Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upanishad (6.4.17), which states, “Yatra nāryastu pūjyante ramante tatra devatāḥ,” meaning “Where women are honored, there the gods dwell.”   From 1951, when the first woman joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), until 2020, women have made up only 13% of all IAS officers. According to DoPT, representation of women in public service has risen… Continue reading “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

As pointed out by VP Dhankhar, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) reflect the revolutionary change from colonial ‘Dhanda vidhan’ to Modern ‘Nyaya vidhan’ and from a punitive to a more restorative approach by keeping the focus on justice rather than punishment.  BNS’s Soul as Justice, Equality, and Impartiality Based on Indian Culture and Ethos Issues… Continue reading 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

“Codes of ethics keep an organization’s soul intact, while the code of conduct keeps its hands clean.” While a Code of Conduct governs actions through established rules, a Code of Ethics ensures that civil servants are morally guided to act beyond mere compliance, instilling ethical principles in decision-making. Code of Conduct stems from: Provisions of… Continue reading 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

“Laws are made for people, not people for laws.”– Albert Einestine In public administration, focusing solely on formality and ignoring the substance of the matter often leads to injustice. A perceptive civil servant prioritizes the spirit and intent behind laws and policies over rigid procedural compliance, ensuring fairness and justice.  Dangers of Mindless Adherence to… Continue reading “Mindless addiction to Form, ignoring the Substance of the matter, results in rendering of injustice. A perceptive civil servant is one who ignores such literalness and carries out true intent.” Examine the above statement with suitable illustrations

As Heraclitus said, “The only constant in life is change.” Justice, at its core, is a fluid concept, shaped by evolving social norms, legal systems, and cultural values. Therefore, justice must be continuously re-examined to ensure it remains fair and relevant to current circumstances. Contextual Nature of Justice and Need for scrutiny Universality of Justice… Continue reading “The concept of Just and Unjust is contextual. What was just a year back, may turn out to be unjust in today’s context. Changing context should be constantly under scrutiny to prevent miscarriage of justice.” Examine the above statement with suitable examples

Immanuel Kant contrasts the nature of legal guilt and moral responsibility. While law is a system of rules and guidelines enforced externally through institutions like courts and law enforcement, Ethics go beyond what is required by law and address positive moral duties. Difference Between Law and Ethics Aspect Law Ethics Focus Governs external actions and… Continue reading “In law, a man is guilty when he violates the rights of others. In ethics, he is guilty if he only thinks of doing so.” Immanuel Kant

“Faith without action is dead.” While faith provides the vision and moral compass, strength ensures resilience and the capacity to act. Only through the combination of both can significant achievements be realized. Limitations of Faith Limitations of Strength The Need for Both Faith and Strength Faith and strength, when isolated, are limited in their ability… Continue reading “Faith is of no avail in the absence of strength. Faith and strength, both are essential to accomplish any great work.” Sardar Patel

Swami Vivekananda emphasizes the importance of learning from others while maintaining individuality. He encourages absorbing knowledge and wisdom from diverse sources and adapting it uniquely to one’s own life. This approach fosters personal growth while upholding ethical integrity and authenticity. “Learn everything that is good from others” “Bring it in, and in your own way… Continue reading “Learn everything that is good from others, but bring it in, and in your own way absorb it, do not become others.” – Swami Vivekananda

“The earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” – Gandhi Human Greed in the Name of Development Threatening Life: Biodiversity Loss (IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services)The average abundance of native species in most major land-based habitats has fallen by at least 20% since 1900. At least… Continue reading Global warming and climate change are the outcomes of human greed in the name of development, indicating the direction in which extinction of organisms including human beings is heading towards loss of life on Earth. How do you put an end to this to protect life and bring equilibrium between the society and the environment?

Western nations often advocate for peace, democracy, and human rights while being major global arms suppliers, creating cognitive dissonance and conflicting beliefs. This contradiction reflects commerce without morality, one of Gandhi’s seven sins.  Ethical Concerns of Double Standards in Global Arms Trade Ethical considerations of the powerful nations to stop continuation of ongoing conflicts The… Continue reading “It is not enough to talk about peace, one must believe in it; and it is not enough to believe in it, one must act upon it.” In the present context, the major weapon industries of the developed nations are adversely influencing continuation of number of wars for their own self-interest, all around the world. What are the ethical considerations of the powerful nations in today’s international arena to stop continuation of ongoing conflicts?

Mackenzie defines ethics as a set of moral principles that guide human action in a way acceptable by society. According to William Lillie, “Ethics is a normative science of the conduct of human beings living in societies which judges this conduct to be right or wrong, good and bad.” key dimensions of ethics that influence… Continue reading “Ethics encompasses several key dimensions that are crucial in guiding individuals and organizations towards morally responsible behaviour.” Explain the key dimensions of ethics that influence human actions. Discuss how these dimensions shape ethical decision-making in the professional context

Talk To UPSC Mentor Now “AI is the future of government efficiency, transparency, and citizen service, but it must be used responsibly, with accountability and safeguards.” – Sundar Pichai According to report by McKinsey, artificial intelligence can increase global GDP growth by 16 percent by 2030, questions remain about its fairness, potential biases, and the… Continue reading The application of Artificial Intelligence as a dependable source of input for administrative rational decision-making is a debatable issue. Critically examine the statement from the ethical point of view

While social media platforms and encrypted messaging services have become integral to communication, enabling users to connect across the globe, the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) highlighted that more than 30% of data breaches involved social media and online services in 2020. Security challenges posed by Social media and encrypting messaging services: Measures adopted… Continue reading Social media and encrypting messaging services pose a serious security challenge. What measures have been adopted at various levels to address the security implications of social media? Also suggest any other remedies to address the problem

The India-China border extends over 3,400 km and includes contentious zones like the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and McMahon Line. The India-Pakistan border, spanning over 3,300 km, includes the Radcliffe Line and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. Conflicting Issues and Security Challenges Along the Border: India-China Border India-Pakistan Border Developments… Continue reading India has a long and troubled border with China and Pakistan fraught with contentious issues. Examine the conflicting issues and security challenges along the border. Also give out the development being undertaken in these areas under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) and Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM) Scheme

Urban flooding refers to the inundation of land or property in densely populated areas due to heavy rainfall, overflowing rivers, poor drainage systems, or other water-related incidents.The climate change is causing over 64% of Indian sub-districts witnessing more heavy rainfall days in the last decade. Causes of Urban Flooding: Natural Causes include: Anthropogenic causes include:… Continue reading Flooding in urban areas is an emerging climate-induced disaster. Discuss the causes of this disaster. Mention the features of two such major floods in the last two decades in India. Describe the policies and frameworks in India that aim at tackling such floods

According to the Hyogo Framework for Action (UNISDR, 2005), disaster resilience is ‘the capacity of a system, community or society potentially exposed to hazards to adapt, by resisting or changing in order to reach and maintain an acceptable level of functioning and structure’. Determination of Disaster Resilience: Various Elements of Resilience Framework Global Targets of… Continue reading What is disaster resilience? How is it determined? Describe various elements of a resilience framework. Also mention the global targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030)

Asteroids are rocky, airless remnants from the early solar system, primarily orbiting between Mars and Jupiter in the Asteroid Belt. There are around 1.3 million known asteroids, and in recent years, tracking efforts have intensified due to the potential threats they pose to Earth. Threat of Asteroids Causing Extinction Counter Argument Strategies developed to prevent… Continue reading What are asteroids? How real is the threat of them causing extinction of life? What strategies have been developed to prevent such a catastrophe?

The world population is projected to reach approximately 9.7 billion by 2050, significantly increasing demand for freshwater resources. UNESCO notes that, 30% of the world’s aquifers are being over-exploited, particularly in regions like the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. Reasons for Shortage of Clean and Safe Fresh Water: Alternative Technologies which can solve… Continue reading The world is facing an acute shortage of clean and safe freshwater. What are the alternative technologies which can solve this crisis? Briefly discuss any three such technologies citing their key merits and demerits

Buffer stocks are reserves of essential commodities, aimed at stabilizing agricultural prices and ensuring food security. India currently maintains over 80 million tonnes of buffer stock, well above the norm set by the Buffer Stocking Policy (around 30-40 million tonnes), managed primarily by the Food Corporation of India (FCI).  Importance of buffer stocks for stabilizing… Continue reading Elucidate the importance of buffer stocks for stabilizing agricultural prices in India. What are the challenges associated with the storage of buffer stock? Discuss

Irrigation is critical to Indian agriculture, which accounts for 80% of the country’s freshwater consumption. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, about 52% of India’s net sown area is irrigated, but inefficiencies in the system have hampered agricultural productivity.  Major challenges faced by Indian irrigation system in recent times: Measures taken by the government for… Continue reading What are the major challenges faced by Indian irrigation system in recent times? State the measures taken by the government for efficient irrigation management