Syllabus: GS 4 – Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
| Which eminent personality has inspired you the most in the context of ethical conduct in life? Give the gist of his/her teachings. Giving specific examples, describe how you have been able to apply these teachings for your own ethical development. | 2014 |
| Given are two quotations of moral thinkers/philosophers. For each of these, bring out what it means to you in the present context: “The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” “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.” | 2015 |
| Discuss Mahatma Gandhi’s Concept of seven sin. | 2016 |
| Analyse John Rawls’s concept of social justice in the Indian context. | 2016 |
| “An unexamined life is not worth living”. – Socrates | 2019 |
| “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 | 2020 |
| What teachings of Buddha are most relevant today and why? Discuss. | 2020 |
| “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi | 2020 |
| What does each of the following quotations mean to you? (a) “Every work has got to pass through hundreds of difficulties before succeeding. Those that persevere will see the light, sooner or later.- Swami Vivekananda | 2021 |
| “We can never obtain peace in the outer world until and unless we obtain peace within ourselves.” Dalai Lama | 2021 |
| “Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.” Dalai Lama. | 2022 |
| “I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who overcomes his enemies.” – Aristotle | |
| Given below are three quotation of great thinkers. What do each of these quotations 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 ‘‘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.’’ –Jawharlal Nahru ‘‘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 Vivekananda | 2023 |
| What were the major teachings of Guru Nanak? Explain their relevance in the contemporary world. | 2023 |