BharatNotes Grievance
nounUsage in a UPSC answer
A responsive administration is judged less by the absence of complaints than by the speed and fairness with which it redresses citizens' grievances, which is precisely why institutions such as the Central Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) and the Ombudsman are integral to good governance.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
grieve (v), grievous (adj), grievously (adv), aggrieve (v), aggrieved (adj)
Root
Latin gravāre = to weigh down; gravis = heavy; via Old French grevance = hardship/harm
Etymology
From Middle English grevaunce, from Old French grevance ("hardship, harm"), from grever ("to burden, oppress"), from Latin gravāre ("to weigh down"), from gravis ("heavy").
Memory Hook
Grievance contains "grieve" — a grievance is the heavy burden (Latin gravis, "heavy") that makes you grieve over an unfair wrong, and demands redress.
How This Word Works in UPSC Writing
A wrong or hardship suffered, and the formal complaint made about it. It is central to GS2 because grievance redressal is one of the clearest tests of whether governance actually works for citizens. The features to assess are accessibility of the channel, defined timelines, tracking that lets a citizen see where a complaint sits, and independent escalation when the first response fails. Redress that depends on knowing someone is not redress.
Don’t Confuse It With
A grievance concerns a wrong done to the complainant themselves. Whistleblowing reports wrongdoing affecting others. An appeal challenges a decision through a defined procedure. A petition requests action and need not allege any wrong at all.
Hindi Meaning
शिकायत (shikāyat); शिकायत निवारण is grievance redressal.
Common Questions
- What is a grievance in governance?
- A wrong or hardship suffered by a person, and the formal complaint through which they seek redress.
- What makes a grievance redressal system effective?
- An accessible channel, defined timelines, trackable status so the citizen can see progress, and independent escalation when the first response is unsatisfactory.
Seen in UPSC Question Papers
- Mains 2022 · GS4 · 20 marks — Ethics in Public Administration
Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Grievance” — proof this word earns its place on your list.
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