UPSC Mains Moral Thinkers & Philosophers
Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar had cautioned that employing civil disobedience within a constitutional democracy equates to endorsing 'anarchy'. How should modern democracies navigate the ethical dilemmas posed by civil disobedience movements that aim to promote social justice against policies that may raise genuine concerns?

In what ways can an Indian Administrative Officer apply Gandhi's notion of 'trusteeship' to ensure fairness in governance?

What are the major teachings of Mahavir? Explain their relevance in the contemporary world.

What were the major teachings of Guru Nanak? Explain their relevance in the contemporary world.

What teachings of Buddha are most relevant today and why? Discuss.

What are the main factors responsible for gender inequality in India? Discuss the contribution of Savitribai Phule in this regard.

Discuss Mahatma Gandhi's concept of seven sins

Analyse John Rawls' concept of social justice in the Indian Context.

"Corruption causes misuse of government treasury, administrative inefficiency and obstruction in the path of national development." Discuss Kautilya's views.

Shakespeare in Henry IV says, "The arms are fair when the intent of bearing them is just". What ethical implications does this have in governance?

"Those who in trouble untroubled are, Will trouble trouble itself." – Thiruvalluvar. What does this quotation convey to you in the present context?

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes." – William James.

"The strength of a society is not in its laws, but in the morality of its people." – Swami Vivekananda. What does this quotation convey to you in the present context?

"Learn everything that is good from others, but bring it in, and in your own way absorb it, do not become others." — Swami Vivekananda. What does this quotation convey to you in the present context?

"Faith is of no avail in the absence of strength. Faith and strength, both are essential to accomplish any great work." — Sardar Patel. What does this quotation convey to you in the present context?

"In law, a man is guilty when he violates the rights of others. In ethics, he is guilty if he only thinks of doing so." — Immanuel Kant. What does this quotation convey to you in the present context?

"The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer." – Mahatma Gandhi. What does this quotation convey to you in the present context?

"To awaken the people, it is the women who must be awakened. Once she is on the move, the family moves, the village moves, the nation moves." – Jawaharlal Nehru. What does this quotation convey to you in the present context?

Do not hate anybody, because that hatred that comes out from you must, in the long run, come back to you. If you love, that love will come back to you, completing the circle." – Swami Vivekanand. What does this quotation convey to you in the present context?

What does the following quotation mean to you? "Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do." – Potter Stewart

What does the following quotation mean to you? "If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel that there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are father, mother and teacher."

What does the following quotation mean to you? "Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it."—Dalai Lama

"Every work has got to pass through hundreds of difficulties before succeeding. Those that persevere will see the light, sooner or later" - Swami Vivekananda. What does this quotation mean to you?

"We can never obtain peace in the outer world until and unless we obtain peace within ourselves." – Dalai Lama. What does this quotation mean to you?

Life doesn't make any sense without interdependence. We need each other, and the sooner we learn that, it is better for us all." -Erik Erikson Word. What does this quotation mean to you?

What does the following quotation mean to you? "Condemn none: if you can stretch out a helping hand, do so. If not, fold your hands, bless your brothers, and let them go their own way." – Swami Vivekanand

What does the following quotation mean to you? "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." – Mahatma Gandhi

What does the following quotation mean to you? "A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true." – Socrates

What does the following quotation mean to you? "An unexamined life is not worth living". – Socrates

What does the following quotation mean to you? "A man is but a product of his thoughts. What he thinks he becomes." – M.K. Gandhi

What does the following quotation mean to you? "Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world" – A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "The true rule, in determining to embrace, or reject anything, is not whether it has any evil in it; but whether it has more evil than good. There are few things wholly evil or wholly good. Almost everything, especially of governmental policy, is an inseparable compound of the two; so that our best judgement of the preponderance between them is continually demanded." Abraham Lincoln

What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding." Mahatma Gandhi

What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context? "Falsehood takes the place of truth when it results in unblemished common good." Tirukkural

"Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them." – Napoleon Bonaparte. Stating examples mention the rulers (i) who have harmed society and country, (ii) who worked for the development of society and country.

"If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. they are father, the mother and the teacher." – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. Analyse.

Bring out what the given quotation means to you in the present context. "The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of strong."

Bring out what the given quotation means to you in the present context. "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light"

Bring out what the given quotation means to you in the present context. "There is enough on this earth for every one's need but for no one's greed." Mahatma Gandhi.

Bring out what the given quotation means to you in the present context. "Nearly all men can withstand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."—Abraham Lincoln.

Bring out what the given quotation means to you in the present context. "I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who overcomes his enemies."—Aristotle.