UPSC Mains 2020 GS4 Q4 — Laws, Rules and Attitude
4. (a) Distinguish between laws and rules. Discuss the role of ethics in formulating them. (150 words) 10 (b) A positive attitude is considered to be an essential characteristic of a civil servant who is often required to function under extreme stress. What contributes to a positive attitude in a person? (150 words) 10
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- DistinguishDiscussWhat contributes
- Scope keywords
- laws and rulesrole of ethics in formulating thempositive attitudecivil servantextreme stress
- Implicit sub-parts
- The fundamental difference in scope and source of authority between laws and rules.
- How ethical principles like justice, equity, and public good act as the 'spirit' behind the 'letter' of the law/rule.
- The cognitive, affective, and behavioral components that form a resilient mindset.
- Specific internal and external factors (values, training, emotional intelligence) that sustain positivity during crises.
- Common pitfalls
- Defining laws and rules as synonyms instead of clarifying that rules are subordinate legislation/operational guidelines.
- Failing to explain 'formulation' and instead focusing only on the 'implementation' of laws.
- Writing a generic essay on positivity without linking it to the specific 'extreme stress' and 'civil service' context of the prompt.
- Neglecting to mention that ethics ensures laws/rules are not just technically valid but also morally legitimate.
- Dimensions required
- Legal-JurisprudentialMoral PhilosophyPsychological/BehavioralAdministrative/Organizational
- Marks allocation hint
For 4(a), allocate 40 words for the distinction (table format recommended) and 35 words for the role of ethics. For 4(b), allocate 25 words to define attitude in a stress context and 50 words to detail 4-5 specific contributors like emotional intelligence, value-system, and past success.
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