World Thinkers

18 UPSC Mains GS IV questions on World Thinkers, 2013 to 2026, newest first, as UPSC set them. See also practice questions on World Thinkers toppers answered.

1. 2026 Q3(c)Shakespeare in *Henry IV* says, “The arms are fair when the intent of bearing them is just”. What ethical implications does this have in governance?10 marks · 150 words
2. 2025 Q2(a)Carl von Clausewitz once said, “War is a diplomacy by other means.” Critically analyse the above statement in the present context of contemporary geo-political conflict.10 marks · 150 words
3. 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
4. 2024 Q3(c)Given below are three quotations of great thinkers. What do each of these quotations convey to you in the present context ? “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 Kant10 marks · 150 words
5. 2022 Q3(a)What does each of the following quotations mean to you? “Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do.” —Potter Stewart10 marks · 150 words
6. 2022 Q3(c)What does each of the following quotations mean to you? “Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.”—Dalai Lama10 marks · 150 words
7. 2021 Q3(b)What does each of the following quotations mean to you? “We can never obtain peace in the outer world until and unless we obtain peace within ourselves.” —Dalai Lama10 marks · 150 words
8. 2021 Q3(c)What does each of the following quotations mean to you? “Life doesn’t make any sense without interdependence. We need each other, and the sooner we learn that, it is better for us all.” —Erik Erikson10 marks · 150 words
9. 2020 Q6(c)What do each of the following quotations mean to you ? "A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true." – Socrates10 marks · 150 words
10. 2019 Q6(a)What do each of the following quotations mean to you ? “An unexamined life is not worth living”. – Socrates10 marks · 150 words
11. 2018 Q6(a)What do each of the following quotations mean to you in the present context ? “The true rule, in determining to embrace, or reject any thing, is not whether it has any evil in it; but whether it has more evil than good. There are few things wholly evil or wholly good. Almost every thing, especially of governmental policy, is an inseparable compound of the two; so that our best judgment of the preponderance between them is continually demanded.” — Abraham Lincoln10 marks · 150 words
12. 2017 Q5(a)“Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them.” — Napoleon Bonaparte. Stating examples mention the rulers (i) who have harmed society and country, (ii) who worked for the development of society and country.10 marks · 150 words
13. 2016 Q3(a)Analyse John Rawls’s concept of social justice in the Indian context.10 marks · 150 words
14. 2016 Q8“Max Weber said that it is not wise to apply to public administration the sort of moral and ethical norms we apply to matters of personal conscience. It is important to realise that the State bureaucracy might possess its own independent bureaucratic morality.” Critically analyse this statement.10 marks · 150 words
15. 2015 Q2(b)Given are two quotations of moral thinkers/philosophers. For each of these, bring out what it means to you in the present context : “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”10 marks · 150 words
16. 2014 Q3(b)“Human beings should always be treated as ‘ends’ in themselves and never as merely ‘means’.” Explain the meaning and significance of this statement, giving its implications in the modern techno-economic society.10 marks · 150 words
17. 2013 Q6(b)Given below are three quotations of great moral thinkers/philosophers. For each of these quotations, bring out what it means to you in the present context : “Nearly all men can withstand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”—*Abraham Lincoln*10 marks · 150 words
18. 2013 Q6(c)Given below are three quotations of great moral thinkers/philosophers. For each of these quotations, bring out what it means to you in the present context : “I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who overcomes his enemies.”—*Aristotle*10 marks · 150 words

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