General Studies IV

5 questions

• 2022 · Question 1 · Section A · 20 marks

  1. (a) Wisdom lies in knowing what to reckon with and what to overlook. An officer being engrossed with the periphery, ignoring the core issues before him, is not rare in the bureaucracy. Do you agree that such preoccupation of an administrator leads to travesty of justice to the cause of effective service delivery and good governance? Critically evaluate.

     10 marks · 150 words

  2. (b) Apart from intellectual competency and moral qualities, empathy and compassion are some of the other vital attributes that facilitate the civil servants to be more competent in tackling the crucial issues or taking critical decisions. Explain with suitable illustrations.

     10 marks · 150 words

  • Integrity under political pressure
  • Emotional intelligence and empathy

  Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) 2022, General Studies IV (opens in a new tab)

• 2022 · Question 2 · Section A · 20 marks

  1. (a) The Rules and Regulations provided to all the civil servants are same, yet there is difference in the performance. Positive minded officers are able to interpret the Rules and Regulations in favour of the case and achieve success, whereas negative minded officers are unable to achieve goals by interpreting the same Rules and Regulations against the case. Discuss with illustrations.

     10 marks · 150 words

  2. (b) It is believed that adherence to ethics in human actions would ensure in smooth functioning of an organization/system. If so, what does ethics seek to promote in human life? How do ethical values assist in the resolution of conflicts faced by him in his day-to-day functioning?

     10 marks · 150 words

  • Integrity under political pressure

  Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) 2022, General Studies IV (opens in a new tab)

• 2022 · Question 8 · Section B · Case study · 20 marks · 250 words

  Ramesh is State Civil Services Officer who got the opportunity of getting posted to the capital of a border State after rendering 20 years of service. Ramesh's mother has recently been detected cancer and has been admitted in the leading cancer hospital of the city. His two adolescent children have also got admission in one of the best public schools of the town. After settling down in his appointment as Director in the Home Department of the State, Ramesh got confidential report through intelligence sources that illegal migrants are infiltrating in the State from the neighbouring country. He decided to personally carry out surprise check of the border posts along with his Home Department team. To his surprise, he caught red-handed two families of 12 members infiltrated with the connivance of the security personnel at the border posts. On further inquiry and investigation, it was found that after the migrants from neighbouring country infiltrate, their documentation like Aadhaar Card, Ration Card and Voter Card are also forged and they are made to settle down in a particular area of the State. Ramesh prepared the detailed and comprehensive report and submitted to the Additional Secretary of the State. However, he has summoned by the Additional Home Secretary after a week and was instructed to withdraw the report. The Additional Home Secretary informed Ramesh that the report submitted by him has not been appreciated by the higher authorities. He further cautioned him that if he fails to withdraw the confidential report, he will not only be posted out from the prestigious appointment from the State capital but his further promotion which is due in near future will also get in jeopardy.

  1. (a) What are the options available to Ramesh as the Director of the Home Department of the bordering State?

     undefined marks

  2. (b) What option should Ramesh adopt and why?

     undefined marks

  3. (c) Critically evaluate each of the options.

     undefined marks

  4. (d) What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by Ramesh?

     undefined marks

  5. (e) What policy measures would you suggest to combat the menace of infiltration of illegal migrants from the neighbouring country?

     undefined marks

  • Border management and illegal migration
  • Integrity under political pressure

  Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) 2022, General Studies IV (opens in a new tab)

• 2022 · Question 9 · Section B · Case study · 20 marks · 250 words

  The Supreme Court has banned mining in the Aravalli Hills to stop degradation of the forest cover and to maintain ecological balance. However, the stone mining was still prevalent in the border district of the affected State with connivance of certain corrupt forest officials and politicians. Young and dynamic SP who was recently posted in the affected district promised to himself to stop this menace. In one of his surprise checks with his team, he found loaded truck with stone trying to escape the mining area. He tried to stop the truck but the truck driver overrun the police officer, killing him on the spot and thereafter managed to flee. Police filed FIR but no breakthrough was achieved in the case for almost three months. Ashok who was the Investigative Journalist working with leading TV channel, suo moto started investigating the case. Within one month, Ashok got breakthrough by interacting with local people, stone mining mafia and government officials. He prepared his investigative story and presented to the CMD of the TV channel. He exposed in his investigative report the complete nexus of stone mafia working with blessing of corrupt police and civil officials and politicians. The politician who was involved in the mafia was no one else but local MLA who was considered to be very close to the Chief Minister. After going through the investigative report, the CMD advised Ashok to drop the idea of making the story public through electronic media. He informed that the local MLA was not only the relative of the owner of the TV channel but also had unofficially 20 percent share in the channel. The CMD further informed Ashok that his further promotion and hike in pay will be taken care of in addition the soft loan of ₹ 10 lakhs which he has taken from the TV channel for his son's chronic disease will be suitably adjusted if he hands over the investigative report to him.

  1. (a) What are the options available with Ashok to cope up with the situation?

     undefined marks

  2. (b) Critically evaluate/examine each of the options identified by Ashok.

     undefined marks

  3. (c) What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by Ashok?

     undefined marks

  4. (d) Which of the options, do you think, would be the most appropriate for Ashok to adopt and why?

     undefined marks

  5. (e) In the above scenario, what type of training would you suggest for police officers posted to such districts where stone mining illegal activities are rampant?

     undefined marks

  • Aravalli protection
  • Integrity under political pressure

  Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) 2022, General Studies IV (opens in a new tab)

• 2022 · Question 10 · Section B · Case study · 20 marks · 250 words

  You have done MBA from a reputed institution three years back but could not get campus placement due to COVID-19 generated recession. However, after a lot of persuasion and series of competitive tests including written and interview, you managed to get a job in a leading shoe company. You have aged parents who are dependent and staying with you. You also recently got married after getting this decent job. You were allotted the Inspection Section which is responsible for clearing the final product. In first one year, you learnt your job well and was appreciated for your performance by the management. The company is doing good business for last five years in domestic market and this year it is decided even to export to Europe and Gulf countries. However, one large consignment to Europe was rejected by their Inspecting Team due to certain poor quality and was sent back. The top management ordered that ibid consignment to be cleared for the domestic market. As a part of Inspecting Team, you observed the glaring poor quality and brought to the knowledge of the Team Commander. However, the top management advised all the members of the team to overlook these defects as the management cannot bear such a huge loss. Rest of the team members except you promptly signed and cleared the consignment for domestic market, overlooking glaring defects. You again brought to the knowledge of the Team Commander that such consignment, if cleared even for domestic market, will tarnish the image and reputation of the company and will be counter-productive in the long run. However, you were further advised by the top management that if you do not clear the consignment, the company will not hesitate to terminate your services citing certain innocuous reasons.

  1. (a) Under the given conditions, what are the options available to you as a member of the Inspecting Team?

     undefined marks

  2. (b) Critically evaluate each of the options listed by you.

     undefined marks

  3. (c) What option would you adopt and why?

     undefined marks

  4. (d) What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by you?

     undefined marks

  5. (e) What can be the consequences of overlooking the observations raised by the Inspecting Team?

     undefined marks

  • Corporate governance and ESG
  • Integrity under political pressure

  Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) 2022, General Studies IV (opens in a new tab)