General Studies IV

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

9 questions

2026 · Question 3 · Section A · 30 marks
1. (a) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar had cautioned that employing civil disobedience within a constitutional democracy equates to endorsing 'anarchy'. How should modern democracies navigate the ethical dilemmas posed by civil disobedience movements that aim to promote social justice against policies that may raise genuine concerns?
  10 marks · 150 words
2. (b) In what ways can an Indian Administrative Officer apply Gandhi's notion of 'trusteeship' to ensure fairness in governance?
  10 marks · 150 words
3. (c) Shakespeare in Henry IV says, "The arms are fair when the intent of bearing them is just". What ethical implications does this have in governance?
  10 marks · 150 words
- Thinkers not tested recently
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) 2026, General Studies IV (opens in a new tab)
2025 · Question 3 · Section A · 30 marks
Given below are three quotations of great thinkers. What do each of these quotations convey to you in the present context?
1. (a) "Those who in trouble untroubled are, Will trouble trouble itself." — Thiruvalluvar
  10 marks · 150 words
2. (b) "The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes." — William James
  10 marks · 150 words
3. (c) "The strength of a society is not in its laws, but in the morality of its people." — Swami Vivekananda
  10 marks · 150 words
- Thinkers not tested recently
- Emotional intelligence and empathy
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) 2025, General Studies IV (opens in a new tab)
2025 · Question 4 · Section A · 20 marks
1. (a) "For any kind of social re-engineering by successfully implementing welfare schemes, a civil servant must use reason and critical thinking in an ethical framework." Justify this statement with suitable examples.
  10 marks · 150 words
2. (b) What are the major teachings of Mahavir? Explain their relevance in the contemporary world.
  10 marks · 150 words
- Integrity under political pressure
- Thinkers not tested recently
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) 2025, General Studies IV (opens in a new tab)
2024 · Question 3 · Section A · 30 marks
Given below are three quotations of great thinkers. What do each of these quotations convey to you in the present context?
1. (a) "Learn everything that is good from others, but bring it in, and in your own way absorb it, do not become others." — Swami Vivekananda
  10 marks · 150 words
2. (b) "Faith is of no avail in the absence of strength. Faith and strength, both are essential to accomplish any great work." — Sardar Patel
  10 marks · 150 words
3. (c) "In law, a man is guilty when he violates the rights of others. In ethics, he is guilty if he only thinks of doing so." — Immanuel Kant
  10 marks · 150 words
- Thinkers not tested recently
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) 2024, General Studies IV (opens in a new tab)
2023 · Question 3 · Section A · 30 marks
Given below are three quotations of great thinkers. What do each of these quotations convey to you in the present context?
1. (a) "The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer." — Mahatma Gandhi
  10 marks · 150 words
2. (b) "To awaken the people, it is the women who must be awakened. Once she is on the move, the family moves, the village moves, the nation moves." — Jawaharlal Nehru
  10 marks · 150 words
3. (c) "Do not hate anybody, because that hatred that comes out from you must, in the long run, come back to you. If you love, that love will come back to you, completing the circle." — Swami Vivekananda
  10 marks · 150 words
- Thinkers not tested recently
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) 2023, General Studies IV (opens in a new tab)
2023 · Question 4 · Section A · 20 marks
1. (a) "What really matters for success, character, happiness and lifelong achievements is a definite set of emotional skills — your EQ — not just purely cognitive abilities that are measured by conventional IQ tests." Do you agree with this view? Give reasons in support of your answer.
  10 marks · 150 words
2. (b) Differentiate 'moral intuition' from 'moral reasoning' with suitable examples.
  10 marks · 150 words
- Emotional intelligence and empathy
- Thinkers not tested recently
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) 2023, General Studies IV (opens in a new tab)
2023 · Question 6 · Section A · 20 marks
1. (a) What were the major teachings of Guru Nanak? Explain their relevance in the contemporary world.
  10 marks · 150 words
2. (b) Explain the term social capital. How does it enhance good governance?
  10 marks · 150 words
- Thinkers not tested recently
- Civil society and NGOs
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) 2023, General Studies IV (opens in a new tab)
2022 · Question 3 · Section A · 30 marks
What does each of the following quotations mean to you?
1. (a) "Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do." — Potter Stewart
  10 marks · 150 words
2. (b) "If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel that there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are father, mother and teacher." — A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
  10 marks · 150 words
3. (c) "Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it." — Dalai Lama
  10 marks · 150 words
- Thinkers not tested recently
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) 2022, General Studies IV (opens in a new tab)
2021 · Question 3 · Section A · 30 marks
What does each of the following quotations mean to you?
1. (a) "Every work has got to pass through hundreds of difficulties before succeeding. Those that persevere will see the light, sooner or later." — Swami Vivekananda
  10 marks · 150 words
2. (b) "We can never obtain peace in the outer world until and unless we obtain peace within ourselves." — Dalai Lama
  10 marks · 150 words
3. (c) "Life doesn't make any sense without interdependence. We need each other, and the sooner we learn that, it is better for us all." — Erik Erikson
  10 marks · 150 words
- Thinkers not tested recently
- Emotional intelligence and empathy
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) 2021, General Studies IV (opens in a new tab)

(b) In what ways can an Indian Administrative Officer apply Gandhi's notion of 'trusteeship' to ensure fairness in governance?

(c) Shakespeare in Henry IV says, "The arms are fair when the intent of bearing them is just". What ethical implications does this have in governance?

Given below are three quotations of great thinkers. What do each of these quotations convey to you in the present context?

(a) "Those who in trouble untroubled are, Will trouble trouble itself." — Thiruvalluvar

(b) "The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes." — William James

(c) "The strength of a society is not in its laws, but in the morality of its people." — Swami Vivekananda

(a) "For any kind of social re-engineering by successfully implementing welfare schemes, a civil servant must use reason and critical thinking in an ethical framework." Justify this statement with suitable examples.

(b) What are the major teachings of Mahavir? Explain their relevance in the contemporary world.

Given below are three quotations of great thinkers. What do each of these quotations convey to you in the present context?

(a) "Learn everything that is good from others, but bring it in, and in your own way absorb it, do not become others." — Swami Vivekananda

(b) "Faith is of no avail in the absence of strength. Faith and strength, both are essential to accomplish any great work." — Sardar Patel

(c) "In law, a man is guilty when he violates the rights of others. In ethics, he is guilty if he only thinks of doing so." — Immanuel Kant

Given below are three quotations of great thinkers. What do each of these quotations convey to you in the present context?

(a) "The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer." — Mahatma Gandhi

(b) "To awaken the people, it is the women who must be awakened. Once she is on the move, the family moves, the village moves, the nation moves." — Jawaharlal Nehru

(c) "Do not hate anybody, because that hatred that comes out from you must, in the long run, come back to you. If you love, that love will come back to you, completing the circle." — Swami Vivekananda

(a) "What really matters for success, character, happiness and lifelong achievements is a definite set of emotional skills — your EQ — not just purely cognitive abilities that are measured by conventional IQ tests." Do you agree with this view? Give reasons in support of your answer.

(b) Differentiate 'moral intuition' from 'moral reasoning' with suitable examples.

(a) What were the major teachings of Guru Nanak? Explain their relevance in the contemporary world.

(b) Explain the term social capital. How does it enhance good governance?

What does each of the following quotations mean to you?

(a) "Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do." — Potter Stewart

(b) "If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel that there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are father, mother and teacher." — A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

(c) "Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it." — Dalai Lama

What does each of the following quotations mean to you?

(a) "Every work has got to pass through hundreds of difficulties before succeeding. Those that persevere will see the light, sooner or later." — Swami Vivekananda

(b) "We can never obtain peace in the outer world until and unless we obtain peace within ourselves." — Dalai Lama

(c) "Life doesn't make any sense without interdependence. We need each other, and the sooner we learn that, it is better for us all." — Erik Erikson