Governance and Public Policies Past Paper 2026

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FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION-2026
FOR RECRUITMENT TO POSTS IN BS-17
UNDER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

GOVERNANCE & PUBLIC POLICIES

PART-I (MCQs) (COMPULSORY)

Q.1 (i) Select the best option/answer and fill in the appropriate Box on the OMR Answer Sheet. (20 × 1 = 20)
(ii) Answers given anywhere else, other than OMR Answer Sheet, will not be considered.

1. A key feature of modern governance is:
(A) Strong ministerial control
(B) Policy making through command and control
(C) Blurring of boundaries between public and private sectors
(D) Elimination of bureaucracy

2. Accountability in governance arrangements becomes more complex because:
(A) Elections are eliminated
(B) Authority is dispersed across multiple actors
(C) Bureaucracies become smaller
(D) Legal systems lose relevance

3. Which institution serves as the central body for policy coordination and long-term planning at the Federal level in Pakistan?
(A) Planning Commission
(B) Cabinet Division
(C) Ministry of Finance
(D) National Assembly

4. The indicator “Government Effectiveness” focuses on:
(A) Judicial independence
(B) Quality of public services and policy implementation
(C) Level of citizen participation
(D) Degree of decentralization

5. Which governance theory is most critical of market dominance and private ownership of production?
(A) Neoliberalism
(B) Rational Choice Theory
(C) Communitarianism
(D) Marxism

6. Ethical policy analysis most directly addresses:
(A) Administrative capacity
(B) Legal compliance
(C) Moral responsibility in public decisions
(D) Political feasibility

7. Cost-benefit analysis is often criticized because it:
(A) Is too qualitative
(B) Rejects economic reasoning
(C) Cannot be standardized
(D) Ignores distributional and ethical concerns

8. Local governments in Pakistan derive their constitutional recognition from:
(A) Article 140-A of the Constitution
(B) Article 25-A of the Constitution
(C) Article 160 of the Constitution
(D) Article 153 of the Constitution

9. Which institution is constitutionally mandated to resolve disputes between the federation and provinces?
(A) National Finance Commission (NFC)
(B) Council of Common Interests (CCI)
(C) Election Commission of Pakistan
(D) Senate of Pakistan

10. Applying the Principle of Subsidiarity improves public service delivery mainly by:
(A) Increasing bureaucratic control
(B) Reducing local accountability
(C) Standardizing policies across regions
(D) Enhancing efficiency and responsiveness to local needs

11. Governance emphasizes steering rather than rowing, which implies:
(A) Direct service delivery by the state
(B) Withdrawal of the state from society
(C) Coordination and regulation of multiple actors
(D) Complete privatization of public services

12. One major criticism of New Public Management is that it:
(A) Increases public participation
(B) Eliminates market incentives
(C) Strengthens bureaucratic control
(D) Weakens accountability and public values

13. The Planning Commission of Pakistan primarily functions under which constitutional authority?
(A) Prime Minister’s Office
(B) Parliament of Pakistan
(C) Ministry of Interior
(D) Council of Common Interests

14. Which governance indicator measures citizens’ ability to participate in selecting their government?
(A) Regulatory Quality
(B) Rule of Law
(C) Voice and Accountability
(D) Government Effectiveness

15. Policy formulation focuses most directly on:
(A) Measuring outcomes
(B) Evaluating impacts
(C) Implementing decisions
(D) Designing policy instruments

16. Country-specific policy analysis highlights that:
(A) Policy methods are universally transferable
(B) Culture and institutions shape policy practices
(C) Globalization eliminates national differences
(D) Policy analysis is identical across democracies

17. Cultural theory in policy analysis helps to:
(A) Eliminate conflict
(B) Quantify values
(C) Understand competing worldviews
(D) Centralize decision making

18. Woodrow Wilson’s Theory of Bureaucracy is best associated with:
(A) Class struggle and economic dominance
(B) The politics-administration dichotomy
(C) Decentralized self-governance
(D) Market-based public management

19. Amongst the following, who argued that excessive bureaucratic control could weaken citizens’ moral and intellectual capacities?
(A) John Stuart Mill
(B) Karl Marx
(C) Max Weber
(D) Woodrow Wilson

20. The principle of subsidiarity in public service delivery suggests that:
(A) Services should always be delivered by central governments
(B) Higher levels of government should replace local authorities
(C) Market actors should dominate service provision
(D) Decisions should be taken at the lowest effective level of governance

PART-II

NOTE:
(i) Part-II is to be attempted on the separate Answer Book.
(ii) Attempt ONLY FOUR questions from PART-II. ALL questions carry EQUAL marks.
(iii) All the parts (if any) of each Question must be attempted at one place instead of at different places.
(iv) Write Q. No. in the Answer Book in accordance with Q. No. in the Q. Paper.
(v) No Page/Space be left blank between the answers. All the blank pages of Answer Book must be crossed.
(vi) Extra attempt of any question or any part of the question will not be considered.

Q. 2. Critically analyze the role of policy networks in contemporary governance. How do networks affect power, coordination, and accountability? (20 Marks)

Q. 3. Explain how Rational Choice Theory and Regulation Theory differ in conceptualizing the behavior of state actors and markets. Using an applied policy example such as energy, telecommunications, or labor markets, analyze the implications of these differences for regulatory design and enforcement. (20 Marks)

Q. 4. Discuss the role of agenda setting in the policy process. How do power, framing, and focusing events influence which issues gain political attention?

Q. 5. Critically analyze how Federalism shapes the design and effectiveness of devolution and decentralization reforms. In your answer, assess the political, administrative, and fiscal dimensions of decentralization, with reference to challenges faced by federal states in balancing national unity and subnational autonomy.

Q. 6. Devolution is often presented to enhance accountability and service delivery, yet outcomes vary widely across countries. Using an analytical framework, evaluate the conditions under which decentralization leads to improved governance, and explain why it may also produce coordination failures or regional inequalities.

Q. 7. Critically analyze the role of citizens in promoting good governance, accountability, and policy implementation in Pakistan. In your answer, discuss the impact of civic engagement, public participation mechanisms, and social accountability tools, and evaluate the challenges that limit effective citizen involvement in governance processes.

Q. 8. Explain any TWO (2) of the following: (10 marks each)
(a) Max Weber’s Theory of Bureaucracy
(b) Composition of Corruption Perception Index
(c) Strengths and limitations of quantitative methods in policy analysis

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Topic starter Posted : August 18, 2026 7:41 am