In the light of the above passage, the nature of General Will is best described as

Answer: (c) the collective good as distinct from private wills of the individuals

Each individual places himself under the 'supreme direction' of the General Will and becomes 'an indivisible part of the whole'. The General Will is therefore the will of the community as one body, standing above and apart from each person's private will.

• ✗ (a) A 'sum total' keeps private wills separate and merely adds them; the passage speaks of an indivisible whole that directs each individual.
• ✗ (b) Elected representatives are not mentioned; the General Will belongs to the whole body of members.
• ✓ (c) Individuals put their power 'in common' under its supreme direction, so it is a collective good distinct from their private wills.
• ✗ (d) Material interests are not mentioned; the passage is about how the whole political community directs its members.

Remember · In quotation-based items, let the key phrases ('in common', 'indivisible part of the whole') decide, not outside knowledge.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). · Report an error