QUESTION 8
GS4
10 marks
It is often said that 'politics' and 'ethics' do not go together. What is your opinion in this regard? Justify your answer with illustrations.
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Give a reasoned view on whether politics and ethics can go together, with illustrations.
What is your opinion; JustifyAnswer exactly what the question asks.
Demand-wise check
- 1Why seen as separate: criminalisation, money power, realpolitik (Machiavelli), defections≈30 words
- 2Why they must go together: politics allocates public power; legitimacy rests on ethics (Gandhi, Kautilya's king as servant of subjects)≈30 words
- 3Illustrations: ethical leadership (Shastri resigning after a rail accident, 1956); unethical cases (cash-for-vote)≈30 words
- 4Reforms: disclosure of criminal records, ethics committees, electoral funding transparency≈30 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
Popular view with reasonsCounter viewOwn opinionIllustrationsReforms
Where marks usually go
- Only cynical view without positive examples
- No reforms
Draw this
- Two columns: forces separating politics and ethics vs forces joining them
Value addition
- Data46% of MPs elected in 2024 declared criminal cases.ADR, 2024
- CaseLily Thomas v Union of India (2013): convicted legislators lose seats immediately.Supreme Court, 2013
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
- Vidushi Singh · AIR 13 · Page 5 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 3 ↗Same syllabus reference
- G Sanjana · AIR 55 · 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 7 minutes, then get it checked.