UPSC Prelims 2026 · GS Paper I
Question 53: Polity and Governance
Ms. X is a mid-level civil service official working in the urban development department of a major city. Recently, she was involved in approving a contract for a public infrastructure project — a new community park. During the approval process, she received a piece of confidential information indicating that one of the shortlisted contractors had a history of poor workmanship and allegations of corruption in other cities, though nothing had been legally proven. The Head of the Department, Mr. Y, advised her not to disclose this information to the project committee or the public because it could delay the project and damage the city's reputation. However, Ms. X believed that withholding such information compromised transparency and public trust. What amongst the following should Ms. X do now ?
- 1.Immediately disclose the information to the project committee and the public
- 2.Recommend removing the contractor from the shortlist to protect the project's integrity
- 3.Propose a ‘limited disclosure’ to an oversight committee, while keeping the information confidential from the public for the time being
Select the answer using the code given below :
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
Ms. X must balance transparency with fairness. The information is confidential and unproven, so telling the committee and the public at once (1) would breach confidentiality and could unfairly damage a contractor's reputation. Recommending removal on allegations not legally proven (2) would breach natural justice. A limited disclosure to an oversight committee (3) does not hide the issue and does not prejudge it; a body with authority can verify the allegations and decide.
- 1. Immediate public disclosure of unproven, confidential information is premature and unfair.
- 2. Removal on unproven allegations violates natural justice.
- 3. Limited disclosure to an oversight body allows verification without prejudging.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (a), (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 2.
What you needed to know: Removal on unproven allegations violates natural justice.
Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 1 or 3.
This follows UPSC’s provisional key; the final key could change it.
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) Wrong: immediate public disclosure and removal both act on unproven allegations.
- (b) Right: limited disclosure to an oversight committee balances transparency and fairness.
- (c) Wrong: removing the contractor on unproven claims is unfair.
- (d) Wrong: statements 1 and 2 are premature.
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.