← All questionsGS2 · 2017 · Governance ·Civil Service Reform & Neutrality
QUESTION 18
GS2
15 marks

Initially Civil Services in India were designed to achieve the goals of neutrality and effectiveness, which seems to be lacking in the present context. Do you agree with the view that drastic reforms are required in Civil Services? Comment.

WRITE IN
11 min
250 words

What the examiner wants

Comment: answer the exact PYQ as framed — “Initially Civil Services in India were designed to achieve the goals of neutrality and effectiveness, which seems to be lacking in the present context. Do you agree with the view that drastic reforms are required in Civil Services? Comment.” Treat each scoring limb separately instead of writing a general note on Civil Service Reform & Neutrality.

CommentGive your own view on the statement and back it with facts and examples.

Demand-wise check

  1. 1Initially Civil Services in India were designed to achieve the goals of neutrality and effectiveness, which seems to be lacking in the present context≈95 words
  2. 2Do you agree with the view that drastic reforms are required in Civil Services?≈95 words

Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.

Answer plan

Constitutional/institutional contextAnswer each explicit limb in sequenceUse relevant provisions/judgments/policy evidenceLimitations/counterviewReforms or reasoned conclusion

Where marks usually go

  • Writing generally about Civil Service Reform & Neutrality without directly resolving: “Initially Civil Services in India were designed to achieve the goals of neutrality and effectiveness, which seems to be lacking in the present context.”
  • Under-developing the second scoring limb: “Do you agree with the view that drastic reforms are required in Civil Services?”

Value addition

  • Cause→mechanism→outcome flowchart or compact process diagram
    → Draw it in the body, next to the point it supports.

Official source anchors

These are authoritative sources selected for this exact PYQ. Where a card is an official-domain anchor rather than a fact-level citation, verify the precise provision, definition or data point on the linked source before using it.