This article will throw the light on the role of general knowledge for civil services exam.
The article will also give stress to indicate that general knowledge has utility for civil services exam not in a narrow sense but has given it a wider context. The right to gain knowledge not only includes physical liberty but also various other factors which are deemed as necessities for life. This interpretation has controlled the power of the knowledge in a judicious manner and the role of the examination has been checked wherever necessary.
Right to meaningful information and knowledge is the basic necessity of life without which anyone cannot survive. This brings us to the concept of knowledge security. In India knowledge security has been basically ensured through making people aware about civil services. However, the system has been plagued by inefficiency, corruption and leakages due to which benefits could not reach beneficiaries in the same quantum as it was intended making a large section of the population vulnerable to knowledge deprivation.
Rights granted to an individual related to knowledge acquisition can be divided into two groups. First types of rights are civil rights. These are granted by the law of a country to its citizens. Neither are these granted to the citizens of other countries nor are these guaranteed in other countries. Second types of rights are right to appear in services. These rights are enjoyed by an individual because he is a human being. These rights cannot be taken away by any government or country and are also available to citizens of other country.
Right to life and liberty is a right of second category and is available to citizens of other countries though in that case its connotations may vary as per various laws in force, but it is for sure that any individual, even though he may be of any other country cannot be deprived of life and liberty as per procedure established by law.
The judicial pronouncement referred above clearly indicates that making people aware about civil services exam is not merely matter of ethics. They primarily involve the obligation of the state. The basic fact is that the duty-holders under knowledge rights are states and the community of states. Civil rights largely deal with oppression by the state. Human rights endow individuals with a legitimate claim against the state to enjoy an existential status with proper dignity.