UPSC Mains 2023 GS4 Q3 — Corruption and Values
‘‘Corruption is the manifestation of the failure of core values in the society.’’ In Your opinion what measures can be adopted to uplift the core values in the society? (Answer in 150 words)
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The 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission has produced Reports on : 1. Ethics in Governance 2. Local Governance 3. Combating Terrorism 4. Eradication of Corruption Select the correct answer using the code given below:
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CISF 2021 Governance, Policies & Social Justice
Which one of the following Committees/Commissions has given the recommendation on removing corruption in public offices ?
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NDA-II 2009 Lokpal and Lokayuktas
Consider the following statements: 1. Report of the Administrative Reforms Commission, headed by late Morarji Desai, recommended the establishment of Lokpal and Lokayukta institutions. 2. Lokpal is the highest institution in India to investigate corruption at higher places in Government. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Source Map — where to read
"Whose core values though? The core values of the country as a whole? The core values of ordinary women and men in the street? Do governments, on behalf of citizens, always have the same notion of core values as the ordinary citizen? Furthermore, when we speak of threats to core values, how intense should the threats be? Surely there are big and small threats to virtually every value we hold dear. Can all those threats be brought into the understanding of security? Every time another country does something or fails to do something, this may damage the core values of one's country.…"
"The Constitution's core values are the guiding principles for policies and decision-making, which the government is expected to follow. Citizens are also expected to practise them to the best of their ability. These guiding values are present across the Constitution, but their essence is written in the Preamble. So, let us study the Preamble, which is a fitting end to this chapter.…"
"• Many communities in India have similar practices that involve community participation. Can you identify a few from your area?• We celebrate many festivals in India. During these festivals, people gather to organise all the various activities. They decorate the place together and share the food that they cook. Are these non-economic activities? Why do you think they still hold value?• Can you identify community programmes that have been undertaken by your school or in your locality? What did you observe during these programmes?…"
"On your way from home to school today, can you recall the various economic activities that people are engaged in? In what ways do you think those people are paid? As we now understand, economic activities are those that have value in terms of money. Economic activities also add value at each stage of the process of transforming something into another form. This is called value addition. Wage: A payment made by the employer to the worker for a specific period of time.…"
"Answer these questions and compare your answers with a few classmates: • Æ Who in your family decides what is to be bought from the market?• Æ Who cooks food in your home?• Æ Who is the oldest person in your family?• Æ Who cleans the floor in your home?• Æ Who washes utensils in your house?• Æ Who helps you to do your homework? Following our dharma, or doing our duty, has been an important principle of Indian culture. The family is also a 'school', where children learn important values such as ahimsa, dāna (giving), sevā (service) and tyāga (sacrifice).…"
How this topic is evolving
The discourse on corruption has shifted from a general crisis of societal values to a specific focus on structural integrity within digital-first governance. Recent developments, such as the legal debates surrounding Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the formalization of the gig economy, suggest that moral upliftment is now being integrated with 'role-based' accountability and technological transparency.
“While individual values are the bedrock of integrity, institutional mechanisms and technological transparency are the catalysts for a corruption-free society.” In this context, discuss how the transition from 'rule-based' to 'role-based' governance can address the trust deficit in public administration. (Answer in 150 words)
Why this framing: The split verdict on Section 17A of the PC Act and the shift to role-based governance models.
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- In Your opinion
- Scope keywords
- Corruptionmanifestation of the failurecore valuesmeasures can be adopteduplift the core values
- Implicit sub-parts
- Establish the causal link between societal value erosion and specific corrupt behaviors.
- Propose a multi-stakeholder strategy for value restoration targeting primary, secondary, and tertiary socialization agents.
- Identify specific 'core values' that act as a buffer against corrupt practices (e.g., integrity, empathy, public spiritedness).
- Common pitfalls
- Focusing too much on legal/punitive measures like Lokpal or CBI instead of value-based societal measures.
- Providing a generic definition of corruption without addressing the 'societal failure' premise of the quote.
- Ignoring the role of the family and educational institutions in the formative stages of value development.
- Failing to use ethical terminology (e.g., social capital, normative influence, cognitive dissonance).
- Dimensions required
- Individual/PsychologicalFamilial and EducationalSociocultural/NormativeInstitutional/Ethical LeadershipTechnological/Behavioral Nudges
- Marks allocation hint
Dedicate roughly 40-50 words to validating the statement by linking societal decay to corruption. Use the remaining 100 words to categorize measures across family, education, and public leadership to ensure a balanced 10-mark response.
How examiners have framed this topic over the years
Evolved from historical impacts and procedural RPA laws to deep philosophical value-failures and precise legal-financial definitions of corrupt influence.
Previously, in 2016, the examiner used a historical lens via Kautilya to link corruption to administrative inefficiency. Before 2023, the framing also explored procedural mechanics, such as the 2020 requirement for simplifying disqualification under the Representation of Peoples Act (RPA). By 2023, the focus shifted toward a philosophical critique of the 'failure of core values' as the root cause; subsequently, in 2025, the examiners extended this to a more granular legal-financial scrutiny by asking if disproportionate asset growth qualifies as 'undue influence' under the RPA. This shift suggests a move from general administrative impacts to deep-seated value failures and finally to specific, contemporary legal interpretations of 'corrupt practices'.
PYQs this pattern was synthesized from
Answer Skeleton — fill this in
Introduction
Corruption represents the "ethical deficit" where private interests supersede public duty, indicating a breakdown in social moral fabric. 2nd ARC (4th Report: Ethics in Governance) defines it as a symptom of the erosion of values like integrity, empathy, and selflessness.
Body
Role of Educational Institutions
- Integration of value-based pedagogy in school curricula to foster "Moral Reasoning" [NCERT Psychology, Ch. 6].
- Shifting focus from "Materialistic Success" to "Emotional Intelligence" and social responsibility [Goleman's Theory].
Strengthening the Primary Socializing Unit
- Promoting the "Family" as the first school of ethics to instill foundational values like honesty and compassion [Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude, Subba Rao].
- Parental role-modeling to discourage the glorification of ill-gotten wealth within the domestic sphere.
Reform in Public Service Culture
- Mandatory training in the "Nolan Principles" of public life: Integrity, Objectivity, and Accountability [Laxmikanth, Governance].
- Institutionalizing "Social Audits" to create a collective moral consciousness and public pressure [Yojana, Ethics in Governance].
Societal Influence and Role Models
- Utilizing "Nudge Theory" to incentivize pro-social behavior and celebrate "Ethical Icons" in the community [Economic Survey, 2018-19].
- Mass media campaigns to shift societal perception from "Acceptance of Corruption" to "Social Ostracization" of the corrupt.
Conclusion
Uplifting core values requires a transition from "Legal Compliance" to "Inner Conscience." Only by fostering a value-laden ecosystem can society move beyond the "crisis of character" and ensure sustainable, corruption-free development.
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