Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to recognise, understand and manage emotions — one’s own and other people’s — and to use them to guide thinking and action. For administrators who deal daily with anxious citizens, angry crowds, stressed teams and political pressure, EI is often what separates a competent officer from an effective one.

What UPSC asks. GS IV is a Mains-only paper. Questions ask you to define EI and its components, compare it with IQ, explain its use in administration (crisis management, conflict resolution, leadership, public dealing), discuss whether it can be developed, and sometimes to note its limits or misuse. Case studies frequently test EI implicitly — handling a mob, a grieving family or a demoralised team.

Sub-topic	What to prepare
Concept and origins	Salovey and Mayer (1990); Goleman (1995)
Models	Ability model (four branches); Goleman’s five components
EI vs IQ	Different capacities; both needed
Utility in administration	Crisis, conflict, leadership, service delivery, stress
Developing EI	Self-reflection, feedback, training, mindfulness
Limits	Manipulation, measurement problems, cultural variation

Start with Emotional intelligence in administration.