Administration means management of the affairs, public or private, of the government or of private company or corporation. Hence administration is divided into two kinds: Public Administration and Private Administration, also known as business Administration. (The term ‘administration’ is derived from the Latin words ‘ad’ and ‘ministered’ which means to serve) Wherever there is a need to manage men and materials, there is administration, whether it is a house, a business organization, a university or the government bodies In fact, where there is a need to govern, there is also the need to administer. In other words, government and administration go together.
The term ‘Public administration’ is used in two meanings, as a science of administration and as a process of administration. A student of Political Science would understand it in the first sense, but the common man understands it in the second. Accordingly, Waldo defines public administration as “die art and science of management as applied to the affairs of State.” L.D. White says, “Public Administration consists of all those operations having for their purpose the fulfillment or enforcement of public policy.” J.M. Pfiffner defines it as thus: “it would seem that administration consists of getting the work of government done by coordinating die efforts of the people so that they can work together to accomplish their set tasks.” In other words, Public administration is government in action. We may define it as the art and science of the non¬political machinery of the Government carrying on its work for the welfare of the people according to die laws adopted by the State.
The history of public administration is as old as the government In the ancient times, when government was simple, administration too was simple. When government became more complex, administration also differentiated into a more complex organization. In the Mughal Empire, to take the case of a simple administration, though the judicial system was differentiated from the administrative system, but the army was not separated from the police and civil administration.
The Mughal administrators, known as mansabdars, were at once administrators and military officers. It is only in modem times that Public Administration has become a vast, complex and responsible organization, extending into every nook and corner of the State. In the past ages, an administrator was appointed, not on the basis of merit and qualifications, but on that of class, wealth social status or relationship with the Kings or Rulers or by nepotism and favoritism. But now they are recruited though a public examination and also undergo training before and after recruitment or appointment.