QUESTION 3(c)
GS4
10 marks
“Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.” Dalai Lama.
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Explain the quote: success should be judged by what values, relationships or integrity one gave up for it.
ExplainMake clear how and why it happens: causes, process, and an example for each point.
Demand-wise check
- 1Meaning: costs of success matter; success at the cost of integrity or others' welfare is hollow≈35 words
- 2Examples: sports doping, corporate fraud, an officer compromising ethics for promotion; positive sacrifice by freedom fighters≈35 words
- 3Lesson for civil servants≈35 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
MeaningNegative and positive examplesRelevanceConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Treating sacrifice only as hard work
- No example
Draw this
- Balance: success vs what was given up
Value addition
- ExampleSatyam (2009) showed success built on fraud collapses.SEBI / court records
- ThinkerGandhi's seven social sins include 'wealth without work' and 'commerce without morality'.M.K. Gandhi, Young India, 1925
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- G Sanjana · AIR 55 · Page 3 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 23 ↗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 7 minutes, then get it checked.