Public Administration and Development Administration: Meaning, Features and Differences

Public administration is the work of government in carrying out laws and policies (see Public Administration: Meaning, Principles and Functions). Development administration (विकास प्रशासन) is the part of public administration that is directed at bringing planned change: economic growth, social progress and better lives for people.

1. Origin of the idea

• The term development administration was first used by U. L. Goswami (India) in 1955.
• It was developed further by scholars such as Edward Weidner and Fred W. Riggs, especially for newly independent developing countries after the Second World War.
• These countries needed administration that could do more than keep law and order: it had to build roads, schools, hospitals and economies.

2. Meaning

• Weidner described it as action-oriented, goal-oriented administration that achieves progressive political, economic and social goals.
• Simply: development administration = administration of development (running development programmes) + development of administration (making the administration itself capable).

3. Features of development administration

• Change-oriented: aims at planned change in society.
• Goal- and result-oriented: clear targets and measurable results.
• Citizen (client)-oriented: focuses on people’s needs.
• Participatory: involves people, communities, private sector and NGOs.
• Innovative and flexible: ready to try new methods.
• Time-bound: programmes have deadlines.
• Coordinated: many agencies work together on plans.
• Ecological: sensitive to the social, political and economic environment.

4. Traditional public administration vs development administration

5. Relationship

The two are not opposite. Every government needs both: law and order are the base for development, and development administration uses the same bureaucracy with a new attitude. Development administration is a branch and a modern direction of public administration.

6. Development administration in Nepal

• Planned development began with the First Five-Year Plan (2013–2018 BS); Nepal is now running the 16th Plan.
• The National Planning Commission guides planning; ministries and local levels implement programmes.
• Local levels now lead much of the development work under federalism.
• Tools used: periodic plans, Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, project banks, monitoring and evaluation, public hearing, social audit.

7. Problems in Nepal

• Weak implementation and slow project completion.
• Low capital expenditure (spending often bunched at the end of the fiscal year).
• Political instability and frequent transfers.
• Weak coordination and accountability.
• Corruption and procedural delays.

8. Thinkers and terms to remember

9. Making development administration work in Nepal

• Clear, results-based targets in periodic plans and annual budgets.
• Decentralised decision-making to provinces and local levels.
• Capacity building of staff, especially technical staff at local level.
• Citizen participation through public hearings and social audits.
• Stable policies and continuity of staff in key projects.

10. How this topic is asked in the exam

Objective questions ask who coined the term, the features of development administration and its difference from traditional administration. Subjective questions ask “Differentiate between traditional and development administration” or “What are the problems of development administration in Nepal?” Use a comparison table and give Nepal-specific problems and solutions.