This section of Answer Writing Practice includes questions from Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude of GS-Paper (IV) as per the syllabus of UPSC Civil Services Exam. The pattern of questions is similar to the previous years’ questions asked in UPSC.
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UPSC Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude GS- Paper (IV) Syllabus
- Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics – in private and public relationships. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
- Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
- Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.
- Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
- Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
- Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
- Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.
Curriculum
- 7 Sections
- 0 Lessons
- 30 Days
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- Ethics and Human Interface and Human ValuesHere you will get the 08 Questions of Topic Mentioned Above (GS-IV). Please upload your answer per answer pdf (max: 2 mb)8
- 1.1Explain how ethics contributes to social and human well-being. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 1.2Conflict of interest in the public sector arises when (a) official duties, (b) public interest, and (c) personal interest are taking priority one above the other. How can this conflict in administration be resolved? Describe with an example. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 1.3The crisis of ethical values in modern times is traced to a narrow perception of the good life. Discuss. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 1.4Increased national wealth did not result in equitable distribution of its benefits. It has created only some “enclaves of modernity and prosperity for a small minority at the cost of the majority.” Justify. (10marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 1.5With regard to the morality of actions, one view is that means is of paramount importance and the other view is that the ends justify the means. Which view do you think is more appropriate? Justify your answer. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 1.6What is meant by the term ‘constitutional morality’? How does one uphold constitutional morality? (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 1.7“Hatred is destructive of a person’s wisdom and conscience that can poison a nation’s spirit.’ Do you agree with this view? Justify your answer. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 1.8What teachings of Buddha are most relevant today and why? Discuss. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- Attitude: Content, Structure, Function; its influence and Relation with Thought and Behaviour; Moral and Political AttitudesHere you will get the 05 Questions of Topic Mentioned Above (GS-IV). Please upload your answer per answer pdf (max: 2 mb)5
- 2.1Two different kinds of attitudes exhibited by public servants towards their work have been identified as the bureaucratic attitude and the democratic attitude. (a) Distinguish between these two terms and write their merits and demerits, (b) Is it possible to balance the two to create a better administration for the faster development of our country? (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 2.2Our attitudes towards life, work, other people and society are generally shaped unconsciously by the family and the social surroundings in which we grow up. Some of these unconsciously acquired attitudes and values are often undesirable in the citizens of a modern democratic and egalitarian society. (a) Discuss such undesirable values prevalent in today’s educated Indians. (b) How can such undesirable attitudes be changed and socio-ethical values considered necessary in public services be cultivated in the aspiring and serving civil servants ?(10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 2.3At the international level, the bilateral relations between most nations are governed on the policy of promoting one’s own national interest without any regard for the interest of other nations. This leads to conflicts and tensions between the nations. How can ethical consideration help resolve such tensions? Discuss with specific examples. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 2.4“In doing a good thing, everything is permitted which is not prohibited expressly or by clear implication”. Examine the statement with suitable examples in the context of a public servant discharging his/her duties. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 2.5A positive attitude is considered to be an essential characteristic of a civil servant who is often required to function under extreme stress. What contributes to a positive attitude in a person? (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- Aptitude and Foundational Values for Civil Service, Integrity, Impartiality and Non-Partisanship, Objectivity, Dedication to Public Service, Empathy, Tolerance and Compassion towards the weaker-sectionsHere you will get the 05 Questions of Topic Mentioned Above (GS-IV). Please upload your answer per answer pdf (max: 2 mb)5
- 3.1Strength, peace and security are considered to be the pillars of international relations. Elucidate. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 3.2Why should impartiality and non-partisanship be considered as foundational values in public services, especially in the present day socio-political context ? Illustrate your answer with examples. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 3.3State the three basic values, universal in nature, in the context of civil services and bring out their importance. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 3.4Without commonly shared and widely entrenched moral values and obligations, neither the law, nor democratic government, nor even the market economy will function properly. What do you understand by this statement? Explain with illustration in the contemporary times. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 3.5Apart from intellectual competency and moral qualities, empathy and compassion are some of the other vital attributes that facilitate the civil servants to be more competent in tackling the crucial issues or taking critical decisions. Explain with suitable illustrations. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- Emotional Intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in Administration and GovernanceHere you will get the 04 Questions of Topic Mentioned Above (GS-IV). Please upload your answer per answer pdf (max: 2 mb)4
- 4.1Anger is a harmful negative emotion. It is injurious to both personal life and work life. (a) Discuss how it leads to negative emotions and undesirable behaviours. (b) How can it be managed and controlled? (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 4.2How will you apply emotional intelligence in administrative practices? (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 4.3“Emotional Intelligence is the ability to make your emotions work for you instead of against you”. Do you agree with this view? Discuss. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 4.4“The current internet expansion has instilled a different set of cultural values which are often in conflict with traditional values.’ Discuss. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- Contributions of Moral Thinkers and Philosophers from India and WorldHere you will get the 04 Questions of Topic Mentioned Above (GS-IV). Please upload your answer per answer pdf (max: 2 mb)4
- 5.1“Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding. “ – Mahatma Gandhi (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 5.2“Falsehood takes the place of truth when it results in unblemished common good.” – Tirukkural (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 5.3“Condemn none: if you can stretch out a helping hand, do so. If not, fold your hands, bless your brothers, and let them go their own way.” – Swami Vivekanand (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 5.4“Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world” – A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- Public/Civil service Values and Ethics in Public Administration, Corporate Governance.Here you will get the 06 Questions of Topic Mentioned Above (GS-IV). Please upload your answer per answer pdf (max: 2 mb)6
- 6.1Public servants are likely to confront with the issues of ‘Conflict of Interest’. What do you understand by the term ‘Conflict of Interest’ and how does it manifest in the decision making by public servants? If faced with the conflict of interest situation, how would you resolve it? Explain with the help of examples. (10 marks, 150 words)1. Public servants are likely to confront with the issues of ‘Conflict of Interest’. What do you understand by the term ‘Conflict of Interest’ and how does it manifest in the decision making by public servants? If faced with the conflict of interest situation, how would you resolve it? Explain with the help of examples. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 6.2What do you understand by the terms ‘governance’, ‘good governance’ and ‘ethical governance’? (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 6.3Law and ethics are considered to be the two tools for controlling human conduct so as to make it conducive to civilized social existence. (a) Discuss how they achieve this objective. (b) Giving examples, show how the two differ in their approaches. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 6.4“Max Weber said that it is not wise to apply to public administration the sort of moral and ethical norms we apply to matters of personal conscience. It is important to realise that the State bureaucracy might possess its own independent bureaucratic morality.” Critically analyse this statement. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 6.5Examine the relevance of the following in the context of civil service: (10 marks, 150 words) (a) Transparency (b) Accountability (c) Fairness and justice (d) Courage of conviction (e) Spirit of service30 Days
- 6.6The Rules and Regulations provided to all the civil servants are same, yet there is difference in the performance. Positive minded officers are able to interpret the Rules and Regulations in favour of the case and achieve success, whereas negative minded officers are unable to achieve goals by interpreting the same Rules and Regulations against the case. Discuss with illustrations. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- Probity in Governance: Concept of Public Service Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work Culture, Quality of Service Delivery, Utilization of Public funds, Challenges of CorruptionHere you will get the 06 Questions of Topic Mentioned Above (GS-IV). Please upload your answer per answer pdf (max: 2 mb)6
- 7.1“Corruption causes misuse of government treasury, administrative inefficiency and obstruction in the path of national development.” Discuss Kautilya’s views. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 7.2Without commonly shared and widely entrenched moral values and obligations, neither the law, nor democratic government, nor even the market economy will function properly. What do you understand by this statement? Explain with illustration in the contemporary times. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 7.3Distinguish between “Code of ethics” and “Code of conduct” with suitable examples. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 7.4What do you understand by probity in governance? Based on your understanding of the term, suggest measures for ensuring probity in government. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 7.5“Non-performance of duty by a public servant is a form of corruption”. Do you agree with this view? Justify your answer. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
- 7.6An independent and empowered social audit mechanism is an absolute must in every sphere of public service, including judiciary, to ensure performance, accountability and ethical conduct. Elaborate. (10 marks, 150 words)30 Days
