UPSC Mains 2021 GS4 Q1b — Public service values
Identify ten essential values that are needed to be an effective public servant. Describe the ways and means to prevent non-ethical behaviour in the public servants. (Answer in 150 words)
Similar Previous Year Questions
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GS4 2016 Q1 Ethics and Values
(a) Explain how ethics contributes to social and human well-being. (150 words) 10 (b) Why 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. (150 words) 10
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GS4 2018 Q1 Civil Service Values
(a) State the three basic values, universal in nature, in the context of civil services and bring out their importance. (150 words) (b) Distinguish between “Code of ethics” and “Code of conduct” with suitable examples. (150 words)
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GS4 2019 Q12 Civil Service Ethics
In recent times, there has been an increasing concern in India to develop effective civil service ethics, codes of conduct, transparency measures, ethics and integrity systems and anti-corruption agencies. In view of this, there is a need being felt to focus on three specific areas, which are directly relevant to the problems of internalizing integrity and ethics in the civil services. These are as follows : 1. Anticipating specific threats to ethical standards and integrity in the civil services, 2. Strengthening the ethical competence of civil servants and 3. Developing administrative processes and practices which promote ethical values and integrity in civil services. Suggest institutional measures to address the above three issues. (250 words)
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GS4 2021 Q1a Civil service ethics
Identify five ethical traits on which one can plot the performance of a civil servant. Justify their inclusion in the matrix. (Answer in 150 words)
Related Prelims MCQs
Build factual foundation — these MCQs cover facts/concepts you'll need for this Mains question.
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CISF 2021 Governance, Policies & Social Justice
According to the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, who among the following can be held liable ?1. Any person who induces a public servant to perform improperly a public duty by giving or promising to give any undue advantage2. Any public servant who obtains or accepts or attempts to obtain from any person any undue advantage3. A person who is compelled to give undue advantage and has reported the same to the concerned authority4. A commercial organisation offering undue advantage to any public servantSelect the correct answer using the code given below :
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CISF 2026 Governance, Policies & Social Justice
Which one of the following is not an offence of criminal misconduct by a public servant under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 ?
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CDS-II 2018 Governance, Policies & Social Justice
Mission Satyanishtha, a programme on ethics in public governance, was launched recently by the
Source Map — where to read
"The remedy to an individual for wrongful official acts of the President or a Governor is twofold- (i) To bring appropriate proceedings against the respective Government itself, where such proceedings lie [Article 361(1), Proviso 2]. (ii) To bring an action against the public servant, individually, who has executed the wrongful order of the President or Governor, and must, therefore, answer to the aggrieved individual, under the ordinary law of crimes or civil wrongs, subject to limitations, to be explained shortly.…"
"These offices thus constitute exceptions to the general rule of tenure 'during pleasure' of Government servants. Safeguards for civil B. Though all other Government servants hold office servants. during the pleasure of the President or the Governor (as The case may be), two procedural safeguards are provided for the security of tenure of civif' servants as distinguished from military personnel, namely, that. (a) A civil servant shall not be dismissed or removed by any authority subordinate to that by which he was appointed. In other words, if he is to be removed from service, he is entitled to…"
"CHAPTER 29 RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVANTS CHAPTER 291 RIGIITSAND LIABILITIES OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PIJBUC SERVANTS 431 As stated before, the Constitution makes no distinction as to their personal liability for any unlawful act done by them whether in their official or personal capacity. There is only one provision in the Constitution relating to the liability of public servants; but the general law imposes certain conditions as regards their liability for official acts, in view of their peculiar position. These may be analysed as follows: (i) Contract. If a contra…"
"446 lNTRODUCI10N TO THE CONSlITUT10N OF INDIA [CHAP. 30 Every public servant possesses these qualities, and to prevent any person who lacks these qualities from being in the public service. It seems, therefore, that state regulation of the conditions of service of public servants so as to restrict their fundamental liberties will be valid only to the extent that such restriction is reasonably necessary in the interests of efficiency, integrity, impartiality, discipline, responsibility and the like which have a "direct"…"
"Thus, there should be a definite procedure according to which contracts must be made by its agents in order to bind the Government; otherwise public funds may be depleted by clandestine contracts made by any and every public servant. (a) must be executed by a person duly authorised by the President or Governor, as the case may be; (b) must be executed by such person 'on behalf of' the President or Governor, as the case may be; (c) must be 'expressed to be made by' the President or Governor, as the case may be.…"
How this topic is evolving
The discourse on public service values has evolved from listing static ethical traits to assessing dynamic performance under a 'Role-based' governance model. The focus has shifted toward balancing administrative protection, such as Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, with the data-driven accountability of real-time performance scorecards and digital transparency tools like SVAMITVA.
In the era of 'Role-based' governance and digital-first administration, discuss how the essential values of a public servant must adapt to ensure both institutional integrity and performance-driven results. Critically examine the impact of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act on balancing officer protection with the need for ethical accountability. (Answer in 150 words)
Why this framing: The split verdict on Section 17A of the PC Act regarding prior sanction for investigating public servants.
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- IdentifyDescribe
- Scope keywords
- ten essential valueseffective public servantways and means to preventnon-ethical behaviour
- Implicit sub-parts
- Listing and briefly defining ten distinct foundational values for civil services.
- Categorizing preventive measures into individual/attitudinal, organizational, and systemic levels.
- Linking specific values (e.g., accountability) directly to how they curb specific unethical behaviors (e.g., corruption).
- Common pitfalls
- Wasting too many words defining the values individually, leaving no space for the 'ways and means' section.
- Failing to reach the count of exactly ten values, which is a specific directive in the question.
- Providing only punitive measures (like jail/fines) instead of preventive measures like ethics training, code of conduct, and digitization.
- Mixing up 'values' with 'skills' (e.g., listing 'Computer Literacy' as a value).
- Dimensions required
- Ethical/Moral (Foundational values)Legal/Institutional (Prevention mechanisms)Structural/Technological (E-governance)Behavioral/Psychological (Value internalization)
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate approximately 60-70 words to concisely list the ten values, perhaps in a bulleted list or table to save space. Dedicate the remaining 80-90 words to a multi-pronged strategy for prevention, ensuring a balance between institutional frameworks (Lokayukta, RTI) and internal cultivation (Probity, Socialization).
How examiners have framed this topic over the years
Evolution from defining basic bureaucratic ethics to analyzing complex psychological traits and the substantive wisdom required for effective governance.
The examiner’s framing has evolved from testing foundational, universal values like impartiality (2016) and basic triplets (2018) to more functional and behavioral aspects of public service. While earlier questions focused on distinguishing procedural tools like Codes of Ethics vs. Conduct (2018) or Laws vs. Rules (2020), the 2021 question synthesized these by demanding both a list of essential values and active prevention strategies for unethical behavior. Subsequently, in 2022, the lens shifted toward sophisticated cognitive and emotional traits, specifically the 'wisdom' to prioritize core issues over periphery and the role of 'empathy and compassion' in critical decision-making, moving beyond mere compliance to administrative maturity.
PYQs this pattern was synthesized from
Answer Skeleton — fill this in
Introduction
Public service is a "public trust" where ethical values serve as the foundational bedrock for inclusive governance and administrative efficiency. [2nd ARC, 4th Report]
Ten Essential Values for Effective Public Servants
- Integrity: Consistency in actions and adherence to moral principles.
- Objectivity: Decision-making based on merit and facts.
- Impartiality: Neutrality and absence of bias/prejudice.
- Empathy: Understanding the needs of the vulnerable sections. [NCERT Class 11, Political Theory]
- Accountability: Answerability for one's actions to the public.
- Transparency: Openness in processes and information sharing.
- Dedication: Commitment to public service despite challenges.
- Compassion: Active concern for the suffering of others.
- Selflessness: Prioritizing public interest over private gain.
- Anonymity: Operating behind the scenes without seeking personal glory.
Institutional and Legal Means to Prevent Unethical Behaviour
Structural Reinforcements
- Strict enforcement of Conduct Rules (CCS Rules 1964) and legal penalties under the Prevention of Corruption Act. [Laxmikanth, Ch. 61]
- Strengthening oversight bodies like the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and Lokpal.
- Implementing Social Audits and Citizen’s Charters to increase public scrutiny. [Yojana, Ethics in Governance Issue]
Technological and Behavioral Interventions
- E-Governance: Reducing human interface and administrative discretion through digitization. [Economic Survey 2018-19]
- Mission Karmayogi: Shifting from "rule-based" to "role-based" competency and continuous ethics training.
- Protection of Whistleblowers to encourage internal reporting of misconduct. [PRS Legislative Research]
Conclusion
Preventing unethical behavior requires a "Zero Tolerance" policy combined with an organizational culture that rewards integrity. Transitioning toward a value-driven civil service is essential to achieve the goal of Antyodaya and effective last-mile delivery.
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