General Studies 2021 GS Paper IV 20 marks 150 words Examine

GS Paper IV — Q5

(a) "Refugees should not be turned back to the country where they would face persecution or human right violation." Examine the…

(a)

"Refugees should not be turned back to the country where they would face persecution or human right violation." Examine the statement with reference to ethical dimension being violated by the nation claiming to be democratic with open society. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

(b)

Should impartial and being non-partisan be considered as indispensable qualities to make a successful civil servant? Discuss with illustrations. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a)

"शरणार्थियों को उस देश में वापस नहीं लौटाया जाना चाहिए जहाँ उन्हें उत्पीड़न अथवा मानवाधिकारों के उल्लंघन का सामना करना पड़ेगा।" खुले समाज और लोकतांत्रिक होने का दावा करने वाले किसी राष्ट्र के द्वारा नैतिक आयाम के उल्लंघन के संदर्भ में इस कथन का परीक्षण कीजिए। (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में दीजिए) 10 अंक

(b)

क्या सफल लोक सेवक बनने के लिए निष्पक्ष और गैर-पक्षपाती होना अनिवार्य गुण माना जाना चाहिए? दृष्टांत सहित चर्चा कीजिए। (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में दीजिए) 10 अंक

The question as printed in the 2021 General Studies paper

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Model answer

Drafted with AI by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the 150-word length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key. How we build rubrics and answers.

(a) Ethics of non-refoulement

Returning people to a country where they face persecution or human-rights violations breaches the customary norm of non-refoulement, found in the 1951 Refugee Convention and customary law (India is not a party to the Convention, but the Supreme Court in NHRC v. State of Arunachal Pradesh (1996) extended Article 21 protection to Chakma refugees). Ethically it violates human dignity, compassion and the deontological principle that persons are ends in themselves; Rawls's veil of ignorance treats birthplace as morally arbitrary. For a democratic open society the contradiction is sharp: it professes universal rights at home while excluding endangered strangers at the border. Subordinating survival to sovereignty erodes its moral credibility and public trust in its democratic values, though legitimate security screening remains compatible with non-refoulement.

(b) Impartiality and non-partisanship in civil service

Impartiality and non-partisanship uphold the rule of law, public trust and constitutional morality (Article 14); a civil servant who yields to political favour or conflicts of interest, such as a politically motivated transfer or allotment, loses credibility. Yet passive neutrality can breed inertia and fail marginalised sections. So the indispensable quality is political non-partisanship combined with active commitment to constitutional values and welfare, as Sardar Patel expected of the "steel frame" during national integration and as officers show in disaster management.

How this answer will be evaluated

Framework: GS4 Ethical Dilemma & Administrative Values

What earns full marks: Precise ethical reasoning with specific legal/administrative references and clear illustrations.

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

(a) Analyze the ethical contradiction of democratic nations violating refugee rights. 10 marks · 150 words

examine— intro → how/why with reasoning → evidence → conclusion
Must cover
- Define the ethical dimension of 'open society' vs. exclusion
- Identify the specific human rights violation (persecution)
- Contrast democratic ideals with actual state behavior
- Conclude on the violation of public trust
Loses marks
- Preaching values without analyzing the state's role
- Ignoring the 'democratic' context of the question
- Vague generalities without specific ethical reasoning
Earns more
- Reference to non-refoulement principle
- Mention of specific ethical frameworks (utilitarianism/deontology)
- Link to international humanitarian law
Extra mark
- Cite a specific Supreme Court judgment on refugee rights
- Reference to the 1951 Refugee Convention
(b) Evaluate the necessity of impartiality and non-partisanship for civil servants. 10 marks · 150 words

discuss— intro → 3-4 dimensions → example → balanced close
Must cover
- Define impartiality and non-partisanship in the civil service context
- Provide an illustration of a conflict of interest
- Explain the link to public trust and administrative efficiency
- Conclude on their indispensability for successful service
Loses marks
- Treating non-partisanship as absolute (ignoring political reality)
- Lack of concrete illustration or case study
- Focusing only on personal ethics, ignoring institutional impact
Earns more
- Mention of the 'Rule of Law' vs. 'Rule of Man'
- Reference to the 2nd Schedule of the Constitution
- Distinction between political neutrality and administrative bias
Extra mark
- Cite a specific case of political interference (e.g., transfer of officers)
- Reference to the Administrative Reforms Commission report

What "Examine" is asking you to do

Test the proposition the question puts to you and return a finding on how far it holds. Examine stems carry a claim, or ask whether something has happened, and expect evidence weighed both ways before the extent is stated — often with remedial measures attached.

Structure that answers it

Restate the claim as the question frames it → evidence that supports it → evidence that undercuts it → the conditions under which it holds → verdict on how far it stands

Where marks are lost

Stopping at description. An examination has to reach a finding, and “examine with justification” means the extent must be stated, not implied.

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