UPSC Mains 2024 · GS IV · Q4(b) · 10 marks · 150 words

“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.

हिन्दी में

“मामले के सार को नज़रअंदाज़ करके रूप के प्रति अविवेकी आसक्ति का परिणाम अन्याय होता है। एक समझदार सिविल सेवक वह है जो ऐसी शाब्दिकता को नज़रअंदाज़ करता है और सच्चे इरादे से काम करता है।” उपर्युक्त कथन का समुचित उदाहरणों सहित परीक्षण कीजिए।

Rules versus CompassionLaw and Morality

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “"Civil Service is not about absolute impartiality but is about partiality towards justice." Examine.”

Pratyush PandeyAIR 21 · CSE 2019 · 128 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Impartiality refers to objective decision making free of bias and prejudice.

Body · points and prose

Diagram
- Impartiality in Civil Service - No privileges to anyone - For public welfare - Avoids corruption, misuse of power - Ensures efficiency - Increases public faith - Ensures fairness

Not Absolute Impartiality

  1. Empathy: is necessary, to ensure those who are marginalized have equal opportunity. eg. Schemes like Ayushman Bharat are targeted only at poor, vulnerable.
  2. Performance is affected when rules become more important than outcomes. eg. red tape, delays due to stringent regulation.

Partiality towards Justice

Righteousness is partiality towards justice. It means ensuring level

playing field for all. (i) Special concessions are made for those sections which are backward eg reservation for SC/ST, social assistance program for widows (2) Extra duties are required from well off to ensure equity

Close · a summary

eg Budget has surcharge on wealthy sections. Thus, civil service is about partiality toward justice, to realize vision of a fair and equal society.

How toppers approach this question, and more on its topic: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2024, General Studies Paper IV, Q4(b). The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.