UPSC 2022 GS-IV · 10 marks · 150 words
'Corrupt practices causes misuse of government treasury, administrative inefficiency and obstruction in the path of national development.' Discuss Kautilya's views.
What “Discuss” demands
present several distinct facets of the issue and connect them into an argument, giving the competing views real weight rather than one line each.
The characteristic failure: a list of points with no argument running through them.
What a top answer must contain
These are the checkable specifics from the marking standard for this question — the actual case, committee, datum or thinker, not an instruction to “give examples”.
- Arthashastra's forty modes of embezzlement; 'fish drinking water' — the undetectability problem stated first
- Remedies Kautilya prescribes: spies, graded punishment, rotation/transfer of officials, informer rewards — deterrence plus incentive design
- Kosha (treasury) as the state's root; corruption as obstruction of yogakshema (people's welfare)
- Modern mapping made explicit: CVC architecture, asset declarations, whistle-blower protection
The band thresholds and the pre-scored sample answers behind this standard stay private — they are the calibration your copy is placed against.
Now write it, and find out what you actually scored
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