enhance the quality of democracy in India the Election Commission of India has proposed electoral reforms in 2016. What are the suggested reforms and how far are they significant to make democracy successful?

Read Also National Register of Citizens

Parliament and State Legislatures: Structure, Functioning, Business and Privileges

Structure and Functioning: How the parliament works, how are bills, amendments passed, ways of control on executive etc.
- The Indian Constitution has provisions for holding joint session of the two houses of the Parliament. Enumerate the occasions when this would normally happen and also the occasions when it cannot, with reasons thereof.
Role of committees and accountability
- Discuss the role of PAC in maintaining accountability of government to the people.
Loss of Parliamentary Culture: Ability of parliament to keep executive under control
- The role of individual MPs (Members of Parliament) has diminished over the years and as a result, healthy constructive debates on policy issues are not usually witnessed. How far can this be attributed to the anti-defection law, which was legislated but with a different intention?
Privileges of MPs and associated issues: Abuse of these privileges only possible question
- The ‘Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and its Members’ as envisaged in Article 105 of the Constitution leave room for a large number of un-codified and un-enumerated privileges to continue. Assess the reasons for the absence of legal codification of the ‘parliamentary privileges’. How can this problem be addressed?

Constitutional Bodies and Posts

Appointments to various constitutional posts, powers and functions of such posts and constitutional bodies: The question is going to ask the constitutional mandate of such bodies or posts, the challenges in the meaningful realisation of them and based on current affairs.
- Exercise of CAG’s powers in relation to the accounts of the Union and the States is derived from Article 149 of the Indian Constitution. Discuss whether an audit of the Government’s policy implementation could amount to overstepping its own (CAG) jurisdiction
- Discuss the recommendations of the 13th Finance Commission which have been a departure from the previous commissions for strengthening the local government finances
Statutory, Regulatory and Quasi-Judicial Bodies: A bouncer as to what is a quasi-judicial body has been asked. Normal questions centre out the hindrances for meaningful realisation of the mandate of existing bodies. The theme of autonomy and authority vested in bodies important
- Is the National Commission for Women able to strategize and tackle the problems that women face at both public and private spheres? Give reasons in support of your answer.
- For achieving the desired objectives, it is necessary to ensure that the regulatory institutions remain independent and autonomous.” Discuss in the light of the experiences in recent past.
- National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in India can be most effective when its tasks are adequately supported by other mechanisms that ensure the accountability of a government. In light of the above observation assess the role of NHRC as an effective complement to the judiciary and other institutions in promoting and protecting human rights standards
Role of Formal/ Informal Associations + Pressure Groups
- The Indian party system is passing through a phase of transition which looks to be full of contradictions and paradoxes.” Discuss.

Governance

Important Aspects of Governance: Transparency and Accountability: Question is going to be of an institution or legislation that is created to ensure transparency or accountability. For example, the role of RTI in ensuring transparency or the role of parliament in ensuring accountability of the executive. The question may also ask us about the challenges to ensuring good governance.
- Discuss the role of the Public Accounts Committee in establishing accountability of the government to the people.
- In the integrity index of Transparency International, India stands very low. Discuss briefly the legal, political, economic, social and cultural factors that have caused the decline of public morality in India.
- “If the amendment bill to the Whistleblowers Act, 2011 tabled in the Parliament is passed, there may be no one left to protect.” Critically evaluate.
Citizens Charters: Straightforward question: study its purpose, effectiveness and how to improve the same
- Through Citizen’s charters have been formulated by many public service delivery organizations, there is no corresponding improvement in the level of citizens’ satisfaction and quality of services being provided. Analyse.
E-Governance: Applications, Models, Successes, Limitations and Potential: Open area, biggest chance for a question.
Role of Civil Services in a Democracy: Question invariably about drawbacks of current structure and organization of civil services, need for reforms- lateral entry/ Specialist vs generalist debates
- Initially, Civil Services in India were designed to achieve the goals of neutrality and effectiveness, which seems to be lacking in the present context. Do you agree with the view that drastic reforms are required in Civil services? Comment
- Traditional bureaucratic structure and culture have hampered the process of socio-economic development in India.” Comment.