UPSC Prelims 2016 · CSAT

Question 1: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “Accountability, or the lack of it,…” — Passage-1 · as printed by UPSC

According to the passage, which of the following factor/factors led to the adverse consequences for governance/public administration ?

1.Inability of civil services to strike a balance between internal and external accountabilities
2.Lack of sufficient professional training to the officers of All India Services
3.Lack of proper service benefits in civil services
4.Lack of Constitutional provisions to define the respective roles of professional civil services vis-a-vis political executive in this context

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

a1 only

b2 and 3 only

c1 and 4 only

d2, 3 and 4

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

The passage says the balance between answering to the political executive and answering to society has tilted towards the executive, and that reaching society through elections has not worked, harming governance (statement 1). Its remedies call for defining the roles of professional civil services and the political executive, which implies they are undefined now (statement 4); the constitutional articles it cites give only job security and safeguards. Officer training and service benefits are never discussed (statements 2 and 3).

1. The tilt towards the executive upset the balance of internal and external accountability.
2. Training of All India Services officers is not discussed.
3. Service benefits are not discussed; the articles cited concern job security and safeguards.
4. Asking for the two roles to be defined implies they are undefined now.

How you could have got this

If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them leaves 1 out.
What you needed to know: The tilt towards the executive upset the balance of internal and external accountability.
Then, if you were sure statement 4 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 4 out.
What you needed to know: Asking for the two roles to be defined implies they are undefined now.

Only (c) is left. You didn’t need statements 2 or 3.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Statement 4 is also supported, so 1 alone is incomplete.
(b) Statements 2 and 3 are not discussed in the passage at all.
(c) Right: 1 (balance lost) and 4 (roles undefined) both follow from the passage.
(d) Includes 2 and 3, which the passage never mentions.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2016, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.