Governing with grace

Paramjit Anand

Public Administration can be defined in simple words as the development, management and implementation of government policies in the public institutions. Public administration is the backbone of government machinery in every country. It is an interdisciplinary field which summarises the core concepts of all social sciences, management and law.

Administrators are very much in demand these days, not only in the government departments, but also in the modern day business administration, because they are the people who govern, manage and control public and organisational resources.

Qualifications

There are two options open for you in case you want to make a career in public administration — either qualify a civil services examination or go for a master’s degree in Public Administration.

A degree in public administration from a recognised university or institution makes entry possible in government as well as private organisations and opens new vistas for professional growth and success. A degree in public administration covers many key areas of learning such as Human Resource Management, Organisation and Public Administration, Ethics in Public Administration, Public Policy and Public Administration, Finance and Public Administration and a lot more.

Skills required

A career in public administration demands good administrative skills, interpersonal skills, budgeting and accounting skills, sound knowledge of government policies and laws, effective managerial skills and ability to work in pressure.

Job prospects

After completing MA one can explore various suitable positions in government departments, public sector companies, NPOs, public listed companies, corporate sector and in the education sector as well. In these places, you can work on various key positions as administrative officer, project manager, corporate manager, strategist or consultant, liasioning officer, industrial relations expert and as a teacher in the academic sector.

— The writer is Executive Director, Acreaty Management Consultant Pvt. Ltd.