UPSC Mains 2014 GS4 Previous Year Questions

Question list

Open any question to see the examiner demand, demand-wise word budget, answer plan, common mark leaks and value addition in the same answer-sheet format.

1. Q1(a) · All human beings aspire for happiness. Do you agree? What does happiness mean to you? Explain with examples.
2. Q1(b) · What does ethics seek to promote in human life? Why is it all the more important in public administration?
3. Q2(a) · In the context of defence services, 'patriotism' demands readiness to even lay down one's life in protecting the nation. According to you, what does patriotism imply in everyday civil life? Explain with illustrations and justify your answer.
4. Q2(b) · What do you understand by 'probity' in public life? What are the difficulties in practicing it in the present times? How can these difficulties be overcome?
5. Q3(a) · Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, but knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful. What do you understand by this statement? Explain your stand with illustrations from the modern context.
6. Q3(b) · Human beings should always be treated as 'ends' in themselves and never as merely 'means'. Explain the meaning and significance of this statement, giving its implications in the modern techno-economic society.
7. Q4(a) · Which eminent personality has inspired you the most in the context of ethical conduct in life? Give the gist of his or her teachings with specific examples and describe how you have applied these teachings for your own ethical development.
8. Q4(b) · There is a heavy ethical responsibility on public servants because they occupy positions of power, handle huge amounts of public funds, and their decisions have wide-ranging impact on society and environment. What steps have you taken to improve your ethical competence to handle such responsibility?
9. Q5(a) · The current society is plagued with widespread trust-deficit. What are the consequences of this situation for personal well-being and societal well-being? What can you do at the personal level to make yourself trustworthy?
10. Q5(b) · It is often said that poverty leads to corruption. However, affluent and powerful people also indulge in corruption in a big way. What are the basic causes of corruption among people? Support your answer with examples.
11. Q6 · What factors affect the formation of a person's attitude towards social problems? Contrasting attitudes are prevalent about many social problems. What contrasting attitudes do you notice about the caste system in our society, and how do you explain their existence?
12. Q7 · What does 'accountability' mean in the context of public service? What measures can be adopted to ensure individual and collective accountability of public servants?
13. Q8 · We are witnessing increasing instances of sexual violence against women in the country. Despite existing legal provisions, such incidents continue. Suggest some innovative measures to tackle this menace.
14. Q9 · Economic development is receiving increasing thrust globally, while concern about environmental degradation caused by development is also rising. Development and environmental quality often conflict; stopping development is neither feasible nor is continued degradation acceptable. Discuss feasible strategies to eliminate this conflict and lead to sustainable development.
15. Q10 · A close friend aspiring for civil services argues that in an unethical environment, sticking to ethical principles may damage one's career, burden family, risk life, make one ineffective, slow national economic progress, and that small gratifications or favours may make systems more efficient. Critically analyze these viewpoints and advise your friend on the ethical course to follow.
16. Q11 · You are an honest officer transferred to head a department notorious for inefficiency. After warning and issuing show-cause notices to indisciplined ringleaders, they retaliate by instigating a woman employee to file a sexual-harassment complaint against you. The Women's Commission seeks your explanation and the matter is publicized. Evaluate options including explaining and softening disciplinary action, ignoring the Commission and proceeding firmly, briefing higher-ups and seeking directions, and any other option. Recommend the best course with reasons.
17. Q12 · You are CEO of a company making specialized electronic equipment for a government department. Your bid is superior on quality and cost, but the concerned officer demands a hefty bribe to approve the tender. The order is important to the company and your career, while refusal may close a production line. As a value-conscious person, identify arguments for paying and refusing the bribe, and outline a better third way, if possible, with its merits.
18. Q13 · Rameshwar clears the civil services examination hoping to serve the country, but finds misappropriation of scheme funds, misuse of official facilities, cheating in recruitment examinations, and senior officers advising him to keep quiet because higher-ups are complicit. He becomes disillusioned and seeks your advice. Indicate the options available, help him evaluate them, and recommend the most appropriate path.
19. Q14 · Rural-to-urban migration is increasing drastically and causing serious problems in both rural and urban areas. Analyze the socio-economic, emotional and attitudinal factors behind this trend. Explain separately why educated rural youth, landless poor people, and even farmers selling land migrate to urban areas, and suggest feasible steps to control the problem.