GS-IV UPSC PYQ 2016

What do you understand by the terms ‘governance, ‘good governance, and ‘ethical governance? How to approach this question Write a brief introduction setting context ( 1–2 lines ) Cover both sides if question says "critically discuss / examine / analyse" Use data, schemes, examples specific to PART A Conclude with a forward-looking statement ( 1 line ) Practice all GS4 Mains questions Model answers + key points for every question Open App Model Answer Framework (English) Show Hide The three terms — governance, good governance and ethical governance — describe an ascending ladder. The first names the activity itself; the second adds quality; the third adds conscience. Governance Governance refers simply to the process by which a society is managed and decisions are made and implemented — the exercise of authority to administer the affairs of a country. It includes the institutions, processes and relationships through which power is used. In this neutral, descriptive sense, governance can be of any quality — it can be efficient or inefficient, fair or unfair, honest or corrupt. Governance merely describes that a society *is* being run; it says nothing about *how well*. easemyprep.in Good governance Good governance adds the dimension of quality . It is governance that meets recognised standards — the United Nations identifies eight characteristics: it is participatory, transparent, accountable, responsive, consensus-oriented, equitable and inclusive, effective and efficient, and based on the rule of law . Good governance means that the state delivers services efficiently, treats citizens fairly, is answerable for its actions, and is citizen-centric. It is governance that *works well* for the people. Ethical governance easemyprep.in Ethical governance adds the dimension of conscience and values . It is governance grounded in moral principles — integrity, honesty, justice, compassion, selflessness and a commitment to the public good and to constitutional values. Ethical governance asks not only "Is this efficient and lawful?" but "Is this *right* and *just*?". It places the welfare of the weakest at the centre, refuses corruption and the abuse of power as a matter of conscience, and ensures that even the *means* of governance are ethical, not merely the ends. The relationship between the three The three form a hierarchy. Governance is the base — the mere fact of administration. Good governance adds competence and fairness of process . Ethical governance adds the moral soul — the inner commitment to do what is right. Importantly, governance can be "good" in a technical sense (efficient, rule-following) yet still lack ethics; ethical governance ensures that efficiency serves justice and the public good. The ideal is governance that is both *good* and *ethical*. easemyprep.in Conclusion Governance describes *that* a society is run; good governance describes *how well* it is run; ethical governance describes *with what conscience* it is run. The goal of a democracy is to rise up this ladder — to governance that is at once efficient, accountable, and morally sound . Value addition (2024–26 update) Updates and anchors (2024–26): Good governance = UN 8 attributes; constitutional morality (Ambedkar; SC in Kesavananda, Manoj Narula, Navtej Johar) and social capital (Putnam) are its enablers. Devolution gap persists — 73rd/74th funds-functions-functionaries to PRIs/ULBs under-realised. NITI Aayog SDG India Index tracks SDG-16 and SDG-10; participatory models (Kerala People Plan, social audits) link participation to effectiveness. easemyprep.in Diagram cue: virtuous cycle — capable institutions to participation to trust (social capital). Source: easemyprep.in Structured Mains Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View इस प्रश्न को हिंदी में पढ़ें हिंदी में पढ़ें → Structured Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View Practice All Mains GS4 — Ethics & Integrity Questions Download App More GS4 Questions Ease My Prep Focused UPSC preparation. Daily current affairs, PYQ practice, trend analysis, and mentorship for serious CSE aspirants across India. Based in Gurugram, Haryana · Founded 2022 Product Features Pricing AI Copy Checking Courses Daily News Mentorship Books Blog Company About Us Community Contact Legal Privacy Policy Terms of Service Refund Policy 📱 Android App 🍎 iOS App 🌐 Web App © 2022 – 2026 Ease My Prep . All rights reserved. Made with dedication for UPSC aspirants across India.

“Corruption causes misuse of government treasury, administrative inefficiency and obstruction in the path of national development.” Discuss Kautilya’s views. (150 words, 10 Marks).

A fresh engineering graduate gets a job in a prestigious chemical industry. She likes the work. The salary is also good. However, after a few months she accidentally discovers that a highly toxic waste is being secretly discharged into a river nearby. This is causing health problems to the villagers downstream who depend on the river for their water needs. She is perturbed and mentions her concern to her colleagues who have been with the company for longer periods. They advise her to keep quiet as anyone who mentions the topic is summarily dismissed. She cannot risk losing her job as she is the sole bread-winner for her family and has to support her ailing parents and siblings. At first, she thinks that if her seniors are keeping quiet, why should she stick out her neck. But her conscience pricks her to do something to save the river and the people who depend upon it. At heart she feels that the advice of silence given by her friends is not correct though she cannot give reasons for it. She thinks you are a wise person and seeks your advice. (2016) (a) What arguments can you advance to show her that keeping quiet is not morally right? (b) What course of action would you advise her to adopt and why?

Saraswati was a successful IT professional in the USA. Moved by patriotic sense of doing something for the country she returned to India. Together with some other like-minded friends, she formed an NGO to build a school for a poor rural community. The objective of the school was to provide the best quality modern education at a nominal cost. She soon discovered that she has to seek permission from a number of Government agencies. The rules and procedures were quite confusing and cumbersome. What frustrated her most were delays, callous attitude of officials and constant demand for bribes. Her experience and the experience of many others like her have deterred people from taking up social service projects. A measure of Government control over voluntary social work is necessary. But it should not be exercised in a coercive and corrupt manner. What measures can you suggest to ensure that due control is exercised but well meaning, honest NGO efforts are not thwarted?

How could social influence and persuasion contribute to the success of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan? (150 words)

Analyse John Rawls’s concept of social justice in the Indian Context. . (150 words, 10 Marks)

Suppose you are an officer in charge of implementing a social service scheme to provide support to old and destitute women. An old and illiterate woman comes to you to avail the benefits of the scheme. However, she has no documents to show that she fulfills the eligibility criteria. But after meeting her and listening to her you feel that she certainly needs support. Your enquiries also show that she is really destitute and living in a pitiable condition. You are in a dilemma as to what to do. Putting her under the scheme without necessary documents would clearly be a violation of rules. But denying her the support would be cruel and inhuman. (a) Can you think of a rational way to resolve this dilemma? (b) Give your reasons for it.

Explain how ethics contributes to social and human well-being. How to approach this question Write a brief introduction setting context ( 1–2 lines ) Cover both sides if question says "critically discuss / examine / analyse" Use data, schemes, examples specific to PART A Conclude with a forward-looking statement ( 1 line ) Practice all GS4 Mains questions Model answers + key points for every question Open App Model Answer Framework (English) Show Hide Ethics — the systematic study of right and wrong, and the values that guide human conduct — is not an abstract pursuit. It makes a direct and powerful contribution to social well-being (the harmony and progress of society) and to human well-being (the flourishing of the individual). How ethics contributes to social well-being It enables harmonious coexistence: Shared ethical values — honesty, tolerance, respect for others' rights — allow people of differing interests and identities to live together peacefully and cooperatively. easemyprep.in It builds trust and social capital: Society functions on trust — in markets, institutions and everyday dealings. Ethics generates the honesty and reliability on which that trust depends. It promotes justice and reduces conflict: Ethical principles of fairness ensure that benefits and burdens are justly distributed and that disputes are resolved peacefully, reducing exploitation and unrest. It curbs corruption and the abuse of power: Where ethical values prevail, public power and resources are used for the common good, so that development actually reaches people. easemyprep.in It strengthens institutions: Law, democracy and the economy — as noted by many thinkers — function properly only when underpinned by widely shared moral values. It protects the vulnerable and the environment: An ethic of compassion and responsibility safeguards the weak, future generations and nature. How ethics contributes to human well-being easemyprep.in It gives life meaning and purpose: A life lived by sound values has direction and worth beyond mere material existence. It brings inner peace: A clear conscience — the fruit of ethical living — brings contentment, self-respect and freedom from guilt and fear. It builds good character and relationships: Virtues such as honesty, empathy and self-control make a person trustworthy and enable loving, lasting relationships — central to human happiness. easemyprep.in It guides good decisions: Ethics equips individuals to navigate life's dilemmas wisely. It enables genuine flourishing: As Aristotle taught, true happiness — *eudaimonia* — is found not in pleasure alone but in a life of virtue. Conclusion easemyprep.in Ethics is therefore not a constraint on life but an enabler of well-being . For society, it supplies the trust, justice and cooperation without which no community can prosper; for the individual, it supplies the meaning, peace and good character without which no life can truly flourish. The well-being of both the person and the society rests on the same ethical foundation. Value addition (updated 2026) The directive is "Explain how" — so answer with named mechanisms, not celebration. Five mechanisms, each with evidence: 1. Ethics lowers the cost of cooperation. Trust allows exchange without enforcement; Fukuyama (*Trust*, 1995) showed high-trust societies build larger organisations at lower cost. The counter-evidence is what happens when trust is weaponised: India recorded 28.15 lakh cybercrime complaints and losses of ₹22,495 crore in 2025 , with "digital arrest" frauds exploiting citizens' deference to authority. easemyprep.in 2. Ethics converts growth into well-being. India ranks 130 of 193 on HDI (0.685) and inequality erodes 30.7% of that value. Distributional ethics — Antyodaya, Rawls's difference principle — determines whether growth reaches the person it should. Sen's niti versus nyaya is the test of whether welfare was realised or merely administered. 3. Ethics protects the vulnerable from efficient harm. Absolute liability in *M.C. Mehta v. Union of India* (1987) ; informed consent under the ICMR National Ethical Guidelines and the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019; the statutory recognition of gig and platform workers in the four Labour Codes, in force 21 November 2025 , with aggregator contributions of 1–2% of turnover. Each restrains an efficient practice that would otherwise harm the weak. 4. Ethics sustains mental and social health. Reciprocity, belonging and dignified treatment are direct inputs to well-being. The WHO Commission on Social Connection (June 2025) found one in six people lonely and social disconnection linked to about 871,000 deaths a year. India's mental-health treatment gap was 70–92% (NMHS 2015-16) ; Tele-MANAS handled 34.34 lakh calls by March 2026 — but service delivery works only where stigma, an ethical variable, recedes. easemyprep.in 5. Ethics makes institutions legitimate. People accept adverse decisions from institutions they believe are fair. Hence the RTI Act 2005, mandatory social audit under Section 17 of MGNREGA , and *ADR v. Union of India* (15 February 2024) striking down electoral bonds are well-being interventions, not merely governance ones. The accountability deficit is measurable: over 4 lakh RTI appeals were pending as of 30 June 2025 , and in about 98% of cases where a penalty was warranted none was imposed. Conceptual anchors: Aristotle's *eudaimonia*; Sen and Nussbaum's capability approach (well-being as real freedom, the basis of the HDI); Putnam's distinction between inward-looking bonding and cleavage-crossing bridging social capital; Klitgaard's equation for why systems, not sermons, restrain officials. Exam hook: Spend no more than two lines defining ethics. The five mechanisms *are* the answer. easemyprep.in Source: easemyprep.in Structured Mains Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View इस प्रश्न को हिंदी में पढ़ें हिंदी में पढ़ें → Structured Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View Practice All Mains GS4 — Ethics & Integrity Questions Download App More GS4 Questions Ease My Prep Focused UPSC preparation. Daily current affairs, PYQ practice, trend analysis, and mentorship for serious CSE aspirants across India. Based in Gurugram, Haryana · Founded 2022 Product Features Pricing AI Copy Checking Courses Daily News Mentorship Books Blog Company About Us Community Contact Legal Privacy Policy Terms of Service Refund Policy 📱 Android App 🍎 iOS App 🌐 Web App © 2022 – 2026 Ease My Prep . All rights reserved. Made with dedication for UPSC aspirants across India.

ABC Ltd. is a large transnational company having diversified business activities with a huge shareholder base. The company is continuously expanding and generating employment. The company, in its expansion and diversification programme, decides to establish a new plant at Vikaspuri, an area which is underdeveloped. The new plant is designed to use energy efficient technology that will help the company to save production cost by 20%. The company’s decision goes well with the Government policy of attracting investment to develop such underdeveloped regions. The government has also announced a tax holiday for five years for the companies that invest in underdeveloped areas. However, the new plant may bring chaos for the inhabitants of Vikaspuri region, which is otherwise tranquil. The new plant may result in increased cost of living, aliens migrating to the region, disturbing the social and economic order. The company sensing the possible protest tried to educate the people of Vikaspuri region and public in general that how its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy would help overcome the likely difficulties of the residents of Vikaspuri region. In spite of this the protests began and some of the residents decided to approach the judiciary as their plea before the Government did not yield any result. (2016) (a) Identify the issues involved in the case. (b) What can be suggested to satisfy the company’s goal and to address the residents’ concern?

Discuss the Public Services Code as recommended by the 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission. (150 words, 10 Marks

Land needed for mining, dams and other large-scale projects is acquired mostly from Adivasis, hill dwellers and rural communities. The displaced persons are paid monetary compensation as per the legal provisions. However, the payment is often tardy. In any case, it cannot sustain the displaced families for long. These people do not possess marketable skills to engage in some other accusation. They end up as low paid migrant laborers. Moreover, the development goes to industries, industrialists and urban communities whereas the costs are passed on to these poor helpless people. This unjust distribution of costs and benefits is unethical. Suppose you have been entrusted with the task of drafting a better compensation-cum-rehabilitation policy for such displaced persons, how would you approach the problem and what would be the main elements of your suggested policy?

What do you understand by the terms ‘governance’, ‘good governance’ and ‘ethical governance’? (150 words, 10 Marks)

Law and ethics are considered to be the two tools for controlling human conduct so as to make it conducive to civilized social existence. Discuss how they achieve this objective. Giving examples, show how the two differ in their approaches. (150 words, 10 Marks)

Anger is a harmful negative emotion. It is injurious to both personal life and work life. Discuss how it leads to negative emotions and undesirable behaviors. How can it be managed and controlled? (150 words, 10 Marks)

Our attitudes towards life, work, other people and society are generally shaped unconsciously by the family and the social surroundings in which we grow up. Some of these unconsciously acquired attitudes and values are often undesirable in the citizens of a modern democratic and egalitarian society. (a) Discuss such undesirable values prevalent in today's educated Indians. (b) How can such undesirable attitudes be changed and socio-ethical values considered necessary in public services be cultivated in the aspiring and serving civil servants? (150 words, 10 Marks)

Discuss Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of seven sins. (150 words, 10 Marks)

Explain how ethics contributes to social and human well-being. (150 words, 10 Marks)

“Max Weber said that it is not wise to apply to public administration the sort of moral and ethical norms we apply to matters of personal conscience. It is important to realize that the state bureaucracy might possess its own independent bureaucratic morality.” Critically analyze this statement. (150 words, 10 Marks)

Why should impartiality and non-partisanship be considered as foundational values in public services, especially in the present-day socio-political context? Illustrate your answer with examples. (150 words, 10 Marks)