Why choose Public Administration as Optional Subject!

Aspirants often got this question: Why PA as Optional Subject? To put the question in other words, what are the advantages of PA as optional subject? Today I will provide my take from journey of various attempts in this Examination.

Advantages of Public Administration as Optional Subject:

There are advantages of this subject for this Examination over other subjects. In case of lack of time, you can consider, this subject is half done or completed part-II preparation if you have done your homework of Polity thoroughly and broad input from Current Affairs. You must have read Luxmikant's Indian Polity thoroughly. 

• Paper - II is almost done if you have read Indian Polity well.(For those, who faces time constraints)

Thus, this will reduce your work much and keep your time for Part-I preparation. Being said this, you are advised to read some of the topics which are not common to Luxmikant's Polity, such as Economics administration. But you should keep in mind that, while writing the answers during the Examination, Polity and Public administration must be distinct as well as must stick to the subject matters. So, GS polity is somewhat a generalized or more diluted compare to PA. You must be aware that you are writing PA answers as a subject expert and an administrator. 

An Advice: Put Examples while writing the mains answers which are relevant to date i.e., current affairs related to the topic.

But I will suggest you to read the PA part-II as well because, this will get your Polity knowledge improved and will bring a different perspective.  This will enlighten you regarding the  subject in many ways and will help you fetch more marks in Polity as well as public administration.

Here I need to mention some of the overlapping areas of PA and Polity and frequently asked topics:

1. Panchayati Raj Institution, Democratic Decentralization, Urban Local Government etc.
2. Centre State relationship,special Status etc.
3. Role of District Administration in Development Activities etc.
4. Financial Administration 

You will find so many similar overlapping topics between the two subjects, so preparation of this subject will reinforce your Polity subject knowledge, which is a good thing. Not only this, you will understand current affairs very quickly and you will be able see such stuffs with a different perspectives and this will help you in writing your GS papers.

• Current Affairs is always a plus point for this subject.

Now, after having brief idea on the similarities of PA and Polity, lets move on to the Paper-I of PA which deals with various thinkers, evolution of the subject and its history, position of the subject today etc. The whole part-I is theoretical, you need to have absolute knowledge of the thinkers and their relevance to the subject. So, you need at least two times reading and precise and concise notes in your handwriting will help you in revision. But no need to get scared, I will advise you to give 3-4 hrs everyday dedicated time for PA-I. You can easily take care of this. Please refer IGNOU materials for this subject for your best understanding. Later on you can refer books written by other authors.

An Advice: Dedicate 3-4 hrs each day for Paper-I, prepare notes wherever, but notes must be concise and precise. IGNOU materials are the best for your broad understanding to the subject .

Please read my previous post on what are the books to refer for this preparation. I will be updating this blog frequently so that You could get the best tips for you preparation.