UPSC Mains 2019 GS-4 Question Paper

All 19 questions from this paper, with real topper answers where available.

• Q4. develop effective civil service ethics, code of conduct, transparency measures, ethics and integrity systems and anti-corruption agencies. In view of this, there is a need being felt to focus on three specific areas, which are directly relevant to the problems of internalizing integrity and ethics in the civil services. These are as follows: 1) Anticipating specific threats to ethical standards and integrity Civil Service Ethics in the civil services, 2) Strengthening the ethical competence of civil servant and 3) Developing administrative processes and practices which promote ethical values and integrity in civil services. Suggest institutional measures to address the above three issues.20 marks · Institutionalising
• Q6. “Emotional Intelligence is the ability to make your emotions work for you instead of against you.” Do you agree with this view? Discuss.10 marks · EI in Administration
• Q6. What do you understand by probity in governance? Based on your understanding of the term, suggest measures for ensuring probity in government.10 marks · Probity in Governance
• Q7. basic principles of What are the basic principles of public life? Illustrate any three of these with suitable examples. It is believed that adherence to ethics in human actions would10 marks · public life?
• Q7. There is a view that the official secrets act is an obstacle to the implementation of the Rights to Information act. Do you agree with the view? Discuss Wisdom lies in knowing what to reckon with and what to10 marks · RTI vs Official Secrets Act (OSA)
• Q7. Explain the basic principles of citizens’ charter movement and bring out its importance10 marks · Citizens Charter
• Q8. “Non-performance of duty by a public servant is a form of Non-performance of corruption” Do you agree with this view? Justify your answer10 marks · duty as Corruption
• Q9. Effective utilisation of public funds is crucial to meet development goals. Critically examine the reasons for under-utilization and mis-utilisation of public funds and their implication Whistle blower, who reports corruption and illegal activities,10 marks · Utilization & Misallocation
• Q10. women employees was losing sales due to various factors. The company hired a reputed marketing executive, who increased the volume of sales within a short span of time. However, some unconfirmed reports came up regarding his indulgence in sexual harassment at the workplace. After sometime a women employee launched a formal complaint to the management against the marketing executive about sexually harassing her. Faced with the companies’ Sexual Harassment indifference, in not taking cognizance of her grievances, she Settlement Offer lodged an FIR with the police. Realizing the sensitivity and gravity of the situation, the company called the women employee to negotiate. In that she was offered a hefty sum of money to withdraw the complaint and the FIR and also give in writing that the marketing executive is not involved in the case. Identify the ethical issues involved in this case. What options are available to the women employee?20 marks
• Q15. “An unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates10 marks · Ethical living( Socrates)
• Q16. “A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.” – M.K.Gandhi10 marks · Gandhian Philosophy(Thought s & Action)
• Q17. “Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home,10 marks · Modern Indian Leaders (Kalam)
• Q17. farmhouse. He also suggests that he would facilitate the purchase of a big plot of land in your wife name at the prevailing rate which is very nominal, in and around the proposed mega road project. He also tries to convince you by saying that there is no harm in it as he is buying the land legally. He even promises to supplement your savings in case you do not have sufficient funds to buy the land. However, by the act of realignment, a lot of agricultural lands has to be acquired, thereby causing a considerable financial burden on the government, and also the displacement of the farmers. As if this is not enough, it will involve cutting down of a large number of trees denuding the area of its green cover. Faced with this situation, what will you do? Critically examine various conflicts of interest and explain what your responsibilities are as a public servant. In a modern democratic polity, there is a concept of the political executive and permanent executive. Elected people’s representatives forms the political executive and bureaucracy form the permanent executive. Ministers frame policy decisions and bureaucrats execute these. In the initial decades after independence, the relationship between the permanent executives and the political executives were characterized by mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation, without encroaching upon each other’s domain. However, in subsequent decades, the situation has changed. There are instances of the political executive insisting upon the permanent executives to follow its agenda. Respect for an appreciation of upright bureaucrats has declined. There is an increasing tendency among the political executive to get involved in routine administrative matters such as transfers, posting etc. Under this scenario, there is a definitive trend towards ‘politicization of bureaucracy’. The rising materialism and acquisitiveness in social life has also adversely impacted upon the ethical values of both the permanent executive and the political executive.20 marks · Politicisation of Bureaucracy
• Q18. What do you understand by the term ‘public servant’? Reflect on Concept of Public the expected role of a public servant.10 marks · Service
• Q18. What are the consequences of this ‘politicization of bureaucracy? Discuss. You are heading the rescue operations in an area affected by severe natural calamity, thousands of people are rendered homeless and deprived of food, drinking water and other basic amenities. Rescue work has been disrupted by heavy rainfall and damaged to supply routes. The local people are seething with anger against the delayed limited rescue operations. When your team reaches the affected area, the people there heckle and even assault some of the team members. One of your team members is even severely injured. Faced with this crisis some team member pleads with you to call off the operations, fearing threats to their life.20 marks · Disaster Rescue & Crowd Backlash
• Q19. What is meant by ‘crisis of conscience’? How does it manifest itself in the public domain?10 marks · Crisis of Conscience
• Q19. In such trying circumstances, what will be your response? Examine the qualities of a public servant which will be required to manage the situations. In one of the districts of a frontier state, narcotics menace has been rampant. This has resulted in money laundering, mushrooming of poppy farming, arms smuggling and near stalling of education. The system is on the verge of collapse. The situation has been further worsened by unconfirmed reports that local politicians, as well as some senior police officers, are providing surreptitious patronage to the drug mafia. At that point of time a woman police officer, known for her skills in handling such situations is appointed as superintendent of police to bring the situation to normalcy. If you are the same police officer, identify the various dimensions of the crisis. Based on your understanding, suggest measures to deal with the crisis. Honesty and uprightness are the hallmarks of civil servants. Civil20 marks · Frontier State Narcotics Menace
• Q20. what is meant by constitutional morality? How does one uphold constitutional morality?10 marks · Constitutional Morality
• Q20. servants possessing these qualities are considered as a backbone of any strong organizations. In the line of duty, they take various decisions, at time some become bonafide mistakes. As long as such decisions, are not taken intentionally and do not benefit personally, the officer cannot be said to be guilty. Though such decisions may, at times, lead to unforeseen adverse consequences in the long term. In the recent past, a few instances have surfaced wherein civil Bonafide Mistakes servants have been implicated for bonafide mistakes. They have often been prosecuted and even imprisoned. These instances have greatly rattled the moral fibre of the civil servants. How does this trend affect the functioning of civil services? What measures can be taken to ensure that honest civil servants are not implicated for bonafide mistakes on their part? Justify your answer.20 marks · Prosecution for