Critically Examine
Directive verbExamine the topic AND explicitly challenge the assumptions or premises that underlie it. The critique is the differentiator.
Rubric shape
State the proposition AND name the assumption you will challenge
What the proposition claims and what supports it
The assumption beneath the proposition
The critique of that assumption — where it breaks down
The counter-evidence or limit case
A verdict that names what the critique reveals — more pointed than 'Examine'
150-Word Discipline
Practise 10-mark answers
Practice on the real format
A4 ruled sheets matching the UPSC answer booklet. Spatial markers show where each section should end.
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What most aspirants write
Treating 'critically examine' as 'examine with strong language.' The word 'critically' is not an intensifier — it requires you to name and challenge the assumption the question rests on.
What the rubric actually requires
The assumption beneath the proposition must be named explicitly. The critique must target that assumption, not just list counter-examples. This is the highest cognitive demand in the directive verb taxonomy.
Real PYQs using this verb
Critically examine the case for lateral entry into Civil Services.
Critically examine the development of ethics in administration and its relevance in present times.
Critically examine the role of the NHRC in the context of the shrinking space for civil society and the human rights activists in India.