Attitude

15 UPSC Mains GS IV questions on Attitude, 2014 to 2025, newest first, as UPSC set them. See also practice questions on Attitude toppers answered.

1. 2025 Q3(b)Given below are three quotations of great thinkers. What do each of these quotations convey to you in the present context ? “The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes.” – William James10 marks · 150 words
2. 2024 Q6(a)“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.10 marks · 150 words
3. 2022 Q2(a)The Rules and Regulations provided to all the civil servants are same, yet there is difference in the performance. Positive minded officers are able to interpret the Rules and Regulations in favour of the case and achieve success, whereas negative minded officers are unable to achieve goals by interpreting the same Rules and Regulations against the case. Discuss with illustrations.10 marks · 150 words
4. 2021 Q4(a)Attitude is an important component that goes as input in the development of human being. How to build a suitable attitude needed for a public servant?10 marks · 150 words
5. 2020 Q2(a)'Hatred is destructive of a person's wisdom and conscience that can poison a nation's spirit.' Do you agree with this view ? Justify your answer.10 marks · 150 words
6. 2020 Q4(b)A positive attitude is considered to be an essential characteristic of a civil servant who is often required to function under extreme stress. What contributes to a positive attitude in a person ?10 marks · 150 words
7. 2019 Q6(b)What do each of the following quotations mean to you ? “A man is but a product of his thoughts. What he thinks he becomes.” — M. K. Gandhi10 marks · 150 words
8. 2016 Q4(b)How could social influence and persuasion contribute to the success of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan ?10 marks · 150 words
9. 2016 Q6Our 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. (a) Discuss such undesirable values prevalent in today’s educated Indians. (b) 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 ?10 marks · 150 words
10. 2015 Q5Two different kinds of attitudes exhibited by public servants towards their work have been identified as the bureaucratic attitude and the democratic attitude. (a) Distinguish between these two terms and write their merits and demerits. (b) Is it possible to balance the two to create a better administration for the faster development of our country?10 marks · 150 words
11. 2015 Q10You are the Sarpanch of a Panchayat. There is a primary school run by the government in your area. Midday meals are provided to the children attending the school. The Headmaster has now appointed a new cook in the school to prepare the meals. However, when it is found that the cook is from Dalit community, almost half of the children belonging to higher castes are not allowed to take meals by their parents. Consequently the attendance in the school falls sharply. This could result in the possibility of discontinuation of midday meal scheme, thereafter of teaching staff and subsequent closing down the school.20 marks · 250 words · Case study
12. 2015 Q14You are recently posted as district development officer of a district. Shortly thereafter you found that there is considerable tension in the rural areas of your district on the issue of sending girls to schools. The elders of the village feel that many problems have come up because girls are being educated and they are stepping out of the safe environment of the household. They are of the view that the girls should be quickly married off with minimum education. The girls are also competing for jobs after education, which have traditionally remained in boys’ exclusive domain, adding to unemployment amongst male population. The younger generation feels that in the present era, girls should have equal opportunities for education and employment, and other means of livelihood. The entire locality is divided between the elders and the younger lot and further sub-divided between sexes in both generations. You come to know that in Panchayat or in other local bodies or even in busy crossroads, the issue is being acrimoniously debated. One day you are informed that an unpleasant incident has taken place. Some girls were molested, when they were en route to schools. The incident led to clashes between several groups and a law and order problem has arisen. The elders after heated discussion have taken a joint decision not to allow girls to go to school and to socially boycott all such families, which do not follow their dictate.25 marks · 250 words · Case study
13. 2014 Q6What factors affect the formation of a person’s attitude towards social problems? In our society, contrasting attitudes are prevalent about many social problems. What contrasting attitudes do you notice about the caste system in our society? How do you explain the existence of these contrasting attitudes?10 marks · 150 words
14. 2014 Q8We are witnessing increasing instances of sexual violence against women in the country. Despite existing legal provisions against it, the number of such incidences is on the rise. Suggest some innovative measures to tackle this menace.10 marks · 150 words
15. 2014 Q14In our country, the migration of rural people to towns and cities is increasing drastically. This is causing serious problems both in the rural as well as in the urban areas. In fact, things are becoming really unmanageable. Can you analyze this problem in detail and indicate not only the socio-economic but also the emotional and attitudinal factors responsible for this problem? Also, distinctly bring out why—20 marks · 250 words · Case study

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination question papers, upsc.gov.in. Topics are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.