QUESTION 2(a)
GS4
15 marks
What do you understand by the following terms in the context of public service? (i) Integrity (ii) Perseverance (iii) Spirit of service (iv) Commitment (v) Courage of conviction.
WRITE IN
11 min
250 words
What the examiner wants
Explain integrity, perseverance, spirit of service, commitment and courage of conviction in a public service context.
What do you understandAnswer exactly what the question asks.
Demand-wise check
- 1Integrity: consistency of values and action, honesty even unobserved (refusing undue favours)≈40 words
- 2Perseverance: persisting through obstacles (long drives like polio eradication)≈40 words
- 3Spirit of service: putting citizens, especially the weakest, first≈40 words
- 4Commitment: dedication to constitutional goals and the task beyond duty hours≈40 words
- 5Courage of conviction: standing by a right decision despite pressure (reporting wrongdoing, defying illegal orders)≈40 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Each term: one-line meaningPublic service exampleBrief conclusion linking all five
Where marks usually go
- Dictionary definitions without public service examples
- Uneven coverage, writing long on two terms and skipping others
Draw this
- Five-row table: attribute, meaning, civil service example
Value addition
- ExampleE. Sreedharan's completion of the Konkan Railway and Delhi Metro on time is a common illustration of perseverance and commitment.Public record
- ThinkerSardar Patel urged civil servants to give honest, independent advice without fear.Patel's address to IAS probationers, 1947
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Aakash Garg · AIR 5 · Page 7 ↗Same syllabus reference
- G Sanjana · AIR 55 · Page 3 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Vidushi Singh · AIR 13 · Page 5 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 3 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 11 minutes, then get it checked.