QUESTION 4(a)
GS4
10 marks
Corruption causes misuse of government treasury, administrative inefficiency and obstruction in the path of national development. Discuss Kautilya's views.
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Discuss Kautilya's views on official corruption and its control.
DiscussExplain the different sides of the issue, use evidence, and finish with a balanced view.
Demand-wise check
- 1Views: corruption natural temptation for officials; harms treasury and state≈30 words
- 2Forms: Arthashastra describes forty ways of embezzlement≈30 words
- 3Controls: spies, frequent transfers, audits, rewards and punishment, recovery of loss, testing officials (upadha)≈30 words
- 4Relevance: vigilance, rotation, audit today≈30 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
Kautilya's diagnosisFormsControlsRelevance todayConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Writing on modern corruption only
- No Kautilyan quote or concept
Draw this
- Table: Kautilyan measure → modern equivalent
Value addition
- Quote'Just as it is impossible not to taste honey or poison on the tip of the tongue, so it is impossible for a government servant not to eat up at least a bit of the king's revenue.'.Arthashastra
- QuoteKautilya compared officials to fish in water: one cannot know when they drink.Arthashastra
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 23 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Vidushi Singh · AIR 13 · Page 5 ↗Same syllabus reference
- G Sanjana · AIR 55 · Page 3 ↗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 7 minutes, then get it checked.