General Studies IV

Ethics, integrity and aptitude, with case studies. Filter by topic or year.

3 questions

2026 · Question 1 · Section A · 20 marks
1. (a) Owing to paucity of time, a university professor generates a Ph.D. evaluation report using Artificial Intelligence and submits it with some modifications. Discuss this from the perspective of accountability and integrity.
  10 marks · 150 words
2. (b) A business house is working on a project that could displace a forest community from their habitat. As the administrative officer of that district, what ethical challenges are you likely to face?
  10 marks · 150 words
- Technology ethics in public service
- Consent and autonomy
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) 2026, General Studies IV (opens in a new tab)
2026 · Question 8 · Section B · Case study · 20 marks · 250 words
Ravi is a senior police officer with vast experience in riot control and cyber-policing. Since one year, he has been the Superintendent of Police (SP) of a district with a history of frequent rioting. Last year, Ravi had sought installation of an AI enabled software for predictive policing. This system has been operational for approximately six months. This new system employs advanced algorithms for capturing the biometric data of persons in a crowd and swiftly relating it to a data library. This has enabled the police to identify the persons involved in various crimes. The system has identified an immigrant and low-income neighbourhood as a centre for gang violence and drug trafficking. Aided by this AI analysis, the local police has focused its patrolling, preventive detentions and establishing checkposts. Consequently, public order and law enforcement has visibly improved. Last week, some community leaders, civil rights lawyers and human rights activists visited Ravi's office. They submitted a memorandum that the new system is faulty as it is based on incorrect historical data caused by social biases and discriminatory policing. The memorandum also alleges that the increased surveillance has created a climate of tension amongst residents. This feeling is aggravated by the fact that the residents are not aware of the data noted against their names.
1. (a) What are the ethical issues including biases involved in the use of AI in data-driven policing?
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2. (b) Place yourself in Ravi's role and discuss the alternatives available. Justify the action that optimises compliance with ethics.
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- Technology ethics in public service
- Cyber security
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) 2026, General Studies IV (opens in a new tab)
2026 · Question 10 · Section B · Case study · 20 marks · 250 words
Vikas is a government officer with over a decade of service in public administration. He has recently moved as the District Collector (DC) of Nainipura, a remote hilly district bordering a forest. Due to Nainipura's low levels of economic development, one of his major duties is to ensure proper functioning of the public distribution system (PDS) amongst the economically weaker sections (EWS). During his on-site visits, Vikas was apprised of a typical administrative challenge in operating the PDS. To prevent leakages, all distributors were required to carry out real-time biometric identification of the beneficiaries, whose fingerprints were tallied with identity card records. This was creating problems as the operating system sometimes rejected fingerprint matching in the cases of growing children, manual labourers and senior citizens. The problem was further compounded in periods of low WiFi connectivity. The distributors, in such cases, resorted to personal discretion when they could identify the recipient. Vikas had to address this problem on priority. Strictly adhering to government regulations would ensure fiscal probity but would greatly trouble the proposed beneficiary, i.e., EWS. It may even impinge on their fundamental right to life as per Article 21 of the Constitution. Conversely, leaving the resolution solely to the discretion of the distributors could lead to misuse and leakages.
1. (a) What are the options open to Vikas? How should he balance fiscal probity with empathy towards the designated beneficiaries?
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2. (b) Discuss the ethics of using technology as a gatekeeper for welfare schemes.
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- Welfare delivery through technology
- Technology ethics in public service
- Malnutrition and food security
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) 2026, General Studies IV (opens in a new tab)

(a) Owing to paucity of time, a university professor generates a Ph.D. evaluation report using Artificial Intelligence and submits it with some modifications. Discuss this from the perspective of accountability and integrity.

(b) A business house is working on a project that could displace a forest community from their habitat. As the administrative officer of that district, what ethical challenges are you likely to face?

(a) What are the ethical issues including biases involved in the use of AI in data-driven policing?

(b) Place yourself in Ravi's role and discuss the alternatives available. Justify the action that optimises compliance with ethics.

(a) What are the options open to Vikas? How should he balance fiscal probity with empathy towards the designated beneficiaries?

(b) Discuss the ethics of using technology as a gatekeeper for welfare schemes.