What is Public Administration?

Public administration is the execution of public policy, administration and  management of government bodies and undertakings and also an academic  discipline that studies the implementation aspects and prepares civil servants  specifically for administrative purpose for working in the government sector.  Public Administration in literal sense meant rendering service to the people by  the State and its affiliated bodies, based on principles of constitution, various  rules and regulations, methods of justice, ethics and fairness. 

Karl Marx defines administration as – Administration is determined action  taken in pursuit of a conscious purpose. It is the systematic ordering of affairs  and the calculated use of resources aimed at making those happen which one  wants to happen. 

According to L D White, Public Administration consists of all those operations  having for their purpose the fulfilment or enforcement of public policy.  

On the other hand as per Woodrow Wilson, Public Administration is a detailed  and systematic application of law.  

In general sense, it can be said that Public Administration is nothing but the  policies, practices, rules and regulation etc. of the state, in action. Implementation of policies is the raison de’etre for Public Administration.