GS4 2022 Q5 10 marks 150 words International Ethics and Concepts

UPSC Mains 2022 GS4 Q5 — International Ethics and Concepts

(a) Russia and Ukraine war has been going on for the last seven months. Different countries have taken independent stands and actions keeping in view their own national interests. We are all aware that war has its own impact on the different aspects of society, including human tragedy. What are those ethical issues that are crucial to be considered while launching the war and its continuation so far? lllustrate with justification the ethical issues involved in the given state of affair. (Answer in 150 words) (b) Write short notes on the following in 30 words each: (i) Constitutional morality (ii) Conflict of interest (iii) Probity in public life (iv) Challanges of digitalization (v) Devotion to duty

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Question Decoded — examiner's intent

Directive verbs
What areIllustrateWrite short notes
Scope keywords
ethical issueslaunching the warcontinuation so farnational interestshuman tragedystate of affair
Implicit sub-parts
  • Ethical justification for initiating conflict (Jus ad bellum) versus conduct during conflict (Jus in bello).
  • The tension between Realpolitik (national interest) and Global Humanitarianism.
  • The ethics of neutrality and silent bystanders in the face of human tragedy.
  • Definitions and practical applications for each of the five short-note concepts.
Common pitfalls
  • Treating part (a) as an International Relations (GS-2) answer by focusing on geopolitics and NATO rather than ethical frameworks like 'Just War Theory'.
  • Failing to distinguish between the ethics of 'starting' the war versus the ethics of 'prolonging' it.
  • Ignoring the specific prompt to 'illustrate' with examples from the Russia-Ukraine context.
  • Exceeding the 30-word limit for short notes, which eats into the time required for the 10-marker component.
Dimensions required
Just War Theory (Jus ad bellum, Jus in bello, Jus post bellum)Deontological vs. Utilitarian perspectives on sovereignty and lifeHumanitarian EthicsConstitutional and Administrative Ethics (for part b)
Marks allocation hint

Devote approximately 100-110 words to part (a), spending 40 words on ethical issues of launching and 60 words on the ethics of continuation/state of affairs. Allocate the remaining 40-50 words strictly to the five short notes in part (b), ensuring each is a single, punchy sentence to remain under the total word limit.

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