Discussions of PYQ Part – IIDr Awdhesh Singh, IRS (Retd.)

Director, Awdhesh Academy,

Former Commissioner, Customs & Indirect Taxes (Central Excise/GST)

Questions

What do each of the following quotations mean to you?

a) “An unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates (150 words) (10 marks)

b) ..

c) ..

Answer

• Socrates believed that the love of wisdom is the most important pursuit of human beings since only through wisdom one can know what is good and what is bad for the person and the world.

• A wise man seeks truth more than anything else in his life.

• His typical method to discover truth is through questioning and logical argument.

• This process is similar to examination where the knowledge of a person is tested through question and answers.

Meaning

• We must use our life to know ourselves by self-examination so that we can discover our abilities and make best use of them for the benefit of self, family and the society in general.

• We don’t know self, we can’t know the purpose of our lives and live miserably in the world by imitating others.

• Socrates asked people to examine their life so that they can give meaning to their lives by discovering their true potential and create a better self and a happier world.

Question (CSE 2020)

6. What does each of the following quotations mean to you?(c)‘A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true.’ —Socrates (150 words) 10

Answer

• The source of morality can be either emotional or rational.

• If you consider an action to be moral because it makes you happy, you are choosing your action from the perspective of self-gratification rather than from the perspective of society.

• Emotions are subjective and vary from one person to another.

• The actions that give joy to one person may be a source of pain for another person.

Contd.

• Emotions are transient and can’t last long.

• A system of morality based on emotions is an illusion since it is neither universal nor sustainable.

• For example, when a person is punished for breaking a social norm or exposing a common myth, people feel happy. However, such action is evil and vulgar because it is not based on truth.

• The true system of morality is based on rationality which is objective and based on truth.

• A rational system of morality encompasses the interest of all members of society and is therefore ever-lasting.

Question

• How will you apply emotional intelligence in administrative practices?

Emotional Intelligence

• Emotional intelligence is the ability to monitor one's own and other people's emotions, to discriminate between different emotions and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior.

• The five aspects of emotional intelligence according to Goleman are 1. self-awareness,

2. self-regulation,

3. social skills,

4. empathy, and

5. motivation.

Using Emotional Intelligence in administration

• Connect with the officials emotionally to understand and motivate them

• Develop the spirit of service while discharging your duties.

• Develop positive attitude in the organisation to motivate officials to perform better.

• Develop self-discipline and inculcate punctuality and time-bound delivery of services.

• Empathize with weaker sections of the society and provide them security and togetherness.

Continued

• Listen to the issues and opinion of other people

• Adopt democratic and participative work culture

• Treat the citizens with compassion and courtesy

• Avoid anger and bad behaviour at your workplace.

• Adopt a democratic approach within the organisation to build team spirit.

• Make all officials the stakeholders of important decisions taken by the top management.

Question

• What do each of the following quotations mean to you in the present context?

•

• “Falsehood takes the place of truth when it results in unblemished common good.” _ Tirukkural (150 words)10

Model answer

• Truth is the expression of reality ‘as it is’ while falsehood is an untruth spoken to achieve a particular end.

• Most people speak lies for personal gain or to cheat others. However, sometimes a lie can be for the benefit of other people or even for the entire society.

• For example, if parents praise the child’s performance which may not be entirely true, it still boosts the confidence of the child and motivates him to do better next time. However, speaking the truth bluntly to a child that his drawing or academic performance is poor may break the heart of the child and cause harm.

• In the same way, some falsehood may be highly beneficial to society. The moral values expressed using divine characters in scriptures or magnifying the greatness of our heroes motivates people to give their best, which benefits society. Such falsehood often replaces the truth because it is quite useful to the society.

Question

• ‘Without commonly shared and widely entrenched moral values and obligations, neither the law, nor democratic government, nor even the market economy will function properly.’

• What do you understand by this statement? Explain with illustration in the contemporary times. (150 words, 10)

Importance of morality

• Moral values and obligation are in the nature of social contract that must be observed by all the citizens for peaceful and harmonious living in the society.

• In a moral society, people follow the law voluntarily, work honestly, honour contracts, fulfill their obligations and trust each other.

• In a moral society, there are fewer legal disputes and social conflicts which leads to social harmony and expedious development of the nation.

• When people lack moral values, coercive methods have to be taken by governments to force people to follow the law. This creates resistance, retaliation, misuse of power and corruption.

Democracy and market economy

• A good democracy requires honest and moral citizens.

• If people are immoral, they elect corrupt, castiest, communal or immoral leaders.

• The market economy also needs trust between the supplier and the customers.

Example

• In the modern times, many politicians divide the society on the basis of caste and creed and garner votes with the promise to protect them from each other.

• Many people vote for the politicians who provide them illegal benefits, loan waivers and other freebees instead of honest and good leaders.

• This leads to rise of corrupt leaders in democracies, who exploit the people instead of serving them.

Question

• ‘Without commonly shared and widely entrenched moral values and obligations, neither the law, nor democratic government, nor even the market economy will function properly.’

• What do you understand by this statement? Explain with illustration in the contemporary times. (150 words, 10)

Importance of morality

• Moral values and obligation are in the nature of social contract that must be observed by all the citizens for peaceful and harmonious living in the society.

• In a moral society, people follow the law voluntarily, work honestly, honour contracts, fulfill their obligations and trust each other.

• In a moral society, there are fewer legal disputes and social conflicts which leads to social harmony and expedious development of the nation.

• When people lack moral values, coercive methods have to be taken by governments to force people to follow the law. This creates resistance, retaliation, misuse of power and corruption.

Democracy and market economy

• A good democracy requires honest and moral citizens.

• If people are immoral, they elect corrupt, castiest, communal or immoral leaders.

• The market economy also needs trust between the supplier and the customers.

Example

• In the modern times, many politicians divide the society on the basis of caste and creed and garner votes with the promise to protect them from each other.

• Many people vote for the politicians who provide them illegal benefits, loan waivers and other freebees instead of honest and good leaders.

• This leads to rise of corrupt leaders in democracies, who exploit the people instead of serving them.

Question

• All human beings aspire for happiness. Do you agree? What does happiness mean to you? Explain with examples. (150 words)

What is happiness

• Happiness is subjective and a matter of personal experience.

• We know when we are happy and when we are unhappy.

• The term ‘happiness’ is used to describe a range of positive emotions, including joy, pride, contentment, and gratitude.

• Happiness does not lie in the act, but is a result of the outcome of our actions.

Do you agree?

• You can agree or disagree with the statement.

• You must justify your answer accordingly.

All human aspire for happiness

• According to Aristotle• All human activities are directed towards an end.• All ends are then directed towards one final end i.e. summon bonum,

which by itself is not a means of any end.• The aim of life is not goodness for its own sake, but happiness. “For we

choose happiness for itself, and never with a view to anything further; whereas we choose honor, pleasure, intellect . . . because we believe that through them we shall be made happy.”

• “Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”

• Examples: People acquire wealth, power, fame, pleasure because that makes them happy.

All human beings do not aspire for happiness

• There are many things in life which are more important than happiness

• Many people aspire for service, righteousness, justice and choose to sacrifice their happiness

• Suffering of great people is important for the well being of society

• Example: Mother Taresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Mother bringing up the child, a soldier fighting to protect the honour of nation

Question

• "Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, but knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful." What do you understand by this statement? Explain your stand with illustrations from the modern context. (150 words)

Integrity and knowledge

• Integrity means the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to change.

• Knowledge is power that can be used constructively or destructively

• All types of power tend to corrupt.

Integrity without Knowledge

• If a person has honesty and integrity without adequate knowledge and skill required for his job, it is useless.

• For example, writing an examination without copying or using unfair means is useless unless one has right knowledge of the subject.

Knowledge without integrity

• If a person has knowledge, but no integrity, he is likely to misuse his knowledge to achieve selfish end at the cost of the society.

• Hence, knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful for the society.

Examples

• If a government is honest, but lacks knowledge, he will either not take decisions or take wrong decisions. Hence, such an officer is weak and useless.

• If a government officer lacks integrity, but has deep knowledge of subject, he may misuse his knowledge to engage in corruption and destruction of the government institutions.

• An ideal government officer or a person is one who has integrity as well as knowledge.

Question

• ‘A mere compliance with the 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 • an act is ethically right, but not legally, and

• an act is legally right, but not ethically. (10 marks) (150 words)

Sensibility to ethical issues

• Public servants should not act mechanically while implementing the laws or performing their duties as a public servant.

• They must also take into account the consequence of their action while discharging their duties.

• They must use their discretionary powers to work for the public good and create a better society.

• We agree with the statement, ‘A mere compliance with the law is not enough, the public servant also has to have a well- developed sensibility to ethical issues for effective discharge of duties.’

An act that is ethically right, but not legally

• A man has given his house on rent.

• The tenant refuses to vacate the flat after the expiry of the lease agreement.

• The man requests his IPS friend to get the house vacated.

• The IPS friend sends some local police officers to his house who threaten and thrash the tenant.

• As a result, the house is vacated by the tenant. Such an action is ethically right but legally wrong.

An act that is legally right, but not ethically

• A police officer catches a poor and hungry man stealing bread and arrests him for theft.

• He is legally right as all thefts are punishable in law.

• However, such an action may not be ethically right since the act was done under desperation and the amount is quite small.

• The punishment is quite disproportionate to the crime.

Question

• Two different kinds of attitudes exhibited by public servants towards their work have been identified as bureaucratic attitude and democratic attitude. (150 words)• Distinguish between these two terms and write their merits and demerits.

• Is it possible to balance the two to create a better administration for the faster development of our country?

Bureaucratic attitude

• Bureaucratic attitude means performing the job strictly according to rules.

• It means following the hierarchy, convention, and procedures prescribed by the government.

• It is a top-down approach where everything is decided on the top and the rest follow directions.

• The decision making is swift as only law and procedures are to be followed which are well known.

• Bureaucratic attitude is displayed more by civil servants or permanent executives.

Democratic attitude

• A Democratic attitude is a bottom-up approach where the decision is based on the popular demand of the people.

• This approach is more humanistic and flexible.

• The decision making becomes slow as it takes time to ascertain public opinion.

• Democratic attitude often leads to pleasing the majority at the cost of the minority.

• Democratic attitude is more common among politicians or elected public servants.

Balancing democratic and bureaucratic attitude • The development of a country depends on the harmonious balancing

of democratic and bureaucratic attitude.

• A good administrator listens to their concerns of people, takes their advice and then take the decisions

• He uses all his discretionary powers to ensure that the actions are according to the will of the people and yet not illegal.

• When you listen to the people and also follow the law, you balance both types of attitude and provide the best government.

Question

• 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.• Discuss such undesirable values prevalent in today's educated Indians.

• 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?

Undesirable values

• There are many undesirable values in India like casteism, communalism, unnecessary rituals, selfishness, indifference to underprivileged members of the society, distrust for other communities and regionalism.

• Many people are inspired to make illegal money through corruption because their family or society never condemns such activities.

• Gender-based discrimination is also an undesirable trait which most people develop from their family.

Cultivation of desirable values

• Aspiring civil servants must learn public service from the great social, bureaucratic and political leaders.

• They must draw inspiration from our freedom fighters who gave their life for the sake of our country.

• Parents and teachers have great responsibility to impart moral values to children at a young age so that they imbibe ethical values even when they grow up.

• There should be regular training of civil servants to provide them the right attitude and socio-ethical values.

• There should also be incentives to follow the ethical path and punishment for behaving unethically.

Question

• 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 behaviours.

• How can it be managed and controlled?

Anger

• Anger is an extremely powerful emotion.

• When we are gripped by anger, we develop extreme hatred against people and wish to harm them.

• We can’t think rationally when we are angry.

• We often do something during anger for which we have to repent for life.

• Many relationships are shattered because people lose temper and say something to do something in their fit of anger that causes immense physical and emotional harm to their loved ones.

Anger Management

• Anger management is extremely important for leading a happy life in the world.

• We must control their temper in public places against even the greatest provocation.

• We must develop better understanding of the people, situation, and work.

• When we are feeling angry, we must learn to control it and not speak harsh words or do any violent action.

• We must identify situations and people who make us angry and be mentally prepared to face them without losing temper.

• Regular meditation and yoga also helps in controlling anger.

Question

• One of the tests of integrity is complete refusal to be compromised. Explain with reference to a real life example. (150 words, 10)

Integrity in Civil services

• Integrity and honesty of a civil servant can’t be partial.

• You are either honest or dishonest.

• Prevention of Corruption Act provides same punishment irrespective of the amount of bribe.

• A civil servant must follow the code of conduct and code of ethics of the government to maintain complete integrity in his profession.

Impact of small compromise

• A small corruption gradually increases the greed and leads to major scams.

• A civil servant may initially take a vehicle or ask the company to pay for the hotel, but soon these small favours leads to demand of more favour and greater corruption.

Example

• Your relative is looking for a job in a company which falls under your charge.

• Your words to the top management may help your relative to get the job.

• However, once your relative gets a job in the company, you can’t take action against the company in fair and just manner if any irregularity is found by your department.

• Thus even a small compromise of integrity affects the honest discharge of your duties and responsibilities.

Question

• 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? (150 words) 10

Issues

• When a dam is built on a mountain bound by forest, it is sure to displace a large number of local inhabitants.

• Since they have been living in the area for generations, it would be difficult for them to find an alternative place and means of livelihood.

• The government must prepare a proper rehabilitation policy for the local people.

Suggested policy

• They may be given site plots or built houses at nearby places commensurate with their land mass.

• Locals should be provided means to develop their own traditional art and culture in every way.

• They must be given fair compensation for their land and property.

• One adult member of each family may be given employment during the developmental activity.

• Resettlement should be in the neighborhood, or in a similar environment.

• They should be educated, through public meetings or discussions, about the legalities and convinced about the benefits of these projects.

Practice of Previous Year Questions

Rules

• Please write answer to any one question.

• Type the answer and paste it with the email.

• Answer should be around 150 words.

• Handwritten answers will be given last preference.

• Send it to aksinghirs@gmail.com by 5 PM tonight.

• Answers shall be discussed during the class.

Questions for Practice

1. What is meant by 'crisis of conscience'? Narrate one incident in your life when you were faced with such a crisis and how you resolved the same.

2. Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, but knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.’ What do you understand by this statement? Explain your stand with illustrations from a modern context.

3. 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 his/ her teachings to your own ethical development.

4. The current society is plagued with widespread trust-deficit. What are the consequences of this situation for personal and societal well-being? What can you do on a personal level to make yourself trustworthy?

5. Social values are more important than economic values. Discuss the above statement with examples in the context of inclusive growth of a nation.

6. How could social influence and persuasion contribute to the success of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan?

7. Strength, peace and security are considered to be the pillars of international relations. Elucidate.

8. The crisis of ethical values in modern times is traced to a narrow perception of the good life. Discuss.