BPAG 172 Solved Question Paper June 2026 gives you complete, exam-length answers to every question IGNOU set in the Governance: Issues and Challenges term-end examination. Two answers are open below so you can judge the quality yourself before you ask for the full file on WhatsApp 9899436384.
BPAG 172 Key Facts
- Course code: BPAG 172 (printed as BPAG-172)
- Subject: Governance: Issues and Challenges
- Programme: IGNOU Bachelor of Arts (General) and BA (Honours) streams: BAG, BAECH, BAPSH, BAPAH, BAPCH, BASOH, BSCANH, BAEGH
- Course type and credits: Generic elective, 6 credits
- Course material: 5 blocks
- Maximum marks and duration: 100 marks, 3 hours
- Questions in the June 2026 paper: 8 (Questions 4 and 8 are two-part short notes, so 10 written answers)
- Samples shown on this page: 2 (Question 6 and Question 7)
- Questions in the paid file: all 8 questions with 10 written answers; 6 questions (8 answers) are not shown on this page
What the BPAG 172 Solved Question Paper June 2026 Gives You
BPAG 172 Governance: Issues and Challenges is a six-credit Public Administration generic elective that IGNOU teaches in the Bachelor of Arts (General) and several BA (Honours) programmes, and this file solves its June 2026 paper in full.
The June 2026 paper moved across the whole course. Section I asked about the role of the market in governance, the modernization theory of development and the forms of governance, with short notes on governance challenges and community based planning. Section II went to human development, Panchayati Raj, the Right to Information, Digital India, and media and public opinion.
That spread matters because you must attempt at least two questions from each section. A student who prepared only the Block 1 concepts, or only the Indian initiatives in Blocks 4 and 5, would have been short of choices. Our file answers all 8 questions, so you get a model answer for whichever five you would have picked.
Each answer follows the shape the IGNOU course material uses: a clear definition, the theory or legal provision behind it, Indian examples with years and article numbers, and a balanced conclusion. You can match every topic against the official BPAG-172 course blocks on eGyanKosh.
Two Fully Solved BPAG 172 Answers from the June 2026 Paper
Questions 6 and 7 of the June 2026 BPAG 172 paper are solved in full below, exactly as they appear in our file; the other 6 questions are answered only in the paid PDF.
We chose these two because both topics have come back before. An appraisal of Panchayati Raj Institutions was also set in June 2022 and December 2024, and the Right to Information was a short note in June 2025. Read them the way you would read a topper's copy: check the structure, the facts and the length.
Question 6 Section II 20 marks Block 4: Local Governance
Q6. Appraise the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions in India.
Introduction: Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) are elected bodies of rural self-government at the village, intermediate (block) and district levels. They rest on the idea of democratic decentralisation, that people should plan and manage local affairs themselves. A fair appraisal asks how far PRIs have achieved this since they received constitutional status.
Evolution: The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) recommended a three-tier system, and Rajasthan launched it first at Nagaur on 2 October 1959. Early bodies weakened as elections were irregular. The Ashok Mehta Committee (1977), the G.V.K. Rao Committee (1985) and the L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986) all argued for stronger local bodies, which led to the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992.
Constitutional framework: The Act came into force on 24 April 1993. It added Part IX (Articles 243 to 243-O) and the Eleventh Schedule, which lists 29 subjects that states may devolve. Its main features are:
- A Gram Sabha in every village (Article 243A).
- Three tiers, except in states with a population below 20 lakh (Article 243B).
- Reservation for SCs and STs, and not less than one-third of seats and chairperson posts for women (Article 243D).
- A fixed five-year term with elections before it ends (Article 243E).
- A State Finance Commission every five years (Article 243I) and a State Election Commission (Article 243K).
The PESA Act, 1996 extended these provisions, with changes, to Fifth Schedule areas.
Achievements: Regular elections now take place in almost every state, and more than 31 lakh elected representatives work in panchayats. Many states, beginning with Bihar in 2006, have raised women's reservation to 50 per cent, and the SC/ST quota has brought marginalised groups into local decision-making. Gram Panchayats execute at least half of MGNREGA works by cost, Gram Panchayat Development Plans give villages a planning role, and social audits have improved transparency.
Weaknesses:
- Incomplete devolution of the 3 Fs: many states have transferred functions, funds and functionaries only on paper.
- Financial dependence: own revenue from property tax and fees is small, so panchayats rely on Union and state grants.
- Proxy leadership: male relatives sometimes act for elected women, the so-called sarpanch pati problem.
- Bureaucratic control: block and district officials often dominate, and states can dissolve or supersede panchayats.
- Weak Gram Sabhas: low attendance, caste dominance and elite capture reduce real participation.
- Low capacity: poor training and staff shortages slow work.
Measures to strengthen PRIs: The Second Administrative Reforms Commission, in its sixth report on Local Governance (2007), stressed clear activity mapping and stronger local finances. States need to devolve the 29 subjects in practice, hold State Finance Commissions on time, raise own-source revenue, train representatives under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, use digital tools such as eGramSwaraj, and act firmly against proxy representation.
Conclusion: PRIs have widened Indian democracy and given women and marginalised citizens a public role, yet they still work more as agencies for state schemes than as true self-government. Their future depends on states handing over real funds, functions and functionaries.
Question 7 Section II 20 marks Block 5: Good Governance Initiatives
Q7. ‘In a fundamental sense, Right to Information is a basic necessity of Good Governance.’ Elucidate.
Introduction: Good governance means government that is transparent, accountable, responsive, participatory and bound by the rule of law. None of these is possible if citizens cannot know what the government is doing. That is why the Second Administrative Reforms Commission titled its first report (2006) "Right to Information: Master Key to Good Governance".
Background: In State of U.P. v. Raj Narain (1975), the Supreme Court held that the people's right to know flows from freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a). In the 1990s the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan in Rajasthan used public hearings (jan sunwais) to expose fraud in local works. The Freedom of Information Act, 2002 was never brought into force, and Parliament then passed the Right to Information Act, 2005, which came fully into force on 12 October 2005.
Key provisions of the Act:
- Any citizen can seek information from a public authority without giving reasons (Section 6).
- Public authorities must publish key information on their own, known as proactive disclosure (Section 4).
- The Public Information Officer must reply within 30 days, or within 48 hours where life or liberty is involved (Section 7).
- Exemptions are listed in Section 8, but information can still be released when public interest outweighs the harm (Section 8(2)).
- A first appeal lies within the department and a second appeal before the Central or State Information Commission (Section 19).
- A defaulting officer can be fined Rs 250 a day, up to Rs 25,000 (Section 20).
Why RTI is a basic necessity of good governance:
- Transparency: it replaces the old culture of official secrecy with openness by default.
- Accountability: officers know their files can be read, so decisions are recorded and justified.
- Checking corruption: citizens have used it to expose leakage in rations, pensions and wage payments.
- Participation: informed citizens can question budgets in the Gram Sabha and take part in social audits.
- Responsiveness: a single application often moves a stuck file, so it works as grievance redress for the poor.
- Trust and rule of law: open records reduce arbitrary action and build confidence in institutions.
Challenges: Information Commissions face vacancies and long pendency, and poor record management delays replies. Awareness is low in rural areas, and several RTI users have faced threats and attacks. The 2019 amendment let the Union government fix the tenure and salaries of Information Commissioners, raising doubts about their independence, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 amended Section 8(1)(j) on personal information.
Conclusion: RTI shifts power from the office to the citizen. It is "basic" because transparency, accountability and participation, the other pillars of good governance, all rest on it. Its promise will be met only with strong commissions, honest proactive disclosure and real protection for those who use it.
Liked these two answers? The other 6 questions, including both short-note pairs, are solved in the same style in the full file.
Get the full BPAG 172 file on WhatsApp 9899436384Questions answered only in the full file
- Q1. Discuss the role of market in the operational framework of governance. (20 marks)
- Q2. Describe the modernization theory of development. (20 marks)
- Q3. Write a note on various forms of governance. (20 marks)
- Q4. Write short notes on the following in about 200 words each : (a) Challenges of Governance (b) Community based planning (10+10 marks)
- Q5. Give an overview of Human Development and discuss the practical aspect of human development approach. (20 marks)
- Q8. Write short notes on the following in about 200 words each : (a) Digital India (b) Media and Public Opinion (10+10 marks)
These six include two of the most repeated BPAG 172 themes, information technology in governance and human development, plus a theory question that IGNOU has not asked in this exact form in any paper we checked.
BPAG 172 Governance: Issues and Challenges Block and Unit Map
BPAG 172 is taught through 5 blocks and 15 units, and the June 2026 paper drew questions from all five blocks.
The table lists each unit with the topics it actually teaches and how it showed up in the June 2026 paper. If a unit was skipped this time, you can see when it was last asked. Students who want unit-wise notes alongside this paper can ask about our BPAG 172 Study Material.
| Block | Unit | Topics taught in this unit | June 2026 paper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Block 1: Government and Governance Concepts | Globalisation: Role of State, Market and Civil Society | Perspectives on globalisation; retreat of the welfare state; new balance between state, market and civil society | Not set; last asked June 2024 (Q1) |
| Block 1 | Governance: Conceptual Dimensions | Government versus governance; contexts such as corporate, global and local governance; governance indicators | Q3, forms of governance |
| Block 1 | Governance Framework in India | Constitutional operational framework; political and administrative executive; market and civil society as actors | Q1, role of the market |
| Block 1 | Stakeholders in Governance | Stakeholder theory; forms of stakeholder involvement; NGOs and the private sector as non-state actors | Not set; last asked June 2025 (Q2, Q4a) |
| Block 2: Governance and Development | Changing Dimensions of Development | Modernisation, dependency and related theories; growth to human-centred development; MDGs to SDGs | Q2, modernization theory |
| Block 2 | Strengthening Democracy through Governance | Electoral integrity; rule of law and institutional checks; citizen participation between elections | Not set; last asked December 2025 (Q3) |
| Block 3: Governance: Emerging Perspectives | Governance Challenges and Changing Role of Bureaucracy | Pressures of globalisation on the civil service; New Public Management; capacity and integrity gaps | Q4(a), challenges of governance |
| Block 3 | Information and Communication Technology and Governance | Phases of e-governance; National e-Governance Plan and Digital India; digital divide | Q8(a), Digital India |
| Block 3 | Role of Media | Media as the fourth estate; shaping public opinion; social media and misinformation | Q8(b), media and public opinion |
| Block 3 | Corporate Governance | Principles of corporate governance; Anglo-American, German and Japanese models; CSR | Not set; last asked December 2025 (Q5) |
| Block 3 | Sustainable Human Development | UNDP Human Development Index; capability approach; equity and sustainability | Q5, human development approach |
| Block 3 | Transparency and Accountability | Meaning of accountability; social audit and citizen oversight; ombudsman bodies such as Lokpal | Not set; last asked June 2025 (Q6) |
| Block 4: Local Governance | Decentralisation and Local Governance | 73rd and 74th Amendments; Panchayati Raj Institutions; urban local bodies | Q6, Panchayati Raj (solved above) |
| Block 4 | Inclusive and Participative Governance | Participatory tools such as social mapping; community based planning; Gram Sabha participation | Q4(b), community based planning |
| Block 5: Good Governance Initiatives in India | Public Service Guarantee Act, Citizen's Charter, Right to Information, CSR | Time-bound service guarantees; Citizen's Charter; RTI Act 2005 | Q7, Right to Information (solved above) |
How the IGNOU BPAG 172 Question Paper Is Set and Marked
The BPAG 172 Question Paper has 8 questions in two sections, and you answer any five, with at least two from each section, for 100 marks in 3 hours.
One shift is worth noticing. The June 2023, June 2024 and December 2024 papers had no short notes at all, while June 2026 returned to two short-note pairs in Questions 4 and 8. Students who practised only long answers needed a 200-word habit this time. You can compare older papers on our IGNOU Previous Year Question Paper page.
| Feature | BPAG 172 June 2026 |
|---|---|
| Sections | Section I: Questions 1 to 4; Section II: Questions 5 to 8 |
| Choice rule | Any five questions, at least two from each section |
| Long questions | Questions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7, each 20 marks, about 400 words |
| Short-note questions | Questions 4 and 8, two parts each, 10+10 marks, about 200 words per part |
| Total and time | 100 marks in 3 hours, all questions carry equal marks |
| Weight in final result | Term-end exam 70 per cent; three tutor marked assignments 30 per cent |
| Paper language | Bilingual paper, English followed by Hindi |
BPAG 172 Topics IGNOU Keeps Bringing Back
Information and communication technology in governance is the most repeated BPAG 172 topic, set in 6 of the 8 official papers we checked from December 2021 to December 2025.
We counted topics across eight papers taken from IGNOU's own servers: December 2021, June 2022, June 2023, December 2023, June 2024, December 2024, June 2025 and December 2025. We could not find the December 2022 paper, so it is not counted. Each count shows in how many of the eight papers the topic appeared.
| Topic | Sessions where it was set | Papers (of 8) | In June 2026? |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICT initiatives and the evolution of e-governance | Jun 2022, Jun 2023, Dec 2023, Jun 2024, Jun 2025, Dec 2025 | 6 | Yes, Q8(a) Digital India |
| Human development and sustainable human development | Dec 2021, Jun 2023, Dec 2023, Jun 2024, Dec 2025 | 5 | Yes, Q5 |
| Decentralisation, local governance and Panchayati Raj | Dec 2021, Jun 2022, Jun 2023, Jun 2024, Dec 2024 | 5 | Yes, Q6 (solved above) |
| Concept, contexts and forms of governance | Dec 2021, Jun 2022, Dec 2023, Dec 2024, Jun 2025 | 5 | Yes, Q3 |
| Development theories, changing dimensions and SDGs | Jun 2022, Dec 2023, Dec 2024, Jun 2025, Dec 2025 | 5 | Yes, Q2 modernization theory |
| Operational framework and state or non-state actors | Dec 2021, Jun 2023, Jun 2024, Dec 2024, Jun 2025 | 5 | Yes, Q1 role of the market |
| Corporate governance and CSR | Jun 2022, Jun 2023, Dec 2023, Dec 2024, Dec 2025 | 5 | No, last set Dec 2025 as models of corporate governance |
| Stakeholders and stakeholder theory | Dec 2021, Jun 2022, Jun 2023, Dec 2023, Jun 2025 | 5 | No, last set Jun 2025 as a stakeholder theory note |
| Globalisation, the state and bureaucracy | Dec 2021, Dec 2023, Jun 2024, Dec 2024, Dec 2025 | 5 | No, last set Dec 2025 as a globalisation and the state note |
| Transparency, accountability and Right to Information | Dec 2021, Dec 2023, Dec 2024, Jun 2025 | 4 | Yes, Q7 (solved above) |
| Participatory and inclusive governance tools | Jun 2022, Dec 2024, Jun 2025, Dec 2025 | 4 | Yes, Q4(b) community based planning |
| Role of media in governance and democracy | Dec 2021, Jun 2024, Dec 2025 | 3 | Yes, Q8(b) |
| Strengthening democracy through governance | Jun 2023, Jun 2024, Dec 2025 | 3 | No, last set Dec 2025 as a 20-mark question |
| Public service delivery and Citizen's Charter | Dec 2021, Dec 2023, Jun 2025 | 3 | No, last set Jun 2025 on service delivery factors |
| Governance challenges in present times | Jun 2024, Jun 2025 | 2 | Yes, Q4(a) |
| Governance indicators | Jun 2022, Dec 2025 | 2 | No, last set Dec 2025 as Q1 |
| Urban local bodies | Dec 2023, Dec 2025 | 2 | No, last set Dec 2025 on lacunae of urban bodies |
Every June 2026 question traces back to a topic that had already appeared at least twice. Corporate governance and stakeholders, each set in 5 of 8 papers, were left out this time, so keep them high on your list. For a ranked list built for the next exam, see our IGNOU Important Questions page.
How Our BPAG 172 Answers Are Written and Checked
Each BPAG 172 answer is written from the matching IGNOU unit, compared with how the topic was asked in earlier sessions, and then fact-checked and reviewed before it goes into the file.
Take the Panchayati Raj question. In June 2022 IGNOU asked for an appraisal and suggested measures; in December 2024 and June 2026 it asked only for an appraisal. Our answer still closes with measures, because a balanced appraisal without a way forward rarely gets top marks in a 20-mark governance question.
Facts are checked line by line: article numbers, committee years, Act sections and dates. Answers are then sized to the word guide printed on the paper, about 400 words for long questions and about 200 for each short note. If you are also preparing other papers of your degree, the same method runs through our BAG Question Paper collection.
The IGNOU BPAG 172 Solved Question Paper is prepared by Prateek Talwar and reviewed by Sheetal Kirola, our academic head, who checks every answer for accuracy, structure and length.
BPAG 172 Solved File Index: Every Question and Its Unit
The full BPAG 172 file has 10 written answers for the 8 questions, and 2 of them are open on this page.
| Question | Topic | Course unit | Where to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Role of the market in the operational framework of governance | Block 1, Governance Framework in India | Full file only |
| Q2 | Modernization theory of development | Block 2, Changing Dimensions of Development | Full file only |
| Q3 | Various forms of governance | Block 1, Governance: Conceptual Dimensions | Full file only |
| Q4(a) | Challenges of governance (short note) | Block 3, Governance Challenges and Changing Role of Bureaucracy | Full file only |
| Q4(b) | Community based planning (short note) | Block 4, Inclusive and Participative Governance | Full file only |
| Q5 | Human development and the practical side of the approach | Block 3, Sustainable Human Development | Full file only |
| Q6 | Functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions | Block 4, Decentralisation and Local Governance | On this page |
| Q7 | Right to Information as a necessity of good governance | Block 5, Good Governance Initiatives in India | On this page |
| Q8(a) | Digital India (short note) | Block 3, ICT and Governance | Full file only |
| Q8(b) | Media and public opinion (short note) | Block 3, Role of Media | Full file only |
IGNOU Programmes That Study BPAG 172 Governance
BPAG 172 is a generic elective, so students from the BA (General) and seven BA or BSc (Honours) programmes sit the same paper.
- Bachelor of Arts (General): BAG
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Public Administration: BAPAH
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Political Science: BAPSH
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Economics: BAECH
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Psychology: BAPCH
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Sociology: BASOH
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) English: BAEGH
- Bachelor of Science (Honours) Anthropology: BSCANH
The June 2026 paper header names only BAPAH and BAG, but that is a printing convention; an Economics or Psychology honours student who picked this elective gets the identical questions. If you are enrolled in the IGNOU Bachelor of Arts (General), this course also builds a base for later Public Administration papers on local government and public policy.
Get the Full BPAG 172 Solved Question Paper on WhatsApp
Send "BPAG 172 June 2026" to WhatsApp 9899436384 and our team will share the price and send the complete PDF on the same chat.
The file has all 8 questions of the BPAG 172 Question Paper with 10 written answers. That covers the 6 questions not answered here, including the theory question on modernization, the market question and both short-note pairs. It reads comfortably on a phone, so you can revise on the way to your exam centre.
All 8 questions, 10 answers, one PDF. Message us now and start revising today.
WhatsApp 9899436384 for the BPAG 172 fileBPAG 172 Governance FAQs
These BPAG 172 answers cover what students ask us most before ordering: what the file holds, how to get it and how the paper works.
What does the BPAG 172 Solved Question Paper June 2026 include?
It includes complete answers to all 8 questions from the June 2026 BPAG 172 term-end paper, which means 10 written answers once the two-part short notes in Questions 4 and 8 are counted separately. Six questions carry full answers of about 400 words, and each short note runs to about 200 words. Every answer is mapped to its block and unit of the course.
How do I get the full BPAG 172 solved paper on WhatsApp?
Send a message to WhatsApp 9899436384 with the code BPAG 172 and the session June 2026. Our team replies with the price and payment details, and the PDF arrives on the same chat once payment is confirmed. The file contains all 8 questions with 10 written answers, including the 6 questions that are not answered on this page.
Which BPAG 172 answers can I read on this page?
You can read Question 6 on the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Question 7 on the Right to Information as a basic necessity of good governance. Both are complete answers of about 400 words, shown exactly as they appear in the paid file. The remaining 6 questions are listed as question text only and are answered in the full PDF.
How many questions must I attempt in the BPAG 172 exam?
You must attempt any five of the 8 questions, with at least two from each section. Section I has Questions 1 to 4 and Section II has Questions 5 to 8. Every question carries 20 marks, so the paper totals 100 marks in three hours. Long questions expect about 400 words, while short notes expect about 200 words for each part.
Is BPAG 172 Governance: Issues and Challenges a six-credit course?
Yes, IGNOU's assignment booklets describe BPAG 172 as a six-credit course. That is why you submit three tutor marked assignments for it, which together carry 30 per cent of your final result. The term-end examination carries the remaining 70 per cent. The course material is divided into five blocks, running from governance concepts to good governance initiatives in India.
Which BPAG 172 topics repeat most often in IGNOU papers?
Information and communication technology in governance repeats most, appearing in 6 of the 8 official papers we checked from December 2021 to December 2025. Human development, Panchayati Raj and decentralisation, corporate governance, stakeholders and forms of governance each appeared in 5 papers. Corporate governance and stakeholders were not set in June 2026, so revise them carefully.
Are the BPAG 172 answers based on the IGNOU study material?
Yes, each BPAG 172 answer is built from the matching unit of the IGNOU course blocks on eGyanKosh and then compared with how the same topic was asked in earlier sessions. Facts such as constitutional articles, committee years and Act sections are verified before review. Our academic head, Sheetal Kirola, then checks the final answers for accuracy, structure and length.
Will the BPAG 172 June 2026 solved paper help in the December 2026 exam?
Yes, because BPAG 172 papers keep returning to the same core topics. Every question in the June 2026 paper links to a topic that had appeared at least twice in earlier papers. Working through these answers shows you how IGNOU frames governance, development and local government questions, which helps you structure answers for December 2026 even when the wording changes.