(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. (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.

(a) Wisdom lies in knowing what to reckon with and what to overlook

I largely agree. An administrator absorbed in procedural minutiae — file movement, formalities, self-preservation — while the substantive purpose of service delivery is neglected, indeed produces a travesty of justice. Wisdom (prudence) is precisely the capacity to distinguish the core from the peripheral and to allocate attention and courage accordingly. An officer who insists on rigid paperwork during a famine or refuses discretionary relief because of trivial technicalities defeats the very end governance exists for. However, the 'periphery' cannot mean legality or due process; overlooking those would itself be injustice. The judgement lies in serving the spirit of rules, not their letter, and keeping the citizen's welfare as the core reckoning.

(b) Empathy and compassion as vital administrative attributes

Beyond intellect and moral qualities, empathy — understanding others' feelings — and compassion — the will to relieve suffering — make critical decisions humane and effective. They help an officer read ground realities, win trust, and tailor solutions to the vulnerable. Empathy lets a collector sense distress behind a delayed pension; compassion drives night shelters for the homeless or on-the-spot relief in disasters. These qualities also improve teamwork and reduce friction. Aristotle's practical wisdom and the idea of the 'sthitaprajna' both point to the union of clear judgement with humane feeling.