Neutrality

noun

/njuːˈtrælɪti/

In the context of civil service ethics, the principle that a public servant must serve the elected government of the day with equal commitment regardless of its political ideology, without allowing personal political beliefs to influence official decisions or actions.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

India's traditional posture of strategic neutrality, articulated through non-alignment, has allowed it to engage adversarial power blocs simultaneously while safeguarding its autonomy of decision in foreign policy.

Synonyms

impartialitynon-alignmentnon-interventioneven-handednessdisinterestednessdetachment

Antonyms

partisanshipbiaspartialityalignment

🌱 Word Family

neutral (adj./n.), neutralise (v.), neutrally (adv.), neutrality (n.), neutralisation (n.)

🔡 Root

Latin neuter = neither; ne- = not + uter = either; neutralis = neither one thing nor another

📜 Etymology

From Latin neutralitatem (nominative neutralitas), from neutralis ("of neuter gender, neither one thing nor another"), from Latin neuter ("neither"), from ne- ("not") + uter ("either").

🧠 Memory Hook

From Latin neuter, "neither" (ne- "not" + uter "either") - a neutral party leans to NEITHER side; think of a car in "neutral" gear, engaged with no direction.

📝 Seen in UPSC Question Papers

Prelims 2024 — International Organisations
Mains 2017 · GS2 · 15 marks — Governance

Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Neutrality” — proof this word earns its place on your list.

🧭 Ethics & Integrity 📖 Seen in: Civil Service Values & Code of Conduct...

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