SSC MTS Tier 120 Feb 2026Shift 2Reading Comprehension
Digital Surveillance and Democracy

The rise of digital surveillance strains the relationship between the rights, freedoms, and autonomy guaranteed under liberal democracies and the state's demands for order, security, and control. Recent advances in the field of technology have provided states with the ability to monitor, manage, and control their citizens using rapid advances in digital technology, such as algorithmic governance, artificial intelligence, and data aggregation (big data). These tools have the potential to create a new level of control, thereby violating the core principles of individual privacy, dissent, and political autonomy on which our liberal democratic governments are founded.

Because of a lack of transparency into how surveillance technology operates and a lack of institutional oversight of this technology, the environment created allows executive overreach to be commonplace. For example, the most vulnerable members of our society often bear the brunt of such overreach.

The shift from citizens to data subjects fundamentally changes the social contract between individuals and the state, with governance moving from consent-based legitimacy to predictive control.

What fundamental shift does digital surveillance cause in the social contract?

Answer और ExplanationAnswer and explanation

Answer: (C) Governance transitions from consent-based legitimacy to predictive control over citizens

अंतिम पंक्ति कहती है कि governance "moving from consent-based legitimacy to predictive control" की ओर बढ़ रहा है, यानी सहमति पर आधारित वैधता से हटकर भविष्यवाणी आधारित नियंत्रण की ओर। Options A और B नागरिकों की बढ़ी हुई शक्ति बताते हैं, परंतु पैसेज कहता है कि surveillance इस शक्ति को कमज़ोर करती है।

The last line says governance is "moving from consent-based legitimacy to predictive control". Options A and B describe stronger citizen power, but the passage says surveillance weakens it.

बाकी Options उत्तर क्यों नहीं हैंWhy the other options are not the answer

A'Citizens have a stronger position in creating a democratic government' social contract का सामान्य वचन प्रतीत हुआ। परंतु गद्यांश कहता है कि शासन सहमति से predictive control की ओर जा रहा है, अर्थात नागरिक दुर्बल होते हैं।'Citizens have a stronger position in creating a democratic government' sounded like the usual promise of social contract. But the passage says governance moves from consent to predictive control, so citizens are weakened.
B'Citizens' autonomy and privacy will continue to be important' आश्वस्त करने वाला और संतुलित प्रतीत हुआ। परंतु गद्यांश सहमति-आधारित वैधता से मूलभूत परिवर्तन बताता है, अतः वह निरंतरता को अस्वीकार करता है।'Citizens' autonomy and privacy will continue to be important' sounded reassuring and balanced. But the passage describes a fundamental shift away from consent-based legitimacy, so it denies continuity.
D'Technology's role in defining the political and social outcomes will be diminished' technology पर निर्भरता का उलटा प्रतीत हुआ। परंतु गद्यांश बताता है कि surveillance के माध्यम से technology शासन को अधिकाधिक आकार दे रही है।'Technology's role in defining the political and social outcomes will be diminished' seemed the opposite of dependence on technology. But the passage describes technology, through surveillance, increasingly shaping governance.

Source: SSC MTS Tier 1 · 20 Feb 2026 · Shift 2। Solution: Prashant Sir, Ramban।Source: SSC MTS Tier 1 · 20 Feb 2026 · Shift 2. Solution by Prashant Sir, from Ramban.