UPSC Prelims 2026 · GS Paper I
Question 51: Polity and Governance
Mr. X, a senior officer, was overseeing a critical vaccination programme during a pandemic. He found that a private service provider responsible for vaccine distribution was compromising on quality to make profits. Despite immense pressure to manage the issue due to vested interests, he raised his voice based on the principles of public administration which he learnt during various training programmes attended across his career. He reported the issue to the appropriate vigilance authority and halted the contract to ensure citizen welfare. Which one among the following principles of public administration was most strongly demonstrated by Mr. X's actions ?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).
Mr. X faced a failure in a service he oversaw, resisted pressure, reported it to the vigilance authority and halted the contract. That is accountability: an official's duty to answer for how authority is used and to act when public interest is harmed. Esprit de corps is team spirit, equity is fairness in treatment, and delegation is passing authority to subordinates; none of these describes his action.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong: esprit de corps is unity and morale within the team.
- (b) Wrong: equity is fair treatment of persons; the case is about answering for a lapse.
- (c) Right: he took responsibility and acted against the lapse in public service.
- (d) Wrong: delegation is passing authority to subordinates, which is not what happened.
Only the provisional key (27 May 2026) was found; the final key replaces it when found.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.