Ethics

Rs.
35
Introduction
GENERAL STUDIES PAPER 4-

ETHICS, INTEGRITY AND APTITUDE
Content
Module 1: Ethics and its Dimensions • Objectivity
• Dedication to Public Service
• Ethics and its essence
• Empathy
• Determinants of ethics
• Compassion
• What influences ethics and which other
institutions influence ethics? • Impartiality and Non-Partisanship
• Dimensions of ethics • Tolerance
• Ethics in private and public lives • Anonymity
• Ethics during COVID-19 pandemic and • Accountability and responsibility
other disasters • Other values
• Consequences of erosion of values
Module 2- Attitude and its Dimensions
• What is attitude? Module 5- Transparency and Information
• Structure and its functions Module 6- Probity in Public Service

• Attitude, Thoughts and Behaviours
• Probity
• Moral and Political attitudes
What constitutes probity in public
• How are attitudes formed and how are service?
they changed?
How does probity in governance help?
• Social influence and persuasion
• Corruption as a threat to the nation
• COVID-19 and attitude
What is corruption?
Module 3- Emotional Intelligence Why is corruption flourishing in India?
• Emotions Effects of corruption
• Emotional Intelligence Political corruption
• How is Emotional Intelligence developed? Module 7- Influence of Philosophers

• How to enhance your emotional • Plato
intelligence?
• Aristotle
• Application of Emotional Intelligence in
Personal and Professional lives? • Jeremy Bentham
• Emotional Intelligence and COVID-19 • Immanuel Kant
• Rawls’ Theory of Justice
Module 4- Aptitude and Values • Buddhist Thought
• What is aptitude? • Swami Vivekananda
• Types of aptitude? • Mahatma Gandhi
• Civil Service related aptitude
Module 8- PYQ Mains Solution (2016)
• Foundational values of Civil Service
• Specific Civil Service Values Module 9- Case Studies (Solved) 2018
• Integrity
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MODULE 1: ETHICS AND ITS How to enhance your Emotional
DIMENSIONS Intelligence? 14
Ethics and its Essence 2 Application of Emotional Intelligence in
Personal and Professional Lives 15
Challenges to Ethics 2
Emotional Intelligence and COVID-19 15
Morals and its Aspects 2
What Influences Morality? 2 MODULE 4: APTITUDE AND VALUES
Ethics and Morality 3
What is Aptitude? 17
Relationship between Law and Ethics 3
Types of Aptitude 17
Determinants of Ethics 3
Civil Services Related Aptitude 17
What Else Influences Ethics and which
Foundational Values of Civil Services 18
other Institutions Influence Ethics? 3
Specific Civil Services Values 18
Dimensions of Ethics 4
Integrity 19
Ethics in Private life and Public Life 4
Objectivity 19
Ethics during COVID-19 Pandemic and
Other Disasters 5 Dedication to Public Service 20
Empathy 20
MODULE 2: ATTITUDE AND ITS Compassion 20
DIMENSIONS
Impartiality and Non-Partisanship 21
What is Attitude? 7 Tolerance 21
Attitude Formation 7 Anonymity 21
Structure and Functions 7 Accountability and Responsibility 21
Attitude, Thoughts and Behaviours 8 Other Values 22
Moral and Political Attitudes 8 Consequences of Erosion of Values 22
How are Attitudes Formed and how are
they Changed? 9 MODULE 5: TRANSPARENCY AND
How are Attitudes Changed? 9 INFORMATION
Social Influence and Persuasion 9 Transparency 24
Persuasion 10 What does Transparency in Governance
COVID-19 Attitudes 10 Involve? 24
Information Sharing 24
MODULE 3- EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE Participative Governance 25
Emotions 12 Accountability Mechanism 26
Emotional Intelligence 13
MODULE 6: PROBITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE
How is Emotional Intelligence
Developed? 14 Probity 28
4
Telegram.me/upsc_iassquad www.ourstudycircle.in/upscpdf/ Telegram.me/upsc_iassquad
What Constitutes Probity in Public Aristotle 33

Service? 28 Jeremy Bentham 33
How does Probity in Governance Help? 28 Immanuel Kant 34
Corruption as a Threat to the Nation 29 Rawls’ Theory of Justice 34
What is Corruption? 29 Buddhist Thought 35
Why is Corruption Flourishing in India? 29 Swami Vivekananda 35
Effects of Corruption 30 Mahatma Gandhi 35
Political Corruption 30
SOLVED PAPER & CASE STUDY
MODULE 7: INFLUENCE OF
Ethics Theory Solved Paper 37
PHILOSOPHERS
Ethics Case Studies (Solved) 43
Plato 33
Google: www.ourstudycircle.in/upscpdf/
Module One
ETHICS & IT’S DIMENSIONS
• A simple definition of ethics is that it

is a study of Science of conduct. It is Challenges to Ethics
concerned with norms and standards. • Briefly, there are three challenges to
• It is about the way the world ought to be ethics.
and not what it is. It is concerned with • They are individualism, religion and
values and ideals. culture.
• It is a dynamic concept and is being • Firstly, individualism seeks to put self-
continuously revised, with the changing interests above that of any others.
circumstances. Example: Cheating in an exam will enable
me to get more marks than others. It is
Ethics and its unethical but here my self-interests are
involved.
Essence • Secondly, all religions teach its disciples
Let us examine some of the features of to behave in a moral and ethical manner.
ethics: However, sometimes religion may
challenge ethical conduct. For example:
• Ethics is personal in nature. Although
the practice of Sati is clearly unethical
societal ethics do exist, we behave in an
but was followed till the first half of the
ethical manner because we feel it is the
19th century due to religious sanctions.
right thing and not because of the fear
of law, • Lastly, culture too is a challenge at
times to ethical conduct. For example:
• It refers to the rules for deciding correct
protecting the environment is an ethical
conduct which is not only beneficial to
conduct. However, cultural activities
the individual but also that of the society
like bursting crackers during Diwali and
and nation,
Jallikattu during the festival of Pongal
• In many cases, ethics are codified and provide a direct confrontation with ethics.
are then expected to be followed by the
people. Example: medical ethics, sports
ethics. Morals and its
• It provides a mechanism for evaluation
of actions,
Aspects
A simple definition of morality is that it is
• It is necessary for the society to stay a system of values that provides a set of
peaceful, behavioural rules for the individuals and
• At the individual level, it usually remains the society to follow.
constant. However, radical changes in • In this regard, meta-ethics is a study of
the value system of an individual can philosophy of morality as a concept.
influence the ethics too. • Morality is different in the following ways:
• Morality is a subset of ethics and is often • Subjectivism- Morality is highly subjective.
used interchangeably and is concerned It differs from individual to individual. For
with specific principles of action. example: stealing a loaf of bread may
be an act of immorality for an individual
who does not have to struggle for the
basic necessities of life. However, for a
person who has been starving for days, is that all terrorists are Muslims. Now, this
the act can be justified easily. may prevent them acting in a rational
• Similarly, the concept of cultural manner. They may then act in certain
relativism also makes morality different. immoral ways such as indulging in acts
For example: Majority of Indians may still of communism, discrimination and other
frown upon live-in relationships, whereas criminal acts.
it may be the norm in other Western
nations. Ethics and Morality
• Ethics and morality seem to carry the
What Influences Morality? same meaning and they are generally
Morality can be easily influenced by used interchangeably. However, some
different factors such as: philosophers make a distinction between
• Norms, which are a set of rules that are the two.
determined by society. It may be devoid • Ethics differs from morals and morality
of any ethical basis. Example: the act of in that ethics denotes the theory of
untouchability or Triple Talaq. right action and the greater good, while
• Pleasure or hedonistic activities. It morals indicate their practice at the
was Jeremy Bentham who said that individual level. Ethics is the science of
what is ethical is often the activity that morals. Morals are the practice of ethics.
provides the greatest pleasure for the • Ethics is where one studies about moral
maximum number. However, this has principles. Morals are the practice of this
been challenged by other scholars such knowledge. Ethics thus are rules which
as Pushkin who is reported to have said govern the conduct of all the members
that it is better to be a human being who of a group (such as doctors, lawyers,
is dissatisfied than a pig who is satisfied. policemen, cultural group or society).
• Socialization: It is Plato who opined that Morals are those standards which the
man is a social animal. What socialization individual sets up for himself/herself.
does is to change an individual or society’s
way of thinking and their definition of Relationship between Law and
morality. For example: The Economic Ethics
Survey of 2015 stated that the mere
information that IT companies hire a • Law and ethics share an interesting
large number of women, prompted many relationship.
parents from villages around Bengaluru • While ethics often influences law and its
in Karnataka to send their daughters to application, the latter is clearly superior to
schools and ensure proper education. the former when it comes to determining
• Another factor that influences morality is the validity of an action.
the concept of stereotypes. For example: • However, courts can only determine the
many individuals may be biased in a validity of an action, according to the
negative or even positive manner towards law.
certain groups of individuals and this
• But society holds the real cards as
may influence their actions.
they are the ones who decide on its
• Let us consider an example: One of the implementation and agencies cannot
stereotypes that people may adhere to push beyond a limit, especially in
3
democracies. This is also determined by • Law as mentioned before influences

the power of the government in power. ethics.
Example: Triple Talaq and Sati have now • Pleasure
been outlawed. They may have been
ethical at one point of time, but have no
relevance at present. What Else Influences
Determinants of Ethics and which
Ethics other Institutions
The following are the important factors that Influence Ethics?
can be construed as determinants of ethics: An individual is born free but is a product
• Action- Emmanuel Kant was a proponent of his/her owns individualism and their
of the principle of Deontology. Theories surroundings. Many institutions influence
that emphasize on the principles of the formation of ethics. Some of them are
action are called deontological theories. the following:
Acts are right and wrong. • Family- An individual’s immediate and
• Consequences: The theories that look first point of contact is with the family.
into ethics from the point of view of They are the greatest influences of the
consequences are called teleological. individual. The individual learns the
Actions which will have consequences most from the immediate family and is
and are evaluated from that perspective easily influenced by their actions and
are called teleological theories. ethics. For example: A child observing
his parents will learn either that there is
• Character of an individual- Actions is nothing wrong in breaking a traffic signal
often dependent on the character of or may even go on to learn from a young
the individuals. Many like Aristotle who age that gender stereotypes are often
provided his theory of ethics focused on distorted. When the child notices that
this aspect. his father is cooking in the kitchen and
• Motive- The motive of an individual must cleaning vessels, the notion that this is a
be taken into accord while determining women’s role is smashed and the child
the ethics of an individual. For example: goes on to become a responsible citizen.
killing a snake that is about to attack • Educational Institutes: It is said that
you in self-defence vs killing a dog after the destiny of a nation is shaped in its
brutally torturing it. classrooms. A wholesome education
• Customs: It has a strong influence on that not only teaches 2+2+4 but also
ethics. teaches civic discipline and ensures an
atmosphere of friendliness and morality
• Conscience- It can be defined as an
will ensure empowered citizens and
individual’s inherent belief of a particular
leaders. For example: The Happiness
matter or the rational voice of an
Curriculum of the Government of Delhi-
individual.
NCT and the New Education Policy, 2020.
• Intuition: It is the innermost voice of an
• Society- The next big influence is the
individual of what is right and wrong.
society. Often, acts of the society
will shape the ethics of its members.
4
For example: Compassion exhibited • Respect towards peace, democracy and

by the residents of Gurugram to the human rights,
migrant labourers during the COVID-19 • A strong disapproval of war and
pandemic vs the rampaging mobs of the aggression of any sort.
neighbouring Delhi during the riots that
did not even spare schools and school • Non-Interference in another country’s
children. internal affairs
• Media or the fourth estate plays a critical • Mutual benefit and harmony in the
role in informing and shaping information international system.
events and outcomes amongst the • However, in recent times, this has not
population. It is in this regard that the been adhered to. Pakistan’s action of
culture of fake news is particularly a state sponsored terrorism against India,
matter of concern. China’s refusal to abide by the decision of
• Government influences the ethics of the the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the
society through its actions. A government South China Sea and President Trump’s
that has scant regard for the principles of restrictive actions constitutes breach of
the constitution will face a society that these above-mentioned principles.
disobeys laws and a society that will • Article 51 of the Indian Constitution
continuously indulge in acts of protests imbibes these principles:
and disharmony. Whereas a government
that is high on morals will also have a
citizenry that is ideal. Example: New Ethics in Private life
Zealand’s reaction to a terrorist attack Vs
Pakistan’s reaction towards its minorities
and Public Life
and their rights. • There will have to be a differentiation
between ethics in private life and public
• Social Media has in recent times gained
life. Private lives of individuals are often
prominence and has begun to have a
dictated by their actions and motives
large stronghold over formation and
which in turn are dependent on their
pursuance of ethics. The digital life of an
position- economic, social, political and
individual has come to assume as much
technological.
importance as his/ her real life.
• Abraham Maslow’s theory of hierarchy
Dimensions of Ethics of needs often determines the ethics of

individuals apart from their own belief
As discussed previously, ethics is different systems and other influencers.
from an individual stand point of view as • Whereas, in the public life of an individual,
compared to that of the society and the generally, the welfare of the society is of
government. In this subsection, let us look utmost concern and due importance is
at the concept of ethics in International
paid to.
Relations.
Ethics in International Relations in modern • Private lives which often pay attention to
times has come to signify certain principles the individualistic activities need to be
such as: differentiated from the public lives which
lays more emphasis on societal good
• Respect towards International Law,
and the larger good of communities.
Example: A company’s individual ethics
5
Module Two
ATTITUDE AND ITS DIMENSIONS
Attitudes often define our life and its who dismissed the idea of a lockdown.
outcomes. Hence, it is of utmost importance • Finally, we can say that is an integral part
to understand this concept and its various
of one’s personality.
dimensions.
What is Attitude? Attitude Formation

Attitude is learned, formed, can be changed,
• In simple terms, attitude can be defined
and be reformed. Learning can account for
as an application of values of an
most of the attitudes we hold. The study
individual. When values are applied on of attitude formation is the study of how
concrete objects, it becomes attitudes. people form evaluations of persons, places,
• An individual is identified more through things, objects, matters and issues.
their attitudes than the values they Some of the ways in which attitude is
hold, even though the latter is equally formed are:
important. • Classical conditioning: If we witness
• Here are the following characteristics of same input over a long period of time
attitude: then we become habituated to that input
• Attitudes help in predicting the actual in certain specific ways.
behaviour of an individual, • Instrumental conditioning: We may also
• Attitudes are learnt over a period of time develop certain attitude depending on
and this can either be positive, negative the system of reward or punishment.
or neutral. For example: my rejection in Consistently rewarding someone
the UPSC Civil Services exam makes me showing respect towards the elders
antagonistic towards the officialdom of versus punishing him/her whenever they
this country or conversely, I met an IFS show disrespect will be instrumental in
officer when I was young and was so developing a positive attitude of respect.
motivated by his/ her professionalism, • Social learning: We also observe other
that I look up to the Indian diplomats people performing some actions and by
always. I form a favourable opinion of observation, we learn their conduct.
them.
• Attitudes are long lasting and consistent
mostly. They do changes, however under
Structure and
specific circumstances. Any sort of
dissonance leads to emotional instability.
Functions
Attitudes are generally described through
• Attitudes are evaluative because they the ABC (Affective, Behavioural and
involve emotions and are strongly linked Cognitive) model. It generally consists of
to behaviour. these three components.
• Attitudes also involve both verbal and Let us look into it in detail:
non-verbal cues. As far as the ABC model is concerned, let
us consider an example: A young graduate
• Attitudes are highly subjective and
is deciding on a career to take up. He/ she
it differs from person to person. For
comes across a career in the Indian Foreign
example: my attitude towards the
Service. Now, going by the ABC model, the
lockdown imposed due to COVID-19 and
individual’s:
that of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro
• The Affective/Emotional component will emerges when they are in an abnormal

enable them to ask the question: How state.
do I feel thinking about a career in the • Need satisfaction function: Individuals
Indian Foreign Service? would change their attitudes when they
• The Cognitive component will enable realise that their goals and needs can be
them to ask the following question: What met by a serious change. For example:
do I think about the service as a whole? I have to remain positive and cheerful
• And finally, the Behavioural aspect will during the UPSC exam preparations to
determine whether I intend to pursue a get through this process.
career in the service? • Impression: - Motivation function: When
• This is the structure of attitudes. our attitudes need to make an impact
on others or would benefit others in
As far as the functions of attitudes are some manner, we tend to change it. For
concerned, here are the following functions: example: reaching the office on time will
• Knowledge functions: Our knowledge impress my boss.
helps us organize a diverse set of
Attitude, Thoughts
information that may be available for a
particular subject. It provides clarity and
understanding of various events, people
and other subjects. It need not always and Behaviours
be true. For example: Gandhians would • The personality of an individual is shaped
always oppose the current draft EIA by these three components: attitude,
rules as it is opposed to the Gandhian thoughts and behaviour.
principles of protecting the environment • Attitudes shape the thoughts and
and not exploiting it. behaviour of individuals.
• Ego-Defence functions: It is generally • However, the final behaviour may not
considered that those who are less correspond to the actual thought or
confident and insecure of their beliefs attitude that one has.
have attitudes that are rigid and they
use them to avoid confrontations and For example:
disputes that can be embarrassing.
• I may want to crack the UPSC Civil
Whereas, on the other hand, those who
Services exams (thought),
are confident of themselves feel more
emboldened and are open to changing • I may then develop an outlook that
their attitudes towards subjects, objects is positive and in favour of hard work
and people. (attitude),
• The former would change only when • Finally, this may translate into actual
they are provided circumstances where clearing of exams and getting a rank
they are not judged and where they are (behaviour).
rewarded for a change in their attitudes. • The environment that we are in also
• Value Experience: Attitudes can be used determines our attitudes and behaviour
to establish an individual’s self-identity. towards a particular subject, person or
A person’s self-worth can be assessed object.
by putting them through difficult • For example: I am walking past Connaught
circumstances. Their true attitude Place in New Delhi which is not clean
9
and I see people littering everywhere, I towards moral issues and political
can either choose to become a part of morality can be defined as the individual’s
the problem and throw a plastic cup or attitude towards political attitudes.
continue to hold on to my values and • An individual’s attitude towards acts of
only throw the cup in a dustbin. corruption can either be in consonance
• Conversely, let us imagine you are in with that of the society’s or divergent. For
Cyber Hub in Gurgaon which is spick example: your attitude as a civil service
and span and highly modern. There is no aspirant may strongly be against acts of
temptation to litter around and create a corruption whereas your family’s or even
nuisance. the larger society may favour corruption
• Environment in fact has a powerful as there is no way out of it, according to
impact on our behaviour. Think as to them.
why Indians are so well behaved when • This is an example of moral attitude.
they go abroad and are often model • Now, let us look at political attitudes:
citizens in those countries, but become What is your attitude towards Pakistan’s
indisciplined, the moment they enter state sponsored terrorism against India?
India.
• One question, we need to ask ourselves
• It is here that leaders need to create a is how exactly are moral and political
positive impact and create a favourable attitudes related?
environment that supports and
encourages citizens to follow laws and • Let us not forget that Aristotle opined
become civic conscious. that Man is a political animal. It is
individual attitudes that influence
• Attitude and behaviour are also linked by political attitudes.
the factor of motivation. If there exists a
strong reason or motive for us to hold on • An individual is part of the society but
to a particular attitude, we will continue however has his/ her own identity. They
to hold on it. For example: my attitude express themselves in a multitude of ways.
towards the minorities is going to yield In a democracy like India, we can easily
a certain positive result during the say that it is individual moral attitudes
elections. In this case, there is no reason that shape the political attitudes.
for me to change my attitude.
• Now, let us assume that you respect How are Attitudes
Formed and how are
someone or someone is senior to you, then
your attitudes are more likely to change
because you do not intend to offend the
other person. This is also highly subjective they Changed?
and as mentioned before, depends on an • Attitudes of individuals are shaped in
individual’s personality. a myriad of ways. The most common
method is through socialization.
Moral and Political • As mentioned before, the environment I
am exposed to and my own experiences
Attitudes shape my attitudes.
• In simple words, moral attitudes can be • Example: A tourist is visiting India and
defined as the attitude of individuals during their stay in India, they are
10
received well and have a soul enriching The need to belong to a class of people,
experience, then they will continue to The need to be liked by others,
hold a favourable attitude towards India
throughout their lives until and unless, The need to be correct in our actions
something changes drastically. and judgements.
• As mentioned before, wanting to make • The factors that influence conformity are
an impression or achieve some goal, also group sizes and unanimity of opinion.
shapes the attitudes of individuals. • For example: This is a practice that is
• Finally, Aristotle also said that Man is a commonly described as group behaviour.
social animal. The need to belong to a For example: I have a negative attitude
particular group and reap the benefits towards narcotics, however, my college
that come along with it, is strong. Imagine, friends are in favour of it. So, I may then
a member of the Indian Diaspora living develop a positive attitude towards
in Switzerland. They often feel lonely due it so as to get attention and continue
to reasons such as hostile weather and belonging to the group of friends. This is
indifferent local population. Under such not encouraged though.
circumstances, they are willing to bond • Compliance often involves social
with their own countrymen and tend to influencing that is forceful in nature. It is
have a favourable opinion of India and generated to make an individual change
its policies. his/ her attitude towards something using
some form of mild coercion or pressure.
How are Attitudes Changed? • For example: boycott of weddings which
Individuals often tend to receive information encourages dowry.
that validates their belief systems. Their • Finally, obedience involves a punitive
attitudes are built over several years after element. It can either be through
many experiences and are not easily legislations or through relationship
susceptible to change. For example: structures or even other factors such as
A Kashmiri youngster who has been expertise.
discriminated against in Delhi in matters of
housing and has been treated shabbily by • Example: You are more likely to obey the
the local population and Police, is unlikely commands of an expert in a Swimming
to change his attitude towards Delhi, even pool when you do not know swimming or
after years. you are more likely to obey the rules of
the City Corporations and wear masks
Social Influence and while stepping out of your houses.
Persuasion Persuasion
• Attitudes can be changed by individuals • It is a method of bringing about the
through social influence and persuasion. change in the attitude of an individual
by saying the right thing at the right time
• Social influence is of three kinds:
and by the right person.
conformity, compliance and obedience.
• Three questions: What to say? To whom
• Conformity involves group action.
to say? Who will say it and when will it
• It involves three motives: be said?
11
• Communication is very important in our • The government did not care about the
day to day lives and it is the content that vulnerable sections of the population
is more important than the words being and worked actively towards suppressing
said. their legitimate rights.
• The importance of non-verbal cues • The sight of migrants walking back home
(body language) too is very important. did not move the government into action
It accounts for more than 70% of the until public pressure forced them to act
communication that is being stressed and bring about some changes.
upon. • As far as the private hospitals are
• Many factors influence the ability of an concerned, the less said the better. At a
individual to persuade others to develop time, when it was important to stand with
an attitude towards others. the people and the patients, we have
• This includes the credibility of the person seen refusal to treat patients, charge
who is persuading the other, their age exorbitant rates and ill treat the doctors
and physical descriptions at times, involved.
circumstances of a particular issue, the • Finally, the population too has seen its
power and attractiveness of the message share of negative attitudes. Land lords
and the mental disposition of the receiver in different cities kicked out their tenants
too. who were doctors and those who could
not afford to pay rents only due to sheer
COVID-19 Attitudes lack of empathy.

• The fact that people starved to death
• Throughout this COVID-19 pandemic, and children were kicked out of schools,
we have seen both positive as well as reflects a society that is heartless and a
negative attitudes of various stakeholders society whose attitude is highly selfish.
across the world and India.
• There were many positive stories
• The governments, business emanating from across the country such
establishments and the population have as the ones in Kerala, Telangana and
struggled to make ends meet. Rajasthan.
• It is in this regard that we have noticed
an element of distrust and a negative
attitude that has emanated from the
government and the various private
sector hospitals.
12
Module Three
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Emotions is linked to the company of his/her

partner and when that company is
• In recent times, governments and withdrawn, the individual is unable to
private bodies have started paying close regain his/ her happy state and takes
attention to the concepts of emotion, a drastic decision.
emotional intelligence and the emotional • Sadness: We generally experience this
well being of individuals. emotion when we lose something close
• The Government of India too has released to us or are unable to get something we
its National Mental Health Care Policy. In desire. It enables us to focus our energies
this regard, it is important to understand at our objects of sadness in a holistic
these concepts. manner. We tend to take a step back and
then analyse the situation is a calm and
• Emotions can be defined as those
composed manner.
personal experiences that arise
from a complex interaction between For example: I felt pangs of sadness
physiological, cognitive and situational when I couldn’t clear the UPSC (Civil
factors. Services) Prelims. This sadness enabled
me to take a step back and review my
• Emotions are highly personal.
preparation. I realized there were many
• Emotion is a psychological concept. It gaps. I rectified it and immediately
helps individuals moderate and direct cleared the Prelims next year.
their behaviour towards a particular
• Anger: Anger is considered to be a negative
object, and helps in the maintenance of
emotion. It is generally characterised by
power and dignity.
the physiological changes in your body
Here are 10 important emotions and their (higher blood pressure), changes in your
functional roles: non-verbal communication (watch your
• Happiness: It is the most important facial expression when you get angry)
emotion that human beings experience. and it could also be accompanied by loss
It helps them realise their potential and of words and screaming.
their experience towards an item that it’s Individuals, who are prone to anger,
most fulfilling. generally lose sense of their emotions
Items of happiness enable us to and actions. Anger could either be
understand the value of a certain controlled or uncontrolled. The former
object or individual. is directed towards a particular object
Happiness can be derived both or person and subsides after the task is
internally and externally. Example: over. For example: Your school teacher
I could be happy even without the shouting at you in the class.
occurrence of events externally or People often experience the emotion
someone else becoming my source of of anger due to frustration when either
happiness. they are unable to fulfill their objectives
In India, the National Crime Records or are unable to do so fully. Anger is also
Bureau ascribes the issue of relationship experienced when events do not go,
failures as one of the reasons for many according to the way I want them to.
young people committing suicide. This A typical example would be the case of
is because an individual’s happiness road rage. Here, I believe that I should
14
be permitted to overtake a particular mistakes or lacunae in my life. This

vehicle and I am unable to do so. I will spoil my own health, emotional
keep honking because I am angry and, stability and life.
in many cases, people even indulge in The second option is to get up,
physical violence. acknowledge my failure and then chalk
Anger also permits us to redirect our out a different plan and a career that
energies towards recognizing the will help me fulfil my life objectives.
problem and working to sort it out. Let us assume, my life objective is to
• Anticipation: It refers to a physiological work for the welfare of India. The civil
state of arousal when we are either services are not the only path towards
excited, anxious or uncertain about a it. I can also work in an NGO, Media
particular event or person. It enables us organization or join Politics and serve
to understand that we are working on a India. Let us recall that Mahatma
task that is outside our comfort zone. Gandhi or even Sardar Vallabhai Patel
did not give the UPSC exams and clear
• Fear: Generally, fear is a negative it, yet worked towards the welfare of
emotion. It stops us from pursuing goals India and the world.
and accomplishing tasks outside our
comfort zone. This emotion helps us direct our energy
towards the task to be accomplished.
It is also considered to be a basic
defence mechanism that protects us • Disgust: We feel repulsed towards certain
from potential danger. people or objects that we consider
unclean or not worthy of any attention. It
• Loneliness: People feel lonely when they enables us to understand what something
are isolated and disconnected from those that is unhealthy for us. Example: we feel
around them. It is Aristotle who said that disgusted when we read about incidents
“Man is a social animal”. The need to of crimes against women across the
belong is also a basic need, according to country.
Abraham Maslow.
• Surprise: We experience surprise when
This emotion is a signal to us to we feel something unexpected happens
reconnect with our loved ones and to us or those around us. It helps us to
pursue activities that are of interest to adapt to the new situation around us.
us.
• Trust: It is built on experience and reminds
• Jealousy: It is generally an emotion us of both the good and the bad that
which we experience when we see others people have done to us. Once, we have
achieving something we want to or experienced something, we can protect
possess something that we desire. We all ourselves in a better way and deal with
experience jealousy. But the success of the emotional pain in a more courageous
managing it lies in our actions. manner.
For example: I see my friend clearing To conclude, emotions help us:
the UPSC Civil Services Examination
• Understand ourselves in a better manner,
and I failed in my last attempt. Now, I
have two options. One is to wallow in • Help us becoming creative
self-pity and feel jealous of my friend • Helps us manage our relationship in a
and do nothing to rectify my own pleasant manner,
15
• Build our ethical systems Goleman identified the following

• Better decision making traits of Emotional Intelligence:
• Self-Awareness: The ability to know about
Emotional ourselves. Our strengths and weaknesses.
This will help us utilize our capabilities
Intelligence in a better and productive manner. For
example: If I am talented in Music, I cannot
• Mayer and Salovery introduced the
aspire to become a MS Dhoni.
concept of emotional intelligence. It can
be defined as the ability to perceive and • Self-Motivation: Once, we have become
express emotions, assimilate emotions self-aware of our interests and talents, it
in thought, understand and reason with is important to carve a path towards our
emotions and regulate emotions in one’s goals. Once, we carve our path towards
self and others. that goal, it is important to commence
the journey and continue with it. There
• It involves understanding your own
will be times when we feel like giving
emotions, the emotions of those around
up or are feeling hopeless about the
you and the ability to regulate them.
situation. However, being self-motivated
• Howard Gardener came with up with will help us get back on track and achieve
the theory of Multiple Intelligence and our goals. Example: I missed the 2016
classified intelligence into seven broad Prelims cut off narrowly. I did feel sad
types. but I motivated myself and after a few
• Two of it has a direct correlation with the days, bounced back and re-started my
topic of emotional intelligence. preparations. 2017, I cleared the prelims.
• Firstly, Intra-personal intelligence involves • Self-Regulation: A successful individual
understanding you own emotions and controls his/ her emotions and prevents
its relationship with your body and sub- the emotions from controlling them.
conscious mind. Life is all about controlling your mind
and emotions. Lack of controlling once
• Secondly, Inter-personal intelligence is
emotions can result in non-achievement
the ability to manage your interactions
of your goals, unhappiness, health
with others and those around you,
conditions and may even include
understand social situations and the
problems with the legal system. Example:
ability to regulate intolerable situations.
If I cannot control my anger and I indulge
A related concept is that of Emotional in road rage, I am not only spoiling my
Quotient or EQ. It consists of: own health but also will invite charges
• Perception of emotion, under the Indian Penal Code, Motor
• Understanding of emotion, Vehicles Act and other laws.
• Management of emotion and • Empathy: It is the ability to understand
other’s emotions. All of us behave in a
• Emotional facilitation of thought particular manner due to certain reasons.
EQ measures the extent to which emotional A successful individual is one who is able
intelligence gets manifested into some form to understand others’ emotions and act
of visible behaviour. In simple terms, it is the accordingly. It requires one to be non-
reaction to situations and people around judgemental.
you.
16
• Handling relationships: It is the ability to institutions have an overpowering

understand others and social situations, influence in our lives.
ability to remember faces and names, • Places of work: It teaches us many
ability to hold a conversation with others, important traits and realities of life.
possess self confidence and the ability to We hone our skills here when direct
regulate social situations. experience is required.
• Diplomats need to possess these abilities.
How to enhance
How is Emotional
your Emotional
Intelligence
Intelligence?
Developed? Some of the ways in which we can enhance
There are many institutions that help our emotional intelligence are the following:
in the development of this important • Start thinking from another perspective-
attribute of human life. Some of them are A successful person thinks from not only
the following: his/ her perspective but also others’
• Families: It is a closely knit group of people. perspective. In this regard, Gandhi’s
Most of our day to day interactions take Talisman is important. It says that when
place with our family members. They you are confused or are in a state of
are the ones who are non-judgemental dilemma, think of the weakest face you
and we can be ourselves around them. have encountered and then think whether
This will help us understand the concept your actions will benefit him/ her.
of emotional intelligence. The first five
• Meditation- Meditation enables one
years of our lives are the most important
to calm their emotions and also gives
period where we learn and mould our
the ability to focus and concentrate.
personality traits.
Meditating will help in clarity of thought
• Schools and educational institutes: and action.
Classrooms shape the destiny of nations Other techniques include:
and it is here that model citizens are
• Anger management
churned out. We learn and enhance our
emotional intelligence skills by interacting • Stress management
with out teachers, fellow students and
reading books.
• Media: The fourth pillar of democracy
Application
influences the way we live, think and of Emotional
behave. They shape our opinions and
more. With the proliferation of internet Intelligence in
access, social media in recent times has
penetrated our lives. A simple example to Personal and
understand this point is often whatsapp
forwards are considered to be gospel Professional Lives
truths. • Emotional intelligence is of utmost
• Religious institutions: Many of these importance and can be described as
17
a basic quality of life. Understanding it

will enable us to become successful and Emotional
lead a happy life. Many mental illnesses
can be avoided when we understand Intelligence and
emotional intelligence
• In our personal and professional lives, it
COVID-19
• COVID-19 has uprooted many of us from
will help us:
the comfortable lives we were used to.
Manage our emotions, Citizens have lost their jobs, left without
Manage our relationships, the basic necessities of life and left to fend
for themselves with little help from either
Creating a better society,
the society or even the governments.
Better citizenry.
• COVID-19 has also led to an increase in
• In the bureaucracy and politics, it is a the number of domestic violence cases
very important trait to possess. We shall (according to UN Women and National
deal with it in detail in the subsequent Commission for Women) and we have
chapters. also seen a rise in the number of cases
• Briefly, when you are a bureaucrat/ pertaining to mental health issues.
Diplomat/ Police officer: • All stakeholders involved have failed to
You have to understand the person understand the situation of the crisis (lack
who you are dealing with, of empathy) and improve appropriate
policies.
You should be able to influence them
positively and make them behave in a • Situations where pandemics, crisis like
certain manner, according to the task situations and wars necessitate high
involved and level display of emotional intelligence
to mitigate the suffering of people and
Lastly, have the ability to resolve
citizens.
problems in an amicable manner.
• Governments have failed to understand
Emotional Intelligence helps in this
this and continue to oppress people.
regard.
• The sight of migrants walking back home
and being canned mercilessly by the
Police will continue to haunt the people
of this country and points towards a
breakdown of emotional intelligence.
18
Module Four
APTITUDE AND FOUNDATIONAL

VALUES OF CIVIL SERVICES
Do you have it in you to join the Civil Services • Aptitude is the combination of abilities
and make a successful career out of it? The and other characteristics, whether innate
answer to this lies in the concept of Aptitude or acquired, known to be indicative of an
and based on that, certain other traits that individual’s ability to develop proficiency
are deemed to be essential for a career in in a particular area.
the Civil Services.
• Let us also differentiate between
Let us understand these concepts in detail ‘aptitude’ and ‘skills’. The latter is
in this module. something that is acquired and
constantly upgraded by training and
What is Aptitude? reading of relevant material, whereas
the former is something that is already
• In simple terms, it is defined as the
there and can be nurtured.
natural ability or natural tendency to do
something. It is both innate as well as • In simple terms, aptitude is like a raw
acquired by an individual’s interactions material that is present. Now it is up to
with his/her environment. the individual to acquire the relevant skill
set to process this raw material and make
• Individuals may possess natural inborn
a finished product that can be used for a
qualities but can also acquire the abilities
defined objective or purpose.
to perform or excel in certain tasks or
professions by their interactions with the • Lastly, aptitude also reflects on the future
outside world. potential of an individual.
• For example, let us consider an example • It is important to identify your aptitude
of three individuals who have witnessed and choose a relevant profession in
the COVID-19 situation in India and which you can excel.
are all disappointed with the way the • Often people blindly follow others into a
government and its machinery have profession without evaluating their own
dealt with the situation. Now these three aptitude for it and then suffer due to
individuals, with their different aptitudes non-performance and lack of interest.
may react to this crisis in different ways.
• For example: Prime Minister Narendra
• The first individual may give the UPSC Modi who has an aptitude to lead the
Civil Services examination and join one country and make a difference in the
of the services to make a difference to field of governance and usher in socio-
the country and its people. The second economic development in the country
individual may contest the elections to cannot be expected to excel in the cricket
the Lok Sabha and end up becoming field like Sachin Tendulkar or MS Dhoni
a Minister to make a difference to the and vice-versa.
governance structure of the country and
serve the citizens. The third individual
may become a Lawyer and a social Types of Aptitude
worker and work for the depressed There are generally two broad categories
sections of the society. of aptitude - physical and mental aptitude.
• The challenges may be the same before • Physical aptitude reflects one’s abilities
individuals but they react in different to perform certain physical tasks. It
ways, according to their aptitude. reflects one’s strength, height and weight
Now, let us define the term ‘aptitude’. amongst others. A sportsperson will
20
need to have a great amount of physical deal with them effectively. Example:
aptitude to succeed. imagine an MLA or Minister abusing you
• Mental aptitude on the other hand in front of the people. It also involves
reflects one’s general mental abilities to one’s own behaviour towards colleagues,
perform a certain task. It involves general subordinates and seniors.
mental abilities as well as a sound value • Moral attitude: It includes certain
system. The former involves the ability desirable qualities to possess such as
to think rationally and the latter involves compassion towards the weaker sections
presence of traits such as a sound ethical of the society, integrity etc. These are
and value-based system, right attitude also called the foundational values of
etc. A teacher or a scientist is expected civil services.
to possess mental aptitude to a great
extent.
Foundational Values
Civil Services of Civil Services
Related Aptitude • Values are certain standards through
which we judge a particular behaviour.
Individuals who are considered to be ‘steel Civil Services values are often derived,
frame’ of a nation are expected to possess according to the context in which the
a certain specific aptitude to excel in their personnel work in. It is based on the
field. political set up of a nation (democratic,
Civil Servants are expected to possess the authoritarian etc) and the interests of the
following aptitudes: nation concerned.
• Intellectual aptitude: It is the ability to • For example, in a country such as India,
think rationally, in an innovative manner we pay utmost importance to values
and act purposefully and deal effectively such as democracy. The civil services is
with various issues around them. then expected to understand and behave
Bureaucrats are generally considered to in such a manner where the people’s
be those who cannot think out of box and interest is of utmost importance and it
are those who go according to the rule is the people who are the most powerful
book. This is far from true and while it is in this country and have elected and
true that the laws of the land will have appointed persons to carry out the day
to be followed by everyone including to day administration of the country and
bureaucrats, the latter will have to think make laws.
out of box solutions to deal with modern
• It is in this regard that the Karnataka
day problems.
High Court struck down the order of
• Emotional aptitude: This reflects one’s the Bengaluru Police Commissioner
own emotional intelligence which is the imposing Section 144 of the CRPC to
ability to deal with one’s own emotions, curb peaceful protests against the
others’ emotions and the ability to control Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019. It is
situations. In the civil services, there will the Fundamental Right of a citizen to
be situations when one will encounter gather and protest peacefully. The order
different people, different unpleasant of the Police Commissioner was deemed
situations and will have to be able to undemocratic.
21
• Civil Servants are entrusted by the people, (Conduct) Rules wherein certain ethical
a large number of resources and powers principles are contained. However, they
which enables them to decide the fate are vague. There are certain general
of communities and the nation itself. In norms such as ‘Maintaining integrity
this regard, it is only natural then for the and absolute devotion to duty’ and not
people to expect that the civil servants indulging in behaviour ‘unbecoming of a
possess certain essential values which Civil Servant’.
will enable them to serve the people • The Draft Public Services Bill, 2007 has a
effectively. Some of these values can be chapter on Values of Public Services and
described as impartiality, concern for the it contained certain values which were
poor, integrity etc. to guide Servants in their conduct. They
• Imagine, the country’s financial were:
resources, human resources, weapons Patriotism and upholding national
and other natural resources are at your interests,
disposal and you are expected to serve
the people. Such an individual should Allegiance to the Constitution of India
be a person who is not only capable and the laws of the land,
intellectual excellence but also possesses Objectivity, impartiality, honesty,
moral and emotional aptitude. diligence, courtesy and transparency
• Hence, Civil Servants need to have certain and
values to be followed. Even in situations Maintenance of absolute integrity.
where a person’s discretionary powers There are certain reports and sources
are to be used, it is these values that are of these ethics.
to guide them towards performing or
not performing certain actions and not • The first source of ethics is the
individual interests. Constitutional. It has the following values:
• Former Supreme Court Judge JS Verma Sovereignty,
opined that: “holders of public office are Socialism,
entrusted with powers to be exercised
Secularism,
in public interests alone, and therefore,
the office is held by them in trust for the Democracy,
people. Any deviation from the path of Republic,
rectitude by any of them amounts to a
Justice,
breach of trust and must be severely dealt
with instead of being brushed under the Equality and
carpet.” Fraternity
• Even the 2nd ARC Report, mentioned
Specific Civil various values at the Apex level, second
level and the third level.
Services Values • Finally, the Nolan Committee in the UK
• In India, there is no specific codified set recommended seven essential traits for
of ethics code of ethics. There are service public servants to possess:
specific rules such as the Central Services Selflessness,
(Conduct) Rules and the All India Services
Integrity
22
Objectivity, forced to comply with it. Example: Police

Accountability, officers, Army Personnel.
Openness, • Intellectual Integrity: This is also

academic integrity. This is one’s ability to
Honesty and be original in terms of ideas or giving the
Leadership credit to those who deserve it and being
Now, let us look at some of the absolutely open to criticism.
essential attributes and values of a civil • Artistic Integrity: It is the integrity
servant: displayed by an artist towards his/ her
work.
Integrity
How can we inculcate integrity?
• Integrity can be understood as a
wholesome behaviour which is constant • Through emphasis on right role models
and morally and ethically right. • Reward and Punishment or Carrot and
• Thus, there are three elements to this. Stick
Firstly, there is an element of the • Empathy
behaviour or conduct being ethically • Code of ethics and code of conduct
right. Secondly, it is constant. For
example, my behaviour cannot be calm
and composed today and angry and
Objectivity
rude tomorrow. It is behaving in a moral • It is the ability to behave and take
manner at all times, even during difficult decisions based on evidence and
times. Lastly, the behaviour has to be rationality. Civil Servants often will be
wholesome. What this means is that I taking decisions involving resources and
cannot behave in one particular manner these decisions will impact millions of
in my office and in a completely different people whose fate is decided by those
manner at home and then a party. in power. Hence, their decisions will
There are different types of integrity. They necessarily have to be based on sound
are: principles on objectivity, be rational and
scientifically sound.
• Moral Integrity: The standards I use
to judge others should be the same • There is no scope for decisions to be
standards I use to judge myself. It has guided by personal choices and biases,
to be honest and consistent. This is also external consideration and other trivial
called personal integrity. factors.
• Professional Integrity: It is the ability • For example, consider the following
to uphold certain professional codes situation:
of conduct such as professional ethics • The government has entrusted you
for Lawyers, Doctors etc. This is weaker with the responsibility of distributing
than personal integrity and there may be rations to the migrant workers from the
times that the two will be in a state of government resources. In this situation,
conflict. For example: I may be against you have members of a political party
killing someone, but if I am a Police coming and asking you to handover the
Officer and the law and my profession rations, so that they can distribute and
requires me to kill the individual, I will be get political benefits. In this case, you
23
will politely decline their request and • You will be dealing with people and it is
distribute it through proper government an absolutely essential value to inculcate.
channels. • These days, it is assumed more important
due to dynamic situations.
Dedication to Public Service
• Many times, your conduct is not
• This can be considered to be the basic determined by laws and rules and
value of those who are seeking to enter regulations but your own thinking will
the government. The fact that you are determine the outcomes.
even reading this indicates that you
• For this, you will have to possess the
intend to join the government and hope
value of empathy in public service. For
to make a difference and are dedicated
example, recently, one of the District
to the concept of public service.
Collectors in Tamil Nadu came across
• Dedication is different from commitment. a family suffering. Upon enquiries, she
The latter involves the mere duty towards found out that the family receives certain
finishing a task or joining a service. The medicines from the neighbouring state
former on the other hand involves an capital of Bengaluru. She went beyond
active interest in joining a profession that her call of duty and called up the
seeks to serve the poor and the most pharmacy and arranged the supplies,
marginalised sections of the society. spoke to her own government in Chennai
• Civil servants who are dedicated to public and coordinated with the Karnataka
service will be those who are successful Police and finally ensured that the family
and will be able to work even during received their medicines. This is called
hostile circumstances. dedication to public service and being
empathetic towards the public.
• If you are dedicated to public service, you
will continue to do the job meticulously
even if it is tedious and boring or
Compassion
challenging. This will enable you to work • Civil Service is all about possessing the
both as Joint Secretary (Administration) compassion towards members of the
as well as Joint Secretary (Americas) public, institutions and laws of the land
in the Ministry of External Affairs as an and a sense of justice.
officer of the Indian Foreign Service. • A stronger sense of compassion is needed
• Same principle will apply to be posted to be displayed towards members of
as an IAS, IPS or even an IRS officer in the depressed and vulnerable sections
both New Delhi as well as Churu district of the population. They include women
of Rajasthan. and children, the elderly population,
minorities and members of the SC/ ST/
Empathy OBC.
• As mentioned in the previous chapters, it • This will enable individuals to serve in a
is the ability to understand other people’s more humane and better manner. Civil
situation and emotions, understanding Services is all about being compassionate
the situation and acting accordingly. It towards fellow beings, animals and even
is very important in Civil Services, as the non-living entities.
service is all about the people and their • There is no space for hatred in those who
welfare. seek to enter the civil services.
24
Impartiality and Non- thing even under tough circumstances.

Partisanship • A related concept is that of neutrality.
The courage to withstand pressure and
• For Civil Servants, decisions have to be neutral and acting only in public
be taken on logical, legal, rational and interest. It is often seen that this concept
scientific grounds. Impartiality refers to is lost in many Civil Servants who do the
not supporting a group of people over bidding of their political masters in return
others. It means taking a decision that for favour both monetary as well as in
is fair and is based on the principles of terms of ‘plum posts’.
justice.
• For example: Imagine you are a District Tolerance
Magistrate and you have been tasked
• A Civil Servant is expected to be tolerant
with acquiring land for a project of critical
of others’ views, situations and enable
importance. You have three choices:
others to express their democratic and
acquire the land of a Farmer, acquire
religious rights. It is the ability to accept
the land of an influential person who has
other practices though you may disagree
built a farmhouse or acquire the land of
with it.
a religious institution. Which land will you
acquire? • The Indian Armed Forces is one of the best
institutions which teaches us the spirit
• In this case, you are expected to assess
of tolerance and brotherhood. We see
the project for which the land is being
Muslim officers of the Sikh Light Infantry
acquired, the land that is most suited for
Regiment enthusiastically participating
the project and its proximity to the project
with the Jawans in both the Langar of
construction site and other factors.
the Gurudwara as well as various prayers
Most of us are sympathetic towards the
that are recited. They lead their soldiers in
farmers. Now, let us think about one
these tasks and are often seen personally
factor. What if the farmer’s land is the
carrying a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib
closest to the project being constructed?
ji with them. Similarly, we also see Hindu
You will be forced to acquire it depending
officers visiting Mosques and offering
on the project requirements after duly
prayers with their Jawans. The Indian
compensating the owner.
Army is one of the few institutions which
• This is an example of public impartiality. doesn’t recognize the Religion, Caste and
The other is that of political impartiality status of their personnel.
which signifies that a Civil Servant is not
• Civil Servants are similarly expected
expected to be swayed by his/ her political
to display tolerance towards different
opinion or political masters. It is the civil
religions, views and cultures. It is an
servants who are part of the Permanent
absolutely essential value for a Civil
Executive. The Political Executive is not
Servant.
permanent and can be elected out by
the people of India during the elections.
Hence, a Civil Servant is expected to Anonymity
maintain political impartiality at all times. • Civil Servants are expected to be
• Being non-partisan means that an act is anonymous or faceless. It is the Ministers
carried out without fear or favour and the who are responsible for the acts of their
officer has the courage to do the right departments and the Civil Servants are
25
expected to work from behind the scenes. • Resilience

This will also permit them to remain true
to their principles and work without fear
or favour. Consequences of
Accountability and
Erosion Of Values
• Failure to follow the above-mentioned
Responsibility values will result in a nation, society and
• As leaders, Civil Servants will have to be individuals who are bereft of values,
responsible to the people they serve and aimless and a weak state that can be
to those who have appointed them for exploited by foreign states. It leads to the
their acts of commission and negligence. following circumstances:
• Simply put, an officer is responsible for Corruption and absence of public
his/ her actions and will face both the service,
positive and negative consequences of it. Loss of faith in public service and
• Accountability is a similar concept. It disdain for political systems and
owns up to your deeds and actions. democracy,
• It is generally felt in India that Civil Destruction of meritocracy and victory
Servants are not accountable for their of nepotism and
actions and will continue to serve till they Deteriorating socio-economic
hold the pleasure of not the President conditions
but their political masters.
• This is due to the labyrinth of laws, rules
Relationship of Aptitude with Other
and processes that makes it difficult to Qualities
fix the responsibility. • Aptitude and Interest: People have
• The officer concerned, generally passes interests in many things, but this does
on the buck. not imply they have the aptitude for
that. One may like cricket very much –
• A popular joke exists as far as the
but playing it on field is much different
bureaucracy is concerned which goes
that a watching it on television. One may
like, if asked to move don’t move. If
have the aptitude for good commentary
pushed, move grudgingly. If chased, run
or writing skills and then one may choose
around in circles and if cornered, appoint
a profession where his/her interests and
an investigation committee.
aptitude match- such as becoming a
• This reflects the state of bureaucracy in commentator or a sports journalist.
India.
• Aptitude & Ability: Aptitude is often
considered to represent specific subsets
Other Values of mental ability which provides useful
Other values with the infusion of modern information on an individual’s potential,
21st century governance challenges include: particularly with regards to education
• Being creative and employment. Ability is much closer
to intelligence. Aptitude indicates what
• Courage and bravery an individual will be able to learn/do and
• Perseverance ability presents evidence of what the
26
individual is able to do now (or in future an activity with ease and precision.
without additional training). Achievement looks at the past - what has
• Aptitude and Attitude: -Aptitude is been done, accomplished.
innate potential to do certain task in • Aptitude and Values: - Values are different
future, provided appropriate training is from aptitude in that, value denotes the
provided to the person. An attitude is degree of importance of something or
a lasting, general evaluation of people action, with the aim of determining what
(including oneself), objects or issues. It actions are best to do or what way is best
is a predisposition to behave in certain to live. Though values may be “positive” or
ways i.e. a tendency to respond positively “negative”, like empathy towards weaker
or negatively towards a certain idea, section is positive while regarding one’s
object, person, or situation Attitude can own caste to be highest is negative.
be changed in certain ways, but aptitude Values tend to influence attitudes and
can’t be developed if is not there, because behavior. Types of values include ethical/
it is innate potential. moral values, doctrinal/ideological
• Aptitude, Proficiency & Achievement: (religious, political) values, social values,
-Proficiency is the ability to perform and aesthetic values.
27
Module Five
TRANSPARENCY AND INFORMA-

TION IN GOVERNANCE
• India was under colonial occupation out in accordance with the principles of
till 1947. The colonial authorities had fairness, objectivity and empathy.
designed the governance structures to • For example: I have a right to know after
not bring about accountability and make giving the UPSC Civil Services exams,
it democratic but to control and enhance what is my score and what is the cut off
control over the citizens. for the selection. The process should also
• Their three stated objectives were: be transparent and based on criteria that
revenue maximization, maintenance are fair and same to everyone.
of law and order and protection of the • Transparency is the need of the hour.
frontiers. It empowers the citizens and, in many
• They enacted strict legislations such cases, the weakest sections of the society
as the Official Secrets Act, 1923 to to get their grievances redressed.
prevent the flow of information to the • Access to information will enable
people and this ensured that the people the citizens to also participate in the
were only subjects of governance and governance process and influence
could actually never participate in the decisions of the governments. Let us not
governance process. forget that democracy itself is a concept
• In recent times, the Government of India that is run by the people, it is meant for
has enacted provisions such as the the people and it is of the people.
Right to Information Act, 2015 and the • This mere access to information is futile
National Data Sharing and Accessibility if there are no mechanisms to address
Policy, 2012 to usher in transparency and the grievances pertaining to it. There will
provide for good governance. have to be inbuilt mechanisms to address
• Good governance is the hallmark of a the citizen’s grievances to make it more
responsible government. transparent.
• Access to information also enables
Transparency accountability of the government to the
citizens. It reduces corruption, inefficiency
There is no standard definition of
etc.
transparency around the world.
The 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission
defined this term as: “availability of What does
information to the general public and
the clarity about the functioning of the Transparency in
government”.
• Transparency includes information Governance Involve?
sharing but is not restricted only to it. In India and the world, transparency in
The latter involves providing information governance involves the following tasks:
pertaining to the functioning of the • Information sharing and proactive
government whereas the former also disclosure
involves predicting the functioning of the • Participative governance
government based on certain predictable
criteria and priorities accorded by it. It also • Accountability mechanism
includes administration that is carried • Open data approach
29
Information Sharing Many statutory bodies under the

legislation are lying vacant due to
• The Right to Information Act, 2005 has non-appointment of staff,
been enacted after years of waging a
struggle against a reluctant bureaucracy High level of pendency of cases before
that prefers to shroud itself under a the authorities,
labyrinth of laws, processes and circulars. Non-imposition of penalties has
• The important principle of information emboldened the public authorities to
sharing is that the information belongs to not disclose information,
the public and the owners have a right to Many RTI activists have been killed
access it, make copies of it and use it in a when they sought information that
manner that will be empowering. was deemed to be dangerous to the
• The Supreme Court too affirmed this authorities in power.
right under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian • In 2019, the government amended the
Constitution which gives the right to RTI Act, 2005 and introduced certain
freedom of speech and expression to provisions that were criticized by many.
every citizen of India. • The government amended the legislation
• The right to access information is also to:
as important as the right to express Do away with the equivalence of the
one’s self and share one’s views through Central Information Commissioners
various mediums. with that of the Election Commissioners
• It is in this regard that the Right to on the ground that the two authorities
Information Act, 2005 was enacted. have different mandates. This
• Tamil Nadu became the first state in the indicates that accessing information
country to enact the Right to Information in a democracy is less important than
Act. holding free and fair elections in a
democracy is absurd.
• The Union government enacted the
Freedom of Information Act, 2003. The government also did away with the
However, this was a half-hearted security of tenure of the information
attempt and it only included information commissioners. This indicates that the
pertaining to government departments fixed tenure of five years does not exist
and it did not include a judicial process. anymore and these officers will now
serve under the whims and fancies of
• The 2005 legislation covered these the government of the day.
deficiencies.
These amendments clearly go against
• It provides a mechanism for accessing the principle of transparency in
public information, defines ‘public governance and are a threat to the
authorities’, provides a time frame for democratic functioning of India. An
accessing information, provides for independent body to uphold the rights
appellate authorities and penalties for of citizens is the need of the hour.
non-compliance.
Access to information is only one
• However, there are issues pertaining to aspect of transparency. There is
this legislation too. also the proactive disclosure of
• Some of the issues are the following: information that is the true hallmark
30
of a democracy. Section 4(2) of the their acts but also participating in the
RTI Act mandates public authorities to governance process.
proactively disclose information. • This requires a decentralized system
• It is in this regard that the Government of governance. The setting up of these
of Rajasthan initiated the Jansuchna bodies have definitely brought about a
Portal. Here are some of the features of system of participation in governance.
the excellent initiatives: • However, there are issues pertaining to its
It is an information portal that provides effective implementations such as:
real time information pertaining Lack of knowledge regarding their
to the government functions and functioning,
departments,
Urban neglect and ignorance,
Information pertaining to 13
government departments is provided Corruption,
on a single platform, Non-devolution of funds etc.
Information pertaining to availability The government has taken certain steps to
of food grains in ration shops, improve the situation (refer to the subject of
implementation of schemes, land governance).
records and pensions amongst others There are certain other methods of public
is provided on a real time basis. participation in the governance process.
Village panchayats also host Some of them are the following:
information kiosks and trained staff • Social Audit systems: This enables the
to help the residents of the state to citizens to undertake audits of various
access this portal. projects that are being executed and
highlight their shortcomings and
Grievance redressal mechanisms are
malpractices. Public hearings are
also provided.
organized and through various features
The residents of the state who are including IT initiatives, the projects are
armed with the information are then examined by the citizens. No legislation
able to hold government officials empowering social audits exists in
accountable for their lapses and India. However, Meghalaya became the
negligence. first state in the country to enact a law
empowering citizens to organize social
Participative audit laws.
• People’s plan campaign: Is an initiative of
Governance the Government of Kerala which enables
• The introduction of the 73rd and 74th the residents of the state to make plans
Constitutional Amendment Acts has for their local development. This is one of
empowered the village panchayats and the best examples of Direct Democracy.
urban municipalities in their domain of
influence (refer to 11th and 12th Schedules
of the Indian Constitution).
Accountability
• People have a right to govern themselves. Mechanism
Transparency is not just restricted to The concept of accountability means three
holding the government responsible for things:
31
• Answerability, • The Whistle-blower’s protection scheme

• Enforcement of sanctions and is also another important feature of
accountability.
• Responsiveness
There are various institutions that lie within Open Data Approach
the government and outside to enforce • Data is the new oil. The importance of
accountability. Some of them are following: data cannot be stressed upon sufficiently.
• Head of the organization From the governance point of view, it
• Department Head enables smarter decision making and
decision making that will reflect the
• Parliament (the executive is accountable realities on ground.
to the legislature)
• However, issues do persist with respect to
• Judiciary data protection and safety.
• Media/ Civil Society • The government has enacted the
One important initiative to promote National Data Sharing and Accessibility
accountability which has been introduced Policy, 2012 and the Draft Personal Data
in recent times is the: Protection Act is currently under the
consideration of the parliament.
Pragati:
• It is a technological medium through Importance of E-Governance
which the Prime Minister is able to track Governance will be greatly improved if it
projects and address grievances of the is faceless and contactless. Citizens will
various departments effectively. This benefit if they can get their services delivered
works at three levels. At the Union level electronically to the extent possible and
(the concerned Secretary of Ministry/ their grievances addressed through online
Department), at the State level (Chief mechanisms.
Secretary) and the District level (District E-Governance helps in the following ways:
Magistrate). • Easier delivery of services,
• Issues are sorted out and projects and • Redressal of grievances and
their implementation are viewed using
even GIS systems. • Better accountability.
• Meetings take place, normally once in a Some of the initiatives include Twitter
month. Seva, Lokvani (Uttar Pradesh) and Sakala
(Karnataka).
32
Module Six
PROBITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE
Probity is of utmost importance in the day • Objectivity

to day lives of individuals and more so, in • Accountability
the field of governance. Public service is
also different from private services and in • Transparency
this chapter, we shall be looking into probity • Openness
as a concept and also explore the concept
of public services. • Honesty
• Confidentiality
Probity • Management of Conflict of Interest
Probity means goodness and instilling a • Leadership
sense of discipline in both private as well
as public lives of individuals. In the field of
governance, it would translate into having How does Probity in
transparency in policies and actions and a
strong ethical system and institutions and
Governance Help?
adhering to them. Probity in governance brings the following
benefits:
What Constitutes • Builds the legitimacy of the State and

the confidence in the people that the
Probity in Public decisions are being taken only for the
public welfare,
Service? • It helps in checking the abuse and
It includes honesty, integrity, incorruptibility misuse of power by various organs of
and transparency amongst others. government such as magistracy, police
• The principles aren’t sufficient by itself. It and all other providers of public service
needs an institution to implement it in a e.g. PWD, health, education, etc.
proper manner, so as to gain the trust of • It provides for an objective and
the citizens. independent view on the fairness of the
• For example: India has strong laws process.
against corruption. But do the institutions • Ensures ethical systems that build trust
implement it? among all stakeholders,
• The strength of the institutions also • Avoids activities that encourage
matters when we discuss probity. It is corruption and sub-optimal outcomes,
only strong institutions that implement • It is an absolute must for Socio-Economic
principles of good governance and have development of the nation.
the impact to gain the confidence of the
people. Commenting on the importance of probity
in governance, the National Commission
Some of the attributes of probity in to Review the Working of the Constitution
Governance, as elucidated by the Nolan said:
Committee report in the UK include:
• ‘An important requisite for ensuring
• Selflessness: People in public service probity in governance is absence of
should only be guided by public interests corruption. The other requirements are
and not private interests. effective laws, rules and regulations
• Integrity governing every aspect of public life and,
34
more important, an effective and fair • Politicians misusing public money or

implementation of those laws, etc. Indeed, granting public jobs or contracts to their
a proper, fair and effective enforcement sponsors, friends and families and
of law is a facet of discipline. Discipline • Corporation bribing officials to get
implies inter alia public and private lucrative deals.
morality and a sense of honesty...It is true
that instilling a sense of discipline among In addition, the 2nd Administrative Reforms
the citizens is more the function of the Commission recommended the inclusion of
the following acts under the Prevention of
society, its leaders, political parties and
Corruption Act, thus bringing it within the
public figures and less a matter which
ambit of the definition of corruption:
can be legislated upon.’
• Acts that subvert the working of the
• It is in this regard, that India is described constitution and the democratic
as a soft state due to its inability to enact institutions by violating the oath of office,
laws for the well being of all citizens
(Political parties refuse to become a part • Abuse of authority by favouring someone
of the RTI), refusal or inability to implement or harming the other,
existing laws (Police reforms is still not • Obstruction of Justice and
implemented despite the Supreme Court
• Squandering of public money.
urging all state governments to do so)
and a lack of discipline at all levels of the The National Commission to Review the
government (government’s decision to Working of the Constitution (NCRWC) said:
remove the Ministry of Defence’s report ‘Corruption is an abuse of public resources
on Galwan valley clashes). or position in public life for private gain. The
scope for corruption increases when control
on the public administrators is fragile and
Corruption as a the division of power between political,
Threat to the Nation

executive and bureaucracy is ambiguous.
Political corruption which is sometimes
No one is immune from this threat that inseparable from bureaucratic corruption
continues to shake our confidence in the public tends to be more widespread in authoritarian
service. Most of us have faced government regimes where the public opinion and the
employees who have extorted money from us Press are unable to denounce corruption.
for either doing a job that they are supposed The paradox of India, however, is that in spite
to be doing or not doing something that they of a vigilant press and public opinion, the
are supposed to be doing. level of corruption is exceptionally high. This
may be attributed to the utter insensitivity,
What is Corruption? lack of shame and the absence of any sense

of public morality among the bribe-takers.
Corruption goes beyond the mere act of Indeed, they wear their badge of corruption
taking and giving money (bribery) which and shamelessness with equal élan and
is illegitimate in nature. Transparency brazenness. The increase of opportunities
International defines corruption as the in State intervention in economic and social
abuse of entrusted power for private gain. life has vastly increased the opportunity for
Corruption also includes but not limited to: political and bureaucratic corruption, more
• Public servants demanding or taking particularly since politics has also become
money or favours in exchanges for professionalized’.
services.
35
Why is Corruption started regulating the various resources

and discouraged the growth of legitimate
Flourishing in India? private sector businesses.

• More powers in the hands of the
Many reasons can be attributed for this bureaucrats resulted in corruption
failure in governance and the degradation
becoming the norm.
of the society. Some of the reasons are the
following: • Normalization of acts of corruption: This
• Colonial hangover: The British rule was is the most unfortunate consequence of
inherently corrupt. They thrived on loot corruption. Society has come to normalize
and private gains. Dadabhai Naoroji acts of corruption. Individuals do not
in his book ‘The Poverty and Un-British hesitate before bribing the traffic police,
rule in India’, lists out acts of loot by the corporations dedicate a certain amount
company. of money towards acts of corruption and
the government encourages this culture.
• Post-independence, India inherited a
There is a lack of incentive for people to be
system that was exploitative in nature
honest as they don’t see acts of corruption
and which encouraged the suppression
being punished. The 2nd Administrative
of people’s welfare.
Commission Report said that:
• In this set-up, officials had a dizzying • ‘Corruption has flourished because one
amount of power which was completely does not see adequately successful
unaccounted for. This encouraged examples of effectively prosecuted cases
activities of corruption. of corruption. Cases, poorly founded
• There is a popular saying that power upon, half-hearted and incomplete
corrupts and absolute power corrupts investigation, followed by a tardy and
absolutely. delayed trial confluence with a morally
• Nature of the society: With over 90% of ill-deserved but a legally inevitable
the working population having no basic acquittal. The acceptance of corruption
income and dependent on informal as an inexorable reality has led to
work, a small percentage of people who silent reconciliation and resignation to
are in the formal sector with regular such wrongs. There needs to be a vital
monthly income, start off in a position of stimulation in the social consciousness of
advantage. our citizens – that is neither has a place
in the personal nor social. It is true that
• On top of this food chain are the the present process of withdrawing the
government servants, not just officers State from various sectors in which it
but also small-time staff. They all yield should have never entered or in which it
varying amounts of power and access is not capable of performing efficiently
to public finance. This allows them to may reduce the chances of corruption
determine the future of the citizens. This to some extent but even if we migrate to
is where corruption starts. a free market economy, there has to be
• Decisions of the government: The regulation of economy as distinct from
government that does not trust its own restrictions upon the industrial activity.
citizens indulges in behaviour that The requirements of governance would
favours bureaucratic control. Right after yet call for entering into contracts,
independence, the economic policies purchases and so on.’
36
The two well known cases as far as reforms • The Indrajit Gupta Committee Report
in the civil services are concerned are explored the idea of public funding of
the TSR Subramanian vs Union of India elections in India.
(Bureaucracy) and the Prakash Singh vs
Union of India (Police reforms). Some electoral reforms initiated by
the Supreme Court of India:
Effects of Corruption • The SC asked the political parties to justify
the issuance of tickets to candidates to
• Acts of corruption does the following:
contest elections and also justify giving
• Impacts the socio-economic development tickets to candidates with a criminal
of the nation, background. The upcoming elections to
• Erodes the trust of the citizens in the Bihar Legislative Assembly will be the first
various institutions of the state, time the decision will be implemented.
Political parties will be under contempt of
• Compromises the defence of the nation
Court for not following this law diligently.
and makes it vulnerable to external
and internal national security threats • All incomplete information provided
amongst others. in the Election Affidavit and forms will
disqualify candidates.
• Kills merit and reduces the country into
mediocrity. • In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down
Section 8 (3) of the Representation of
Political Corruption the People Act, 1951 as unconstitutional.

Thenceforth, all candidates who have
• The issue of corruption in Politics is equally been convicted for a crime which is
important as we study this important punishable by imprisonment of a term of
issue that threatens our nation. two years or more will stand automatically
disqualified.
• It is well known that elections are won
by rampant acts of corruption including Recently, the Madras High Court asked the
using one’s money and muscle power. Centre to explore the possibility of banning
all individuals with a criminal record from
• Various efforts by the Election Commission contesting elections at all levels including
of India to limit the use of money power the local bodies. In conclusion, it can be
has not yielded the expected results. said that corruption has become an integral
• The government’s decision to introduce part of our DNA and it will take a long time
electoral bonds suffers from the issue of to break away from the shackles of this
lack of transparency. It also leaves the menace. The leadership at the top should
buyer of the bond at the mercy of the no doubt play an important role and set an
ruling party. example for us. But let us not forget that we
are a democracy and it is ‘We the people of
• All political parties are also exempted India’ who select these leaders in the first
from paying Income Tax and do not place.
fall within the ambit of the Right to
Information Act (RTI), 2005.
37
Module Seven
INFLUENCE OF ANCIENT AND

ODERN PHILOSOPHERS
• The topic of wellness and happiness has • It was deemed to be rational in one’s
been of paramount importance to the conduct.
ancient thinkers, both foreign as well as • Plato was also known for his Theory on
Indian. Ethics has been central to their Education. Education made individuals
thinking. The concept of ethics could virtuous. And virtual behaviour in return
originate from religious texts, theoretical made human beings live happily.
concepts and practical application.
• Finally, virtue also acted in different ways
• The ancient philosophers tried to connect according to the situation, the individual
three important elements: virtues, was facing.
happiness and soul.
• Virtue also flowed from the quality of
• What brings happiness to individuals is leadership. Hence, it was important for
still a question that is yet to be answered. the leaders to imbibe virtues in their
Ancient philosophers believed that it was training.
the overall wellbeing of the soul (with
virtues) and physical wellbeing.
• These ancient philosophers looked for the Aristotle
moral human being and argued that a • Aristotle too believed that human
moral person is unique in the behavioural happiness is the ultimate goal of human
sense. existence. Though he differed with Plato
Foreign Thinkers on number of points.
• His method of studying human philosophy
Plato was through naturalistic traditions and
this was by initiating a way of inquiry
• Plato, one of the most influential thinkers and then looking into answers by closely
of his times, stressed upon the importance observing facts and evidence.
of happiness and its attainment as the
• Aristotle opined that character is a state
highest goal. According to him, virtues
and action determines the virtue of
help in the attainment of happiness. A
individuals.
virtuous conduct helps in the attainment
of happiness. • Virtues are feelings of individuals.
• Philosophy was deemed to be a way of • Accordingly, individuals with a virtuous
life. conduct are calm and composed and
easily forgive those who have erred.
• In this regard, he considered the soul to
be a part of life and said that it plays an • Whereas, individuals exhibiting non-
important role in determining day to day virtuous conduct are intolerable and suffer
behaviour and actions. from inner doubt and predicaments that
stop them from behaving in a virtuous
• Behaviour that was bereft of virtues led
manner. They are the ones who exhibit
to a disharmonious life.
behaviour that is vengeful and are not
• Plato divided the Soul into three parts. the ones to easily forgive others.
The soul was also filled with certain
• Further, the soul was divided into two
desires which were again divided into
parts: rational and irrational and virtue
three categories: rational, appetitive and
was divided into three categories:
spirited.
Calculative- Intellectual virtue;
39
Appetitive- moral virtue and vegetative- was better to be an intellectual who is

nutritional virtue. dissatisfied than a pig which is satisfied.
• Aristotle opined that all human beings are • Human nature too could be described
expected to exhibit rational behaviour by the theory of psychological hedonism
and possess a soul that is rational in its (motives of pain and pleasure).
outlook. • All human actions are guided by this
• As far as virtues are concerned, vegetative theory.
is the basic virtue which entails fulfilment
of basic necessities of life.
• The highest of the virtues is intellectual
Immanuel Kant
or calculative virtue. • Kant belonged to the deontological
school of moral theory. According to this
theory, our actions are not dependent on
Jeremy Bentham the consequences but whether they fulfill
• “Nature has placed mankind under the our duty.
governance of two sovereign masters, • He differed from the theory of
pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to utilitarianism and suggested that certain
point out what we ought to do, as well as behaviour like theft, murder etc was
to determine what we shall do”. prohibited even if it brought happiness
• Jeremy Bentham, the father of the and benefits.
theory of Utilitarianism wrote the above- • According to those who follow Kant,
mentioned quote in the introduction to individuals should ask two important
his book ‘Introduction to the Principles of questions before committing certain
Morals and Legislation’. actions.
• The theory of utilitarianism describes Can I rationally say that everyone acts
human conduct as one that avoids pain as I propose to act? If the answer is no,
and maximises pleasure. we must not perform that action.
• Bentham said that humans will maximise Do my actions respect the goals of
pleasure and avoid pain. human beings rather than merely
• In this regard, ethics at large may be using them for my own actions? Again,
defined, the art of directing men’s actions if the answer is no, I must not proceed
to the production of the greatest possible with the action.
quantity of happiness. The moral agent
will perform the action that maximises
happiness or pleasure for everyone
Rawls’ Theory of
involved. Justice
• However, a few points of criticism John Rawls was an influential American
emanate from his theory of ethics. thinker who is famous for his theory of
• First, it is difficult to measure happiness justice.
in quantifiable terms. He introduced his concept of Justice
through the social contract theory.
• Secondly, pleasure and pain are
subjective in nature. Pushkin, one of the • The social contract theory as espoused
major critics of Bentham noted that it by many including Thomas Hobbes and
40
John Locke had an important element • Maximising the welfare of the most
termed the state of nature. disadvantaged groups and vulnerable
• The state of nature was one where sections of the population and
all individuals had absolute liberty to • Ensuring the stability of the contract.
behave and act in any manner and could
pursue any activity that they wanted. Indian Thinkers and Philosophy
• Due to certain inherent issues with it, the
members got together and decided to Buddhist Thought
form a state wherein they surrendered • Buddhism believed in the goodness of
certain liberties in return for security and action and the cycle of birth: life-death
common good. and rebirth. The philosophy of Karma
• Rawls opposed this concept and said too is a strong principle that influences
that Justice was fairness. Buddhist philosophy.
• His theory contains three principles and • Lord Buddha ascribed certain principles
five procedural ways to achieve it. after this enlightenment at Gaya.
• The Buddha’s Four Noble Truths are
The Three Principles were the fol- another guiding norm of moral thought
lowing: and action, particularly as expressed in
• An original position: This was similar to the fourth truth, the Eightfold Path. The
the ‘State of Nature’ in the social contract truths are as follows:
theory wherein there was absolute The Truth of Dukkha is that all sadness
liberty but chaos which necessitated the is a reality and a state of life.
individuals to come together to form a The Truth of the Origin of Dukkha is
state. that craving for and clinging to what
• Veil of ignorance: The members agree to is pleasurable and aversion to what is
form a state without due consideration not pleasurable.
to the diversity surrounding their abilities, The Truth of the ending of Dukkha is
education, sex, age etc. that putting an end to this craving
• Unanimous acceptance: Takes place and clinging also means that rebirth,
when the veil of ignorance is lifted and dissatisfaction, can no longer arise.
members agree to a standard definition The Truth of the Path of Liberation from
of justice which is based on fairness. Dukkha is that by following the Noble
The members are guaranteed certain Eightfold Path; i.e behaving decently,
minimum rights and liberties for all and cultivating discipline, and practicing
vulnerable sections of the population are mindfulness and meditation; an end
taken care of. can be put to craving, to clinging, to
becoming, to rebirth, to dissatisfaction
The five procedural ways to achieve this
are the following: • Buddhism supports the theory of
• Entering into the contract, goodness and compassion.
• Agreeing unanimously to the contract, • The ethical conduct of an individual

should come from within and there can
• Including basic conditions such as be no outside influence. The individuals
freedom of speech and expression, will continue to go through the life cycle
till they attain enlightenment.
41
Swami Vivekananda • He stated that for the development of

individuals and to make India, a great
• A believer of Vedanta philosophy, he nation, it is important to believe in the:
stressed upon the importance of doing Conviction of goodness,
good to the larger society. He believed
Absence of jealousy and suspicion and
that gods reside in the hearts of all
human beings and they were capable of Helping others in the quest for
being virtuous and it was important to goodness.
bring out this element for the betterment • He concluded that service to humans
of society. is service to god. One should see the
• He said that service to society is service Janardana (god) in the Jana (the people).
to mankind.
• He called on the young people of India
to stay away from negative thoughts and
Mahatma Gandhi
• He played a critical role in the Indian
build a positive character which will help
nationalist movement. He called on the
the nation awake from its slumber.
citizens to achieve their goals which were
• He said that development of human in consonance with other human beings
beings was a prerequisite for the and the environment.
development of the nation. It is in this
• All human beings had to live for the
regard that securing a good quality
benefit of the society, especially the
education is important for all.
weaker sections of the society and
• A good quality education will necessarily respect the environment.
include a lesson on morals and ethics.
• Every action had to fulfil the objectives of
• Moral values include: truth and be non-violent.
Moral standards of behaviour, • Mahatma Gandhi even said that: “I have
Moral responsibility and nothing new to teach the world. Truth
and non-violence are as old as the hills”.
Moral identity
• He disapproved of western philosophy
• Vivekananda was appalled at the
and encouraged Indians to look into their
mechanisation of the society and the
past and gain confidence.
negative effect of science that corrupted
the minds of individuals. • He believed in the goodness of Indian
philosophy.
• This can be seen even today when
individuals are running behind money • Gandhi not only believed in social good
and pay scant regard to the development and called on his followers to denounce
of the society and environment. untouchability and practice inter-
faith harmony but also believed in the
• A classic example is the disrespect being
economic good which is sustainable
shown towards the elderly sections of the
in nature. Much before the concept of
population.
sustainable development came into
• A sound educational system is of being, Gandhi had advocated it. He
paramount importance to correct this asked his followers to spin Khadi and
disorder. promote rural industries including the
cottage industry. He also said that there
42
is enough to cater to man’s necessity but Politics without principles Will harm
not his greed. the world.
• His policy of Sarvodaya which meant The COVID-19 pandemic has proved the
service to all and all human beings are great Mahatma right. Endless exploitation
equally emphasized on dignity of labour of the environment has resulted in the
and service to mankind. explosion of various pandemics.
• He also believed in the concept of Politics without principles has resulted in
trusteeship that everything in the world a heartless government lie in the Supreme
believes to the common good of the Court about the state of migrants in the
country. The most vulnerable sections of
society.
the society were left to fend for themselves
• Finally, he gave this theory that will and many are suffering as a result of the
destroy the world. He said that: pandemic.
Wealth without work, Commerce without morality has resulted in
hospitals overcharging their patients and
Pleasure without conscience,
denying them treatment. People are being
Knowledge without character, forced to purchase sub-standard services
Commerce without morality, for exorbitant rates.
The issue of vaccine nationalism also goes
Science without humanity,
against the concept of science without
Religion without sacrifice and humanity.
43
Module Eight
ETHICS THEORY SOLVED PAPER
As we know, there are two parts to the Hence, all human actions not only influence
General Studies Paper 4 of UPSC Civil individual selves but also that of the society.
Services (Mains) Examination. In this regard, the hedonistic school of
In this module, we shall be looking into the thought believes that happiness is the end
2016 paper and solving the questions that purpose of all human beings and it is only
are there. ethical conduct alone that can bring joy
and prosperity.
A couple of points for the students
For example: A Doctor behaving in an
to remember: ethical manner is not only ensuring their
• Stick to the word limit that has been well being by upholding professional ethics
given. but also helping the other members of the
society and contributing to their wellbeing.
• Be miserly with the words and get to the
crux of the question. (b) Why should impartiality and non-
partisanship be considered as foundational
• Identify the question and relate it to the
values in public services, especially in the
syllabus that is there.
present-day Socio-political context? Illustrate
• Do your rough work and note down some your answer with examples. (150 words)
points and expand it in the main answer. There is no doubt that in a democratic set up
• This part cannot have a right or wrong like India, impartiality and non-partisanship
answer. It is highly subjective. Remember are considered to be foundational values in
that ethics is highly subjective. public service. This has only been further
fortified with a changing political landscape
• My answers given below have been and socio-economic conditions in recent
written from my perspective and you can times.
attempt it from yours. Impartiality and non-partisanship imply
the ability of a public servant to not be
2016 committed to any political party or persons
associated with any political party and be
committed only to the constitution of the
Question 1: (20 marks)
nation and public welfare.
(a) Explain how ethics contributes to social A public servant who is impartial is able
and human well-being. (150 words) to fearlessly execute projects and work for
public welfare without due consideration of
Ethics can be defined as the study of the party in power.
human behaviour and conduct. It is the
Further in a democratic set up such as
study of how one ought to behave as
India, the people choose their political
opposed to how one is behaving. Generally,
representatives and have the power to
it is the right thing to do and it provides a elect them out. The political executive is
mechanism through which human behavior non-permanent whereas the civil servants
can be judged as right or wrong. are permanent and will be able to keep in
First, let us establish the fact that no mind the long-term interests of the people
human being lives on an island all alone as opposed to the short term thinking that
by themselves. Individuals are part of may characterize the political executive.
the larger society and regularly interact Example: Das Commission report in Punjab
with the society and its other members in alleged that officials were carrying out
different ways. Greek Philosopher Aristotle illegal acts to curry favours from the political
described, ‘Man as a social animal’. dispensation.
45
Question 2: (20 marks) • Politics without Principles: Legislators

elected by the people do everything
(a) What do you understand by the terms to stay in power. We have seen them
‘governance’, ‘good governance’ and ‘ethical being purchased by opposition parties
governance’? (150 words) and elected governments are brought
Governance is the process of decision down by illegitimate means. Public
making and the process by which those welfare takes a back seat under such
decisions that are taken are implemented. circumstances.
There are many stakeholders in this process • Wealth without work: This idea originated
depending on the final beneficiary. Some of from the practice of the Zamindari
the stakeholders include the government, system in pre-independent India. The
civil society, media, share holders (in the poor tenant used to slog for more than
case of corporate governance) and the 16 hours a day and get low wages in
citizens themselves. return which was barely sufficient to
Good governance on the other hand meet his daily expenditure. The landlord
indicates that the processes and decisions or Zamindar on the other hand, did not
that are being implemented are able to work and received all the money. Gandhi
meet the defined objectives and fulfill the termed this as a sin.
concept of social good ultimately. The end
objective of governance is public welfare • Pleasure without conscience: People
and good governance measures whether often pursue acts of pleasure without
the public has benefitted. Good governance due consideration to the societal and
involves transparent decision making and personal harm they cause. In times
processes, credible institutions and public of COVID-19, violating the lockdown
participation. guidelines definitely brings an element of
Finally, ethical governance is the absence pleasure to the individual but increases
of corruption in governance. It involves the chances of the virus spreading to
governance which exhibits values such others.
as honesty, integrity and being selfless • Commerce without morality: Patients
amongst others. being exploited financially by hospitals;
For governance to be good, it has to be farmers being exploited by the APMC
ethical. agents signify acts of pursuing commerce
(b) Discuss Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of without a sense of morality and profit
seven sins. (150 words) over ruling other factors.
Here are the following seven sins as • Science without humanity: All scientific
mentioned by Mahatma Gandhi: experiments are human centric and
• Knowledge without character: We study to hope to ensure the welfare of human
pass this exam or get a lucrative job and beings and nature. Acts such as vaccine
are more interested in career building. nationalism being seen during COVID-19
The purpose of acquiring knowledge is times is an example of science without
character building. Education needs to humanity.
push us to the best of our abilities and • Worship without sacrifice: Ultimately all
think about contributions to society. religions advocate peace and social
welfare of all. It is important to understand
this basic tenet of religion.
46
QUESTION 3: (20 MARKS) • The code sought to codify certain

important values deemed to be
(a) Analyze John Rawls’s concept of social important for a career in public service
justice in the Indian contest. (150 words) such as integrity, objectivity, impartiality
With inequalities that pervade all spheres and respect for constitutional values
of human life in India, John Rawls’ theory and institutions. It also highlighted the
of justice which emphasizes liberty importance of pursuing national interests
and distributive justice assumes critical above other factors. It required the public
importance. servants to fulfil their duties within the
• According to the theory, everyone, realm of this code.
irrespective of their position in the society, • A ‘Public Services Authority’ was also
enjoys certain liberties which are innate envisaged as part of the code to enforce
to their well being and growth. Some of the principles enshrined in the code and
these liberties include freedom of speech ensure a sense of discipline amongst those
and expression, right to equality and right who are in the field of public service.
to equal opportunities amongst others. India has a unique distinction amongst the
• The theory then stipulates that those comity of nations. It doesn’t have a code of
who make the laws, do so keeping in ethics for its public servants and this has not
mind their personal interests and make only impacted the quality of governance
laws that further these interests. It then but also lowered the public conduct of
supposes that if there was a veil of government employees as seen in recent
ignorance in which the law makers do not times during the COVID-19 pandemic. The
know their own interests, they will make code aims to prevent the above mentioned.
laws that are just and fair to all human
beings and will also ensure that certain Question 4: (20 Marks)
disadvantaged groups are given certain
(a) “Corruption causes misuse of government
special benefits that would enable them
treasury, administrative inefficiency
to prosper and exercise their rights. This
and obstruction in the path of national
is also called distributive justice. development.” Discuss Kautilya’s views.
• In the Indian contexts we see this in the (150 words)
form of reservation provided to the weaker Vishnu Gupta or Kautilya, a master strategist
sections of the society in educational wrote the ancient treatise of ‘Arthashastra’
institutes and public employment, special in which corruption and its disastrous effects
laws in favour of the members of SC/ST are an important chapter.
community, minority specific schemes Accordingly, 40 types of corruption were
such as Nai Manzil amongst others. provided in the book. The government
(b) Discuss the Public Services Code as treasury belongs to the emperor alone
recommended by the 2nd Administrative and only he has the power to authorize
Reforms Commission. (150 words) expenditure from it.
• The 2nd
Administrative Reforms Kautilya also added that lower revenue
Commission sought to fill the void created collection and higher expenditure indicated
in the public sector in India due to a lack the prevalence of corruption and said that
of code of ethics by including a chapter the practice of the officials to enjoy undue
on ‘Public Services Code’. benefits from the public treasure was a
cause for concern.
47
It leads to depletion of the treasury causing and making the people use these toilets
economic hardships to the people (consider and stop the practice of open defecation.
modern day kickbacks in defence contracts It is in this regard that social influence and
which lead to higher public expenditure), persuasion will play a critical role.
leads to administrative inefficiency (status
of roads in India after monsoon) and Question 5: (10 Marks)
obstructs the overall national development.
Some of the measures he advocated to Law and ethics are considered to be the two
curb corrupt practices were handing out tools for controlling human conduct so as to
exemplary punishment to those guilty of it, make it conducive to civilized social existence.
frequent transfer of officials so as to prevent (150 words)
a sense of familiarity with places and (a) Discuss how they achieve this objective.
processes and the appointment of a strong
authority that will work towards mitigating Laws are rules that regulate human
corruption in the nation. conduct and are created and enforced
by governmental agencies or any other
(b) How could social influence and persuasion agency authorized by them. Ethics on
contribute to the success of Swachh Bharat the other hand are guidelines for proper
Abhiyan? (150 words) behaviour often mandated by agencies
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was launched to other than governments such as private
ensure universal access to sanitation and bodies (medical ethics).
end the practice of open defecation that Ethics comes into play much before laws
continues to pose a threat to public health as they are innate to an individual and will
and order across the country. guide them towards proper human conduct.
Persuasion involves directly appealing to (b) Giving examples. Show how the two differ
the members of the public through various in their approaches.
means such as social media campaigns,
radio and television messages and Laws are implemented by agencies and are
advertisements through various means enforced on the members of the society and
which is intended to convince the target institutions whereas ethics is more internal
audience to induce certain behavioural and it automatically regulates human
changes which encourage hygienic conduct.
sanitation. Laws are external tools whereas ethics are
Social influence on the other hand could internal.
involve an element of sanction or pressure Finally, laws are negative in nature. It
and it is the ability of the society to influence forbids certain behaviour whereas ethics is
its members to induce the behavioural positive in nature. It positively impacts the
changes. When most of the members of the behaviour of individuals.
society follow a certain practice, the fear of Example: Being patriotic is a virtue and
being left alone will ensure that those who part of someone’s ethics. The government
are reticent also end up following the good too has enacted the Prevention of Insults
practices. to National Honour Act to forbid acts that
This scheme is not just about the construction disrespect the national flag, Constitution
of toilets but also involves the most important etc.
element of inducing behavioural changes
48
Question 6: (10 Marks) developed by the Government of NCT Delhi.

These models should lead by example and
Our attitudes towards life, work, other strongly discourage acts of corruption,
people and society are generally shaped dowry amongst others and help the
unconsciously by the family and the social individual build a strong character.
surroundings in which we grow up. Some of The government should take the lead in
these unconsciously acquired attitudes and terms of punishing those civil servants
values are often undesirable in the citizens of who display deviant behaviour and make
a modern democratic and egalitarian society. an example out of those who behave in
(150 words) a manner that is unbecoming of a civil
(a) Discuss such undesirable values prevalent servant.
in today’s educated Indians. The Code of Ethics, as recommended by
It is unfortunate that ‘Educated Indians’ the 2nd Administrative Commission Report
have acquired many undesired values in should be immediately introduced.
today’s world.
Question 7: (10 Marks)
Amongst the major values that are
undesirable is the issue of casteism and Anger is a harmful negative emotion. It is
communism. It is not surprising to note that injurious to both personal life and work life.
educated Indians with a communal mindset (150 words)
are being arrested on terror charges these
days. (a) Discuss how it leads to negative emotions
Another major drawback is the evil of and undesirable behaviours.
patriarchy. This enables the building of a Anger can be compared to temporary
condescending attitude towards women and insanity. It leads to impaired decision
their empowerment. The low participation making, undesirable behaviour and further
of women in the workforce can be ascribed leads to negative emotions such as stress,
to this issue. loss of confidence.
One could easily argue that the most Actions committed in anger and words spoken
undesirable value amongst educated in anger have both disastrous effects. Since,
Indians is the attitude of complete disregard the person is not in control of themselves, they
for laws and the legal system and a lack of use harsh words which have the potential to
civic discipline. High number of domestic impact inter-personal relations and actions
violence cases in some of the IT hubs across committed do have the potential of harming
the nation is an example of this issue. others and violating laws (culpable homicide
(b) How can such undesirable attitudes not amounting to murder).
be changed and socio-ethical values Anger not only is undesirable for those
considered necessary in public services be around us but also leads to our own mental
cultivated in the aspiring and serving civil and physiological deterioration. It results
servants? in high blood pressure, impaired thinking
and spoils our relationship with others both
The importance of the role played by the
personally as well as professionally.
teachers, educational institutes and parents
is critical for the overall development of an (b) How can it be managed and controlled?
individual, more specifically that of a young Anger needs to be controlled urgently and
adult aspiring to join the Civil Services. some of the methods for doing the same
Example: The Happiness curriculum are the following:
49
• Meditation Max Weber is of the opinion that it is

• Expectation management important to separate the ethical systems
that we apply to public administration and
• Taking long breaths, our personal lives.
• Listening to music For example: A RTI application may yield
It is important to understand the source 100 pages and more of various commission
of one’s anger. Anger mostly arises due to reports and the information given may
frustration and it is important to quell the be overwhelming. Now, it is important for
source of anger. public servants to be transparent and share
the information that is sought by the public.
Question 8: (10 Marks) However, this onslaught of information
may be overwhelming and irritating to the
“Max Weber said that it is not wise to apply to applicant who may demand more specific
public administration the sort of moral and information.
ethical norms we apply to matters of personal However, this exclusive domain of the
conscience. It is important to realize that the bureaucracy to have its own ethical systems
State bureaucracy might possess its own has also been criticized as being elite.
independent bureaucratic morality.” Critically
analyze this statement. (150 words)
It is a known fact that the public experiences
a sense of frustration while dealing with the
institutions of bureaucracy.
50
Module Nine
ETHICS CASE TUDIES (SOLVED)
Points to Remember: has severe abdominal pain frequently that

prevents him from doing any physical labour.
• Have sufficient time to solve these The couple has no children to support them.
questions. Ensure you finish the first The expert surgeon whom they contacted is
part of the paper quickly and you have willing to do the surgery without charging
adequate time to solve these questions. any fee. However, the couple will have to
• Read every question, understand the bear the cost of incidental charges, such
requirements of it and identify the correct as medicines, hospitalization, etc., to the
issues in them. tune of rupees one lakh. The couple fulfils
all the criteria except criterion ‘b’. However,
• Think and come up with multiple any financial aid would certainly make a
solutions to the problem that you are significant difference in their quality of life.
facing. Always look for the middle path.
How should Rakesh respond to the situation?
• Finally, this is a subjective paper and my (250 words)
answers may differ from yours. Practice
as many case studies as possible before As a public servant, Rakesh is duty bound to
follow the law and the procedures that exist
the actual exams.
as far as this particular scheme is concerned.
• 2018 General Studies Paper 4 However, devotion towards public service
and being creative which are deemed to
Section B be values that are integral to civil services,
requires him to help this couple.
Question 1 He has a couple of options to help this couple
who deserve to be treated. Exclusion from a
Rakesh is a responsible district level officer, scheme only due to a person not belonging
who enjoys the trust of his higher officials. to a certain community is injustice.
Knowing his honesty, the government Rakesh has the following options:
entrusted him with the responsibility of
Option 1: Inform the senior officers of the
identifying the beneficiaries under a health
district administration and request them
care scheme meant for senior citizens.
to include the couple in this scheme by
The criteria to be a beneficiary are the waiving off condition ‘b’ in this special case
following: and also inform them of the possibilities of
(a) 60 years of age or above. other similar cases emanating due to this
criterion and request them to amend the
(b) Belonging to a reserved community. criteria.
(c) Family income of less than 1 Lakh rupees Option 2: Alternatively, he should also
per annum. explore the option of including the couple
under other relevant schemes such as the
(d) Post-treatment prognosis is likely to be PM Jan Aarogya Nidhi and PM Jan Ausadhi
high to make a positive difference to the Kendra which will help the couple tide over
quality of life of the beneficiary. the situation.
One day, an old couple visited Rakesh’s Option 3: Other solutions include contacting
office with their application. They have been an NGO and requesting them to assist the
the residents of a village in his district since couple
their birth. The old man is diagnosed with Option 4: Start a crowd funding campaign
a rare condition that causes obstruction in using social media and other appropriate
the large intestine. As a consequence, he mediums.
52
From the above mentioned, Option 3 and displacement of the farmers. As if this is not
Option 4 will definitely help this couple, but enough, it will involve cutting down a large
is unsustainable as far as other similar cases number of trees denuding the area of its
are concerned. green cover.
Option 1 should be pursued and senior Faced with this situation, what will you do?
officials should be convinced to widen the Critically examine various conflicts of interest
criteria of inclusion. and explain what your responsibilities are as a
Option 2 may be the best solution till the public servant. (250 words)
time the senior officials take a decision as
As a Public Servant, dedication to public
far as Option 1 is concerned.
service, transparency and integrity are the
foundational values of my profession. The
Question 2
answer is obvious that I cannot let this
As a senior officer in the Ministry, you realignment proceed due to the harm it
have access to important policy decisions will cause to all stakeholders including the
and upcoming big announcements such environment.
as road construction projects before they In this regard, the following conflicts of
are notified in the public domain. The interest are involved:
Ministry is about to announce a mega road • Private interest of the Minister vs. my
project for which the drawings are already professional interest: Not listening to the
in place. Sufficient care was taken by the Minister may make me earn his wrath and
planners to make use of the government may result in my inconvenient transfer
land with the minimum land acquisition and may even end my career in the long
from private parties. Compensation rate run. However, dedication towards Public
for private parties was also finalized as per service is the foundational value of my
government rules. Care was also taken to profession and transfers should not
minimize deforestation. Once the project bother me. Public interests will triumph
is announced, it is expected that there will over the Minister’s and my personal
be a huge spurt in real estate prices in and interests in this case.
around that area. • Minister’s and my interest’s vs environment:
Meanwhile, the Minister concerned insists As far as I am concerned, this should not
that you realign the road in such a way that even occur to me. I am not serving the
it comes closer to his 20 acres farmhouse. government to fulfil my private interests.
He also suggests that he would facilitate the Erosion of green cover has disastrous
purchase of a big plot of land in your wife’s effects on the environment which in turn
name at the prevailing rate which is very will impact only the residents of that
nominal, in and around the proposed mega area. Once again, public interests over
road project. He also tries to convince you private selfish interests.
by saying that there is no harm in it as he
• Minister’s interests and that of mine vs
is buying the land legally. He even promises
farmer’s interests: The farmers are a
to supplement your savings in case you do
vulnerable section of the society. They
not have sufficient funds to buy the land.
already suffer immensely and this
However, by the act of realignment, a lot
acquisition of land will only add to their
of agricultural lands has to be acquired,
woes. This cannot be permitted.
thereby causing a considerable financial
burden on the government, and also the
53
• Minister’s interests and that of mine vs badly affected by poor irrigation facilities.
Public exchequer: This realignment will Frequent clashes among communities
cause a huge loss to the exchequer and gave boost to illicit distillation. No major
it is the tax’s payers’ money that is being initiatives had taken place in the past either
spent in a wrong manner. from the government’s side or from social
• My moral interests: I will not tolerate any organizations to improve the lot of the
act of corruption and will reject this offer people.
by the Minister to personally bribe me. Which new approach will you adopt to bring
Considering the above-mentioned points, the problem under control? (250 words)
I will explain the situation to the Minister Governance requires its practitioners to be
and convince him to drop the plan of innovative and dedicated towards public
realignment. I will also keep the seniors in the service.
Ministry informed of these developments. Considering the socio-economic situation
Secondly, I would ask the Minister to give and that of the law and order issues before
his request in writing, so as to maintain an me, I have the following options:
element of transparency. Further, this will Option 1: Fix the economic issues that
also help RTI applicants in the future to encourage such illegal practices. As a
understand the reasons for realignment. If Police officer, I will have to take the help
the Whistle-blowers law permits me to raise of the District Magistrate in this regard to
this issue at an appropriate forum, I will introduce large scale industries etc.
raise it.
However, I can introduce steps which are
Lastly, I am bound to follow the orders of within my control such as starting a skill
those officers above me and the Ministers development initiative (similar to that being
who have been elected by the people. I will operated by Delhi Police) and wean away
be left with no choice but to follow it and the youth of the district by guaranteeing
at the same time, reject all the personal them employment in the district police
benefits that have been promised to me. force and any other similar initiative (Eg:
Home Guards).
Question 3 Option 2: Using the funds available under my
It is a State where prohibition is in force. You command, start a Police Public school that
are recently appointed as the Superintendent will encourage children from this backward
of Police of a district notorious for illicit region to focus on education. Similarly,
distillation of liquor. The illicit liquor leads encourage the youth to join NCC, NSS etc
to many deaths, reported and unreported, which will instil values of discipline in them.
and causes a major problem for the district Option 3: The demand side of the issue needs
authorities. to be tackled by persuasion and counselling.
The approach till now had been to view it There are underlying psychological issues
as a law and order problem and tackle it for the people to become intoxicated. I can
accordingly. Raids, arrest, police cases, and rope in experts to help the police force in
criminal trials – all these had only limited this regard.
impact. The problem remains as serious as Option 4: Severely punishes those who are
ever. indulging in community clashes. At the
Your inspections show that the parts same time, call on the leaders of the various
of the district where the distillation communities and seek their help in curbing
flourishes are economically, industrially disputes and ensuring overall peace in the
and educationally backward. Agriculture is district.
54
The state government and the district to be paid as penalties by the company
administration too should identify reasons concerned. They have flouted various
for backwardness of the district and rectify environmental laws and will have to be
it. I would write to the concerned authorities punished, in accordance with the law
for the same. established.
• The next step would be to talk to the
Question 4
company management and convince
A big corporate house is engaged in them of installing pollution mitigating
manufacturing industrial chemicals on measures which will reduce the pollution
a large scale. It proposes to set up an around the industrial plant. As they are
additional unit. Many states rejected its a big corporate company, they can be
proposal due to the detrimental effect on persuaded to do so. Once these steps
the environment. But one state government have been taken, leaders of the local
acceded to the request and permitted communities can be taken around the
the unit close to a city, brushing aside all plant and shown the various mitigating
opposition. steps that have been taken.
The unit was set up 10 years ago and was in • Also, these steps should be publicized
full swing till recently. The pollution caused via social media and other mediums for
by the industrial effluents was affecting the
the local population who are the main
land, water and crops in the area. It was
stakeholders to see. It is important to
also causing serious health problems to
win their confidence. All development
human beings and animals. This gave rise
is human centric and they are the most
to a series of agitations demanding the
closure of the plant. In a recent agitation important of the lot.
thousands of people took part, creating a • The company will also be persuaded to
law and order problem necessitating stern improve their community relations by
police action. Following the public outcry, undertaking various Corporate Social
the State government ordered the closure Responsibility (CSR) projects and this will
of the factory. help them gain the confidence of the
The closure of the factory resulted in the population which has been impacted.
unemployment of not only those workers • Finally, it is important to understand
who were engaged in the factory but also that protection of lives is important and
those who were working in the ancillary protection of livelihoods too is equally
units. It also very badly affected those
important. This is not a question of either
industries which depended on the chemicals
of the two but it involves both factors.
manufactured by it.
As a senior officer entrusted with the Question 5
responsibility of handling these issues, how
are you going to address it? (250 words) Dr X is a leading medical practitioner
in a city. He has set up a charitable trust
Being a public servant, I have to protect
through which he plans to establish a super-
both lives as well as livelihood. I shall take
speciality hospital in the city to cater to the
the following actions:
medical needs of all sections of the society.
• Firstly, along with the appropriate Incidentally, that part of the State had been
authorities, I shall examine the damages neglected over the years. The proposed
caused to the environment and the local hospital would be a boon for the region.
populace and determine a hefty amount
55
You are heading the tax investigation In this regard, I would pursue Option (2),
agency of that region. During an inspection albeit in a modified form.
of the doctor’s clinic, your officers have I would warn the doctor and explain the
found out some major irregularities. A few consequences of tax evasion, however
of them are substantial which had resulted minor they may be and then I would help
in considerable withholding of tax that him to put in place proper compliance
should be paid by him now. The doctor is mechanisms to ensure that there are neither
cooperative. He undertakes to pay the tax major discrepancies nor technical issues in
immediately. the future.
However, there are certain other deficiencies The doctor should have a proper team filing
in his tax compliance which are purely the tax returns and ensuring compliance.
technical in nature. If these technical I would advise him to put in a place for
defaults are pursued by the agency, ensuring the same.
considerable time and energy of the doctor Having a team of experts will ensure that
will be diverted to issues which are not so the doctor is over burdened with technical
serious, urgent or even helpful to the tax taxation matters and he is free to pursue his
collection process. Further, in all probability, noble charitable initiatives.
it will hamper the prospects of the hospital
coming up.
Question 6
There are two options before you:
Edward Snowden, a computer expert
(1) Taking a broader view, ensure substantial
and former CIA administrator, released
tax compliance and ignore defaults that are
confidential Government documents to the
merely technical in nature.
press about the existence of Government
(2) Pursue the matter strictly and proceed on surveillance programmes. According to
all fronts, whether substantial or merely many legal experts and the US Government,
technical. As the head of the tax agency, his action violated the Espionage act of
which course of action will you opt and 1971, which identified the leak of State
why? (250 words) secret as an act of treason. Yet, despite the
fact that he broke the law, Snowden argued
There is a need to strike a balance between
that he had a moral obligation to act. He
permitting an individual to pursue certain
gave a justification for his “whistle blowing”
charitable activities but at the same time,
by stating that he had a duty “to inform the
in ensuring that the public revenue is not
public as to that which is done in their name
impacted.
and that which is done against them.”
Here in this particular case, there has
According to Snowden, the Government’s
been certain deficiencies which have
violation of privacy had to be exposed
caused substantial revenue losses to the
regardless of legality since more substantive
government which the doctor has expressed
issues of social action and public morality
his willingness to pay and then there have
were involved here. Many agreed with
been some technical defaults which are
Snowden. Few argued that he broke the
minor in nature.
law and compromised national security, for
The upcoming super speciality hospital which he should be held accountable.
is important for the region. However, it is
equally important for the government to
get its due share of revenue in the form of
taxes.
56
Do you agree that Snowden’s actions were certain allies and more. In this regard, he
ethically justified even if legally prohibited? has committed a blunder.
Why or why not? Make an argument by
weighing the competing values in this case. • Individuals sign a non-disclosure
(250 words) agreement before they join their service
(Official Secrets Act, 1923 in India) and
The following competing values are involved they can voice their grievances internally
in this case: instead of coming out to the public.
• Morality vs. Laws: Snowden’s individual
• Individual liberty vs. National Security: The
morals and ethics clash with well-
people have a right to know information
established legal procedures. He felt the
pertaining to their welfare but at the
need to uphold his personal morality
same time, they are not entitled to know
which deemed it appropriate to disclose
information that has the potential to
classified national security information
harm national security interests.
with far reaching ramifications as
opposed to well established legal • The societal good is far more important
procedures. As a public servant, he than individual liberty. In this regard, the
was duty bound to follow the law and act of leaking information pertaining to
not disclose any information that national security is unethical and illegal.
can threaten the interests of the very • Hence, while it may appear that
people he hopes to safeguard. It has Snowden’s actions are ethically right but
the potential to compromise national legally wrong, we can conclude that his
security, affect the relations between his actions are neither ethically nor legally
country and those of the others including justified.
57
UPSC | Ethics

Ethics

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ethics

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Rs.

GENERAL STUDIES PAPER 4-

• Structure and its functions Module 6- Probity in Public Service

• Emotions  Effects of corruption

• Emotional Intelligence  Political corruption

• How is Emotional Intelligence developed? Module 7- Influence of Philosophers

What Constitutes Probity in Public Aristotle 33

ETHICS & IT’S DIMENSIONS

• A simple definition of ethics is that it

democracies. This is also determined by • Law as mentioned before influences

For example: Compassion exhibited • Respect towards peace, democracy and

Dimensions of Ethics of needs often determines the ethics of

ATTITUDE AND ITS DIMENSIONS

What is Attitude? Attitude Formation

• The Affective/Emotional component will emerges when they are in an abnormal

COVID-19 Attitudes lack of empathy.

Emotions is linked to the company of his/her

be permitted to overtake a particular mistakes or lacunae in my life. This

• Build our ethical systems Goleman identified the following

• Handling relationships: It is the ability to institutions have an overpowering

a basic quality of life. Understanding it

APTITUDE AND FOUNDATIONAL

 Objectivity, forced to comply with it. Example: Police

 Openness, • Intellectual Integrity: This is also

Impartiality and Non- thing even under tough circumstances.

expected to work from behind the scenes. • Resilience

TRANSPARENCY AND INFORMA-

Information Sharing  Many statutory bodies under the

• Answerability, • The Whistle-blower’s protection scheme

PROBITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE

Probity is of utmost importance in the day • Objectivity

What Constitutes • Builds the legitimacy of the State and

more important, an effective and fair • Politicians misusing public money or

Threat to the Nation

What is Corruption? lack of shame and the absence of any sense

Why is Corruption started regulating the various resources

Flourishing in India? private sector businesses.

Political Corruption the People Act, 1951 as unconstitutional.

INFLUENCE OF ANCIENT AND

Appetitive- moral virtue and vegetative- was better to be an intellectual who is

• Agreeing unanimously to the contract, • The ethical conduct of an individual

Swami Vivekananda • He stated that for the development of

ETHICS THEORY SOLVED PAPER

Question 2: (20 marks) • Politics without Principles: Legislators

QUESTION 3: (20 MARKS) • The code sought to codify certain

Question 6: (10 Marks) developed by the Government of NCT Delhi.

• Meditation Max Weber is of the opinion that it is

ETHICS CASE TUDIES (SOLVED)

Points to Remember: has severe abdominal pain frequently that

You might also like

• Emotions Effects of corruption

• Emotional Intelligence Political corruption

Objectivity, forced to comply with it. Example: Police

Openness, • Intellectual Integrity: This is also

Information Sharing Many statutory bodies under the