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Q. Wisdom lies in knowing what to reckon with and what to overlook. An officer being engrossed with the periphery, ignoring the core issues before him, is not rare in the bureaucracy. Do you agree that such preoccupation of an administrator leads to travesty of justice to the cause of effective service delivery and good governance? Critically evaluate. (150 words, 10 Marks)

बुद्धिमानी में निहित है कि किसका ध्यान रखा जाए और क्या अनदेखा किया जाए। नौकरशाही में अपने सामने के मुख्य मुद्दों को अनदेखा करते हुए परिधि में लीन रहने वाले अधिकारी दुर्लभ नहीं हैं। क्या आप इस बात से सहमत हैं कि प्रशासक की इस तरह की व्यस्तता प्रभावी सेवा वितरण और सुशासन की लक्ष्य प्राप्ति की प्रक्रिया में न्याय की विडंबना है? विश्लेषणात्मक मूल्यांकन कीजिए। (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में दीजिए)

Answer:

Approach:

  • Introduction:  Write about the meaning of wisdom, relate it with the civil services.
  • Body: Substantiate your points with proper examples.
    1. How ignoring core issues can impact the bureaucracy?
    2. Impact on good governance.
  • Conclusion: Significance of focusing on core issues. 

Introduction:

Wisdom lies in knowing what to reckon with and what to overlook. However, the effectiveness of an officer’s focus on the periphery versus the core issues before them depends on the specific situation and context.

In some cases, it may be important to pay close attention to details that may seem peripheral but are actually crucial to achieving the desired outcomes. On the other hand, ignoring core issues can lead to a failure in effective service delivery and good governance.

Body:

  • In the context of a bureaucratic setting, an officer’s preoccupation with the periphery at the expense of core issues can have negative consequences. 
    • For instance, if a government official is focused on minor details such as the formatting of a report while ignoring critical issues such as the lack of resources needed for project implementation, the result can be a failure to achieve the desired outcomes.
  • Another illustration is the case of a public health officer who is more concerned with monitoring compliance with regulations than addressing the root causes of a health crisis. 
    • In this scenario, the officer’s preoccupation with the periphery can lead to a travesty of justice to the cause of effective service delivery and good governance, as the root causes of the health crisis remain unaddressed.
  • In contrast, an officer who is able to distinguish between peripheral issues and core issues can make better decisions that lead to effective service delivery and good governance. 
    • For instance, if a police officer is faced with a situation where a minor traffic violation has led to a major conflict, the officer’s ability to distinguish between the peripheral issue of the traffic violation and the core issue of the conflict can help to resolve the situation effectively.

Conclusion:

While it is important to pay attention to peripheral issues, it is crucial for an officer to distinguish between peripheral issues and core issues. Ignoring core issues can lead to a travesty of justice to the cause of effective service delivery and good governance, while a focus on peripheral issues can result in the misallocation of resources and a failure to achieve the desired outcomes.

Value Addition:

Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge, experience, and insight to make sound judgments, exercise discernment, and pursue virtuous actions.

Examples:

  • Chanakya: An ancient Indian scholar and advisor to Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, Chanakya’s wisdom is evident in his strategic and diplomatic expertise showcased in the Arthashastra, a treatise on statecraft.
  • Swami Vivekananda: A spiritual leader, Swami Vivekananda’s wisdom is reflected in his teachings that emphasize the practical application of spirituality, universal values, and the pursuit of self-realization for personal and societal transformation.

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Quick Revise Now !
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD SOON
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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