Q.“The concept of Just and Unjust is contextual. What was just a year back, may turn out to be unjust in today’s context. Changing context should be constantly under scrutiny to prevent miscarriage of justice.” Examine the above statement with suitable examples.
How to approach: Go beyond surface definitions—cover causes, current status, stakeholder impacts, and institutional solutions.
Practice & AI Tools for This Question
Wrote an answer to this PYQ? Check it with Vision AI in 3 mins or generate custom mind maps.
Matched Topper Handwritten Answer Copies (8)
Open in 3D PYQ RealmIntroduction
The concept of justice is not static but evolves with societal, cultural, and legal changes. What is considered just at one point in time may appear unjust as circumstances, values, and knowledge progress. This fluidity demands continuous scrutiny to ensure justice is not misapplied or misunderstood in a changing context.
graph TD
A["Contextual Justice"] --> B["Changing Context"]
B --> C["Past Justice: ex. Slavery being legal in past"]
B --> D["Present Justice: ex. Slavery is illegal and immoral now"]Body Analysis
Examination of the Statement
- Evolving Societal Norms: Societal values evolve over time, often redefining what is just or unjust. Practices that were once acceptable may become morally or ethically unacceptable with the progression of time.
- Example: Slavery was once considered legal and just in many societies but is now universally recognized as a grave injustice due to changing human rights perspectives.
- Legal Reforms Reflecting Changing Justice Perceptions: Laws change to reflect the evolving understanding of justice. What was legally permissible in the past may now be seen as a violation of justice, necessitating reforms.
- Example: The decriminalization of homosexuality in India with the striking down of Section 377 of the IPC in 2018 reflects a shift in what is considered just and unjust in the context of individual rights and personal freedoms.
- Technological and Scientific Advances: Advances in technology and science often alter the context in which justice is interpreted. New evidence or understanding can shift what was once considered a just action to unjust.
- Example: The use of DNA evidence has overturned many wrongful convictions, showing that what was deemed just in earlier court rulings was actually unjust due to limited technology at the time.
- Global Human Rights Evolution: International human rights norms constantly evolve, challenging national laws and policies that may have been considered just within certain contexts.
- Example: Child labor was once widely accepted in many countries but is now considered unjust and illegal under international labor laws, reflecting a global shift towards protecting children's rights.
- Economic and Environmental Shifts: The concept of justice also changes with shifts in economic and environmental priorities. What was once a just exploitation of resources for development may now be seen as an unjust environmental harm.
- Example: Large-scale dam projects, such as the Narmada Dam in India, were initially hailed as just developmental initiatives. However, they later sparked protests and criticisms due to the displacement of indigenous communities and environmental degradation, raising questions about the fairness of such projects.
- Contextual Justice in War and Conflict: The concept of just war has evolved, with international humanitarian law constantly adjusting to define what is considered a just or unjust action during conflict.
- Example: The use of chemical weapons was not strictly banned in World War I but is now considered a violation of international law under the Geneva Conventions, reflecting changes in what is seen as just conduct in war.
- Cultural Sensitivities: Justice is often influenced by cultural contexts, and what is just in one culture may be unjust in another. As societies become more globalized, the need to constantly reevaluate justice through a multicultural lens grows.
- Example: Practices like honor killings were once considered just in certain cultural contexts, but they are now universally condemned as human rights violations.
graph TD
A["Cycle of Constant Scrutiny in Justice"] --> B["Establish Ethical Frameworks"]
B --> C["Foster Public Discourse"]
C --> D["Implement Independent Oversight"]
D --> E["Adapt Legal Systems"]
E --> F["Engage Citizens"]
F --> AConclusion
The dynamic nature of justice requires constant reassessment as societal, technological, and legal contexts evolve. As the statement highlights, justice must be continuously scrutinized to prevent its miscarriage. What was just yesterday may be unjust today, and this evolving understanding is crucial to maintaining fairness, equity, and human dignity in a changing world.
Question Specifications, Marking Rubric & Syllabus Mapping
| Examination & Year | UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2024 (Question 4) |
|---|---|
| Paper & Syllabus Topic | General Studies Paper IV — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude → Ethics, Integrity & Public Service Aptitude |
| Marks, Word Limit & Ideal Time | 10 Marks • 150 Words • Ideal Writing Time: 7–8 Minutes |
| Directive Word & Core Demand | Examine: Probe deeper into the topic to establish key facts, causal factors, and multi-dimensional implications. |
| Recommended Structure Split | Intro: ~20–25 Words • Body: ~100 Words (3–4 dimensions) • Conclusion: ~20–25 Words |
| AI Practice & Evaluation Tools | Upload Handwritten Answer for 3-Min Vision AI Evaluation | Generate Custom Answer & Mind Map |
Related & Repeated UPSC Mains PYQs (3)
Past UPSC Mains questions connected to this node in the 3D PYQ Realm knowledge graph.
“A mere compliance with law is not enough, the public servant also have to have a well developed sensibility to ethical issues for effective discharge of duties” Do you agree? Explain with the help of two examples where (i) an act is ethically right, but not legally and (ii) an act is legally right, but not ethically.
Analyse John Rawls’s concept of social justice in the Indian context.
“In doing a good thing, everything is permitted which is not prohibited expressly or by clear implication.” Examine the statement with suitable examples in the context of a public servant discharging his/her duties.
More UPSC Mains PYQs on Ethics & Integrity (GS4)
Build comprehensive topical mastery across Ethics, Integrity & Public Service Aptitude by practicing these related UPSC Mains questions.
There is a technological company named ABC Incorporated which is the second largest worldwide, situated in the Third World. You are the Chief Executive Officer and the majority shareholder of this company. The fast technological improvements have raised worries among environmental activists, regulatory authorities, and the general public over the sustainability of this scenario. You confront substantial issues about the business’s environmental footprint. In 2023, your organization had a significant increase of 48% in greenhouse gas emissions compared to the levels recorded in 2019. The significant rise in energy consumption is mainly due to the surging energy requirements of your data centers, fuelled by the exponential expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Al-powered services need much more computational resources and electrical energy compared to conventional online activities, notwithstanding their notable gains. The technology’s proliferation has led to a growing concern over the environmental repercussions, resulting in an increase in warnings. Al models, especially those used in extensive machine learning and data processing, exhibit much greater energy consumption than conventional computer tasks, with an exponential increase. Although there is already a commitment and goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2030, the challenge of lowering emissions seems overwhelming as the integration of Al continues to increase. To achieve this goal, substantial investments in renewable energy use would be necessary. The difficulty is exacerbated by the competitive environment of the technology sector, where rapid innovation is essential for preserving market standing and shareholders’ worth. To achieve a balance between innovation, profitability and sustainability, a strategic move is necessary that is in line with both, business objectives and ethical obligations. A. What is your immediate response to the challenges posed in the above case? B. Discuss the ethical issues involved in the above case. C. Your company has been identified to be penalized by technological giants. What logical and ethical arguments will you put forth convince about its necessity? D. Being a conscience being, what measures would you adopt to maintain balance between AI innovation and environment footprint?
“Learn everything that is good from others, but bring it in, and in your own way absorb it, do not become others.” — Swami Vivekananda
Global warming and climate change are the outcomes of human greed in the name of development, indicating the direction in which extinction of organisms including human beings is heading towards loss of life on Earth. How do you put an end to this to protect life and bring equilibrium between the society and the environment?
Mission Karmayogi is aiming for maintaining a very high standard of conduct and behaviour to ensure efficiency for serving citizens and in turn developing oneself. How will this scheme empower the civil servants in enhancing productive efficiency and delivering the services at the grassroots level ?
The soul of the new law, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is Justice, Equality and Impartiality based on Indian culture and ethos. Discuss this in the light of major shift from a doctrine of punishment to justice in the present judicial system. (150 words, 10 Marks)
“In Indian culture and value system, an equal opportunity has been provided irrespective of gender identity. The number of women in public service has been steadily increasing over the years.” Examine the gender-specific challenges faced by female public servants and suggest suitable measures to increase their efficiency in discharging their duties and maintaining high standards of probity.
Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Mains 2024 GS4 (Ethics & Integrity)
How should I structure the answer for this UPSC Mains 2024 GS Paper IV (Ethics) question on Ethics & Integrity?
This 2024 GS Paper IV (Ethics) question carries 10 marks with a 150-word limit and uses the "Examine" directive. Go beyond surface definitions—cover causes, current status, stakeholder impacts, and institutional solutions. Follow the ideal word split (Intro: ~20–25 Words • Body: ~100 Words (3–4 dimensions) • Conclusion: ~20–25 Words) and aim to finish within 7–8 Minutes.
Which UPSC Mains syllabus topic does this 2024 question belong to?
This question is part of General Studies Paper IV — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude under the syllabus module "Ethics, Integrity & Public Service Aptitude". You can explore all repeated questions from Ethics & Integrity in Acme AI's 3D PYQ Realm or filter all Ethics & Integrity PYQs on the Mains PYQ Directory.
How can I get my handwritten answer to this 2024 GS4 PYQ evaluated by AI?
Write your answer on standard UPSC margin sheets, scan it as a PDF or image, and click "Evaluate My Answer (AI)" on this page to open Acme AI's Vision Transformer evaluator (/upsc-answer-evaluation?subject=GS4). It evaluates your structure, directive alignment, diagrams/maps, and handwriting presentation in under 3 minutes with 99% human-examiner accuracy (20 free credits on signup).
Can I generate a custom mind map or Hindi model answer for this question?
Yes. Click "Generate Answer & Mind Map" on this page to open Acme AI's Answer Generator (/gen-ans) with this exact 2024 GS4 question pre-filled. You can generate custom topper-grade answers with embedded Mermaid flowcharts and mind maps in either English or Hindi.
AI-Powered Mains Mastery Suite
Turn Passive PYQ Reading into Active Answer Writing
Evaluate your handwritten UPSC Mains answers in 3 minutes with Vision AI or generate custom model answers with mind maps.
AI UPSC Mains Answer Evaluation
Practice writing any PYQ on paper and upload your handwritten scan (PDF or image) for instant, rubric-aligned UPSC examiner feedback.
- Direct Pixel Vision AI (Not Flat OCR): Evaluates your handwritten diagrams, maps, flowcharts, and spatial presentation
- 99% Human-Examiner Accuracy: Pinpoints missing dimensions, directive-word drift, and value-addition opportunities
- All Papers & 18 Optionals: Covers GS 1–4, Essay, Anthropology, PSIR, Sociology, Geography, History & more in English & Hindi
- Annotated Copy + Topper Benchmark: Visual margin ticks, remarks, and matched topper copy comparisons
AI UPSC Answer Generator & Mind Maps
Generate topper-grade model answers for any UPSC PYQ, current affairs editorial, or mock question—complete with visual mind maps and flowcharts.
- Embedded Mind Maps & Flowcharts: Automatically builds visual diagrams you can replicate in the exam hall for +1.5 extra marks
- Strict Directive & Word Discipline: Calibrated for 150-word (10M), 250-word (15M), and 1000-word Essay structures
- Committee, SC & Data Citations: Enriches body paragraphs with 2nd ARC, NITI Aayog, Constitutional Articles, and SDG hooks
- Auto-Matched Topper Copies & PYQs: Every generated answer links to similar past UPSC questions and ranker scripts
Join the Acme Mains Program (AMP 2027 — 45 Tests) or 1-on-1 Personal Mentorship with Avinash Sir.