UPSC Mains General Studies (Paper 4) - Mock Test 1 | UPSC Mains Mock Test Series 2025 PDF Download

Time Allowed: Three Hours
Maximum Marks: 250
Instructions:

• There are TWELVE questions divided into TWO SECTIONS, printed in English.
• All questions are compulsory.
• The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it.
• Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate, clearly stated on the cover of the Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet.
• Keep the word limit indicated in the questions in mind.
• Any page or portion of the page left blank in the QCA Booklet must be clearly struck off.

SECTION A

Q1.
(a) "The integration of emotional intelligence in public administration enhances ethical governance." Critically analyze this statement, highlighting how emotional intelligence influences ethical decision-making in administrative roles. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

(b) "Integrity is the cornerstone of public service, yet it is often challenged by systemic pressures." Discuss the key factors that undermine integrity in public administration and suggest measures to strengthen it. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

Q2. 
(a) "What do you understand by the term ‘probity’ in public life? What are the steps you would take to ensure probity in governance?" (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

(b) "The ethical framework of governance is incomplete without a robust mechanism for accountability." Examine how accountability mechanisms can reinforce ethical governance, with examples. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

Q3.
Given below are three quotations from notable thinkers. Explain the relevance of each quotation in the context of modern governance and ethical leadership:
(a) "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." – Mahatma Gandhi (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)
(b) "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." – Lord Acton (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)
(c) "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." – Edmund Burke (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

Q4. 
(a) "Discuss the role of ethics and values in enhancing the efficiency of public servants." (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

(b) "The concept of ethical relativism poses challenges to uniform ethical standards in governance." Critically examine this statement with suitable examples from public administration. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

Q5.
(a) "Ethical leadership in public administration requires balancing personal values with organizational goals." Discuss the challenges faced by public servants in maintaining this balance and suggest ways to overcome them. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

(b) "The rise of digital governance has introduced new ethical dilemmas in data privacy and transparency." Analyze these dilemmas and propose a framework to address them. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

Q6.
(a) "Civil servants are expected to uphold impartiality, but societal biases often influence their decisions." Examine the impact of societal biases on administrative decisions and suggest measures to ensure impartiality. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

(b) "The Mission Karmayogi initiative aims to transform civil servants into ethical and efficient public servants." Discuss how this initiative can foster ethical behavior and improve service delivery at the grassroots level. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

SECTION B

Q7.  You're the CEO of GreenTech Solutions, a leading company in the clean energy and electronics sector, which until recently was celebrated for its innovation and growth. However, your organization now finds itself at the center of a public and regulatory controversy. Reports indicate a significant rise in electronic waste and increasing carbon emissions—contradicting your company’s sustainable image. More critically, recent land acquisitions in rural and tribal regions have come under fire. An internal audit reveals that several of these acquisitions were conducted without adequate consultation or compensation, violating both ethical standards and principles of social justice.

Environmental activists and community leaders have launched strong protests, accusing the company of greenwashing and corporate exploitation. Media scrutiny has intensified, and regulatory bodies are demanding compliance reports. While community anger grows louder, the company’s board insists on pushing ahead with its aggressive expansion plan to secure market dominance and investor trust.

As the CEO, you’re under immense pressure from all sides. On one hand, there's a moral obligation to address the environmental degradation and social discontent caused by past decisions. On the other, slowing down may affect revenues and shareholder confidence. You must make crucial decisions that will not only determine your company’s immediate public image but also shape its long-term trajectory.

The situation calls for ethical leadership, swift damage control, and a rethinking of business strategy. You must now navigate between sustainability goals, corporate interests, stakeholder expectations, and legal obligations—finding a path that aligns profitability with ethical governance, community welfare, and environmental responsibility.

(a) What is your immediate response to the environmental and social challenges outlined? 
(b) Identify the ethical dilemmas involved in balancing profitability and sustainability. 
(c) How would you address stakeholder concerns while maintaining business growth? 
(d) Suggest measures to align your company’s operations with ethical and environmental standards.
 (Answer in 250 words) (20 Marks)

Q8.  You're the District Magistrate of a coastal region facing an imminent cyclone threat. The district is densely populated, with vulnerable communities residing in low-lying areas at high risk. As the cyclone approaches, your immediate priority is to safeguard human life through rapid and efficient evacuation of the most exposed populations. You must quickly mobilize available personnel, request reinforcements from neighboring districts, and collaborate with the army or disaster response forces for logistical support.

All non-essential services need to be suspended, and public buildings such as schools, community centers, and religious sites must be converted into functional shelters. These shelters must be equipped with safe drinking water, food supplies, sanitation, and emergency medical care.

However, the situation is complicated by reports of contractors attempting to exploit the urgency by inflating prices or delivering substandard relief materials. This creates a critical ethical dilemma: how to act swiftly without compromising on transparency and integrity. Public procurement under time constraints must still adhere to the principles of fairness and accountability.

In parallel, misinformation is spreading through social media, causing panic. Rumors about the cyclone’s intensity and false alerts are disrupting evacuation plans. To address this, you must establish a district-level communication cell that issues regular, verified updates through local TV, radio, social media, and WhatsApp groups. Trusted community leaders—teachers, religious figures, and panchayat heads—can be mobilized to help dispel rumors and encourage cooperation.

For long-term disaster preparedness, institutional reforms are needed. These include digitizing procurement, mandating third-party audits, establishing MoUs with NGOs, and organizing regular mock drills. Ultimately, your leadership must balance urgency with ethical responsibility, ensuring that governance remains people-centric even in crisis.

(a) What are the immediate actions you would take to address the situation? 
(b) Discuss the ethical issues involved in managing disaster response under resource constraints. 
(c) How would you tackle misinformation to restore public confidence? 
(d) Suggest measures to improve coordination and ensure ethical procurement for future disaster preparedness. 
(Answer in 250 words) (20 Marks)

Q9. You're the Commissioner of a rapidly urbanizing city grappling with worsening traffic congestion. A private company has proposed implementing an AI-powered smart traffic management system, promising efficient traffic flow through real-time data analytics and adaptive signals. While the technology offers an innovative solution, it raises serious ethical and governance challenges.

The company in question has a controversial record, with past allegations of misconduct in similar projects. Additionally, the proposed system relies heavily on mass surveillance, including vehicle tracking and potentially facial recognition, raising concerns about data privacy and consent. The public remains divided—some demand immediate action to decongest the city, while others voice fears about unchecked surveillance and lack of transparency.

Faced with this situation, the Commissioner considers forming an independent review committee comprising urban planners, legal experts, IT professionals, and civil society representatives. The committee’s mandate would be to assess the proposal’s technical feasibility, ethical implications, and potential alternatives.

Simultaneously, the Commissioner explores parallel strategies to improve traffic conditions, such as increasing bus frequency, creating non-motorized transport lanes, and implementing staggered work hours to reduce peak-time congestion.

To ensure ethical governance and public trust, the Commissioner proposes an open tendering process with transparent evaluation criteria, publicly accessible bidding documents, and external oversight from a neutral auditing body. This would ensure accountability and prevent favoritism.

Additionally, any approved technology must meet strict data protection standards—ensuring anonymization, limited data access, and informed public consent. The appointment of an independent data protection officer would safeguard privacy rights and enhance transparency.

Ultimately, the case underscores the importance of aligning technological advancement with democratic oversight, public trust, and ethical governance.

(a) What options are available to you to address the traffic issue while ensuring ethical governance? 
(b) Discuss the ethical dilemmas in adopting the proposed AI-based system. 
(c) How would you ensure transparency in the procurement process to avoid allegations of corruption? 
(d) Suggest measures to balance technological innovation with citizen privacy rights.

(Answer in 250 words) (20 Marks)

Q10. Rita Gere is a senior officer in the state education department overseeing the procurement process for a large-scale digital learning initiative aimed at underprivileged students. As bids are invited, she notices that one of the most promising proposals has come from a startup founded by a close friend. The startup offers a competitive price and innovative solutions, but Rita is immediately aware of the ethical dilemma this presents.

Though she has no financial interest in the company, her personal relationship poses a clear conflict of interest. If she continues to be involved in the evaluation process, even inadvertently, it could cast doubt on the integrity of the outcome. Recognizing this, Rita decides to act with professional integrity and transparency. She formally discloses her relationship with the bidder to the department and recuses herself from any part of the evaluation. She requests that a neutral officer be assigned to oversee the selection process.

Rita’s decision is rooted in public service ethics and procurement norms that emphasize impartiality, fairness, and accountability. By stepping aside, she ensures that the selection process remains credible and merit-based, safeguarding public trust and the interests of the students the project is intended to benefit.

This scenario highlights the tension between personal loyalty and professional responsibility. Rita’s conduct upholds the ethical standards expected of civil servants and reinforces the importance of clear boundaries in public administration.

To institutionalize such ethics, departments should mandate conflict of interest declarations, periodic ethics training, and independent oversight in public procurement. Rita’s principled stand not only preserves her own credibility but strengthens the ethical framework of the institution she serves.

(a) What should be Rita’s course of action?
(b) How would she justify her decision to stakeholders?
(c) How does this situation reflect a conflict between personal relationships and professional ethics?

(Answer in 250 words) (20 Marks)

Q11.  You're the Superintendent of Police in a communally sensitive district recently affected by rising tensions after inflammatory social media posts and local provocations. The situation is volatile, with minor incidents threatening to escalate into full-scale violence. Intelligence inputs suggest that a politically influential figure may be involved in inciting unrest, but direct action could trigger political backlash and administrative pressure.

Your immediate priority is to ensure public safety. You deploy additional forces for patrolling in vulnerable areas, impose Section 144 in critical zones, and activate interfaith peace committees comprising respected local citizens. The cybercrime cell is instructed to monitor and block provocative online content while tracing its origin for legal action.

The ethical dilemma arises from the need to take action against a powerful individual. Choosing inaction could embolden further lawlessness and compromise justice, while action might attract political retribution or derail your career progression. However, as a civil servant, your duty to uphold the Constitution and rule of law must guide your response.

You decide to proceed with a fair and evidence-based investigation, regardless of the accused’s political standing. To ensure impartiality, you involve higher authorities, and if applicable, coordinate with the Election Commission to maintain neutrality. Transparency and due process become essential to preserving both justice and public trust.

To prevent future incidents, long-term strategies are proposed—such as digital literacy campaigns, early warning systems through community intelligence, and institutional mechanisms to counter online hate speech. Partnering with civil society, religious leaders, and youth influencers is crucial in fostering a culture of peace and tolerance.

This case underscores the importance of ethical courage, professional independence, and fair application of law in maintaining public order in diverse societies.

(a) What options are available to you to de-escalate the situation? 
(b) Discuss the ethical dilemmas in taking action against an influential political figure. 
(c) Which option would you choose, and why? 
(d) Suggest measures to prevent future communal tensions fueled by social media.

(Answer in 250 words) (20 Marks)

Q12.  Dr. Priya is the principal investigator of a government-funded research project on genetically modified (GM) crops. The project has gained national attention due to its potential impact on food security and farmer welfare. However, during the final stages of data compilation, a whistleblower from her team alleges that certain field results have been manipulated to exaggerate crop yield and resistance benefits. The whistleblower claims the pressure to show positive results came from the institute’s top management to secure continued funding and recognition.

Dr. Priya is now in an ethical bind. The manipulated data, if published, could fast-track regulatory approvals and attract further investment. However, it also risks misleading policymakers and compromising public health, environmental safety, and the livelihood of farmers. The long-term credibility of the scientific institution and the safety of millions could be at stake.

Despite internal pressure, Dr. Priya decides to act with integrity. She initiates an internal audit of the research findings and suspends any further reporting until the investigation concludes. Upon confirming data discrepancies, she reports the matter to the ethics committee and the funding agency, opting for complete transparency even at the risk of reputational damage and temporary funding setbacks.

Understanding the broader implications of the misconduct, Dr. Priya advocates for ethical reforms within the institution—such as mandatory ethics training, peer review of data, whistleblower protection, and separation of research and funding influence. She also begins seeking independent and transparent sources of support that align with the values of responsible science.

Dr. Priya’s actions reflect a commitment to truth, public welfare, and professional accountability. In high-stakes research, integrity is not just a personal virtue—it’s a public responsibility.

(a) What should Dr. Priya do in this situation? 
(b) Examine the ethical implications of manipulating scientific data in this context.
(c) How can Dr. Priya ensure scientific integrity while addressing funding pressures?

(Answer in 250 words) (20 Marks)