Which of the following is NOT a form of positive listening?

The correct answer is D (Judgemental listening). It is a barrier to communication, not a positive form of listening. The listener is busy evaluating and passing a verdict while the speaker is still talking, so the message never gets properly received.

• A (Diagnostic listening) is positive. The listener probes to find the root cause of a problem, as a doctor or counsellor does, and the purpose is understanding and remedy.
• B (Reflective listening) is positive. The listener paraphrases the speaker's content and feelings to confirm understanding and keep the channel open.
• C (Empathic listening) is positive. Covey's phrase "seek first to understand, then to be understood" captures it: the listener tries to see the speaker's perspective without judging.

The core concept here is the contrast between positive and negative (or barrier) listening in communication skills. This connects directly to GS-4 ethics, where empathy is a core competency, and to administration, where a DM or SP hearing a public grievance must listen before deciding.

Trap: Aspirants often reject diagnostic listening because it sounds analytical and evaluative. Diagnostic listening seeks information to understand a problem. Judgemental listening decides in advance whether the speaker is right or wrong.