UPSC Mains 2013 · GS IV · Q7 · 10 marks · 150 words

“The good of an individual is contained in the good of all.” What do you understand by this statement? How can this principle be implemented in public life?

हिन्दी में

“सर्वहित में ही हर व्यक्ति का हित निहित है।” आप इस कथन से क्या समझते हैं? सार्वजनिक जीवन में इस सिद्धान्त का कैसे पालन किया जा सकता है?

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “It is vain to talk of the interest of the community, without understanding what is the interest of the individual. Discuss the statement in the present context.”

Saumya SharmaAIR 9 · CSE 2017 · 157 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Communities are seldom homogenous entities. Communities consist of a large variety of individuals with varying beliefs, ideologies, political and social attitudes and choices.

Therefore, most of what is passed on as the interest of the community is usually the homogenous interest of a dominant group within the community.

This makes it imperative to understand the interests of the hidden, subaltern narrative within the community. Many disadvantaged or minority groups are rarely heard. Once their interests are understood community interest could be understood more holistically.

This is important in the present context as:

Body · points and prose

  1. Rise of protectionist and right wing governments around the world has led to chilling of speech of those with different beliefs and ideologies.

  2. The din of development drowns the voices of those whose lands are lost.

  3. To prevent situations of communal hatred.

Close

Exchange of different viewpoints will allow people to become more open and tolerant. Heterogenous opinions also contribute to intellectual development.

7 more toppers’ answers to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2013, General Studies Paper IV, Q7. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.