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General Studies 2022 GS Paper IV 20 marks 150 words Compulsory Discuss

GS Paper IV — Q4

(a) What do you understand by the term 'good governance'? How far recent initiatives in terms of e-Governance steps taken by the…

(a)

What do you understand by the term 'good governance'? How far recent initiatives in terms of e-Governance steps taken by the State have helped the beneficiaries? Discuss with suitable examples. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

(b)

Online methodology is being used for day-to-day meetings, institutional approvals in the administration and for teaching and learning in education sector to the extent telemedicine in the health sector is getting popular with the approvals of the competent authority. No doubt, it has advantages and disadvantages for both the beneficiaries and the system at large. Describe and discuss the ethical issues involved in the use of online method particularly to the vulnerable section of the society. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें
(a)

'सुशासन' से आप क्या समझते हैं? राज्य द्वारा ई-शासन के मामले में उठाई गई हालिया पहलों ने लाभार्थियों को कहां तक सहायता पहुंचाई है? उपयुक्त उदाहरणों के साथ विवेचन कीजिए। (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में दीजिए) 10 marks

(b)

ऑनलाइन पद्धति का उपयोग दिन-प्रतिदिन प्रशासन की बैठकों, संस्थागत अनुमोदन और शिक्षा क्षेत्र में शिक्षण तथा अधिगम से लेकर स्वास्थ्य क्षेत्र में सक्षम अधिकारी के अनुमोदन से टेलीमेडिसिन तक लोकप्रिय हो रहा है। इसमें कोई संदेह नहीं है कि लाभार्थियों और व्यवस्था दोनों के लिए बड़े पैमाने पर इसके लाभ और हानियां हैं। विशेषतः समाज के कमजोर समुदाय के लिए ऑनलाइन पद्धति के उपयोग में शामिल नैतिक मामलों का वर्णन तथा विवेचन कीजिए। (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में दीजिए) 10 marks

Q4 of the 2022 UPSC Mains General Studies GS Paper IV, as printed
The question as printed in the 2022 General Studies paper
Evaluate your answer to this question → See all 2022 General Studies questions

Model answer

Written 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.

(a) Good Governance and e-Governance

Good governance, as conceptualised by UNESCAP, embodies eight vital characteristics: transparency, accountability, responsiveness, equity, rule of law, effectiveness, consensus-orientation, and citizen participation.

e-Governance has significantly advanced these tenets. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) via the JAM trinity and UMANG have minimized bureaucratic discretion and leakages, while DigiLocker and Common Service Centres (CSCs) have decentralized public service delivery. However, structural deficits limit their reach. Digital illiteracy, rural-urban network disparities, biometric authentication failures in welfare schemes, and system-generated exclusion errors demonstrate that digitisation without grievance redressal risks undermining the core principle of equitable inclusion.

(b) Ethical Dimensions of Online Delivery

While online platforms and telemedicine enhance administrative efficiency, reduce transaction costs, and expand geographical reach, they generate critical ethical challenges, particularly for vulnerable groups such as the rural poor, elderly, differently-abled, women, and tribal communities.

The resulting digital divide perpetuates structural injustice, converting digital gaps into social exclusion from fundamental education and healthcare. Key ethical concerns include the erosion of informed consent, surveillance and data privacy risks (in violation of K.S. Puttaswamy principles), depersonalisation of doctor-patient trust, and variable quality in remote diagnosis. Mitigating these inequities requires institutionalising hybrid delivery models, expanding digital literacy (e.g., PMGDISHA), and enforcing strict data protection safeguards to ensure technology remains compassionate and inclusive.

What "Discuss" is asking you to do

Lay the issue out from more than one side — how it arose, what is claimed for it, what is held against it, and where it now stands. UPSC attaches discuss to broad topics with several live dimensions, so coverage of the dimensions earns more than the strength of your opinion.

Structure that answers it

Set the issue up → the case as it is made → the case against → the dimension both sides leave out → where the balance now lies

Where marks are lost

Listing facts with no thread between them, or arguing one side throughout and calling it a discussion.

All UPSC directive words, compared →

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

Framework: GS4 Ethical Governance & Public Administration. (a) discuss: intro > 3-4 dimensions > example > balanced close | (b) discuss: intro > 3-4 dimensions > example > balanced close Full marks: Precise definitions, specific state examples, and deep ethical analysis of digital exclusion.

Key points expected

  • Define 'good governance' (transparency, accountability, efficiency)
  • Identify specific state e-Governance initiatives
  • Assess impact on beneficiaries (time/cost reduction)
  • Provide suitable examples of these initiatives
  • Identify ethical issues in online administration/education/health
  • Focus specifically on 'vulnerable sections' (digital divide)
  • Discuss privacy and data security concerns
  • Address exclusion of those without digital access

Evaluation rubric

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

  1. (a) Define good governance and evaluate state e-Governance initiatives with examples. 10 marks · 150 words

    discuss— intro → 3-4 dimensions → example → balanced close

    Must cover

    • Define 'good governance' (transparency, accountability, efficiency)
    • Identify specific state e-Governance initiatives
    • Assess impact on beneficiaries (time/cost reduction)
    • Provide suitable examples of these initiatives

    Loses marks

    • Generic definition without state-specific context
    • Listing initiatives without assessing beneficiary impact
    • Ignoring the 'good governance' definition

    Earns more

    • Mention specific state portals (e.g., e-District, e-Stamping)
    • Link to administrative efficiency and corruption reduction
    • Reference 'Digital India' or similar national context

    Extra mark

    • Cite specific data on time saved by beneficiaries
    • Mention a specific state's unique digital initiative
  2. (b) Discuss ethical issues of online methods for vulnerable sections of society. 10 marks · 150 words

    discuss— intro → 3-4 dimensions → example → balanced close

    Must cover

    • Identify ethical issues in online administration/education/health
    • Focus specifically on 'vulnerable sections' (digital divide)
    • Discuss privacy and data security concerns
    • Address exclusion of those without digital access

    Loses marks

    • General discussion of online pros/cons without ethical focus
    • Ignoring the 'vulnerable section' constraint
    • Preaching values without analyzing specific ethical dilemmas

    Earns more

    • Mention 'digital literacy' gap as a barrier
    • Discuss telemedicine consent and data privacy
    • Reference 'right to information' vs 'right to privacy'

    Extra mark

    • Cite specific ethical framework (e.g., utilitarianism vs deontology)
    • Mention specific vulnerable group (elderly, rural poor)

Practice this exact question

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