UPSC Insta–DART (Daily Aptitude and Reasoning Test) 16 Nov 2024

If the down-sizing of the bureaucracy continues, by the turn of the century, there should be fewer public service officials proportionate to the population, compared to the 1970s and 1980s even though some systems will continue to expand. Ideally, public servants at all levels and in all areas of the world would be better trained, more professional, more aware of the world at large, more ethical, more productive, more humble and more responsive to citizens. Adequate compensation would be paid (a problem in some Asian and African nations, which is encouraging corruption).

In that eventuality, administered development would co-exist alongside private sector entrepreneurship and Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) with public officials providing an enabling environment and the necessary security, infrastructure, and financial regulation (unencumbered by red tape). One downside of this scenario – the upside of which is a true ‘partnership’-is that it may open up opportunities for abuse. If the new administrative environment emphasizes public-private partnerships and market-friendly strategies, those managers who remain in strictly government service will need to reorient themselves towards a more facilitative role. This may open up new opportunities for abuse, as existing informal techniques for avoiding and expediting myriad official regulations are supplemented by new rules aimed at making it easier for entrepreneurs to do business.

According to the passage, what will be the after effect of down-sizing of the bureaucracy?

1. 1. Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) will take over major work of the bureaucracy to reduce their burden.
   2. Members of bureaucracy will become facilitators.
   3. Civil Servants will become more responsive to the citizens and redressal of grievances will become easy.

Choose the correct option from the codes given below:

What is the correct inference drawn from the passage?

This is perhaps our last chance, as a nation, to act decisively, and stem the tide of corruption and lawlessness that threatens to engulf our nation. First, we need to make transparent the functioning of the government and of all other institutions impacting on public interest. The corrupt and the lawless must be exposed and not allowed to take cover behind government secrecy. Corruption must be made a high-risk activity, rather than a very secure pastime that it has become today. Secondly, upright and sensitive people within and outside the government must join hands to carry forward the fight against corruption and lawlessness. As we have seen, even a right to information serves little purpose unless people are willing to use this right for the betterment of society. Besides, the forces of corruption cannot be challenged, unless there is a combination of the opposition. Finally, we must safeguard our future and the future of the civil services by ensuring that those who enter the civil services are not just clever but also upright and empathetic.

According to the author, why ‘Right to Information’ has served only a little purpose?

1. 1. The Act is very complex and people in general are not fully aware.
   2. Most of the efforts made through RTI was for the individual benefits.

Choose the correct option from the codes given below:

In sociology, elite theory postulates that every society has a ruling minority that controls andmcontests sources of political power, and that government agendas are influenced or entirely determined by this group. Elites tend to be a relatively small, wealthy group of individuals sharing similar values and a background of privilege, usually drawn from business, government, civic organisations, educational and cultural establishments and mass media. They exert power over state institutions via commercial transactions, interlocking directorates, etc. The theory seeks to explain elite behaviour and the consequent state outcomes.

Choose the correct statement from below options

Due to the unique nature of the high seas – falling outside the jurisdiction of any single State, but within the collective responsibility of all – a coordinated and comprehensive approach must be taken to tackle crimes both occurring at sea and being carried out through use of the maritime domain. This includes interrupting criminal activities at sea, strengthening domestic maritime law-enforcement capacity, and addressing the root causes of maritime crime on land.

Which of the following is most rational inference from the above passage?