Tuesday, 10 February 2026

 

📘 Public Administration – Paper II
Evolution of Indian Administration


1️⃣ Ancient Administration

  • Based on monarchy with centralized authority
  • Detailed administrative structure in Arthashastra
  • Emphasis on taxation, espionage, law and order
  • Village administration played key role

Key Feature: Strong central authority with local supervision.


2️⃣ Mughal Administration

  • Highly centralized imperial system
  • Revenue system under Todar Mal
  • Mansabdari system for civil and military services
  • Provincial administration under Subahdars

Key Feature: Military-bureaucratic centralized governance.


3️⃣ British Administration

  • Introduction of modern bureaucracy
  • Indian Civil Services (ICS)
  • Centralized but rule-based administration
  • Revenue collection and law & order focus
  • District Collector as key institution

Impact: Strong institutional legacy continued after independence.


4️⃣ Post-Independence Administration

  • Adoption of Parliamentary democracy
  • Constitutional governance framework
  • All India Services retained
  • Shift from regulatory to developmental administration
  • Expansion of welfare state functions

Transformation: From colonial control to developmental governance.


5️⃣ Continuity and Change

  • Continuity: District administration, bureaucracy, centralized structure
  • Change: Democratic accountability, decentralization, welfare orientation
  • Emergence of local governance (Panchayati Raj)
  • Administrative reforms and transparency measures

UPSC Focus Line: Indian administration reflects colonial continuity with democratic transformation.


Prepared by Shaktimatha Learning
Understand the Roots → Analyse the Present → Write Confidently

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