Revision summary
A code of ethics states values; a code of conduct states forbidden acts; both need leaders who obey them. Whistle protection, rotation, checked assets and small consistent punishments build culture. India’s fourth-largest-economy rank (IMF) sits beside under-used and stolen public money in some schemes. PFMS, outcome budgets, social audit, GeM and CAG follow-up are the accountability kit. Growth to third place is ethical only if the ladder is not stolen from the poor.
Model answer
Introduction
A code of ethics says what we believe. A code of conduct says what we may not do on Tuesday. Part (a) wants both, alive in an office, not framed for a VIP. Part (b) notes IMF’s line that India is the fourth-largest economy in the world and still loses public money in some sectors. Size without probity is a hollow rank.
Body
(a) Measures for an ethical work culture
Write a short code of ethics: integrity, objectivity, empathy, constitutional morality. Write a conduct code: gifts, conflict of interest, social media, sexual harassment. Induction that uses case discussion, not only a PPT. Leaders eat last: if the head takes a private jet for a family wedding on an official booking, the code is dead. Speak-up: a protected whistle channel to CVO. No revenge posting. Rotate sensitive desks. Asset declarations that are checked. Celebrate the clerk who refused a tout. Punish the first small leak; culture is a thousand Tuesdays.
Value-based culture is Socrates in the canteen. Compliance culture is the audit trail. India needs both. Second ARC and the Nolan principles (selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, leadership) are ready furniture.
(b) Accountability so the fourth can become a third without theft
IMF’s 2025-class projection of India as the fourth-largest economy (nominal dollars) is a headline of scale. Under-used and misused funds are a headline of waste: stalled irrigation, empty food parks, ghost MGNREGA, delayed health buildings. Measures: just-in-time releases (PFMS) so money does not rot in a park account; outcome budgets that a legislature can read; social audit that is not captured by the same sarpanch; geotagged assets; CAG and PAC with time-bound ATR; benami and procurement e-markets (GeM) with blacklisting that bites; CWC/CVC on big tickets; Parliamentary and media sunlight; capacity so a district can spend well, not only surrender in March.
Probity is Kautilya’s watchmen. Gandhi’s talisman — the face of the poorest — is the test of a leaked scholarship. Becoming third by honest productivity is ethics. Becoming third by inflated invoices is a statistical sin.
The civil servant’s specific honour is to stop the leakage without stopping the school.
Flow diagram
flowchart TD CE[Code of ethics] --> CUL[Culture] CC[Code of conduct] --> CUL PF[PFMS social audit GeM] --> ACC[Accountability] ACC --> G[Honest third-largest path]
Conclusion
An ethical office needs a living code, a speaking leader and a safe whistle. A fourth-largest economy still leaking funds will not become a fair third without PFMS, audits, geotags and punishment that is real.
Quick related
Students also ask
-
The application of Artificial Intelligence as a dependable source of input for administrative rational decision-making is a debatable issue. Critically examine the statement from the ethical point of view
Next question on this syllabus topic (2024 · Q1(a)). View answer →
-
Is a framed code enough?
No. Culture is what happens when the boss is not in the room.
-
Does stopping leakage mean stopping welfare?
The ethical aim is the opposite: every rupee that was meant for work should become work, not a Swiss joke.
PYQ trend
When UPSC asked this
Related PYQs from other years, newest first. Open a question to read it.
-
2024 · Q1(a) · GS IV · 10 marks
The application of Artificial Intelligence as a dependable source of input for administrative rational decision-making is a debatable issue. Critically examine the statement from the ethical point of view -
2024 · Q1(b) · GS IV · 10 marks
"Ethics encompasses several key dimensions that are crucial in guiding individuals and organizations towards morally responsible behaviour." Explain the key dimensions of ethics that influence human actions. Discuss how these dimensions shape ethical decision-making in the professional context. -
2024 · Q5(b) · GS IV · 10 marks
The soul of the new law, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is Justice, Equality and Impartiality based on Indian culture and ethos. Discuss this in the light of major shift from a doctrine of punishment to justice in the present judicial system. -
2024 · Q6(a) · GS IV · 10 marks
"In Indian culture and value system, an equal opportunity has been provided irrespective of gender identity. The number of women in public service has been steadily increasing over the years." Examine the gender-specific challenges faced by female public servants and suggest suitable measures to increase their efficiency in discharging their duties and maintaining high standards of probity -
2024 · Q6(b) · GS IV · 10 marks
Mission Karmayogi is aiming for maintaining a very high standard of conduct and behaviour to ensure efficiency for serving citizens and in turn developing oneself. How will this scheme empower the civil servants in enhancing productive efficiency and delivering the services at the grassroots level? -
2023 · Q2 · GS IV · 10 marks
(a) "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? (b) In the context of work environment, differentiate between 'coercion and undue influence' with suitable examples. -
2022 · Q3 · GS IV · 10 marks
(a) Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do.'-Potter Stewart . (b) "If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher." - Abdul Kalam. (c) "Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it." Dalai Lama. -
2022 · Q4 · GS IV · 10 marks
(a) 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. (b) 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.
More from this topic
Q6(b) · UPSC Mains 2024 · GS IV · 10 marks
Mission Karmayogi is aiming for maintaining a very high standard of conduct and behaviour to ensure efficiency for serving citizens and in turn developing oneself. How will this scheme empower the civil servants in enhancing productive efficiency and delivering the services at the grassroots level?
Probity in Governance
Indian ethos and the Constitution promise equal opportunity; women’s numbers in public service have risen, but command postings still lag. Gender-specific challenges include safety, POSH failure, care burden, infrastructure, ACR bias and isolation that aids capture. Measures mix predictable postings, working POSH, creche, bias audit and support for the officer who refuses a tout. Mission Karmayogi is a competency and conduct programme on iGOT, meant to shift from rule-parrot to role skill. It empowers grassroots delivery only if content, language and measures reach the last-mile worker and change the thana, not only the dashboard.
Q6(a) · UPSC Mains 2024 · GS IV · 10 marks
"In Indian culture and value system, an equal opportunity has been provided irrespective of gender identity. The number of women in public service has been steadily increasing over the years." Examine the gender-specific challenges faced by female public servants and suggest suitable measures to increase their efficiency in discharging their duties and maintaining high standards of probity
Probity in Governance
Indian ethos and the Constitution promise equal opportunity; women’s numbers in public service have risen, but command postings still lag. Gender-specific challenges include safety, POSH failure, care burden, infrastructure, ACR bias and isolation that aids capture. Measures mix predictable postings, working POSH, creche, bias audit and support for the officer who refuses a tout. Mission Karmayogi is a competency and conduct programme on iGOT, meant to shift from rule-parrot to role skill. It empowers grassroots delivery only if content, language and measures reach the last-mile worker and change the thana, not only the dashboard.
Q5(b) · UPSC Mains 2024 · GS IV · 10 marks
The soul of the new law, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is Justice, Equality and Impartiality based on Indian culture and ethos. Discuss this in the light of major shift from a doctrine of punishment to justice in the present judicial system.
Probity in Governance
A code of conduct is enforceable do’s and don’ts; a code of ethics states values and how to reason when the rule is silent. India has conduct rules in operation; a living ethics code still needs leaders, cases and whistle protection. A model for integrity, probity and transparency binds the Constitution, public money, reasons on file, impartial queues and data restraint. BNS presents justice, equality and impartiality as its soul and adds victim-centric and community-service tools. The shift from punishment to justice fails if new sections only warehouse the poor.
Toppers' copies
Toppers' copies for this question will be uploaded soon.