UPSC Mains 2024 · GS IV · Q6(a) · 10 marks · 150 words

“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.

हिन्दी में

“भारतीय संस्कृति और मूल्य प्रणाली में लैंगिक अस्मिता के बावजूद समान अवसर प्रदान किए गए हैं। पिछले कुछ वर्षों से सार्वजनिक सेवाओं में महिलाओं की संख्या लगातार बढ़ रही है।” महिला लोक सेवकों के सामने आने वाली लैंगिक-विशिष्ट चुनौतियों का परीक्षण कीजिए और अपने कर्तव्यों के निर्वहन में उनकी दक्षता बढ़ाने और ईमानदारी के उच्च मानक को बनाए रखने के लिए उपयुक्त उपाय सुझाइए।

Work CultureAttitude

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Public spaces serve as arenas of democratic participation and civic expression. Yet in India, they remain deeply gendered, with many women largely confined to the private and domestic sphere. Examine the factors that restrict women's access to public spaces. How can ethical governance help address the issue of gendered spatial control and promote inclusivity in public spaces?”

A R RajahAIR 7 · CSE 2025 · 131 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

The Roman empire's public spaces led to the birth of thinkers and democracy, thus highlighting that the gender neutral public participation to be important.

Body · points and prose

Diagram
- Public spaces - 1. Women's safety issue - 2. Lack of freedom from homes - 3. Low participation due to hesitation - 4. Societal pressure to stay at home

Factors affecting women's access

Diagram
- I Women - 1. feeling unsafe in public spaces - 2. lack of female specific places - Eg: Parks for women in London - 3. Entrenched Patriarchy in their minds

II Family → (1) Discouraging them from going out. (2) Making gender specific care roles in household. (3) Consuming time in household chores.

III Public Spaces → (1) Lack of safety measures. (2) Promoted to be gender neutral but not so in reality.

Ethical governance:

  • Tackling gendered spatial control (1) Tackling safety concerns. → POSH Act comprehensive (2) Ensuring the creation of female centric space Eg → Exercise Parks, Delhi.

  • Promoting inclusivity (1) Ensuring awareness among women. (2) Encouraging SHGs. Eg → Kudumbashree meetings. (3) Timing specific - for women.

Close · a framework

Thus, to achieve SDG-5 - gender neutral public spaces are needed.

5 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 2024, General Studies Paper IV, Q6(a). The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.