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General Studies Paper 4 · By subject

Probity & Governance — UPSC Mains GS Paper 4 PYQ

35 previous year questions on Probity & Governance, 2013–2025, each with a model answer

← All GS Paper 4

2025

  1. Q5
    (a) “One who is devoted to one’s duty attains highest perfection in life.” Analyse this statement with reference to sense of responsibility and personal fulfilment as a civil servant. (b) To achieve holistic development goal, a civil servant acts as an enabler and active facilitator of growth rather than a regulator. What specific measures will you suggest to achieve this goal?
    20 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  2. Q6
    (a) It is said that for an ethical work culture, there must be code of ethics in place in every organisation. To ensure value-based and compliance-based work culture, what suitable measures would you adopt in your work place? (b) India is an emerging economic power of the world as it has recently secured the status of fourth largest economy of the world as per IMF projection. However, it has been observed that in some sectors, allocated funds remain either under-utilised or misutilised. What specific measures would you recommend for ensuring accountability in this regard to stop leakages and gaining the status of third largest economy of the world in near future?
    20 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →

2024

  1. Q5
    (a) The ‘Code of Conduct’ and ‘Code of Ethics’ are the sources of guidance in public administration. There is code of conduct already in operation, whereas code of ethics is not yet put in place. Suggest a suitable model for code of ethics to maintain integrity, probity and transparency in governance. (b) The soul of the new law, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is Justice, Equality and Impartiality based on Indian culture and ethos. Discuss this in the light of major shift from a doctrine of punishment to justice in the present judicial system.
    20 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  2. Q6
    (a) “In Indian culture and value system, an equal opportunity has been provided irrespective of gender identity. The number of women in public service has been steadily increasing over the years.” Examine the gender-specific challenges faced by female public servants and suggest suitable measures to increase their efficiency in discharging their duties and maintaining high standards of probity. (b) Mission Karmayogi is aiming for maintaining a very high standard of conduct and behaviour to ensure efficiency for serving citizens and in turn developing oneself. How will this scheme empower the civil servants in enhancing productive efficiency and delivering the services at the grassroots level?
    20 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →

2023

  1. Q1
    (a) What do you understand by ‘moral integrity’ and ‘professional efficiency’ in the context of corporate governance in India? Illustrate with suitable examples. (b) ‘International aid’ is an accepted form of helping ‘resource-challenged’ nations. Comment on ‘ethics in contemporary international aid’. Support your answer with suitable examples.
    20 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →

2022

  1. Q4
    (a) What do you understand by the term ‘good governance’? How far recent initiatives in terms of e-Governance steps taken by the State have helped the beneficiaries? Discuss with suitable examples. (b) Online methodology is being used for day-to-day meetings, institutional approvals in the administration and for teaching and learning in education sector to the extent telemedicine in the health sector is getting popular with the approvals of the competent authority. No doubt, it has advantages and disadvantages for both the beneficiaries and the system at large. Describe and discuss the ethical issues involved in the use of online method particularly to the vulnerable section of the society.
    20 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  2. Q6
    (a) Whistle-blower, who reports corruption and illegal activities, wrongdoing and misconduct to the concerned authorities, runs the risk of being exposed to grave danger, physical harm and victimization by the vested interests, accused persons and his team. What policy measures would you suggest to strengthen protection mechanism to safeguard the whistle-blower? (b) In contemporary world, corporate sector’s contribution in generating wealth and employment is increasing. In doing so, they are bringing in unprecedented onslaught on the climate, environmental sustainability and living conditions of human beings. In this background, do you find that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is efficient and sufficient enough to fulfill the social roles and responsibilities needed in the corporate world for which the CSR is mandated? Critically examine.
    20 marks 150 words Hard Model answer →

2021

  1. Q1
    (a) Identify five ethical traits on which one can plot the performance of a civil servant. Justify their inclusion in the matrix. (b) Identify ten essential values that are needed to be an effective public servant. Describe the ways and means to prevent non-ethical behaviour in the public servants.
    20 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  2. Q5
    (a) “Refugees should not be turned back to the country where they would face persecution or human right violation.” Examine the statement with reference to ethical dimension being violated by the nation claiming to be democratic with open society. (b) Should impartial and being non-partisan be considered as indispensable qualities to make a successful civil servant? Discuss with illustrations.
    20 marks 150 words Hard Model answer →
  3. Q6
    (a) An independent and empowered social audit mechanism is an absolute must in every sphere of public service, including judiciary, to ensure performance, accountability and ethical conduct. Elaborate. (b) “Integrity is a value that empowers the human being.” Justify with suitable illustration.
    20 marks 150 words Hard Model answer →

2019

  1. Q1
    (a) What are the basic principles of public life? Illustrate any three of these with suitable examples. (10 marks, 150 words) (b) What do you understand by the term ‘public servant’? Reflect on the expected role of public servant. (10 marks, 150 words)
    20 marks 150 words Easy Model answer →
  2. Q2
    (a) Effective utilization of public funds is crucial to meet development goals. Critically examine the reasons for under-utilization and mis-utilization of public funds and their implications. (10 marks, 150 words) (b) “Non-performance of duty by a public servant is a form of corruption”. Do you agree with this view? Justify your answer. (10 marks, 150 words)
    20 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  3. Q4
    (a) Explain the basic principles of citizens charter movement and bring out its importance. (10 marks, 150 words) (b) There is a view that the Official Secrets Act is an obstacle to the implementation of Right to Information Act. Do you agree with the view? Discuss. (10 marks, 150 words)
    20 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  4. Q5
    (a) What do you understand by probity in governance? Based on your understanding of the term, suggest measures for ensuring probity in government. (10 marks, 150 words) (b) “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, 150 words)
    20 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  5. Q10
    In a modern democratic polity, there is the concept of political executive and permanent executive. Elected people’s representatives form the political executive and bureaucracy forms the permanent executive. Ministers frame policy decisions and bureaucrats execute these. In the initial decades after independence, relationship between the permanent executive and the political executive were characterized by mutual understanding, respect and co-operation, without encroaching upon each others domain. However, in the subsequent decades, the situation has changed. There are instances of the political executive insisting upon the permanent executive to follow its agenda. Respect for and 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, postings etc. Under this scenario, there is a difinitive 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. What are the consequences of this ‘politicization of bureaucracy’? Discuss.
    20 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  6. Q12
    In recent times, there has been an increasing concern in India to develop effective civil service ethics, codes 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 in the civil services, 2. Strengthening the ethical competence of civil servants 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 250 words Hard Model answer →

2018

  1. Q1
    (a) State the three basic values, universal in nature, in the context of civil services and bring out their importance. (10 marks, 150 words) (b) Distinguish between “Code of ethics” and “Code of conduct” with suitable examples. (10 marks, 150 words)
    20 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  2. Q2
    (a) What is meant by public interest? What are the principles and procedures to be followed by the civil servants in public interest? (10 marks, 150 words) (b) “The Right to Information Act is not all about citizens’ empowerment alone, it essentially redefines the concept of accountability.” Discuss. (10 marks, 150 words)
    20 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  3. Q3
    (a) What is meant by conflict of interest? Illustrate with examples, the difference between the actual and potential conflicts of interest. (10 marks, 150 words) (b) “In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence and energy. And if they do not have the first, the other two will kill you.” – Warren Buffett What do you understand by this statement in the present-day scenario? Explain. (10 marks, 150 words)
    20 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  4. Q5
    (a) Suppose the Government of India is thinking of constructing a dam in a mountain valley bound by forests and inhabited by ethnic communities. What rational policy should it resort to in dealing with unforeseen contingencies? (10 marks, 150 words) (b) Explain the process of resolving ethical dilemmas in Public Administration. (10 marks, 150 words)
    20 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →

2017

  1. Q1
    Conflict of interest in the public sector arises when (a) official duties, (b) public interest, and (c) personal interest are taking priority one above the other. How can this conflict in administration be resolved? Describe with an example.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  2. Q2
    Examine the relevance of the following in the context of civil service: (a) Transparency (b) Accountability (c) Fairness and justice (d) Courage of conviction (e) Spirit of service
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →

2016

  1. Q2
    (a) What do you understand by the terms ‘governance’, ‘good governance’ and ‘ethical governance’? (b) Discuss Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of seven sins.
    20 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  2. Q4
    (a) “Corruption causes misuse of government treasury, administrative inefficiency and obstruction in the path of national development.” Discuss Kautilya’s views. (b) How could social influence and persuasion contribute to the success of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan?
    20 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →

2015

  1. Q3
    (a) “A mere compliance with law is not enough, the public servant also has to have a well-developed sensibility to ethical issues for effective discharge of duties.” Do you agree? Explain with the help of two examples, where (i) an act is ethically right, but not legally and (ii) an act is legally right, but not ethically. (b) How do the virtues of trustworthiness and fortitude get manifested in public service? Explain with examples.
    20 marks 150 words Hard Model answer →
  2. Q4
    (a) “Social values are more important than economic values.” Discuss the above statement with examples in the context of inclusive growth of a nation. (b) Some recent developments such as introduction of RTI Act, media and judicial activism, etc., are proving helpful in bringing about greater transparency and accountability in the functioning of the government. However, it is also being observed that at times the mechanisms are misused. Another negative effect is that the officers are now afraid to take prompt decisions. Analyze this situation in detail and suggest how this dichotomy can be resolved. Suggest how these negative impacts can be minimized.
    20 marks 150 words Hard Model answer →
  3. Q5
    Two different kinds of attitudes exhibited by public servants towards their work have been identified as the bureaucratic attitude and the democratic attitude. (a) Distinguish between these two terms and write their merits and demerits. (b) Is it possible to balance the two to create a better administration for the faster development of our country?
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  4. Q6
    Today we find that in spite of various measures like prescribing codes of conduct, setting up vigilance cells/commissions, RTI, active media and strengthening of legal mechanisms, corrupt practices are not coming under control. (a) Evaluate the effectiveness of these measures with justifications. (b) Suggest more effective strategies to tackle this menace.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  5. Q8
    Public servants are likely to confront with the issues of ‘Conflict of Interest’. What do you understand by the term ‘Conflict of Interest’ and how does it manifest in the decision making by public servants? If faced with the conflict of interest situation, how would you resolve it? Explain with the help of examples.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →

2014

  1. Q2
    (a) In the context of defence services, ‘patriotism’ demands readiness to even lay down one’s life in protecting the nation. According to you, what does patriotism imply in everyday civil life? Explain with illustrations and justify your answer. (b) What do you understand by ‘probity’ in public life? What are the difficulties in practicing it in the present times? How can these difficulties be overcome?
    20 marks 150 words Hard Model answer →
  2. Q4
    (a) Which eminent personality has inspired you the most in the context of ethical conduct in life? Give the gist of his/her teachings. Giving specific examples, describe how you have been able to apply these teachings for your own ethical development. (b) There is a heavy ethical responsibility on the public servants because they occupy positions of power, handle huge amounts of public funds, and their decisions have wide-ranging impact on society and environment. What steps have you taken to improve your ethical competence to handle such responsibility?
    20 marks 150 words Hard Model answer →
  3. Q5
    (a) The current society is plagued with widespread trust-deficit. What are the consequences of this situation for personal well-being and for societal well-being? What can you do at the personal level to make yourself trustworthy? (b) It is often said that poverty leads to corruption. However, there is no dearth of instances where affluent and powerful people indulge in corruption in a big way. What are the basic causes of corruption among people? Support your answer with examples.
    20 marks 150 words Hard Model answer →
  4. Q7
    What does ‘accountability’ mean in the context of public service? What measures can be adopted to ensure individual and collective accountability of public servants?
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  5. Q8
    We are witnessing increasing instances of sexual violence against women in the country. Despite existing legal provisions against it, the number of such incidences is on the rise. Suggest some innovative measures to tackle this menace.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →

2013

  1. Q8
    It is often said that ‘politics’ and ‘ethics’ do not go together. What is your opinion in this regard? Justify your answer with illustrations.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →

Other GS Paper 4 subjects

Thinkers & QuotesEthics TheoryEthicsEmotional IntelligenceCase Study