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ASSIGNMENT SOLUTIONS GUIDE (2014-2015)

B.P.A.E.-102
Indian Administration
Disclaimer/Special Note: These are just the sample of the Answers/Solutions to some of the Questions given in
the Assignments. These Sample Answers/Solutions are prepared by Private Teacher/Tutors/Auhtors for the help
and Guidance of the student to get an idea of how he/she can answer the Questions of the Assignments. We do
not claim 100% Accuracy of these sample Answers as these are based on the knowledge and cabability of Private
Teacher/Tutor. Sample answers may be seen as the Guide/Help Book for the reference to prepare the answers of
the Question given in the assignment. As these solutions and answers are prepared by the private teacher/tutor so
the chances of error or mistake cannot be denied. Any Omission or Error is highly regretted though every care
has been taken while preparing these Sample Answers/Solutions. Please consult your own Teacher/Tutor before
you prepare a Particular Answer & for uptodate and exact information, data and solution. Student should must
read and refer the official study material provided by the university.

SECTION I

Answer the following questions in about 500 words each.

Q. 1. Distinguish between the Mauryan and Mughal administration.

Ans. Among the many great emperors of ancient India, the names of Chandragupta and Ashoka are
well-known. They not only enlarged and consolidated their empire, but they were also very good administrators. During the reign of Chandragupta Maurya, Kautilya wrote his famous political treatise Arthashastra
which contains the fundamental tenets of statecraft as practiced in ancient India. It comprises fifteen books
and the principles enumerated in them are relevant even today. Wide network of administration included
the secret police and nagarpatis in towns and villages. The king was supreme and had the parishad and the
sabha to assist him. The king was also obligated to take steps of popular welfare. King Ashoka set-up a new
department called the Ministry of Morals.
During the medieval period India had many Muslim kings. Among the dynasties of that period, the
Moghuls deserve special mention. The Moghul rule was autocratic and centralized. Unlike the Mauryas,
the Moghuls did not pay much attention to such social sectors as health and welfare. Their administration
was personalized and revolved around the king who was the source of authority. The nature of the rule and
policies of the state depended on the character and person of the king. Some of the kings, for instance
Akbar, were regarded as benevolent and concerned about the masses. Akbar strengthened and consolidated
his empire. On the other hand, some, like Aurangzeb, were intolerant and indulged in religious persecution.
This led to revolts in various parts of the empire and set into motion the forces of disintegration.
Moghul rule was essentially land-based, i.e. mainly concerned with realization of the land revenue.
Hence, they build an efficient network of revenue collection. The recruitment of the officers was based on
caste, kin and personal loyalty. Every officer of the State held a Mansab and was expected to supply a
certain number of troops to the king. Thus the bureaucracy had military character and officers were feared
by the people. There were as many as 33 grades of Mansabdars, ranging from Commander of 10 soldiers to
those of 10,000 soldiers. Many of the officers received their salaries through jagirs for a temporary period.

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They had no ownership of land in their jagirs but had the right to collect revenues. This led to exploitation
of the masses and gave unchecked power to the jagirdars.
The army was largely based on Mansabdari system, though there were also supplementary troopers.
But, barring the special category of horse-riding soldiers owing exclusive allegiance to the king, most of
the soldiers were more attached to their immediate recruiters or bosses who were busy with their rivalries
and jealousies. This affected the fighting capability of the army. The responsibility of policing in rural areas
was on the village headman while in the cities and towns this was shared by the Kotwals.
The Structure of the Moghul Administrative System
The administration of the Moghul rulers was very much centralized and its efficiency depended upon
the king. Strong kings had strong administration and if the king was weak or indifferent the administration
would suffer. Generally the administrative pattern was based on regulations, traditions and practices. The
highest official of the administrative system was the Vakil followed by the Wazir, the former was overall incharge of the State while the latter headed the revenue department.
Wazir was also known as high diwan and the head of the administrative wing Chief Diwan was
accountable to him. It was the Chief Diwan whose signatures and seal authenticated the government business.
He supervised the work of provincial diwans and other high officials. The official who audited income and
expenditure was called Mustafi and the Waqia-navis used to keep records of all big farmers. The ecclesiastical
department was headed by Sadr-e-Sudur and the Mir-e-Bakshi was the paymaster-general of the empire.

The provincial authorities were mere administrative agents of the Centre. The empire was divided in many
provinces or Subas. The executive head of the province the Subedar, or the Governor, was appointed by imperial
order. He was expected to govern with a firm hand and realize the tributes from local chiefs. He also controlled
the zamindars and jagirdars. The provincial diwan was in-charge of the finances and appointed kroris and
tehsildars. Though provincial Diwan was next in importance to the Governor but he functioned independently
and was accountable to the imperial Diwan. The role of the Bakshi in provinces was similar to that of the Centre.
Sadr and Qazi looked after the judicial cases. While Sadr was only for civil cases, the jurisdiction of Qazi
included both the civil and criminal cases.
The Suba or the province consisted of many local areas or Sarkars. Some of them were ruled by the
tributary rajas. Some other were under the direct control of the empire and ruled by the officers called
Fauzdars, appointed by the emperor. A Fauzdar was also in-charge of a military force and ensured that any
rebellions are put down. The responsibility to look after the revenues of a Sarkar lied with amalguzars.
Sarkar was further divided into Paraganas. Each Paragana had a shiqqdar, an amil and a Qazi.
Below the Paraganas were Chaklas headed by Chakladars.
Role of the Governor

The Governor is the Constitutional head of the State and acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers
headed by the Chief Minister. The Governor has many executive, legislative, judicial and emergency powers.
The entire executive work of the State is carried on in his name. The Bills passed by the Legislature have to
be assented to him before becoming the law. He may also reserve any Bill for the assent of the President.
The Governor may issue an Ordinance when the Legislature is not in session.
Though the Governor has to exercise his powers on the advice of the Council of Ministers but in certain
cases he may be called upon to exercise his discretion. Such discretionary cases include the use of his
emergency powers. On a number of occasions these discretionary decisions of the Governor became

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controversial. This has made the office of the Governor very controversial. The occasions which require
use of discretionary powers by the Governor are:
(a) Appointment of the Chief Minister: The Governor appoints the Chief Minister and on his advice
the Council of Ministers. Generally, after the election of a new Legislative Assembly, he appoints
a person who can command majority support in the new legislature as Chief Minister.
(b) Dismissal of a Ministry: When the Governor is not assured of the majority support to the Council
of Ministers, he can dismiss the ministry. Generally, the convention is to ask the Chief Minister to
call a meeting of the Assembly and prove his majority on the floor of the House.
(c) Dissolution of the Assembly: The Governor should be guided by the advice of the Chief Minister
in the matter of dissolution of the Assembly. However, if the Governor is not assured of the majority
support of the Chief Minister in the Assembly, he may ask the Chief Minister to call a meeting of
the Assembly to prove his majority.
(d) Use of Emergency Powers: The Article 356 of the Constitution of India has the provision of
Presidents Rule in a State. The proclamation of the Presidents rule can be issued when the government
of a State cannot be carried out according to the provisions of the Constitution. The Governors
report in this matter is crucial as it forms the basis of the Presidents rule. In such cases, more often
than not, the role of the Governor became controversial.

The functioning of democracy in India has paved the way for political parties to form governments both
at the Centre and State levels. This has led emergence of situations when the ruling parties at the Centre and
the States are not the same. On such occasions the Governors role becomes controversial as his decision
are seen promoting the political interests of the party ruling the Centre. Departures from conventions while
exercising discretionary powers fuel the controversies. Moreover, instances like removing the Governors
after a change of Government at the Centre have made the office of the Governor more political than
envisaged in the Constitution.
SECTION II

Answer the following questions in about 250 words each.

Q. 3. Examine briefly the administrative relations between the Centre and the States.
Ans. The Constitutional provisions relating to the Centre and State Governments have ensured dual
polity with the Union Government at the Centre and the States Governments at the periphery. Since cooperation and coordination between them is essential, the Constitution has provided detailed division of
executive, legislative and financial powers.
The powers granted to the Union by the Constitution include the power of directions to the States to
ensure compliance of the laws passed by the Parliament, for the protection of the railways, construction and
maintenance of means of communication. The administrative relations between the Union and the States
can be considered in two parts, the exercise of powers by the Union over the States granted by the Constitution
and by extra-constitutional agencies.
The division of administrative powers between the Centre and the States as per Constitutional provisions
include: (a) Direction by the Union to the States Governments, (b) Delegation of Union functions to the
States, (c) All India Services, (d) Deployment of Military and Para-military forces, (e) Constitution of Joint
Public Service Commission for two or more States, (f) Judicial System, (g) Inter-State Council and (h)
Inter-State Water Disputes Tribunals, etc.

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The federal system of dual governments necessitates provisions for the acceptance of public acts of
both governments to avoid inter-governmental conflicts. A State refusing to recognize acts and records of
another State may create confusion. To eliminate such a possibility, The Constitution of India provides the
full faith and credit clause. The Article 261(i) of the Constitution has stipulated that full faith and credit
shall be given throughout India to public acts, records and judicial proceedings of the Union and all the
States. This clause is very crucial to ensure normal transaction of administrative activities without any
hindrance throughout the country. It must be noted that the term public acts relates to not only statutes but
to all other legislative and executive acts of the Union and the States.
Q. 4. Discuss the role of field administration.
Ans. Field administration is the governments real organic link with the people. It brings all the regulatory and controlling functions of the State to the people. The Divisional and Regional Offices, wherever
they exist, District Offices and Local Self-Governments Institutions, whatever their form, are various components of field administration. It is the field offices who realize the revenue from the people and deliver
the goods and services to them. The efficiency of the State machinery, effective implementation of development programmes and realization of targets depend on working of the field offices. Traditionally, the districts have been the basic unit of field administration in India.
Regional Administration is an intermediate level administrative set-up between the Directorates or the
State Headquarters. It acts as coordinator and supervisor of the field operations at districts, blocks and
village levels. This intermediate level facilitates more delegation of power and speedier disposal of cases.

The structure of the administration in various States of India is not uniform. Some States have an extra
level in their administrative set-up known as Divisional Office. The Divisional Administration acts as a link
between the District Administration and the State Government.
Q. 5. Write a note on the India Councils Act 1892.

Ans. The Act of 1858 was followed by the Indian Councils Act of 1861 which had provision for inclusion of a number of non-official members in the Executive Council of the Governor-General. The Council
was reinforced by six to twelve nominated members; half of these were to be non-official members who
could be either European or Indian. Similar changes were carried out at provinces. Some significant changes
in the powers of the Governor-General were made. Most of the changes effected by the Act were superficial. According to the then Secretary of India Charles Wood, the aim of the Act was to prevent the legislature from interfering with the functions of the executive government. The result was that the legislature was
given the power but it did not have any control over the executive.
Non-official members of the Council were to be nominated. These non-official members were generally
big landlords or ruling princes or their diwans who hardly had any concern of the masses. It was natural that
the Indian Councils Act of 1861 could not satisfy the progressive public opinion in India. The Indian
National Congress in its very first session voiced its concern and asked to make these councils elective and
broad based with powers to interpellate the Executive. It seems that the British statesmen were not ready to
concede any significant representation to Indians.
A few liberals advocated the need to make the councils more popular. The liberal Governor-Generals
and Viceroys may have felt that elected Indian members in the Council would strengthen their position vis-vis the British government. Organization of opinion for reform in India got impetus from Dalhousies
policy of providing for legislation on the basis of petitions from individuals and their associations. A mention
in this context can be made of the recommendations of Dufferin Committee (1888) for expansion of the

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Presidency Councils, enlarging their functions and providing representations to important interests. The
results of Dufferins experience of establishing elected provincial council in Egypt has been positive and he
wanted to repeat his experiment in India.
The thinking in Britain was that constitutional principles could not be applied to a conquered country
like India. This thinking got reflected in Indian Councils Act, 1892, which expanded the Executive Council
of the Governor-General and provided powers to discuss the budget and to interpellate, though a previous
notice was necessary for asking any questions and the question could be disallowed without assigning any
reason. The Act also provided for nominations to provincial councils, local bodies and professional bodies,
etc.
Q. 6. Discuss briefly the main features of Seventy-fourth (74th) Constitutional Amendement
Act, 1992.
Ans. Two important Constitutional Amendment Acts of 1992 were aimed to strengthen the Local SelfGovernments. While 73rd Constitutional Amendment was related to Panchayati Raj, the 74th was related
to Municipal bodies. There are now three types of Urban Local Self-Government institutions. Big cities
have Municipal Corporations, medium-size cities have Municipal Councils and small urban settlements
have Nagar Panchayats.
All the three bodies of Local Self-Government are directly elected from the constituencies of the area
of their jurisdiction. They include members of Parliament and the Legislative Assemblies representing the
constituencies falling wholly or partly within the area of their jurisdiction and members of Council of
States and Legislative Councils who are registered as electors in that area.

One of the salient features of these bodies is the reservation of one-third seats for women. These bodies
also have reservations for scheduled castes and tribes. Another salient feature relates to regular flow of
funds. It is mandatory for the State Government to appoint a Finance Commission every five years for
allocation of financial resources to these bodies. Moreover, the Constitution Amendment provides for setting
up of District Planning Committees to consolidate the plans for the district prepared by the Local SelfGovernments, the Municipalities of the urban areas and the Panchayats of the rural areas.
To keep these bodies functioning and out of direct control of the State Government, the Constitution
Amendment has provided them a term of five years. In case they are dissolved, for any reason, fresh
elections are to be held within six months. Further, their election should be conducted by an independent
State Election Commission to be appointed by the Governor.
SECTION III

Answer the following questions in about 100 words each.

Q. 7. Describe the function of Central Vigilence Commission (CVC).

Ans. The government has taken many measures to check corruption in public services. The Central
Government appointed a Committee on prevention of corruption under the chairmanship of K. Santhanam
in 1962. The Committee recommended the setting up of Central Vigilance Commission. The Commission
was constituted in 1964. It works within the Ministry of Personnel and its role is advisory. Its jurisdiction
covers all the employees of Central government and public undertakings and other institutions under the
Central Government. It also covers the employees of the Delhi Metropolitan Council and the New Delhi
Municipal Corporation.

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The Central Vigilance Commissioner is appointed by the President for six years. Most of the States also
have a State Vigilance Commission. There is a District Vigilance Officer in districts, appointed by the
District Collector.
The functions of the Central Vigilance Commissioner include:

Undertaking inquiry against a public servant suspected of corruption.

Exercising a general check and supervision on vigilance and anti-corruption work in various Ministries
and Departments.

Render advice to modify the procedures to check corruption/misuse.

Approving appointments of Chief Vigilance Officers who head vigilance units in various
organizations.

Q. 8. Explain the functions of Central Secretariat.

Ans. Two vital principles of Central Secretariat system are: (i) The task of policy formulation should
not be mixed with to policy implementation, and (ii) Maintaining Cadre of officers working on a tenure
system. These principles limit and define the work of the Central Secretariat to a policy making body only,
barring exceptions necessitated by circumstances.
The basic functions of the Secretariat include assisting the minister in policy-making by providing
relevant data and other required information. It prepares budgets of the ministries and controls its expenditure.
The Secretariat also assists in discharge of the legislative business. Various legislations, rules and procedure,
of the ministries are framed by the Secretariat. The Secretariat supervises execution of the policies and
takes steps to ensure efficiency and economy in implementation. Coordination and communication of a
ministry with other Central agencies is done by its Secretariat.

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