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APSC Mains 2023-24- General Studies GS 4 Question Paper 4 Analysis

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Section-A

1. “Human behaviour builds on beliefs and values.” Do you agree? Elaborate with examples. (Answer in 150 words) 10
2. Explain the following components of Emotional Intelligence briefly.  (Answer in 150 words) 10

1. Self-awarness
2. Self- regulation
3. Internal motivation
4. Empathy
5. Social awareness

3. Comment on the necessity of Old Age Home in a modern society. (Answer in 150 words) 10
4. In quest of scientific and technological development, ethical values should not be neglected. Discuss it in the current context.  (Answer in 150 words) 10
5. What do you understand by Social Intelligence? Discuss its relation with Emotional Intelligence of an individual. (Answer in 150 words) 10
6. If you were a District Commissioner of a district, what steps would you take to arrest the menace of drug addictions and alcoholism in the state. (Answer in 150 words) 10
7. Critically analyse the provisions of the Public Service Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 in tackling unfair means in Public examinations (Answer in 150 words) 10
8. “Social media has not only endangered our social fabric, it has also led to an erosion of values.”Examine the statement. (Answer in 150 words) 10
9. You are the District Commissioner of a district. The Chief Medical and Health Officer of the district hospital was constantly monitoring the treatment of a self-immolated girl during some agitation. At about 11 a.m., he informed you confidentially that the girl died. One lakh people has gathered outside the hospital as the girl was very meritorious, fought for their cause and expecting her recovery. Situation is tense. You are in the hospital with the Superintendent of Police and some police force. What will you do? Describe with reasons. (Answer in 150 words) 10
10. You are the Commissioner of a Municipal Corporation in Assam. You have noticed that officers and staff of the Corporation do not follow a first-come, first-serve basis, instead they pick and choose their favourites and therefore citizens suffer in getting building permission, occupancy certificate, etc. The inspecting officer even raises unnecessary objections if their palm is not greased. What steps would you initiate to eradicate the menace? (Answer in 150 words) 10
11. “The most important thing that you will ever wear is your attitude.” (Jeff Moore) Comment on this. Can attitude be acquired or changed? (Answer in 150 words) 10
12. “Certainty of punishment is more effective than quantum of punishment.” (a) Discuss the above statement in the context of preventing corruption. (b) Suggest some innovative reforms that can be brought in to make governance more transparent and people-centric. (Answer in 150 words) 10
13. Discuss the ethical issues of the circumstances when big industrial houses try to influence the government policies. In this regard, suggest measures to enhance transparency and accountability in delivery of services. (Answer in 150 words) 10

Section B

14. Mr. X is posted as the District Commissioner of Y district. Mr. X is widely known for his passion and skill in executing the government development schemes. The government has decided to construct a big irrigation project in Y district to combat the drought situation which has been prevailing for years. The proposed works include diversion of rivulet, construction of RCC canals, culverts, small bridges, etc. This requires large-scale acquisition of residential and agricultural land. The landholders are opposing the land acquisition process. Mr. X has found that most of the people who will be affected by land acquisition process belong to marginal farmer category. In this scenario, as a civil servant, Mr. X must have to stick to the values of civil service. In this context- 

(a) explain which will be the end-oriented values; 

(b) explain which will be the means-oriented values.       (Answer in 250 words) 20

15. You are posted as the Superintendent of Police in an Upper Assam district. Around 100 big and small tea gardens in the district signify the socio-economic system of the district. Recently a ‘witch-hunting’ incident took place in a very remote tea garden leading to death of an old woman followedby group clashes. From preliminary enquiry, you found that illiteracy and unemployment had been prominently visible. The inhabitants were not much benefitted from the government schemes and tea garden authority was not showing much interest for welfare of the labourers. In this context- 

(a) how will you lead the investigation considering customs and values of the society? 

(b) how will you collaborate with civil administration and tea garden authority for education and awareness of the people? 

(c) what may be your ethical dilemma in nabbing the culprits? 

(d) what may be your suggestions to eradicate the social evils like ‘witch hunting’?           (Answer in 250 words) 20

16. ‘Tumakbasti’ is a village on the extreme north-eastern side of India-Bangladesh border, where local residents cross the border to reach a town ‘Moinabari’ (just a IS-minute walk away) in Bangladesh to get even the basic necessities of a day-to-day living. The village lacks basic facilities like hospital, concrete road, drinking water, school, police station and so on; the nearest Indian town falls about 100 km away from the village. The people of the village have no other option than to cross the border to get their health check-ups and necessary medicines. Often in an emergency, the people carry the patients on their shoulders across the border where Border Guards of Bangladesh stop them for security reasons which delay patients’ treatment. Consider the following statements and answer the questions : 

(a) The area falls under your jurisdiction of being a District Commissioner. What actions would you take in the above-described situation? 

(b) A District Commissioner has authority to do many things and if she/he wants she/he can transform the village into a modern one. How will you act in this situation and what contribution will you make for the village? 

(c) Bordering areas are too sensitive and cause security problems. Open border with Bangladesh has many of such implications including robbery, killing, smuggling, etc. How will you manage such security scenario? (Answer in 250 words) 20

17. “According to Buddhism, for a man to be perfect there are two qualities that should develop equally-Compassion (Karuna) on one side and Wisdom (Panna) on the other side.” Analyze. (Answer in 250 words) 20  
18. Nagen, who is a BPL category person, needs information about the budget of different development schemes in his village. He approached to the SPIO of the District Commissioner Office and submitted an RTI application. He forgot to enclose the required fee and being partially literate, his application was full of grammatical mistakes. In total, it was not in any format but the content can be understood. The SPIO has seen the application but did not point anything to Nagen. On completion of 30 days, the information was denied stating that his application was not in format and required fee. 

(a) How far is the reason of rejection of the application justified?

 (b) What is the remedy available to Nagen to get these information? 

(c) Whether the SPIO failed to discharge his duties as enshrined in the RTI Act? If so, explain in detail.             (Answer in 250 words) 20

19. Moloypur, a remote district inhabited by a tribal population, is marked by extreme backwardness and economically underdeveloped. Agriculture is the . mainstay of the local population, though it is primarily subsistence level due to the very smalllandholdings. There is an insignificant industrial or mining activity. Even the targeted welfare programmes have inadequately benefitted the tribal population. In this scenario, the youths have begun to migrate to other States to supplement their family income. The plight of minor girls is that their parents are persuaded by labour contractors to send them to work in the construction sites in a nearby State. The unhygienic living and working conditions in these sites have caused serious health issues for the minor girls. NGOs in the districts of domicile and construction firms appear to be compromised and have not effectively espoused the twin issues of child labour and development of the area. 

You are appointed as the District Commissioner of Moloypur. Identify the ethical issues involved. Which specific steps will you initiate to ameliorate the conditions of minor girls of your district and to improve the overall economic scenario of the district?                                                                            (Answer in 250 words) 20