1)To what extent has the judiciary influenced policy making and governance in India?
Discuss using appropriate evidence.
2. ‘The bureaucracy in India is generally seen to be elite, inefficient and unresponsive.’
Critically evaluate this statement with reference to various issues currently facing the
Indian bureaucracy, and reforms needed to make it more effective.
3. ‘Although India remains a federation with a strong centre, it is more federalised today
than in the past.’ Analyse using appropriate evidence on the evolving ‘centre-state’
relationship in India.
4. How effective has the ‘civil society’ been in contributing to public policy making and
governance processes in contemporary India? Analyse using appropriate evidence.
5. ‘India is a “flailing” state’. (Pritchett, 2009). Critically analyse the statement in light
of various governance challenges in India today.
6. ‘The nature and extent of key economic reforms in India since the 1980s have been
largely determined by domestic political considerations rather than external factors.’
Critically analyse the statement using relevant theoretical insights and evidence.
7. ‘The provision of public goods and services seems to vary widely across the states
within India.’ Analyse the factors for this subnational variation using appropriate
theoretical insights and evidence.
