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Subject: Ethics

  • “Integrity is a value that empowers the human being’’. Justify with suitable illustration. (150 words)

    Role of integrity in empowers human being

    Empowerment at the Personal Level

    Inner Peace- Integrity eliminates the “cognitive dissonance” and provides the mental energy needed to focus on goals.

    Integrity ensures predictability and reliability in behavior – Key qualities of a natural leader. Eg- Mahatma Gandhi’s adherence to Ahimsa in personal life

    Integrity acts as a foundation of genuine self-esteem and confidence. Eg- Sanchin Tendulkar refusing advertisement of Tobacco and Cigarettes brands.

    Empowerment at the Family Level

    Parents with integrity empower children with a living blueprint of “The Good Life”.

    Integrity creates an environment of emotional safety and trust within the family.

    “The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.” – Confucius

    Empowerment at the Social Level

    Builds Social Capital- Integrity is the “currency” of social trust.

    Inspiration to Others (“ripple effect” of goodness). Eg- Babasaheb Ambedkar inspiring generations of Dalit leaders

    Catalyst for social change – Eg- Rosa Parks’s refusal to give up her bus seat led to the Civil Rights Movement.

    Empowerment at the Professional Level

    Moral Courage- the “inner transparency” empowers a person to speak truth to power. Eg- Satyendra Dubey

    Integrity builds a reputation and trust that acts as a multiplier for one’s influence and opportunities. Eg- Metro man E. Sreedharan

    Gives moral authority to lead. Eg- Captain Vikram Batra leading from the front in Kargil War.

    Integrity helps in objective decision making. Eg- T. N. Session as CEC

    Knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful. Eg- developing of Nuclear bomb

    Thus, integrity provides “oneness” that builds character and ensures that actions are rooted in truth, justice, and dignity.

  • “Life doesn’t make any sense without interdependence. We need each other, and the sooner we learn that it is better for us all” – Erik Erikson (150 words)

    The above statement highlights the fundamental truth that human beings are inherently social creatures. Meaning in life emerges from cooperation, mutual care and shared responsibility rather than from radical individualism.

    Values involved

    Solidarity

    Cooperation

    Empathy

    Mutual respect

    Responsibility

    Collective well-being

    Social harmony

    Inclusiveness

    Reciprocity

    From a psychological perspective, each stage of human growth involves social interaction. The trust an infant feels depends on the care of an adult, the identity that an individual gets depends on society and the integrity an elder feels depends on the respect of the young. A life focused solely on the “I” leads to stagnation and isolation. Eg- rising depression among isolated youth

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, individual safety depended on collective behaviour – mask-wearing, vaccination and mutual care.

    Similarly, Climate change similarly reveals global interdependence. Stubble burning in Punjab impact quality of air in Delhi.

    Globalization has resulted in economic interdependence. A disruption in one part of the world can affect supply chains, employment and prices elsewhere.

    At social level, harmony depends on people recognising that their freedoms are tied to others’ rights. Eg- SHG movement in India empower women through collective savings and mutual support

    Ethically, the quote challenges extreme individualism that prioritises personal gain over social welfare. When people forget interdependence, societies fragment, inequality widens, and conflict intensifies as seen in Middle East.

    On the other hand, India sending vaccines to neighbouring countries under Vaccine Maitri reflected recognition of global ethical interdependence.

    Recognising this interconnection is essential for sustainable development, social harmony and global peace.

  • In case of a crisis of conscience does emotional intelligence help to overcome the same without compromising the ethical and moral stand that you are likely to follow? Critically examine.

    A crisis of conscience arises when a person faces a conflict between personal values, professional duties, social pressures and moral principles. EI can play decisive role in navigating this crisis.

    Role of EI in overcoming crisis of conscience

    Self-awareness helps identify moral discomfort early.

    Self-regulation prevents panic, fear or anger from dictating action. (“Amygdala Hijack”) Eg- Sanjiv Chaturvedi (IFS) exposing corruption in AIIMS

    EI provides Moral clarity through reflection – prevents impulsive action.

    EI builds courage through emotional control and enables ethical action. Eg- Whistleblowers like Satyendra Dubey.

    EI developes communication skills that enables respectful dissent. Eg- Mahatma Gandhi

    EI helps in conflict management without hostility. Eg- Nelson Mandela balancing justice and reconciliation.

    It builds resilience to endure consequences of ethical action. Eg- punitive transfers of Ashok Khemka

    Empathy and perspective-taking helps avoid moral absolutism and promotes fairness. Eg- Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer institutionalising PIL

    Inner peace through EI reduces cognitive dissonance after ethical choice. Eg- Satish Dhawan taking responsibility for failure

    On the other hand, EI can also undermine ethical stand

    EI can be used to justify unethical actions. Eg- bureaucrats blaming “political pressure” to justify complicity.

    Rationalisation of wrongdoing – Managing guilt instead of correcting behaviour. Eg- “sanskritization of corruption”

    Manipulation of others’ emotions. Eg- Cult leaders like Jim Jones emotionally controlled followers into mass suicide.

    Conflict avoidance instead of necessary confrontation. Eg- Corporate HR heads ignoring harassment complaints to “avoid workplace disruption”.

    Institutional conformity – EI helps individuals to adapt to unethical cultures. Eg- Eichmann committing atrocities under “orders” (banality of evil)

    Emotional burnout due to constant emotional regulation

    High empathy may lead to compromise on objectivity and firmness

    Ethical relativism – Eg- Justifying censorship or surveillance as “necessary for public safety.”

    Thus, EI is value-neutral and a “means” to an “end.” It needs a strong moral compass to develop virtuous character.

  • Attitude is an important component that goes as input in the development of human beings. How to build a suitable attitude needed for a public servant? (150 words)

    Attitude refers to a person’s predisposition to think, feel and act in a particular way. In the words of Lou Holtz,

    “Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.”

    Importance of Attitude in the Development of Humans

    Knowledge Function- Attitudes help humans organize and simplify complex information. Eg- positive attitude toward “Digital Governance” make it easier to implement new tech-tools.

    Ego-Defensive Function- Protects self-esteem and emotional stability. Eg- Coping with failure without losing confidence.

    Value-Expressive Function- Attitudes allow humans to express their central values.

    Instrumental function – Guides behaviour to achieve rewards and avoid punishment.

    Adaptive (utilitarian) function – Helps individuals adjust to social and professional environments

    Attitude acts as a “behavioral compass,” ensuring consistency in beliefs and actions, leading to a sense of “Wholeness.”

    Decision-making function – Influences judgement and choices.

    Ways to build a suitable attitude for a public servant

    Internalising constitutional and ethical values. Eg- Ethics training at LBSNAA.

    Sensitivity Training through village immersion programs for breaking the “Elite Bubble.”

    Practicing Self-reflection for recognising biases and emotional triggers. Eg- reflective journaling.

    Developing Emotional intelligence through mindfulness and counselling sessions for managing stress and conflict constructively.

    Role modelling. Eg- “Technocratic Optimism” of E. Sreedharan for a solution-oriented attitude

    Learning responsibility through transparency. Eg- Social audits and RTI processes.

    Continuous learning for updating knowledge and perspectives. Eg- Mid-career training.

    Adversity Simulation – Creating high-pressure scenarios in a controlled environment to build resilience. Eg- “crisis-room” simulation during training

    Peer-to-Peer De-biasing- Group sessions to identify and dismantle hidden prejudices and develop objectivity. Eg- Using Implicit Association Tests (IAT)

    Feedback Loops- Direct citizen interaction to develop compassion and leadership. Eg- Jan Sunwais

    Historical Analysis of Failures to build Proactiveness. Eg- Analyzing the Bhopal Gas Tragedy to foster an attitude of “Precautionary Vigilance” rather than “Post-facto Compliance.”

    These can help in shifting from a “Command and Control” mindset to “Collaborate and Care” attitude among public servants

  • What do you understand by term ‘good governance’? How far recent initiatives in terms of e-Governance steps taken by the State have helped the beneficiaries? Discuss with suitable examples.

    “In the happiness of his people lies the king’s happiness, in their welfare his welfare”. -Kautilya

    Good governance is an administrative approach defined by transparency, accountability, responsiveness, equity, and inclusiveness.

    Core Principles of Good Governance (UNDP)

    Participation: Direct/indirect citizen involvement in decision-making. Eg: Gram Sabhas.

    Rule of Law: Fair legal frameworks enforced impartially. Eg: Independent judiciary.

    Transparency: Free flow of accessible information. Eg: Mandatory disclosures under the RTI.

    Responsiveness: Institutions serving stakeholders within timeframes. Eg: Citizens’ Charters and CPGRAMS grievance portal.

    Consensus Orientation: Eg: Federal consensus in GST Council meetings.

    Equity/Inclusiveness: Ensuring all members feel valued. Eg: PM Jan Dhan Yojana’s universal financial inclusion.

    Effectiveness/Efficiency: Optimizing resources for societal needs. Eg: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) reducing subsidy leakages.

    Accountability: Answerability of officials to the public. Eg: Mandatory CAG audits of government spending.

    Success of Recent E-Governance Initiatives

    Eliminating Welfare Leakages-

    Paperless Document Access- Eg- DigiLocker crossing 67.63 crore registered users, hosting over 950 crore verified digital documents.

    Telemedicine Reaching Remote Areas- Eg- The eSanjeevani platform providing digital medical services to over 45.42 crore remote patients.

    Real-Time Payment and Financial Inclusion- Eg- Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

    Democratization of Digital Commerce: Eg: The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) supporting over 1.16 lakh retail sellers across 630 cities.

    Unified Public Grievance Redressal: Eg: The UMANG App offering citizens smooth, singular access to over 1,700 diverse public utility services.

    Scientific Grassroots Nutrition Monitoring: Eg: The POSHAN Tracker continuously monitoring nutrition metrics for 8.9 crore children in 14.03 lakh Anganwadi centers.

    Major limitations

    Aadhaar-Linked Service Failures- Eg: Santoshi Kumari (11) starvation death in Simdega, Jharkhand (2017)

    The Persistence of Digital Divide: Only 38% of rural households have high-speed broadband vs. 85% in urban clusters.

    Digital Illiteracy: only 38% rural population digitally literate. Eg: Dependence on “CSC Middlemen” for simple tasks like PM-Kisan registration due to UI/UX complexity.

    Linguistic Barriers: Eg: Despite “Bhashini,” real-time voice-to-text accuracy in tribal dialects (like Santhali or Gondi) remains below 60%.

    Digital gender gap: Only 37% of Indian women have adopted mobile internet and only 26% use it regularly. (UNDP).

    Aadhaar exclusion: A 2017 starvation death in Jharkhand’s Simdega due to Aadhaar-linked ration card failure exposed authentication risks.

    Bureaucratic Resistance: Lower-level officials often view e-governance as a threat to their discretionary power.

    Manpower & Skill Gaps: Eg: Dependence on private consultants for maintaining critical state data centers (SDCs).

    Cybersecurity Threats: CERT-In reported 2.94 million cyber incidents in 2025, specifically targeting state-owned utility grids.

    Way Forward

    Enact a National e-Governance Act to make digital service delivery a mandatory right rather than an administrative choice.

    Accelerate BharatNet completion: Connect remaining 55,000 GPs and 3.8 lakh non-GP villages by 2026 under Amended BharatNet Programme

    Strengthen Common Service Centres as “Digital Post Offices.” Eg- Rajasthan’s e-Mitra model

    Adopt X-Road interoperability layer (Estonia): handles 2.7 billion data queries with “once-only” principle – citizen submits info only once. 99% services online.

    Implement 2nd ARC’s 11th Report fully:

    Adopt national “enterprise architecture” framework

    Mandatory Business Process Re-engineering before digitisation;

    Build SMART (Simple, Moral, Accountable, Responsive, Transparent) governance.

    The state must tackle the digital divide to ensure technology remains an inclusive tool for good governance.

  • Whistle blower, who reports corruption and illegal activities, wrongdoing and misconduct to the concerned authorities, runs the risk of being exposed to grave danger, physical harm and victimization by the vested interests, accused persons and his team. What policy measures would you suggest to strengthen protection mechanism to safeguard the whistle blower?

    A whistleblower is described as the “conscience of the organization.” They are individuals who, out of a sense of public duty, report corruption and misconduct within an organization to competent authorities.

    Risks faced by whistle blower

    Leak of identity – Eg- Satyendra Dubey’s identity was leaked despite his request for anonymity to the PMO.

    Violent Assault and Murder- S. Manjunath (2005), an IOCL officer, was shot dead.

    Unnatural Deaths- In the Vyapam Scam, nearly 40 people died under suspicious circumstances.

    Institutional Victimization- transferred to remote postings repeatedly to break their morale.

    False Disciplinary Inquiries on fabricated charges of insubordination or breach of conduct.

    Social Ostracization- labeled as “snitches” or “disloyal”.

    Economic Harassment- withholding promotions, denying increments etc.

    Legal Entrapment under the official secrets Act (1923)

    Policy Measures to Strengthen the Protection Mechanism

    Strict “Anonymity by Design”- Eg- encrypted digital portal for reporting

    Criminalizing the Leak of Identity

    Proactive Threat Assessment to provide immediate security or relocation.

    Financial Incentives (Bounty System)- Following the U.S. False Claims Act, whistleblowers should be entitled to a percentage of the money recovered from the exposed scam.

    Protection must extend to private sector employees and contractors, as corruption often involves public-private nexuses.

    Time-Bound Investigation to minimize the “exposure time” of the complainant.

    Whistleblower Defense Fund to provide legal aid and psychological counseling.

    Witness Protection Programs- “Relocation and Identity Change” services for whistleblowers and their families.

    Establishing “Integrity Awards” (potentially awarded anonymously or post-retirement) to change the social narrative from “snitching” to “patriotism.”

    Providing job security and protection against “Victimization” through independent ombudsman

    A whistleblower is a vital cog in the machinery of Good Governance. Their safety is essential to maintain probity in administration.

  • Online methodology is being used for day-to-day meetings, institutional approvals in the administration and for teaching and learning in education sector to the extent telemedicine in the health sector is getting popular with the approvals of the competent authority. No doubt it has advantages and disadvantages for both the beneficiaries and system at large. Describe and discuss the ethical issues involved in the use of online method particularly to vulnerable section of society.

    “Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.” – Christian Lous Lange

    While online methodologies offer paperless, and boundary-less world, they simultaneously create a “digital wall” of exclusion.

    Advantages and disadvantages

    Ethical issues for vulnerable sections

    Digital exclusion – “digital apartheid” for rural students during COVID.

    Privacy risks – Eg- Aadhar data breach

    Children face mental health issues due to increased screentime, exposure to child pornography etc

    Informed consent erosion – Eg- Vulnerable users often click “Agree” without understanding data-sharing terms.

    Surveillance concerns -Constant AI monitoring can turn a “Welfare State” into a “Surveillance State”.

    Difficulty in ensuring accountability for mistakes.

    Loss of “Compassion” and “Conscience”- Eg- It cannot “bend the rules” for a starving widow whose paperwork is missing.

    Dependency exploitation – Eg- Middlemen charge to fill forms.

    Cyber fraud – Eg- rise of digital arrest cases

    Cultural barriers – Language issues in online platforms.

    Disability access – Apps not accessible to visually impaired.

    Psychological Distress- The “Digital Divide” causes a sense of “techno-inferiority” and alienation among the elderly and rural populations.

    Online methodologies should be a bridge, not a barrier. The way forward is not to reject technology, but to adopt a “Phygital” (Physical + Digital) approach.

  • 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? Illustrate with justification the ethical issues involved in the given state of affair.

    “War does not determine who is right – only who is left.” – Bertrand Russell

    The Russia-Ukraine conflict serves as a grim case study for the tension between Realpolitik (national interest) and Global Ethics.

    Stance by Different Countries

    Impact of War on Different Aspects of Society

    Human Tragedy- Russian casualties approaching 1.4 million in 2025

    Displacement Crisis- Over 14 million Ukrainians

    Global Food Insecurity

    Energy Volatility- “energy poverty” for low-income households.

    Environmental “Ecocide”- Eg- destruction of the Kakhovka Dam

    “War Trauma” for an entire generation of children

    Erosion of “Rules-Based Order” (violation of the UN Charter)

    Ethical issues to be considered while launching and continuing war

    Adherence to principles of Just War Theory – Jus ad Bellum (the right to go to war) and Jus in Bello (right conduct within war).

    Impact on Human Rights

    Mass Casualties

    War inflation disproportionately impacting poor

    Refugee crisis

    Violation of principle Proportionality. Eg- mass bombing of cities like Kiev

    Utilitarian principle of ‘greatest happiness’ violated due to prolonged war.

    Principle of Last resort not followed as Russian invasion was preemptive.

    Responsibility to future generations violated. Eg- damage to infrastructure and ecology.

    Truth and transparency principles not followed. Eg- online propaganda and misinformation.

    Global injustice – Eg- Wheat shortages in Africa due to Black Sea blockade.

    Moral restraint in weapon use not followed. Eg- cluster bomb and vaccum bomb used by Russia.

    Reports of torture and summary executions of Prisoners of War violate the Geneva Conventions

    Failure in ensuring accountability for war crimes

    The war is a reflection of “rationality” becoming servant to “Will to Power.” A just resolution requires Jus post Bellum framework (Justice after War)

  • In contemporary world, corporate sector’s contribution in generating wealth and employment is increasing. In doing so, they are bringing in unprecedented onslaught on the climate, environmental sustainability and living conditions of human beings. In this background, do you find that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is efficient and sufficient enough to fulfill the social roles and responsibilities needed in the corporate world for which the CSR is mandated? Critically examine.

    CSR refers to the responsibility of companies to operate ethically, contribute to sustainable development, and minimise negative social and environmental impacts while pursuing profits.

    “The business of business is not just business.”

    The Paradox- Wealth Generation vs. Environmental Onslaught

    CSR fulfilling social role and responsibilities

    Mandatory Compliance in India (2% of profits) has channeled nearly into social sectors.

    Disaster Response- Eg- Reliance funded plants to produce medical oxygen during COVID.

    Innovation in Education- Eg- “Hole-in-the-wall” project by Sony and NIIT for computer literacy to slum children.

    Project Nanhi Kali (Mahindra Group) – Providing 10 years of academic support and material kits to underprivileged girls to reduce dropout rates.

    Healthcare Infrastructure- Eg- Vedanta’s “Nand Ghar” initiative for transforming Anganwadis into modern child welfare centers.

    Skill Development- Eg- Mahindra & Mahindra’s “Hunar” program for training in specialized technical skills.

    Kaushalya (Tata Motors) – Training unemployed youth using a “Learn and Earn” model.

    Sanitation & Water- Eg- ITC’s “Mission Sunehra Kal” for promoting “Climate Smart” agriculture through watershed development

    Transition to Renewable Energy- Eg- Adani Foundation’s projects for solar-powered rural electrification.

    Women Empowerment- Eg- HUL’s “Project Shakti” for creating a network of micro-entrepreneurs (“Shakti Ammas”) to sell hygiene products.

    Issues with CSR

    Greenwashing- Using CSR for PR. Eg- Coca-Cola’s “World Without Waste” campaign while being world’s top plastic polluter for years.

    Peripheral Activity- CSR is often a “side project”.

    Geographical Bias- concentrated in industrialized states, ignoring backward regions like Bihar or the Northeast.

    The “Checklist” Approach- focus on spending the money rather than the impact or outcome.

    Lack of Expertise, leading to poorly designed projects.

    CSR (2%) is a fraction of the cost of the “Externalities” the company causes

    Crony CSR- channeling funds into “in-house” foundations or politically connected NGOs.

    Difficulty in Measuring Impact- no universal standard to quantify the “Social Return on Investment” (SROI).

    A Way Forward

    ESG Integration in core investment and operational strategy.

    Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for the entire lifecycle of product. Eg- plastic waste management.

    Impact measurement through third-party ethical audits.

    Circular Economy- Shifting from “Take-Make-Dispose” model to “Reduce-Reuse-Recycle.”

    True sustainability requires Systems Change, where profit and planet are seen as mutually inclusive.

  • Apart 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.

    “The purpose of power is to serve, not to rule.” To adhere to this ethos, civil servants needs combination of IQ, ethics and compassion.

    Intellectual Competency

    Analytical Ability- Eg- V.K. Pandian (IAS) used data analytics in sports governance in Odisha.

    Technological Literacy- Eg- J. Satyanarayana (IAS) pioneered the ‘e-Seva’ project

    Domain Expertise- Eg- Dr. M. S. Swaminathan (Green Revolution)

    Professionalism. Eg- Sreedhran

    Legal Acumen. Eg- S.R. Sankaran (IAS) used land laws to restore land to marginalized tribals.

    Communication Skills

    Innovation- Eg- IAS Prashant Nair used crowdfunding for community kitchens

    Moral Qualities

    Integrity- Eg- C.G. Somiah (IAS)– unblemished career as the CAG of India.

    Fortitude- Eg- U. Sagayam (IAS), spent a night in a graveyard to protect evidence in a mining scam.

    Probity- Eg- Satyendra Dubey (IES) exposed corruption in the Golden Quadrilateral project.

    Accountability and transparency. Eg- Satish Dhawan taking blame for SLV-3 mission failure

    Impartiality- Eg- T.N. Seshan as CEC

    Selflessness- Eg- Randhir Prasad Verma (IPS) sacrificed his life while fighting armed robbers

    Importance of Empathy and Compassion

    Empathy helps in prioritizing utilitarian virtue of “greatest good” over self-interest.

    Humanizing the Rule of Law- Ensures rules don’t become tools of oppression. Eg- authorizing PDS ration for a poor with leprosy.

    Bridging the Trust Deficit- Compassion builds a bond between the state and the citizen.

    Conflict De-escalation (building social capital)- Eg- P. Vijayakumar (IPS) using empathetic negotiation to prevent communal flares in Coimbatore.

    Inclusive Infrastructure- Eg- Dr Nidhi Patel pioneering space lab for rural students in Bilaspur.

    Rehabilitation over Punishment- Eg- Kiran Bedi introduced Vipassana and education in Tihar.

    Resource Mobilization- A compassionate officer inspires others to give. Eg- Armstrong Pame (IAS) built a 100km “People’s Road” using crowdfunding

    Going beyond administrative duty to help others. Eg- Inayat Khan (IAS) adopted the daughters of CRPF martyrs

    Compassion guides in using discretionary powers in an ethical manner. Eg- delaying the demolition of encroachment until finalization of the rehabilitation plan.

    Vulnerability Mapping- Empathy helps civil servants to identify those who don’t have a “voice.” Eg- Tamboli Ayyaj building hospitals for Adivasi’s in maoist areas.

    Thus, empathy and compassion enable civil servants to convert authority into service and law into justice.

    Public/Civil Service Values