Aspirant Academy

Public Administration

Predicted Questions with Model Answers

State Administration: Governor, CM, Secretariat, Chief Secretary, Directorates, Police, Revenue Board, Lokayukta

Paper III · Unit 2 Section 11 of 13 0 PYQs 28 min
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Predicted Questions with Model Answers

Q1 (5 marks — 50 words): What are the discretionary powers of the Governor of Rajasthan?

Model Answer:

The Governor exercises discretion (without CM's advice) in: (1) Appointing CM when no party has a clear Assembly majority — invites the leader most likely to form a stable government; (2) Dismissing the ministry that has lost Assembly confidence and refuses to resign; (3) Reserving bills for the President's consideration — especially those affecting High Court jurisdiction; (4) Reporting to the President on the state's constitutional breakdown (Article 356); (5) Acting as Chancellor of state universities with independent administrative authority.

Q2 (5 marks — 50 words): What is the role of the Chief Secretary in Rajasthan's state administration?

Model Answer:

The Chief Secretary is the senior-most IAS officer in Rajasthan — the apex of the state bureaucracy. Key roles: (1) Principal administrative advisor to the Chief Minister; (2) Head of the Secretariat — coordinates all departments; (3) Ex-officio Cabinet Secretary — maintains Cabinet records, implements Cabinet decisions; (4) Chair of the State Civil Services Board — handles IAS/RAS postings, promotions; (5) Government's chief spokesperson in Centre-state communications and inter-state matters; (6) During President's Rule, works directly under the Governor.

Q3 (5 marks — 50 words): Distinguish between the Rajasthan Secretariat and the Directorates.

Model Answer:

The Rajasthan Secretariat (Jaipur) is the policy-making centre — IAS secretaries assist ministers in framing policies, drafting legislation, and coordinating inter-departmental matters. Directorates are the execution arm — technical/administrative officers implement approved policies through field-level activities, schemes, and service delivery. Secretariat thinks and decides; directorates act and deliver. The Secretariat enjoys direct ministerial access; directorates receive directions through the Secretariat. Many Rajasthan directorates are headquartered outside Jaipur (e.g., several in Ajmer and Bikaner).

Q4 (10 marks — 150 words): Discuss the establishment, jurisdiction, and powers of the Rajasthan Lokayukta.

Model Answer:

The Rajasthan Lokayukta was established under the Rajasthan Lokayukta Act, 1973 — one of India's earlier Lokayukta laws (Karnataka's 1963 Lokayukta being the first). The Lokayukta is appointed by the Governor in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court. The term is 5 years or age 70, whichever is earlier; no reappointment is permitted. Removal follows the same procedure as a High Court judge.

Jurisdiction covers: ministers, state government officers (IAS, IPS, RAS), employees of state boards and corporations, university employees, and local body members in specified matters. Excluded from jurisdiction: the Governor (constitutional immunity), High Court judges, and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) who are governed by the Privileges Committee.

Powers of the Lokayukta: It functions like a Civil Court — can summon witnesses, call for documents, receive affidavits on oath, and conduct investigation into complaints of maladministration, corruption, abuse of power, and nepotism. It can take up cases suo motu (on its own initiative). It has the right to inspect government offices and access official records.

However, the Lokayukta's recommendations are advisory, not binding — the government must consider them but may reject with recorded reasons. This is its primary limitation. The Right to Hearing Act, 2012 supplemented the Lokayukta by creating a separate citizen grievance mechanism at the departmental level, ensuring that citizens have legal remedies at multiple tiers.

Q5 (10 marks — 150 words): Examine the role of the Rajasthan Board of Revenue in revenue administration. What are its functions and jurisdiction?

Model Answer:

The Board of Revenue, Rajasthan, established under the Rajasthan Board of Revenue Act, 1949, is headquartered at Ajmer. It is the highest revenue court in the state — the apex adjudicatory body for all land and revenue-related disputes.

Composition: The Board has a Chairman and members (senior IAS officers) appointed by the Governor on the CM's advice. The number of members is determined by the state government based on workload.

Jurisdiction: The Board exercises three types of jurisdiction:

  1. Appellate: Hears second appeals against orders of Divisional Commissioners and Sub-Divisional Officers in land revenue matters — including land acquisition, tenancy disputes, and mutation appeals.
  2. Revisionary: Can revise decisions of any subordinate revenue court suo motu or on application — ensuring uniformity and correctness in revenue administration.
  3. Supervisory: General superintendence over all revenue courts (SDOs, Tehsildars, Naib-Tehsildars) ensuring they follow the Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 properly.

Functions: (a) Settling disputes on land records (Khasra, Khatauni), (b) mutations (Naamantaran — transfer of land records upon inheritance/sale), (c) tenancy rights under the Rajasthan Tenancy Act 1955, (d) conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural use, (e) revenue recovery matters. The Board also issues administrative circulars on revenue procedures, standardising practices across 50 districts.

Significance for Rajasthan: Given Rajasthan's predominantly agrarian economy and complex land records (including princely state era records), the Revenue Board plays a crucial role in land governance, farmer rights protection, and property dispute resolution.

Q6 (5 marks — 50 words): What are the salient features of the Rajasthan Right to Hearing Act, 2012?

Model Answer:

The Right to Hearing Act, 2012 (Rajasthan) gives citizens a legal right to be heard by government officers on specified grievances. Key features: (1) Each department designates a Hearing Officer; (2) Hearing must occur within 21 days; (3) Officers must pass a reasoned written order — not just act; (4) Citizens have a right of appeal within 30 days; (5) Appellate authority must decide within 30 days; (6) Defaulting officers face disciplinary action. It complemented the Right to Public Services Act 2011, making Rajasthan a model for citizen-centric governance reform.