GS4 Final

INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS
INSIGHTSIAS
IA SIMPLIFYING IAS EXAM PREPARATION

MAINS MISSION 2022
GS- IV
AUGUST 2022
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NOTE: Please remember that following ‘answers’ are NOT ‘model answers’. They
are NOT synopsis too if we go by definition of the term. What we are providing
is content that both meets demand of the question and at the same time gives you
extra points in the form of background information.
Table of Contents
Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions;
dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships. ........................................................ 6
For a civil servant, being fearlessly morally upright serves little purpose in administration of the
present day. Debate. (150 words) .................................................................................................. 6
Great teachers show you your greatness not their own. Justify with examples. (150 words) .......... 8
The values envisaged by the builders of independent India need to be imbibed for sustained
progress. Discuss. (250 words) ..................................................................................................... 10
Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators;
role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values. ......................................... 12
What does this quote means to you? (150 words) - “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change
the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” ― Rumi ................................................... 12
What does this quote means to you? (150 words) “Most powerful is he who has himself in his own
power.” ― Seneca ....................................................................................................................... 13
What does this quote means to you? (150 words) “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for
it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” ― Heraclitus ............................................... 14
What does this quote means to you? (150 words)“The wealth required by nature is limited and is
easy to procure; but the wealth required by vain ideals extends to infinity.” ― Epicurus ............. 15
What does this quote means to you? (150 words)“Contentment is natural wealth; luxury is
artificial poverty.” ― Socrates ..................................................................................................... 16

What does this quote means to you? (150 words) “So long as you are ready to die for humanity,
the life of your country is immortal. ― Giuseppe Mazzini. ........................................................... 17
Which moral philosophers teachings do you relate to the most? Why? (150 words) .................... 18
What does this quote means to you? (150 words)“Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself
out of much life so. Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something.” ― Henry
David Thoreau ............................................................................................................................. 19
What does this quote means to you? (150 words) “How vain it is to sit down to write when you
have not stood up to live.” ― Henry David Thoreau..................................................................... 20
What does this quote means to you? (150 words) “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First,
by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience,
which is the bitterest”. – Confucius.............................................................................................. 21
Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service , integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship,
objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker
sections. .......................................................................................................................................... 23
India has had a rich philanthropic culture of giving donations for the welfare of poor and the
needy. Discuss. (150 words) ......................................................................................................... 23
Nonpartisan service responds to demonstrable objective and external criteria rather than to
alignments in the conflict. Discuss. (150 Words) .......................................................................... 24
To deal with these challenging circumstances prevailing across the world in the recent past, the
world requires compassion, cooperation and complete solidarity. Discuss. (150 Words) ............. 26
Do you think the concept of moonlighting is ethical in your opinion? (150 Words) ...................... 27
Attitude: moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion. .......................................... 29
Explain the concept of public morality with examples. What are various factors affecting it? (150
words) ......................................................................................................................................... 29
Examine the importance of persuasion in marketing of corporate products. In order to achieve
profits, can marketing be ‘partially truthful’? (150 words) ........................................................... 30
Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world. ......................................... 34
Explain the application of Kant’s Categorical Imperative to self-development of civil servants. (150
words) ......................................................................................................................................... 34
Although utilitarianism remains a popular ethical philosophy, deontology undoubtedly has a
stronger presence in everyday life. Debate. (150 Words) ............................................................. 36
Buddhism has very rich ideas related to ethics and morality and it guides the method and action of
cultivating one’s moral character. Explain. (150 words) ............................................................... 38
Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns
and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as
sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and
moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; ........................... 40
What do you understand by a ‘moral compass’? Elaborate upon its role in making morally right
choices. (150 words) .................................................................................................................... 40
Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity;
Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of

Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds,
challenges of corruption. ................................................................................................................. 42
Citizen charters would benefit from a more strategic or systematic preparation that incorporates
the views and expertise of a wide range of stakeholders before being introduced and for the
initiative to become an integral part of the approach to standards of service thereafter. Analyse.
(150 Words) ................................................................................................................................ 42
Efforts must be intensified to improve governance frameworks and strengthen actions to improve
the prevention, detection and sanctioning of corruption. Discuss. (150 Words) ........................... 44
Discuss the importance of Probity in public projects, which seeks to reduce vulnerabilities to
corruption in Public Private Partnership projects (PPP). (150 Words) ........................................... 47
In many ways, corruption is the way in which the less efficient in society move ahead at the cost of
the more efficient. Comment. (250 words) .................................................................................. 50
Enumerate the importance of whistleblowing in preventing corruption in public organisations.
(150 words) ................................................................................................................................. 51
Case Studies on above issues. .......................................................................................................... 53
You’re a HR responsible for hiring content writers for a project. Binod is one such applicant who
has applied for the job. He has cleared all the earlier rounds and during HR round you come to
know that he has financial difficulties and is in dire need of the job. As he met all technical
qualifications and his attitude seemed to be fine, you hire him with a probationary period of 6
months. Post 6 months, based on his performance he would be made permanent. Few weeks into
his job, you get adverse reports from his team lead about his performance. When you talk to him,
he informs you that he is unable to balance personal and professional life. His personal problems
are affecting his work performance. You counsel him and guide him to the best of your abilities
but in a few weeks the same problems continue. The team lead requests you to consider
terminating his employment as he has been given enough chances to improve. But ultimately it is
your call. What will be your course of action in this scenario?...................................................... 53
As the Chief Project Officer, you have been given an emergency grant for re-construction of the
bridge that collapsed due to recent flash floods in the area surrounding Malgudi. Although it is a
small project for you but it is vital one as it is a sole way in and out of the rural hamlet of Malgudi.
After the collapse, people of Malgudi are forced to navigate the river in an un-safe means for
reaching to jobs, hospitals and educational institutes etc. ........................................................... 54
Suppose you are the CEO of a company that manufactures specialized electronic equipment used
by a government department. You have submitted your bid for the supply of this equipment to
the department. Both the quality and cost of your offer are better than those of the competitors.
Yet the concerned officer is demanding a hefty bribe for approving the tender Getting the order is
important both for you and your company. Not getting the order would mean closing a
production line. It may also affect your own career. However, as a value-conscious person, You do
not want to give bribe. Valid arguments can be advanced both for giving the bribe and getting the
order, and for refusing to pay the bribe and risking the loss of the order. What those arguments
could be, Could there be any better way to get out of this dilemma? If so, outline the main
elements of this third way, pointing out its merits. (250 Words) (20 M) (UPSC 2014) ................... 56
One of the scientists working in the R&D laboratory of a major pharmaceutical company discovers
that one of the company’s bestselling veterinary drugs has the potential to cure a currently
incurable liver disease which is prevalent in tribal areas. However, developing a variant of the drug

suitable for human being entailed a lot of research and development having a huge expenditure
to the extent of Rs. 50 crores. It was unlikely that company would recover the cost as the disease
was rampant only in poverty stricken areas having very little market otherwise. ......................... 58

Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics

in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships.
For a civil servant, being fearlessly morally upright serves little purpose in
administration of the present day. Debate. (150 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by Lexicon Publications.
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Abstract
Thursdays’ in Mission-2023 Secure.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the efficacy of being fearlessly morally upright.
Directive:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the
topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by writing what you understand by being fearlessly morally upright.
Body:
Write about the various ethical issues involved in being fearlessly morally upright.
Next, analyse the pros and cons of being fearlessly morally upright and how its affects the
administration and the civil servant. Substantiate with examples.
Conclusion:
Conclude by giving your view being fearlessly morally upright.
Introduction
An individual who has a personal history of honesty, fairness, respect for the rights of others and for
the law is considered a person of good moral character. He is someone who possesses good moral
virtues, and is ethically admirable. In the immigration context, the Immigration and Nationality Act
defines good moral character in the negative. A person is deemed to have a good moral character if
he has not committed certain violations of the law or committed certain specified acts.
Body

For a civil servant, being fearlessly morally upright serves little purpose in administration of the
present day
 It is the lack of probity in public life that resulted in increasing cases of misallocation of
public funds like 2G scam, taking grafts for delivery of public services to citizens, inclusion of
fake beneficiaries, use of public power for the personal interest and nepotism.
 There is no recognition of good work in civil services.
 Honest and brave officers are threatened with suspension and humiliation.
 Today, our bureaucracy is twenty times more bureaucratic, our deference to the chain of
command more cringing and decorous, our worship of paper more entrenched.
 To quote Hyman Rickover, “If you are going to sin, sin against God, not the bureaucracy. God
will forgive you but the bureaucracy won’t.”
 An administration certainly needs guardrails in the form of non-negotiable rules. Without

such rails, the system can stray badly. But necessitating a dozen signatures where a few can
do, is a criminal surfeit of supervisory controls.
 Similarly, we have a colossal army of paper-pushing subordinates churning out work of

frivolous value leading to redtapism.
 Corruption, favouritism, criminalisation of governance, self-centred functionaries etc. are on

the rise.
Measures to ensure probity
 Statutory Code of Values and Ethics for Public Services– It should be expressed in simple
language, easily understandable and should lay down fundamental values that ought to
govern the conduct of public servants. For example, British Civil Services Code.
 Ethical framework –Need for an ethical framework that should provide for prevention and
guidance, investigation, disciplinary action, and prosecution.
 Ethical Guidance –It should include training in ethics, awareness and development of
essential skill for ethical analysis and moral judgement.
 Sanction and punishment –Violation and breaches of the Code of Ethics should
invite sanction and punishment under the disciplinary rules. A simplified disciplinary regime
should be put in place which, while following the principle of natural justice, may speedily
and summarily decide cases and take punitive action against delinquent employees.
 Independent office of Ethics Commissioner– Need to create such an independent office on

the US pattern to provide leadership in ethics and values. Ethics Commissioner should issue
and interpret rules which govern standards of conduct and conflict of interest.
Conclusion
Integrity and probity in public life demand that those elected or appointed to public office are
themselves imbued with a sense of responsibility to the society that puts them there; that the
decisions they take should always be solely in terms of the public interest and not to gain benefits
for themselves, family, friends or associates; that they act with honesty and integrity by not
allowing their private interests to conflict with their public responsibilities; and that the behaviour
must always be able to stand up to the closest public scrutiny. Similarly, civil society and
institutions have a crucial role to play by calling to account those who will flout the rules and by
refusing to tolerate any but the highest standard of behaviour in those who they elect or appoint
to serve the public interest.
Great teachers show you your greatness not their own. Justify with examples. (150
words)
Why the question:
to develop a link between changing your attitude and changing your behaviour.
Directive:
Justify – When you are asked to justify, you must pass a sound judgement about the truth of the
given statement in the question or the topic based on evidence. You must appraise the worth of the
statement in question using suitable case studies or/ and examples.
Introduction:
Begin by defining a great teacher.
Body:
Mention the important attributes of a great teachers – compassion, integrity, emotional intelligence,
Humility, leadership and communication. Use examples from India and the world to justify how great
teachers create even greater pupils/ disciples.
Conclusion:
Complete the answer by the life changing role of teachers on the society.
Introduction
Teachers are the backbone of any country e the pillar upon which aspirations are converted into
realities – APJ Abdul Kalam
Teacher is the most important person in an education system as all the knowledge values skill belief
etc. must flow through him before being imparted to the students. Therefore teacher is rightly
compared to the god in Hindu scriptures saying “Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu..”.
Body
How Great teachers show you your greatness not their own.
 A great teacher is a Motivator:
o Every child has a fountain of talent in him/her. An ideal teacher is one that makes a
child realise his immense potential and help him to convert this internal energy to a
real world talent.
o g.: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
 Analytical and solution provider:
o A good teacher is capable of identifying the weakness of the student, do micro

analysis of what’s going wrong and is also able to develop a roadmap to help student
overcome his disabilities and emerge as a winner.

 Compassionate:
o During highs and lows a true teacher never leaves his student. He is always ready to
provide hand holding service so that his student is not baffled by the harsh realities.
Simultaneously he also prepares his student to be ready to face the challenges of
this world.
 A good teacher instils & demonstrate confidence.
o Confidence while teaching can mean any number of things, it can range from having
confidence in your knowledge of the material being learned to having confidence
that your teaching acumen is second to none.
 They have life experience.
o Having some life experience outside the classroom and outside the realm of
education is invaluable for putting learning into context and keeping school activities
in perspective.
o Teachers who have traveled, worked in other fields, played high-level sports, or
enjoyed any number of other life experiences bring to the profession outlooks other
than ‘teacher.’
o g. Narendra was made Swami Vivekananda under the influence of his teacher Ram
Krishna Paramhans.
 Good Teachers Show Empathy.
o Another key to engaging students and improving their learning is to treat each
student as an individual, by being empathetic and understanding to what may be
going on in their lives.
 Good Teachers Have Patience.
o No matter what grade level you’re teaching, your patience will be tested while
working as an educator.
o Whether you’re managing classroom behavior, working with colleagues with
different views, or communicating student issues or progress with parents, patience
is one of the most important skills to practice as a teacher.
 Good Teachers Value Real-World Learning.
o Teachers who bring their students’ learning into the real world are often some of
the most engaging. But it’s important for teachers to bring their own learning into
the real world, too.
Conclusion
Teacher’s role is critical in inculcating values as schools is the second biggest institution of
socialisation after family. Teacher, as an instrument, transfers the social values that are necessary
for a community living. Values like equity, non-discrimination, neutrality in judgement, reciprocity in
community, discipline, punctuality, social etiquette and mannerism etc all taught in the school.

Children are the future of nation the sole responsibility of keeping the future bright lies on the
shoulder of teacher. In words of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam – “If a country has to be corruption free and
become a nation of beautiful mind I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can
make a difference they are father, mother and teacher”
The values envisaged by the builders of independent India need to be imbibed for
sustained progress. Discuss. (250 words)
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The successes and failures of the earlier generations in post-independent India have provided the
nation with the pathways to address the challenges of the future.
To write about the values envisaged by the founding fathers of India and the need to preserve them.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Introduction:
Start by mentioning the major values envisaged by the founding father of India.
Body:
First, write about the rationale behind such values and how they continue to be relevant in the
present times. Cite examples to substantiate.
Next, write about the impact they could create on the present times and help use address challenges
of today.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
The five principal pillars of envisaged by founding father of India are, Nation-building, Democratic
institution-building, Secularism, Democratic Socialist economics, and a Novel foreign policy (Non-
alignment, Panchsheel) still form the cardinal values of India.
Body
Values envisaged by builders of Independent India
 Constitution of India: The Founding fathers came up with a constitutional scheme

guaranteeing rights that included freedom of speech, religion and equality of all people.
o It also allowed for affirmative action in favor of those who were historically
marginalized.
 A secular state: India’s diversity invariably called for a secular state. Though the principle of
secularism is different, it is suitably adapted to the needs of India. It has been working
successfully all these years.
 Universal adult franchise: From the very start, post-Independent India had universal adult
franchise without discrimination against women. Even western nations didn’t have it until
late and India can take great pride in this matter.
 Allowing for a formal separation of powers: There is a federal set up with clear separation
of power with features to become unitary without amending the constitution. This model
also has worked well for India which needs a strong Centre for its unity and integrity.
 Building of institutions (industrial, educational, medical) that heralded progress, and the
unleashing of knowledge and communication sectors that tied India beneficially to the world
economy.
 Non-alignment: India’s foreign policy has helped it maneuver through tough times and have
space for strategic autonomy when the world was mired in cold war. Even today this is very
relevant.
The role of value in addressing present day challenges
 The successes and failures of the earlier generations in post-independent India have
provided the nation with the pathways to address the challenges of the future.
 For one, it is clear that neither a statist nor a market-only emphasis on development and
growth is ideal.
o India must continue policies, framed in the 1990s, of allowing entrepreneurial
energies to flourish while relying on comprehensive welfare with a rights
approach, which was given impetus in the late 2000s, to help utilize its
demographic potential.
 In the early years of Independence, many modern institutions of higher education, industry
and health care were built and endured but India missed out on a strong focus
on primary health-care and education, a weakness that has led to the persistence of
poverty and social marginalization on the basis of caste.
 A bottom-up approach to development that should focus on building capabilities of the

citizenry through both affirmative actions and state responsiveness would lead to better
release of productive forces in the economy.
 States getting more fiscal latitude and local governments being empowered to implement
programs could go a long way in achieving this.
 As the world transits towards a new industrial revolution in its reliance on technologies such
as 5G, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, robotics, and green technologies, India
must embark upon building significant capabilities in these in a way that does not just result
in a few corporations gaining but which allows for more gainful employment and
diversification of the economy.
 In external relations, while India must continue to skilfully navigate the contradictions
emerging in the international order with an emphasis on its interests, it should not disavow
the time-tested adherence to values — of non-interference, building an equanimous world
order and striving for peace — that allowed it to emerge as a leader of the non-aligned
world.
Conclusion
India has come a long way since 1947 in finding its footing among the comity of nations, but there
still needs a lot more distance to be travelled in fulfilling the promise that Pandit Nehru spoke of, on

the eve of Independence. India’s Independence generation was clear that freedom from British rule
was meaningless without a constitutional order that governs a democratic system predicated on
social justice, equality and unity in diversity as these were the promises that gained them the
intellectual ballast and the support of the people to overcome colonialism. India’s progress in the
21st century would depend upon the re-ignition of these values.
Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers
and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in
inculcating values.
What does this quote means to you? (150 words) - “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted
to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” ― Rumi
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Quotes
Wednesdays’ in Mission-2022 Secure.
Introduction:
Begin by explaining the literal meaning of the quote.
Body:
Write about the various difficulties in changing the world and how it is better to change oneself and
hope that radiates as a change in the world as well. Substantiate with examples.
Next, write about the how it is not sufficient to change oneself and we must strive to change the
world.
Conclusion:
Summarise by highlighting the importance of the quote in the present day.
Introduction
It was the American author and speaker John C. Maxwell who wrote: “Most people want to change
the world to improve their lives, but the world they need to change first is the one inside
themselves.”
The truth is, it is possible to change the world. But to change the world, you have to change yourself
first. Many of us criticise the world for many things. We curse and blame the things in our
surroundings and never understand that we need a change in us. Changes are inevitable in the
world, and the changes should emanate from us.
Body
All intelligent social beings have an opinion on how the world must run. Everyone has an opinion
on what is wrong with the world, yet few will do the work to improve their own lives.
It is easy to draw attention to what is wrong in the world because on one level it is frustrating to
observe these conditions and stand back while they take place.

The world has existed for 4.54 billion years and is much older and wiser than us. We have existed
for a minor part in that timeline and conditions weren’t always ideal, in fact history shows conditions
were less than idyllic.
If we want to change reality start with ourselves first and attend to our own personal development.
In doing so, problems give way to solutions and no longer affect us. It is futile trying to change
conditions out there because life is constantly changing. It is like trying to keep plates spinning on a
stick while more plates are added. One cannot keep up and they will eventually come crashing
down.
It makes sense to work on ourself so that outside conditions no longer affect us as they once did.
This is the key to enlightenment, raising our level of consciousness so you transcend problems with
a higher awareness.
Conclusion
To change the world, you have to change yourself first. You have to change your mentality, your
habits, and your actions. Albert Einstein recognised this principle when he said: “We can’t solve
problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”
What does this quote means to you? (150 words) “Most powerful is he who has himself
in his own power.” ― Seneca
Difficulty level: Tough
Why the question:
Introduction:
Body:
Write about the importance of power and how many people can succumb and get corrupted once the
have various powers. Substantiate with examples.
Next, write about how a person who can control himself can be considered a powerful man and the
various ways to do so.
Conclusion:
Introduction
The strongest person is the one who controls their senses and is not controlled by their
senses. Such a person can put restraints over themselves and do not give into anger, hatred,
jealousy, greed, temptation, pain, pleasure or narcissism. They can sacrifice even the dearest thing
to them for the sake of righteousness or greater good. They have a core set of morals and ethics
which they never stray away from.
Body
A man who can control himself (his own emotions and impulses) is more powerful than a man
who can only control others. One must not be in the mercy of their emotions rather they must own
their mind and be in a place to master their emotions.
The mind is more powerful than most of us realize. When we control our thoughts, you control your
destiny. When left unchecked, the mind can take us to dark places. We then live in a cycle of self-

doubt that prevents us from facing new challenges. This type of thought holds us back from
experiencing the world and taking those small risks needed to succeed.
People with a growth mindset believe they can become good at something with perseverance. They
are more willing to tackle challenges and don’t pressure themselves to attain perfection. Instead,
they focus on growth and improvement with time
Conclusion
Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts. Vedic
traditions describe the mind like a chariot: you are the driver and the horses represent the different
senses. When you let your thoughts and emotions take control, the chariot gets pulled in all sorts of
directions.
What does this quote means to you? (150 words) “No man ever steps in the same river
twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” ― Heraclitus
Why the question:
Introduction:
Body:
Write about the how change is the only constant in life and its part and parcel of life. Write as to how
values, beliefs, ethics all keep changing over a period of time and so do human beings understanding
of it. Cite examples to substantiate.
Next, write about how certain values and ethics are universal and eternal.
Conclusion:
Introduction
“Life is flux,” said the philosopher Heraclitus. The Greek philosopher pointed out in 500 BC that
everything is constantly shifting, and becoming something other to what it was before. Like a river,
life flows ever onwards, and while we may step from the riverbank into the river, the waters flowing
over our feet will never be the same waters that flowed even one moment before. Heraclitus
concluded that since the very nature of life is change, to resist this natural flow was to resist the very
essence of our existence. “There is nothing permanent except change,” he said.
Body
We are all affected by the change. ‘Change’ has always been an unwelcoming guest in our diaries. It
makes us rigid, uncomfortable and surrounding us with fear for losing. But we need to have a
healthy attitude towards the idea of change, if we want to live our lives to the fullest. We need to be
non-judgmental, keep focusing on the present situation and accept the things as they are and do
change the things which are in our control without any fear.
This might be because the outcome of events and result scars us. However, if we go ahead and
accept ‘change’ bravely, it will bless us with one more interesting and memorable chapter in life. We
often take wrong decisions in life and because of this lose our courage to take risks. We start hating

everything that brings ‘the so-called change to our lazy lives. We try to keep us chained in a safe
zone instead of sailing through wild winds. Remember, taking wrong decisions are better than no
decisions at all. Change is inevitable and this needs to be accepted.
Disruptive change brings new behaviors and creates new values. The biggest change that is required
is the change of mentality which everybody knows is not easy to achieve.
Conclusion
“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them- that only creates sorrow. Let
reality be reality. Let the things flow forward in a natural way.” – Lao Tzu
Perhaps the best thing we can do is not be afraid to embrace change in our life to achieve our goals
or for our well being. If we do this, a person can avoid much suffering in his life or in others lives too.
Just go with the flow of life. It’s better that way. Again Change is the only constant in life.
What does this quote means to you? (150 words)“The wealth required by nature is
limited and is easy to procure; but the wealth required by vain ideals extends to
infinity.” ― Epicurus
Why the question:
Introduction:
Body:
Write about the need to understand what is needed and what is excessive and fuelled by greed.
Write about the vain ideals like greed, power etc and quest for unlimited wealth and its implication.
Next, write about how contentment and possessing what is required is a good way of life. Cite
examples to substantiate.
Conclusion:
Introduction
Mahatma Gandhi said, “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s
greed.” What Gandhi meant was that the nature earth has enough resources and means to meet the
basic requirements of a man but it can’t serve the endless greed of man. He added that the rich
must not only restrict their wants but must also treat their wealth as ‘trust’ for poor and use it for
the welfare of poor.
Body
In the present context, this idea is very important as there is an urgent need in the society for being
content with what one earns through legitimate means. Greed know no limits. That is why, we see
greedy people running after their material urges endlessly, and compromising their core values. This
is a sign of moral degradation of the individual as well as the society.
Following Gandhi’s idea, we can construct a harmonious society, marked by peace and cooperation.
Whereas, a society, characterized by greedy people can only face conflicts and wars. The world is

whirling under the burden of global warming, climate change and resource crunch and all
environmental conservation treaties and sustainable development efforts must implement this
sustainable philosophy.
Conclusion
Being content with one’s earning is the foundation of cultivating a moral-ethical character. In today’s
society it is a necessity to cultivate this value among the people, and more particularly among the
public servants, as they are responsible for bringing good to the society.
What does this quote means to you? (150 words)“Contentment is natural wealth;
luxury is artificial poverty.” ― Socrates
Why the question:
Introduction:
Body:
Write about the how contentment is natural wealth and importance of contentment. Substantiate
with examples.
Next, write about Luxury is artificial poverty and how running behind riches of life will not lead to
satisfaction. Substantiate with examples.
Conclusion:
Introduction
Contentment means to be happy with what you have, who you are, and where you are. It is
respecting the reality of the present. It is appreciating what you do have and where you are in life.
Contentment does not mean the absence of desire; it just means you are satisfied with your present,
and you trust that the turns your life takes will be for the best.
It can be contended that contentment is the natural wealth and luxury is artificial poverty. A state of
contentment leads to a state of well-being and happiness. Humanity has been in pursuit of the
elusive state of happiness or bliss for centuries.
Body
Many people today think life is a race where you must be the best at everything. We might want a
fancier car, a bigger house, a better-earning job, or more money. The moment we achieve one thing,
the race for the next thing starts. Rarely do many individuals spare a minute to just sit back, relax,
and be grateful for all they have achieved. Instead of looking back at the distance they have
covered, they stretch themselves to cover the distance that remains. And in some cases, this is
when ambition becomes greed.
There is often a fine line between ambition and greed. People may think that when they have
achieved all they need for their dream lifestyle, they will be satisfied with what they have—but this
is rarely the case. Even after you have ticked off all the achievements from your list, you still don’t

feel at ease. There may remain an uneasy feeling that something is still missing. That missing feeling
is contentment.
Contentment can help us distinguish between wants and needs. When we are content, we may not
desire for anything more than what we need. The abundance of the present is enough to lead a
happy and healthy life. Contentment often leads to the realization that joy doesn’t come from
material things. Instead, joy comes from deep within.
Conclusion
If we wish to feel the essence of contentment, it’s important to practice gratitude, be aware of the
fact that nothing is permanent, understand that material things do not often promote long-term
happiness, and realize that life is not a race or competition: it is about self-sustenance. The more
thankful we are in the present, the happier we may be.
What does this quote means to you? (150 words) “So long as you are ready to die for
humanity, the life of your country is immortal. ― Giuseppe Mazzini.
Why the question:
Introduction:
Body:
Write about the need to understand humanity and humanitarian concerns in the present day and the
need to preserve it. Next, write about how the people, societies and nations who practices and
preach humanity are immortal. Substantiate with examples.
Conclusion:
Introduction
As individuals who are living in a civilisation as it exists today, we must fight for Humanity, human
rights so as to not go back to the era of barbarianism. What is happening around the world today
is due to lack of Humanity amongst Human beings. We are separated by artificial borders and
there is fight for resources and everything is about the economy, money and resources. The wars
happening are man-made and it occurs when we fail to see humans on the other side of the border
as fellow human beings.
Body
It is important we support and promote a world that works for all. It is about embracing those
qualities that serve the Highest and Best of our Humanity. We must act for the greater welfare and
common good of all and to raise the consciousness and vibrations on the planet, and within our
nation, to one of inclusion, peace, and harmony. And to demonstrate that even one small act taken
by an individual can make a difference and contribute to the positive uplifting of humanity.
If we fail to act, then we fail entirely. There are huge problems that need collective action of people
across the nations and alas we are hung up on small regions and fighting for hectares of land. When
we stop and endure the injustice meted out to someone else, we are only waiting our turn and one

day the same will happen to us. In humanity we must trust and for humanity me must fight. What
would be the difference between us and animals in the wild?
There is good work that is happening around the world which restores our faith that human kind is
still thriving as they were meant to be. For instance, Doctors without borders, many refugee camps
run by NGO’s are a case in point. A world that is full of human values can lead to solving the
problem of terrorism, climate change, wars and genocides.
Conclusion
Realizing human rights, equal and inalienable for every person, is the most just and meaningful goal
of any society. For this to happen, we must stand up for humanity and protect fellow human beings
all over the world from injustice. Today’s challenges such as racial profiling, communalism, lynching,
terrorism are emanating from lack of humanity. Restoring humanity should be the number one goal
to save this planet from turning into chaos.
Which moral philosophers teachings do you relate to the most? Why? (150 words)
Reference: plato.stanford.edu
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Philosophical
Mondays’ in Mission-2023 Secure.
To write the about the moral philosophers teaching you relate to the most.
Introduction:
In the introduction, given brief of moral philosopher you relate to the most.
Body:
First, give a brief of major tenets of his/her moral philosophy.
Next, write about as to why you resonate the with philosophy of the aforementioned philosopher.
Ethically reason and justify using examples.
Conclusion:
Introduction
Gautama Buddha is one of the moral philosophers to whom I relate the most. The Buddhist
philosophy and doctrines, based on the teachings of Buddha, give meaningful insights about reality
and human existence. It teaches the Middle Path renouncing extreme steps like indulgence and
strict abstinence. According to him everyone was responsible for their own happiness in life,
stressing upon the individualistic component of Buddhism.
Body
The middle path is the core of Buddha’s teaching and can be adopted in all walks of life.
 It essentially implies avoiding extremes, such as what we are witnessing today-narrow

nationalism and unbridled liberalism, religious bigotry and decrying religion, obsession with
a glorious past and justifying all things considered modern. :blindly targeting a section of
people of a particular faith over dress, food etc.
 In short, blind faith in what one considers right without consideration for the other’s point of
view.

 Buddha’scall to avoid extreme ways of practice and walk the middle way of reasonableness
is the need of the hour. For instance, the ongoing Ukraine war where Russia and NATO are
trying to achieve their own ends.
 Buddhism inculcates a lofty system of ethics and what is enunciated in the eight-fold pathis
a simple yet powerful guide for all individuals including those in high places-political and
business leaders, religious seers, bureaucrats and professionals.
 In today’s world of bitter religious and political conflicts, increasing inequalities and
inequities, and unscrupulous commercial competition, the ‘middle path’ laid out by the
Buddhais the only way to save mankind from the evils of hatred, vituperation and violence.
 One of the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations to be achieved by 2030
is ‘Peace and Justice’.
 As peace and sustainable development are interlinked, the Buddha’s prism can be the
guiding lights to every single stakeholder from local to global institutions and leaders, to
work together for promoting dialogue, harmony, and justice based on compassion and
wisdom.
Conclusion
The Buddhist teachings inculcate compassion, calmness & composure, joy among humans and they
can help maintain a sustainable balance between man and nature. Buddha’s teachings can
transform the societies into their better and more humane forms as reflected by Tibetan spiritual
leader the Dalai Lama “the 20th century was a century of war and violence, now we all need to work
to see that the 21st century is of peace and dialogue.’
What does this quote means to you? (150 words)“Do not be too moral. You may cheat
yourself out of much life so. Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for
something.” ― Henry David Thoreau
Why the question:
Introduction:
Body:
Write about the need to be moral and being moral for a just cause. Write about the importance of
not just being moral but taking a stand against injustices and standing up for a cause. Substantiate
with facts and examples.
Conclusion:
Introduction
The above quote talks about how one needs to be aware of his ignorance. Real knowledge —
according to the great Chinese philosopher, Confucius — is knowing the extent of your own
ignorance. The more aware and accepting you are of that which you don’t know, the wiser you
become.

Body
We all know a lot of different things, and many of us can recognize some of the things we don’t
know, but have you ever thought about everything you don’t even know you don’t know? Many of
us haven’t, which makes us ignorant of our own ignorance.
We know we don’t know quantum physics, how to fly an airplane, or how to speak Cantonese. These
are known unknowns — all of the things we recognize we don’t know. This so-called knowledge
territory consists of everything we don’t even know we don’t know. We would provide examples
here, but we can’t because we are ignorant of them. This territory is the unknown unknown, and it
is big. There is an unquantifiable amount of unknown unknowns, but the more aware of it you are,
the more real knowledge you possess. To be clear, it is impossible to be aware of what you don’t
know you don’t know.
Even great thinkers like Socrates admitted ignorance. What set him apart from others of his time is
that he was aware of what he lacked, and he sought more wisdom because of it. The only way
around the unknown is through it.
No matter how knowledgeable we are, we all inevitably have things that we don’t know. That is
what it means to be human. We have limits. And knowing when we don’t know something is far
more powerful, and knowledgeable, than the more emotionally immature attitude of thinking that
we know it all.
Conclusion
Thus, the mark of an intelligent person would be know where his wisdom ends and his ignorance
begins. It doesn’t feign well to brag that a person is very intelligent and knows everything about
everything.
To borrow a phrase from one of Exploratory Leaders, Seth Godin, it’s your turn. It’s your turn to
recognize there is a universe of knowledge you aren’t aware of. Only once you understand this can
you begin to navigate your own unknowns.
What does this quote means to you? (150 words) “How vain it is to sit down to write
when you have not stood up to live.” ― Henry David Thoreau
Why the question:
Introduction:
Body:
Write about how it is too easy to criticise something or others but it is immensely difficult to take a
stand against something, especially, in the face of adversity. Mention that it is lack of moral courage
that leads to this. Substantiate with examples.
Conclusion:
Summarise by highlighting the importance of the courage in the present day.
Introduction

Many authors and writers often write about their own life experiences. With lack of life experience,
one cannot write meaningfully or engage the audience. This is the point brought out by Henry
David Thoreau, who moved into a small isolated cabin for two years two months and two days, to
hone his philosophy of simple living.
Body
Experiencing going to war is different than reading about it. But that does not mean that a person
who has never been in the military cannot write about war. However, he/she may lack credibility in
the eyes of some readers.
Be it an author or anyone, without experiencing certain things in life, we cannot meaningfully

recollect/write about it and it would be futile to tell it to the world. For instance, without going on
We need to be going out there and experience life ourselves to tell stories.
By implication, Thoreau is praising those who sit down to write having stood up to live. I take it that
he is criticizing writing, that only feeds on other writing without expressing knowledge the writer
has acquired from direct personal experience. A pundit, for example, who expresses opinions
about all manner of political decisions and policies without ever having participated in politics, has
sat down to write without having stood up to live. Granted, participating in public debate is itself a
form of political participation, but when the opinions are uninformed and insensitive to what is and
isn’t politically possible under the circumstances such writing degrades rather than elevates the
quality of the public sphere.
Conclusion
Gaining from experiencing and life learning are important to meaningfully talk or write about it.
First-hand experience is also etched in memory and one can truly make the readers believe about
the experience.
What does this quote means to you? (150 words) “By three methods we may learn
wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and
third by experience, which is the bitterest”. – Confucius
Difficulty level: Easy
Why the question:
Introduction:
Body:
Elaborate upon the quote and the various ways in which wisdom can be achieved. Substantiate with
examples. Mention as to which are the preferred ways of obtaining wisdom.
Conclusion:
Introduction
Confucius was a famous Chinese philosopher, teacher and political figure remembered for his
celebrated aphorisms and for his principles of social interaction. I the above quote, he highlights the
ways and means of learning and gaining wisdom and calls self-experience is the difficult way of

learning. In other words, certain situation can be easily tackled by learning through imitation and
reflection rather than committing same mistakes as others.
Body
Learning Wisdom by Reflection
According to Confucius, this method is the noblest one. Meaningful reflection can do miracles as it
strengthens your capacity to absorb and learn.
Reflective learning makes the best understanding of untrained subjects — as you can connect
different concepts to your already established theories and empower you to transform that to
something that your metacognitive system is already experienced of. Reflection is further like a
discovery method that stimulates various insights and help us growing out learning potentials. It hit
upon both our cognitive as effectively as emotional sub-structure.
Learning Wisdom by Imitation
Confucius says this is the easiest method to learn. For kids it is the leading instrument for learning
new things and teenager learn every slang by observing peer.
Consider a low-skilled craftsman who is under tremendous financial stress and wish to come up one
grade up so that he can take care of his family better. Upon finding an opportunity this person can
commit to it and at the very same hour he picks up new skill quickly by observing and imitating
another’s actions.
It is a social form of learning where you pick up from one another via observation, imitation and
modelling. it includes attention, memory and motivation. Entire development of traditions and
cultures is based on this where individual’s knowledge retrieval is directly related to observing other
people within the frame of reference of social interactions, body gestures and different experiences
Learning Wisdom by Experience
Based on Confucius philosophy this is bitterest way to learn wisdom. There is no substitute of
experience. Strength and conviction that every experience will contribute to will make you more
satisfying and unique as a human being.
No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.
Each one of us goes thorough different transformations with mixed variables which remain unique
and challenging. Man is product of these learning experiences.
Knowledge comes but wisdom remains, and that comes from tempering heat of experience and
maturity. Experience could be the most favorable way to learn; but experience itself is not sufficient.
Experience comes with its own price, exhaustion and pre-hypotheses.
Not all experiences serve to new insights and learning, and assuming that most of your
experiences are tough you happen to believe it as a problem; and your endeavor to push forward
the same experience-based understanding to new opportunities will go wrong and leave behind a
bitter aftertaste.
Conclusion

Thus, there is a choice as how we want to learn. Life is a mixed bag of sorrow and happiness and
learning is a continuous process. It is always a combination of imitation, reflection and experience
and never just one thing. No matter how we learn, a civilised man must learn to enrich his thoughts
and for his overall development.
Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service , integrity, impartiality and non-
partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and
compassion towards the weaker sections.
India has had a rich philanthropic culture of giving donations for the welfare of poor
and the needy. Discuss. (150 words)
Why the question:
To write about rich philanthropic culture of India.
Directive:
Introduction:
Start by giving context.
Body:
Write about the Philanthropy in India – from business houses to individuals – trace the journey of
great philanthropes of India since independence and right up to the COVID-19 and the PM cares fund.
Highlight the significance of the above.
Conclusion:
Introduction
For India, philanthropy is not a new phenomenon. The culture of philanthropy is as old as India itself,
which has a history spanning thousands of years. One who enjoys abundance without sharing with
others is indeed a thief, says the Bhagavad Gita, a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the
Mahabharata.
There are many who continue to imbibe these values even though the India of today may bear little
resemblance to the civilization described in these ancient texts.
Body
Take the case of Suhasini Mistry, a poor domestic help who set up a charitable hospital called
Humanity Hospital in Hanspukur, Joka, West Bengal.

At 23, Mistry lost her husband and had to fend for herself and her four children. Her husband died
because they could not afford proper medical treatment. The memory stayed with Mistry, and she
decided to try and help people who may face similar difficulties.
She did a host of odd jobs from cleaning dishes to selling vegetables, and managed to save ₹ 20,000,
while educating her son Ajoy Mistry to become a doctor with the help of some philanthropists. In
1996, with the help of some locals and her savings, she set up a small hospital, working out of a hut.
Today, the hospital is run under the umbrella of Humanity Trust.
Charity and philanthropy has been in the ethos of the Indian traditions. Individuals and religious
institutions have been contributing to the welfare of the poor since antiquity. Alms giving, offering
food, and giving zakat, the Muslim tradition of giving, are some of the forms of charity motivated by
Indian religious beliefs
Conclusion
It is at the heart and soul of ethos of India and Indians to be charitable. The greater good of people
and society is the main aim of philanthropy. The idea is to improve human welfare around us and
make the world a better place for those who are under-privileged.
Nonpartisan service responds to demonstrable objective and external criteria rather

than to alignments in the conflict. Discuss. (150 Words)
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Conceptual
Tuesdays’ in Mission-2023 Secure.
trace the link between non-partisanship in public administration and equality amongst citizens.
Directive:
Introduction:
Begin by highlighting the importance of neutrality and non-partisanship in public administration.
Body:
Begin by talking about values which are important to the level of justice and continuity in public
administration with suitable examples.
Mention about how public servants must be accountable to the government for the effective delivery
of its programs.
Then finally talk about responsiveness of the administration to the government of the day within the
law and the how constitution is key to the effective implementation of government policies in an
equitable manner.
Conclusion:
Complete the answer by suggesting ways for neutrality in public administration in an increasingly
polarizing world.
Introduction

Non-partisanship is not being specifically owned or affiliated with any group, party or cause. Non-
partisanship can be called as political neutrality. Non-partisanship implies that the administrator is
to do his/her task without any fear of or favour to any political party.
Body:
A bureaucrat is needed to be politically neutral:
 Neutrality depicts that public officials are not slaves to either the politicians or any other
authority other than the moral authority of the Constitution.
 It shows that the principle of neutrality implies a measure of independence both from the
partisan interests of the government of the day and the exogenous agenda that prompts
certain social groups to cow others down to humiliating vulnerability.
 Bureaucracy should be neutral in terms of ideology and politics. So that there will not be an
affinity to a particular class or ideology.
 For a genuine public official, commitment to constitutional principles is not only a lifelong
project but, more importantly, it can be carried out without any political or ideological
mediation.
 If bureaucracy won’t be neutral then it cannot lend its whole-hearted support to the existing
political system, and to the economic and political system if any radical changes are
introduced.
 Without neutrality, there can be a close nexus between bureaucracy and large-scale
enterprises which could further lead to crony capitalism.
 By and large, the spirit of neutrality imbedded by civil servants enables them to perform
their duties in a detached and impartial manner.
Impartiality and Non-partisanship which determine the foundation of a non-partisan public

service. These are:
 Recruitment, promotions or even terminations should be completely free of any kind of

political influence and done purely on merit basis.
 All public officials should perform their duties in an impartial manner.
 Kenneth Kernaghan has put forth a model of political neutrality which suggests the
following:
 Politics and policy are completely separate from administration. While politicians take policy
decisions, it is the public officials which put them in execution.
 All public officials are recruited purely on merit basis and not depending on any political
inclination or affiliation.
 Public officials do not engage in any partisan politics.
 Public officials do not express their personal views on government policies and
administration.
 Public officials give correct and objective advice to their political masters.

 All policies are implemented with full zeal and enthusiasm keeping all personal biases at a
side.
 The major advantage of this value is that it removes all scope of controversy that a public
servant may encounter during his time of service. Neutral nature of work will keep issues
away from public fanfare.
o Ex: If a public servant gives permission for holding rally to a particular political party
and denies the same for another, it will create controversy. By maintaining
neutrality this can be avoided.
 In multi religious and multicultural society such as India there are many issues that arise
between two groups, which may result in tension. The public official must exercise his duty
by maintaining distance from both the parties in order to maintain peace.
o Ex: Religious procession is one of the many events where different groups show
their strength. During this time the public official must be ready to take rational
decisions without favouring one party over the other.
 Government is ruling body that needs to maintain distance from getting involved too closely
with public. If that barrier is broken, the value and dignity of the position will be
compromised.
o Ex: Members of UPSC should keep distance from candidates who they know
personally. If any links are established, then reputation of the body will be under
threat.
Conclusion:
Impartiality and Non-partisanship both form essential foundational values for civil services.
While impartiality ensures equality without any bias and prejudices in the general, non-partisanship
ensures a neutral approach in politics and a solid commitment to the government.
To deal with these challenging circumstances prevailing across the world in the recent
past, the world requires compassion, cooperation and complete solidarity. Discuss. (150
Words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Why the question:
To write about the importance compassion, cooperation and complete solidarity in dealing with
contemporary challenges.
Directive:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context.
Body:

First, write about the challenging circumstances prevailing across the world in recent past –
pandemic, extreme weather events, wars, social strife etc.
Next, write how compassion, cooperation and solidarity can play a part in overcoming the above-
mentioned challenges. Substantiate with examples.
Conclusion:
Complete by summarising.
Introduction
Compassion, cooperation and solidarity are the guiding stars of humanitarianism. Today in a world
mired by wars, terrorism, trafficking, hunger and poverty, the three saviours will be amalgamation of
compassion, cooperation and solidarity.
The tragic war between Russia and Ukraine is now almost in its seventh month. The assault and
humiliation faced by Ukrainian citizens in this period will be remembered as the stigma of the 21st
century.
Body
Compassion is our first guiding star to advance humanity in crisis settings. Without compassion,
which literally means ‘suffering together,’ we would not be able to put ourselves into each other’s
shoes, or see a crisis through the eyes of a child and realise that other human lives are worth
saving, sometimes by taking risks.
Solidarity comes next. Countless times I have seen solidarity shape into a collective force to do good.
Solidarity does not always have to be heroic: sometimes, it can mean giving voice to the powerless,
protesting injustice, or not letting others suffer alone. Other times, it can make the difference
between life and death.
Eg: In India, people came together to go the extra mile and lend a hand during covid-19 pandemic.
Several initiatives- from distributing food to migrant workers to buying protective gear for
healthcare workers - brought a sense of solidarity among the society.
Cooperation is needed to provide a mindset and solid anchor to compassion and solidarity; it is also
what enables us to ‘make things happen’. In wars, disasters and emergencies, there are a hundred
jobs to be done, and it is natural that we may get paralysed. Only cooperation can save the day and
humanity.
More than ever, it is imperative to stand up against stigma, hate speech, xenophobia, racism, war
and all forms of discrimination that are an affront to universal human values and rights
Conclusion
“If we want societies to be inclusive, cohesive and peaceful, this is the time to foster an alliance
between cultures, civilizations, and people”. Global fraternity and global village must become a
reality to save human kind from an impending apocalypse which is man-made.
Do you think the concept of moonlighting is ethical in your opinion? (150 Words)
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:

To form an opinion on ethicality of moonlighting.
Introduction:
Begin by defining the concept of moonlighting.
Body:
First, give reasons as to why there is need of moonlighting and cite reasons as to why it maybe
considered ethical.
Next, given reasons as to why moonlighting maybe considered unethical.
Conclusion:
Conclude by giving a balanced opinion the issue.
Introduction
The practice of working for one organisation while also taking up extra responsibilities and jobs,
typically without the employer’s knowledge, is referred to as moonlighting. It is called so the side
employment is typically performed at night or on the weekends. The phrase became well-known
when Americans began looking for second jobs in addition to their regular 9-to-5 jobs to
supplement their income.
Body
Need for moonlighting and its ethical basis
 While moonlighting is often considered wrong, “Ethical moonlighting” is a win-win concept

in which individuals are able to monetize their skills in more than one place or role and in
the most ethical manner within the data governing principles of such a practice.
 This helps in creating a positive position for all three parties involved: the individual, the
primary employer, and the secondary employer that takes the additional services.
 As the pandemic hit in 2020, many gainfully employed professionals lost their jobs at every
level—the layoffs were not restricted to fresher’s and middle management, but impacted
CxO level roles too.
o Companies downscaled their working staff and even rolled out pay cuts as severe as
60%-75%.
o This left many highly-skilled, experienced and talented professionals with a meager
primary source of income and bills to pay that were aligned with their original
salaries.
o The only way to bridge the gap and meet their expenses was to take up a second
job.
Ethical issues that may arise
 A person may work more than one job in India without breaking the law.
o However, a person with a similar set of jobs could give rise to concerns about a
violation of confidentiality because many employers include such restrictions in

their employment agreements in addition to prohibitions against holding down

multiple jobs.
o Eg: Same person working for google and Microsoft and risk of sharing trade secret.
 Moonlighting could be considered cheating if an employee’s contract calls for non-compete

and single employment, which is the situation with the majority of conventional
employment contracts.
o However, it is not cheating if the employment contracts do not have such a clause or
provide relaxations.
Conclusion
No longer a stop-gap measure, many companies and employees have embraced the benefits of
moonlighting, as long as it is done ethically. There must be a water-tight contract hiring which can
alleviate problems related to confidentiality. This can lead to gig economy for organised sectors too.
Attitude: moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.

Explain the concept of public morality with examples. What are various factors affecting
it? (150 words)
Why the question:
Directive word:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the
context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant
associated facts.
Introduction:
Give a simple elaboration on the concept of public morality.
Body:
Write about aspects such as what is accepted within the realms of public morality, is it static and
indestructible by quoting few examples. Influence of public morality on legislations and the changes
with time such as legalisation of same-sex marriage etc.
Next, write about the various factors affecting public morality.
Conclusion:
Conclude by stating that society evolves with time and thus the public morality also takes its shape,
however certain historically sustainable values must be preserved as well.
Introduction

A morality is a system of principles and values concerning people’s behaviour, which

is generally accepted by a society or by a particular group of people. Public morality refers to moral
and ethical standards enforced in a society, by law or police work or social pressure, and applied to
public life, to the content of the media, and to conduct in public places.
Body
Public morality is concerned with collective obligations, and is generally based on the notion of
consequentialism. For instance, Public morality often means regulation of sexual matters,
including prostitution and homosexuality, but also matters of dress and nudity, pornography,
acceptability in social terms of cohabitation before marriage, and the protection of children.
It is a main justification for censorship; it can lead to campaigns against profanity, and so be at odds
with freedom of speech. Gambling is generally controlled: casinos have been considered much more
of a threat than large-scale lotteries or football pools. Public drunkenness is quite unacceptable in
some societies, and legal control of consumption of alcohol is often justified in terms of public
morality, just as much as for medical reasons or to limit alcohol-related crime.
Abortion is sometimes treated as an aspect of public morality, even if it is legally defined, regulated
by medical professionals, and almost entirely hidden from public view. AIDS as a health policy issue
is linked to public morality in a complicated manner.
Views on public morality do change over time. Public views on which things are acceptable often
move towards wider tolerance.
Various factors affecting Public morality
 Social & Religious mores. Eg. Animal slaughter still continues
 Inertial of the People to change their belief & attitude. Eg.: attitude towards homosexuality,
transgenders etc.
 Lack of Scientific temper. E.g: a genetically impaired person is seen as a God’s curse
 Poor will of legislators and elected.
 Ineffective implementation of law mechanism
 Lack of ethical education
Conclusion
Public morality has been on a decline due to a host of factors such as legal, corruption, malpractices,
cultural etc. Citizens in a political community must be bound together neither by feelings nor by self-
interest but by a commitment to common values discovered by public reason — values such as
political freedom, solidarity, shared traditions and cultural heritage.
Examine the importance of persuasion in marketing of corporate products. In order to

achieve profits, can marketing be ‘partially truthful’? (150 words)
Why the question:

To write about role of persuasion in marketing and role of truth and lies in marketing.
Directive:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Introduction:
Start by giving context.
Body:
Write about the role of persuasion in marketing of corporate products which leads to consumers
buying more products and various ways to do so.
Next, use of part truth – hiding facts, misrepresentation, white lies used in marketing and ethicality
of such marketing tactics.
Conclusion:
Conclude by giving your view on partial truth during marketing.
Introduction
Persuasion is symbolic process in which communicators try to convince other people through
transmission of a message to change their attitudes or behaviours. Persuasion is the process of
changing or reinforcing attitudes, beliefs or behaviour of a person.
Persuasion marketing can be understood as using the knowledge of human psychology for
developing techniques for marketing products or services.
Body
Importance of Persuasion in marketing of corporate products
 Persuasion in marketing involves the ability not just to influence people’s actions, but their
attitude as well.
 Persuasion skills are extremely important for sales and marketing professionals as they are
paid not only to interact with potential customers but also motivate them to invest in
organization’s products and services.
 Persuasion skills are extremely important as it helps marketing professionals to change
preconceived notions of their potential clients and make them believe in them.
 Persuasion skills help a marketing and sales professional to actually win over the hearts of
clients who not only become their loyal customers but also bring in more clients along with
them.
 Persuasion involves influencing people’s attitude in such a way that they feel like they are
making the decision on their own.
can marketing be ‘partially truthful’ ?
 Some half-truths may be relatively harmless, such as an ad touting a movie as “The #1

comedy in America!”… when it’s the only comedy currently in theaters and is in tenth place
at the box office.
 The worst half-truths, such as a salesperson claiming a vehicle “is the safest car on the road”
when that’s only because it’s new and there’s no data, could result in accidents or worse by
giving the driver a false sense of security.

 Eventually, when too many half-truths are used to hook customers, people will catch on and
they won’t hesitate to express their anger. These angry customers, known as detractors, can
sink a company.
 They’ll switch to the competition, drive up costs through complaints, hurt employee morale,
badmouth the company to friends and followers on social media, and possibly file a lawsuit
— which can cost a fortune and attract a lot of bad press.
Way forward
 Trust is the most important ingredient for the longevity of a brand. And that cannot be built
on a foundation of half-truths.
 Partially truthful marketing causes or is likely to cause substantial consumer injury which a
consumer could not reasonably avoid
 Accurate information needs to be provided to the audience as well. The consumers believes
any information marketers provide to them. If you lie to them, you risk losing them as
clients, and it would reflect negatively on the brand.
 Before a company runs an ad, it has to have a “reasonable basis” for the claims. A
“reasonable basis” means objective evidence that supports the claim. The kind of evidence
depends on the claim.
 At a minimum, an advertiser must have the level of evidence that it says it has. For example,
the statement “Two out of three doctors recommend ABC Pain Reliever” must be supported
by a reliable survey to that effect.
Conclusion
Persuasion can bring a lasting change in people’s behaviour and is highly effective in implementation
of marketing strategies provided the tools are used in a right way.


Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.

Explain the application of Kant’s Categorical Imperative to self-development of civil
servants. (150 words)
Why the question:
Directive word:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the
context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant
associated facts.
Introduction:
Give a simple elaboration on Kant’s Categorical Imperative.
Body:
Write about the application of CI to self-development of civil servants – A civil servant may have
talent which with the help of some culture might make him a useful man in many respects. But he
finds himself in comfortable circumstances and prefers to indulge in pleasure rather than to take
pains in enlarging and improving his happy natural capacities. Cite examples to substantiate.
Conclusion:
Introduction

Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) argued that the supreme principle of morality is a standard of
rationality that he dubbed the “Categorical Imperative” (CI). Kant characterized the CI as
an objective, rationally necessary and unconditional principle that we must always follow despite
any natural desires or inclinations we may have to the contrary.
The CI states that it is immoral to use another person merely as a means to an end and that people
must under all circumstances be treated as ends in themselves. This is in contrast to some
interpretations of the utilitarian view, which allow for use of individuals as means to benefit the
many.
Body:
Kantian ethics refers to a deontological ethical theory ascribed to the German philosopher Immanuel
Kant. The theory, developed as a result of Enlightenment rationalism, is based on the view that the
only intrinsically good thing is a good will; an action can only be good if its maxim – the principle
behind it – is duty to the moral law.
Kant’s Categorical Imperative:
 Kant believed that there was a supreme principle of morality, and he referred to it as The
Categorical Imperative.
 The CI determines what our moral duties are. Kant thought that all acts should be judged
according to a rule he called the Categorical Imperative.
 A categorical imperative denotes an absolute, unconditional requirement that exerts its

authority in all circumstances, both required and justified as an end in itself.
 He gives the highest honor for the categorical imperative because it became universal law
that can be applied to any and every one.
 Kant is saying that simply willing that our moral rule become a universal law produces a
logical contradiction.
 His categorical imperative ensures that we aren’t doing these acts in mimic of others but
rather in line with one universal law.
Categorical imperative for civil servants
 According to Kant, ethics based on the consequences are based up on hypothetical

imperative and do not have moral sanction. The lack of absoluteness in consequential
approach makes them a matter of desire.
 For instance, where a Public Servant has to take a decision where among stakeholders, one’s
gain is others loss e.g. in situation of land acquisition for setting up factory, farmers
livelihood is lost but at the same time there will be job creation for Youths. In such a
situation Consequential approach becomes a matter of preference for Public Servant with
no objective guide to arrive at moral action.
 This framework has the advantage of creating a system of rules that has consistent
expectations of all people. If an action is ethically required, it would apply to every person in
a given situation. Thus, speaking truth in all situations is categorical imperative which is
applicable universally.

 This approach is helpful in resolving dilemmas a civil servant may face during performance of
duty where a course of action may resolve a genuine problem by going against established
procedure. The categorical imperative of giving precedence to duty helps in resolving such
dilemmas
Conclusion:
Kant’s philosophy of human individuals as end in itself endorses the golden rule of “treating others
as one’s self would wish to be treated”. As no one would wish to be used simply as a means,
therefore one should not also use other human beings as means to achieve their ends. This
philosophy can be of great help in resolving the ethical dilemmas where there is debate between
relative importance of means and ends.
Although utilitarianism remains a popular ethical philosophy, deontology undoubtedly

has a stronger presence in everyday life. Debate. (150 Words)
Difficulty Level: Tough
Why the question:
To compare and contrast deontology and utilitarianism and their application in present day life.
Directive word:
Debate – Weigh up to what extent something is true. Persuade the reader of your argument by citing
relevant research but also remember to point out any flaws and counter- arguments as well.
Conclude by stating clearly how far you agree with the original proposition.
Introduction:
Begin by defining deontological ethics and its features.
Body:
First, write as to why utilitarianism is more acceptable and popular.
Next, write the limitations of utilitarianism and how deontological ethics have more moral sensitivity
in our daily lives on basis of rules and laws it lays down. Justify with examples as to how it is part of
our daily lives.
Conclusion:
Give a concise summation of your views to conclude the answer.
Introduction
Utilitarianism would say that an action is right if it results in the happiness of the greatest number of
people in a society or a group. Utilitarianism is a theory of morality, which advocates actions that
foster happiness or pleasure and opposes actions that cause unhappiness or harm. When directed
toward making social, economic, or political decisions, a utilitarian philosophy would aim for the
betterment of society as a whole.
In deontological ethics an action is considered morally good because of some characteristic of the
action itself, not because the product of the action is good. Deontological ethics holds that at least
some acts are morally obligatory regardless of their consequences for human welfare. Descriptive of
such ethics are such expressions as “Duty for duty’s sake,” “Virtue is its own reward,” and “Let
justice be done though the heavens fall.”

Body
Concept of Utilitarianism
Greatest good of the greatest number, was famously given by Jeremy Bentham, the father of
utilitarianism. Bentham’s fundamental axiom, which underlies utilitarianism, was that all social
morals and government legislation should aim for producing the greatest happiness for the greatest
number of people. Utilitarianism, therefore, emphasizes the consequences or ultimate purpose of an
act rather than the character of the actor, the actor’s motivation, or the particular circumstances
surrounding the act. It has these characteristics:
 Universality, because it applies to all acts of human behavior, even those that appear to be
done from altruistic motives;
 Objectivity, meaning it operates beyond individual thought, desire, and perspective;
 Rationality, because it is not based in metaphysics or theology; and
 Quantifiability in its reliance on utility.
Limitations
 A limitation of utilitarianism is that it tends to create a black-and-white construct of

morality. In utilitarian ethics, there are no shades of gray—either something is wrong or it is
right.
 Utilitarianism also cannot predict with certainty whether the consequences of our actions
will be good or bad—the results of our actions happen in the future.
 Utilitarianism also has trouble accounting for values like justice and individual rights. For
example, say a hospital has four people whose lives depend upon receiving organ
transplants: a heart, lungs, a kidney, and a liver. If a healthy person wanders into the
hospital, his organs could be harvested to save four lives at the expense of his one life. This
would arguably produce the greatest good for the greatest number. But few would consider
it an acceptable course of action, let alone an ethical one.
Deontological ethics and its moral sensitivity
 The first great philosopher to define deontological principles was Immanuel Kant. He
believed that each man is an end in himself and must never be used as another man’s
means to an end.
 John Rawls another deontologist discarded utilitarianism. He said, that “Each person
possesses an inviolability founded on justice that even the welfare of society as a whole
cannot override”.
 For this reason, justice denies that the loss of freedom for some is made right by a greater
good shared by others.
 It does not allow that the sacrifices imposed on a few are outweighed by the larger sum of
advantages enjoyed by many.
 Therefore, in a just society the liberties of equal citizenship are taken as settled; the rights
secured by justice are not subject to political bargaining or to the calculus of social interests.

 As deontology places significance on human dignity, it is most widely accepted.
Conclusion
Deontology is simple to apply. It just requires that people follow the rules and do their duty. This
approach tends to fit well with our natural intuition about what is or isn’t ethical. Unlike
consequentialism, which judges actions by their results, deontology doesn’t require weighing the
costs and benefits of a situation. This avoids subjectivity and uncertainty because one only has to
follow set rules.
Buddhism has very rich ideas related to ethics and morality and it guides the method
and action of cultivating one’s moral character. Explain. (150 words)
Why the question:
To write the how Buddhist ethics help in shaping ones character.
Directive:
Explain – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context.
You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated
facts.
Introduction:
In the introduction, given brief of major aspects of Buddhist ethics.
Body:
Explain the detail that Buddhism proposes a way of thinking about ethics based on the assumption
that all sentient beings want to avoid pain. Thus, the Buddha teaches that an action is good if it leads
to freedom from suffering.
Next, Mention the Do No Harm principle, Compassion, Justice and Accountability etc which the
Buddhist philosophy emphasises.
Mention its application in daily life,
Conclusion:
Conclude by mentioning Buddhist moral claims of compassion and equality can contribute to the
thinking of modern educational issues, such as peace education, ecological education
Introduction
Buddhism, represents a vast and rich intellectual tradition, tells us to purify our own minds and to
develop lovingkindness and compassion for all beings. The various forms of Buddhism offer
systematic frameworks for understanding the traits of character and types of actions that cause
problems for ourselves and others, as well as those qualities and actions that help to heal the
suffering of the world.
Body
Ideas of Buddhism which guides the method and action of cultivating one’s moral character:
 Believe in ‘Karma’:Human beings must believe in ‘Karma’ theory which has a cause and
effect relationship.

 Serve the Sick: According to him, serving the sick means serving the God.
 Morality:He believed in two golden rules of Christianity i.e. principle of equality and the
principle of reciprocity. It means we must behave or act in the way, we expect from others.
As per Buddha all human beings are equal and we must follow moral and ethical values
being good human beings.
 Mental Development: This is the only path which can strengthen and control our mind.
Mental Development is possible by concentration and meditation. This will help in
maintaining good mental health and conduct.
 Love:As per Buddha the end of hatred is to do love and compassion. We can conquer anger
by love and affection to others.
 Harmony:He strived to maintain a balance and harmony between all living and non-living
things in the universe in order to attain enlightenment.
 Spread of Peace: Human society can be peaceful by accepting this very aim of Buddha.
Peace can be attained through the practice of non-violence, equally brotherhood and
friendship.
 Self- Reliance – Human society and nation can be developed by self-power, unity and self-
reliance. Unity got and grown by the strength of weapons is not last longing. True unity lies
with courtesy and self-sacrifice.
 Patience and Calmness– One must have the ability to be calm and clear while facing various
obstacles like delays, frustrations etc. Human beings should have ability to remain peaceful
and abstain from anger during the time when other people try to harm them. With due
patience, It is easy to control all unpleasant situations.
 Perseverance– It is the capability to utilize all of our energy into productive and constructive
purpose which may benefit to all mankind.
 Self-Analysis– Self-analysis and self-observation is required for self-improvement. A little

practice to improve ourselves is needed in every day of our life. Right practice will become
our habit which ultimately becomes the part of our character.
Conclusion
To live is to act, and our actions can have either harmful or beneficial consequences for oneself and
others. Buddhist ethics is concerned with the principles and practices that help one to act in ways
that help rather than harm. The core ethical code of Buddhism is known as the five precepts, and
these are the distillation of its ethical principles. The precepts are not rules or commandments, but
‘principles of training’, which are undertaken freely and need to be put into practice with
intelligence and sensitivity.

Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and

problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions;
laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance;
accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values
in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding;
What do you understand by a ‘moral compass’? Elaborate upon its role in making
morally right choices. (150 words)
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Why the question:
Using the metaphor of the moral compass to describe conscience, our inner sense of right and wrong
offers a framework to guide our actions.
Directive:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context.
You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated
facts.
Introduction:
Start by describing what you understand by moral compass (conscience) which governs the actions
you take in day-to-day life.
Body:
Elaborate on how the moral compass aids in deciding what right from is wrong. Use examples to
substantiate your points.
One way is to treat others the way you want to be treated.
Next way, to use Rights Theory that obligates us to respect the rights of others and live up to our
obligations towards them.
Another way is to utilitarian perspective to do maximum good for maximum people.
Conclusion:
Completed the answer by bring out how the moral compass prevents us acting purely from self-
interest and helps us live a life of integrity.
Write about the course of action you will take.
Introduction
Moral compass is a term used to describe our inner sense of right and wrong offers a framework to
guide our actions. Conscience is inner moral sense of a person which guides him/her to regulate
his behaviour. Voice of conscience corresponds to an inner voice that judges your behaviour. Voice
of conscience is the source of ethical decision making for many.
Body
Conscience can be defined as something within each of us that tells us what is right and what is
wrong. Therefore, if one uses his/her conscience when making decisions it would be guided by what
is the right thing to do and what is wrong.
The traditional test is to apply ethical decision-making methods such as Rights Theory that obligates
us to respect the rights of others and live up to our obligations towards them. Another approach is

to evaluate the possible benefits and harms of alternative courses of action on stakeholders who
may be affected by our possible actions and choose the one that maximizes net benefits.
 Our conscience is our inner guide and it helps you figure out how to make good choices. As
we grow up, we learn right from wrong. Our conscience is the thought and feeling we have
that tells us whether something is a right or wrong thing to do or say. Thus voice of
Conscience is a consistent guide to ethical decision making.
 A person can prepare himself/herself to heed to the voice of conscience by:
 Pausing and thinking about the dimensions of issue.
 Practicing the power of silence.
 Meditating and prayer.
 Freeing oneself from external influences and selfish interests.
 A human being always comes across ethical dilemmas in the decision making the process.
Voice of Conscience acts as the guide for taking correct decisions when we have to choose
between competing sets of principles in a given, usually undesirable or perplexing, situation.
Example: Helping accident victim on your way to an interview.
 The voice of conscience of an individual help in analysing the situation from different
perspectives and help in taking the right decision.
 Voice of Conscience helps in avoiding Conflicts of interest for better decision making. It can
help in deciding between personal gains and public welfare.
 Voice of Conscience is our ability to make a practical decision in light of ethical values and
principles.
 Voice of Conscience is a person’s moral compass of right and wrong as well as the
consciousness of one’s actions. Expressions such as ‘gut feeling’ and ‘guilt’ are often applied
in conjunction with a conscience.
 The voice of conscience might suggest different principles and different behaviours to
different situations. But it for a moment help individual from not doing wrong based on
universal values.
Conclusion
Acting purely from self-interest, at best, keeps us parallel to the original position and can turn our
compass south if our actions do harm to others. We avoid going in that direction by living a life of
integrity. We also need to understand and appreciate why we should consider the needs of others
before acting. We could simply go back to The Golden Rule: Treat others the way you want to be
treated. None of us, presumably, wants to be disrespected so we should treat others respectfully.

Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of

governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government,
Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work
culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of
corruption.
Citizen charters would benefit from a more strategic or systematic preparation that
incorporates the views and expertise of a wide range of stakeholders before being
introduced and for the initiative to become an integral part of the approach to
standards of service thereafter. Analyse. (150 Words)
trace the link between non-partisanship in public administration and equality amongst citizens.
Directive:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the
topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Introduction:
Begin by defining a citizen charter.
Body:
First, write about the various issues in the functioning of citizen charters
Next, write about the importance of consultation with various stakeholders and improving standards
of services to solve various issues with citizen charters.
Conclusion:
Complete the answer by suggesting ways for effective utilisation of charters.
Introduction
A Citizens’ Charter represents the commitment of the Organisation towards standard, quality and
time frame of service delivery, grievance redress mechanism, transparency and accountability. The
concept of Citizens Charter enshrines the trust between the service provider and its users.
Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances in Government of India (DARPG)

initiated the task of coordinating, formulating and operationalising Citizen’s Charters.
Body
The basic objective of the Citizens Charter is to empower the citizen in relation to public service
delivery.
Importance of Citizen’s charter in the Governance of developing nation like India:
 To make administration accountable and citizen friendly.
 To ensure transparency.
 To take measures to improve customer service.
 To adopt a stakeholder approach.
 To save time of both Administration and the citizen

Problems faced in implementation of Citizen’s charter:
 One size fits all: Tendency to have a uniform CC for all offices under the parent organization.
CC have still not been adopted by all Ministries/Departments. This overlooks local issues.
 Silo operations: Devoid of participative mechanisms in a majority of cases, not formulated

through a consultative process with cutting edge staff who will finally implement it.
 Non-Dynamic: Charters are rarely updated making it a one-time exercise, frozen in time.
 Poor design and content: lack of meaningful and succinct CC, absence of critical information
that end-users need to hold agencies accountable.
 Lack of public awareness: only a small percentage of end-users are aware of the
commitments made in the CC since effective efforts of communicating and educating the
public about the standards of delivery promise have not been undertaken.
 Stakeholders not consulted: End-users, Civil society organizations and NGOs are not
consulted when CCs are drafted. Since a CC’s primary purpose is to make public service
delivery more citizen-centric, consultation with stakeholders is a must.
 Measurable standards of delivery are rarely defined: making it difficult to assess whether
the desired level of service has been achieved or not.
 Poor adherence: Little interest shown by the organizations in adhering to their CC. since
there is no citizen friendly mechanism to compensate the citizen if the organization defaults.
Way forward:
 Wide consultation process: CC be formulated after extensive consultations within the

organization followed by a meaningful dialogue with civil society.
 Participatory process: Include Civil Society in the process: to assist in improvement in the
contents of the Charter, its adherence as well as educating the citizens about the importance
of this vital mechanism.
 Firm commitments to be made: CC must be precise and make firm commitments of service
delivery standards to the citizens/consumers in quantifiable terms wherever possible.
 Redressal mechanism in case of default: clearly lay down the relief which the organization is
bound to provide if it has defaulted on the promised standards of delivery.
 One size does not fit all: formulation of CC should be a decentralized activity with the head
office providing only broad guidelines.
 Periodic updation of CC: preferably through an external agency.
 Fix responsibility: Hold officers accountable for results: fix specific responsibility in cases
where there is a default in adhering to the CC.
Conclusion
Citizen’s Charter is playing a prominent part in ensuring “minimum government & maximum
governance”, changing the nature of charters from non-justiciable to justiciable & adopting penalty

measures that will make it more efficient & citizen friendly. The Sevottam model proposed by 2nd
Administrative Reforms Commission for public Service Delivery can be regarded as a standard model
for providing services in citizen centric governance.
Efforts must be intensified to improve governance frameworks and strengthen actions

to improve the prevention, detection and sanctioning of corruption. Discuss. (150
Words)
Why the question:
To write about improving efforts at combating corruption.
Directive:
Introduction:
Begin by defining corruption.
Body:
First, write about the major implications of corruption on political and social progress for countries at
all levels of development. Write about the steps that are place to check and prevent corruption.
Next, write about the improvements needed in the governance frameworks to eliminate corruption in
the country.
Conclusion:
Complete by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Corruption is an important manifestation of the failure of ethics. It is unfortunate that corruption

has, for many, become a matter of habit, ranging from grand corruption involving persons in high
places to retail corruption touching the everyday life of common people.
As Gladstone has aptly said, “The purpose of a government is to make it easy for people to do
good and difficult to do evil”.
Body
Various administrative reforms brought by the government recently, to encourage greater
efficiency, to transparency and create corruption free governance:
 Launch of “Mission Karmayogi”-National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building

(NPCSCB), a new national architecture for civil services capacity building has been
launched. It is a comprehensive reform of the capacity building apparatus at individual,
institutional and process levels for efficient public service delivery;
 e-Samiksha-A real time online system for monitoring and follow up action on the decisions
taken by the Government at the Apex level in respect of implementation of important
Government programmes / projects;

 e-Office-e-Office Mission Mode Project (MMP) has been strengthened for enabling
Ministries/ Departments to switchover to paperless office and efficient decision making;
 Self-certification of documents for appointments-From June, 2016, recruiting agencies issue

provisional appointment letters based on submission of self-certified documents by the
candidates;
 Discontinuation of interview in recruitment of junior level posts-From January, 2016,

interview has been dispensed with for recruitment to all Group ‘C’, Group ‘B’ (Non-Gazetted
posts) and other equivalent posts in all Government of India Ministries/ Departments/
Attached Offices/ Subordinate Offices/ Autonomous Bodies/ Public Sector Undertakings to
curb malpractices and for bringing objectivity to the selection process;
 Appointment at senior positions-Multi-source feedback for empanelment for the posts of

Joint Secretary and above has been introduced;
 Citizen Charters-Government has mandated Citizen Charters for all Ministries/Departments

which are updated and reviewed on a regular basis. The Citizen Charters of Central
Government Departments are available at the respective web-sites of
Ministries/Departments and Government of India charters website
 Intensive review for weeding out inefficient and Officers of doubtful integrity by premature
retirement;
 Use of Integrated Government Online Training Programme for online module-based

training;
 Good Governance Index 2019– was launched, which assesses the Status of Governance and
impact of various interventions taken up by the State Government and Union Territories
(UTs). The objectives of GGI are to provide quantifiable data to compare the state of
governance in all States and UTs, enable States and UTs to formulate and implement
suitable strategies for improving governance and shift to result oriented approaches and
administration;
 Comprehensive restructuring of the Scheme for ‘Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in
Public Administration’ in 2014 and thereafter in 2020;
 To promote e-Governance in a holistic manner, various policy initiatives and projects have
been undertaken to develop core and support infrastructure;
 National Conference on e-Governance –provides a platform for government to engage with

experts, intellectuals from industry and academic institutions to exchange experiences
relating to e-Governance initiatives;
 National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment –aims at assessing the States, UTs and
Central Ministries on the efficiency of e-Governance service delivery;
 Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS)-The Government
is undertaking CPGRAMS reforms in the top grievance receiving Ministries/ Departments by
enabling questionnaire guided registration process and providing for automatic forwarding
of grievances to field level functionaries thereby reducing the redress time;

 Increasing efficiency in decision making in Central Secretariat by reducing the channel of

submission to 4, adoption of e-Office version 7.0, digitization of central registration units,
greater delegation of virtual private networks under the Central Secretariat Manual of Office
Procedure 2019, and adoption of desk officer system.
Way forward to curb corruption:
The solution to the problem of corruption has to be more systemic than any other issue of
governance. Merely shrinking the economic role of the state by resorting to deregulation,
liberalization and privatization is not necessarily the solution to addressing the problem.
 Adopting effective and coordinated policies against corruption
o Developing a coherent anti-corruption policy which identifies the causes of

corruption and commits to practical, coordinated and effective measures to address
these causes is a prerequisite for success.
 Fair and transparent system of public procurement
o Establishing a procurement system, built on the principles of objectivity,

transparency and competition, is important to both saving public money and to
ensuring that the policy and developmental objectives of the government are met.
 g.: GeM Government E-market Place is a step in the right directions. With
this, Public Finance Management System also helps in tracking the real-time
usage of funds.
o Strengthened transparency and public reporting
 An informed society with free access to information is a strong deterrent to

corruption.
 This underlines the importance of transparency, public reporting and access

to information in preventing corruption.
 Right to Information needs to be strengthened to make the public officials

and governments more accountable to the citizens.
 Citizens must be Vigilant: Otherwise, like Plato said “The punishment

suffered by the wise who refuse to take part in government, is to suffer
under the government of bad men”
o Institutional monitoring and legislative reforms
 Prevalent institutional arrangements have to be reviewed and changes

made where those vested with power are made accountable, their
functioning made more transparent and subjected to social audit with a
view to minimize discretionary decisions.
 Napoleon who said, ‘Law should be so succinct that it can be carried in the
pocket of the coat and it should be so simple that it can be understood by
a peasant’.
 The 2nd ARC recommended that The Prevention of Corruption Act should be
amended to ensure that sanctioning authorities are not summoned and
instead the documents can be obtained and produced before the courts by
the appropriate authority.
o E-governance
 The focus should be on e-governance and systemic change. An honest

system of governance will displace dishonest persons.
o Other Reforms
 All procedures, laws and regulations that breed corruption and come in the
way of efficient delivery system will have to be eliminated.
 The perverse system of incentives in public life, which makes corruption a

high return low risk activity, need to be addressed.
 In this context, public example has to be made out of people convicted on

corruption charge
Second ARC guidelines to prevent corruption
 Vigilance and Corruption:
o Strengthening pro-active vigilance to eliminate corruption and harassment to honest

civil servants including, wherever necessary, limiting executive discretion.
o Addressing systemic deficiencies manifesting in reluctance to punish the corrupt.
o Identify procedures, rules and regulations and factors which lead to corruption.
 Relationship between Political Executive and Permanent Civil Service: Improvements in the
institutional arrangements for smooth, efficient and harmonious relationship between civil
service and the political executive is needed.
 Code of Conduct for different organs of Government: This includes Political Executive, Civil
Services, etc.
Conclusion
“Rivers do not drink their waters themselves, nor do trees eat their fruit, nor do the clouds eat the
grains raised by them. The wealth of the noble is used solely for the benefit of others.” Corruption
needs to be rooted out from the very core of our nation, so that there is justiciable distribution of
resources in the country leading to inclusive growth and ‘Sabka Vikas.’
Discuss the importance of Probity in public projects, which seeks to reduce

vulnerabilities to corruption in Public Private Partnership projects (PPP). (150 Words)
Why the question:
To write about importance of probity in public procurement and its role in reducing corruption.
Directive:

Introduction:
Begin by defining probity.
Body:
First, write about the need of Probity in Public Procurement and how it will affect the current
challenges with respect to public projects. Cite examples to substantiate.
Next, write about the steps to ensure probity in PPP projects.
Conclusion:
Complete by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Probity can be defined as complete and confirmed integrity, uprightness and honesty. Upholding the
highest standards of probity and integrity enables organisations to safeguard procurement activities
to ensure those activities and processes are robust and can withstand scrutiny.
Body
Probity is a fundamental part of every procurement project and activity. As probity issues can arise
at any stage of a procurement activity, probity needs to be anticipated as early as possible when
planning a procurement (pre-procurement) and must be considered throughout the entire
procurement lifecycle including category management, early market engagement, market analysis,
sourcing and the entire contract phase.
Importance of Probity in public projects
 Legitimacy of the system
o Foremost, it helps build up the legitimacy of the system, i.e. the state.
o It builds trusts in the institutions of the state and a belief that the actions of the
state will be for welfare of the beneficiaries.
 It protects you from legal and financial risk
o With an unfair tender process comes the potential for legal and financial risk.
o For Government procurement in particular, probity requires that all parties have a
fair opportunity at being awarded contracts.
o If there is evidence that one supplier has been favoured for reasons unrelated to the
evaluation criteria, there’s potential for legal action to be taken against the
awarding party.
o Running a fair tender in accordance with probity ensures that risks of this kind are
minimised as much as possible.
 It promotes and supports a healthy and competitive marketplace
o When an industry is free from corruption and all suppliers are on equal footing in a
tender process, it makes a big difference to the industry.

o When the industry is healthy, it improves the quality and number of tender
responses through greater competition.
 It builds trust with public
o It helps address nepotism, Favouritism, Political partisanship.
o Public reposes more trust in governance and therefore it facilitates participatory

governance.
o It leads to avoidance of sub-optimal outcomes, corruption and poor perception
 To serve the constitutional cause
o Probity in Governance is required to serve the motto of Constitution. i.e. to provide

Social, Political and economic justice to all. It enhances faith in the governance.
 It’s the right thing to do
o Integrity in public procurement shouldn’t just be something you pursue because it

benefits you in the long run.
o Operating fair and ethical tenders is important simply because it’s the right thing to
do.
Measures to reduce corruption in PPPs
 Enactment of the Public Procurement Bill 2012, followed by issuing and notifying the PPP
Rules in their current form
 Training is required for both private sector and government sector officials. This would
bring about greater understanding of the workings of the private and government
 Awareness and training on probity related issues in procurement must also be

included in curriculum for technical colleges and
 Clarity
into consultant liabilities needs to be established in the context of PPP projects, given
the need to hold them accountable for project
 There is a greater need for priority to be given for asset declaration requirements of all
officials involved in procurement.
 There
is a need for a strong whistleblower law and equally for witnesses and victims to
enhance the existing protection and grievance redressal mechanisms.
 Clauses
related to closure of debarment period of contractors and entities with convictions of
corruption and malpractices in procurement, especially in PPP scenarios
 For instance, the necessity for defaulting bidders to show evidence of establishing an
integrity mechanism in place before they are allowed to bid again
 Strengthening monitoring mechanism- Implementation of a fraud risk register as a potential

warning or fraud indicator system.

 It
would be useful to build a mechanism for public participation, providing information r
egarding contract management in the public domain, ensuring access to records for st
akeholders and civil society and the public for a reasonable number of
 E-procurement is an important measure to enhance transparency in a procurement process

but must not be mistaken for the only one.
Conclusion
It is a shared belief that the adoption of standards like “accountability”, “transparency” and
“responsiveness” will lead to clean and efficient governance. However, standards do not, by
themselves, ensure ethical behaviour: which requires a robust culture of integrity and probity in
public life. The crux of ethical behaviour does not lie only in standards, but in their adoption in action
and in issuing sanctions against their violation.
In many ways, corruption is the way in which the less efficient in society move ahead at
the cost of the more efficient. Comment. (250 words)
Why the question:
To write about role of persuasion in marketing and role of truth and lies in marketing.
Directive:
Comment– here we must express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall
opinion thereupon.
Introduction:
Start by giving context of corruption as a shortcut for success.
Body:
Write about the various ways in which less efficient people use corruption as means to go ahead of
more deserving and more efficient people in the society using unfair and nefarious ways.
Substantiate with examples.
Next, write about the ways in which the above can be avoided.
Conclusion:
Introduction
Corruption is the path of least resistance. In many ways, corruption is the way in which the less
efficient in society move ahead at the cost of the more efficient.
Body
A Transparency International study in 2005 indicated that 62% of Indians had paid a bribe to get a
job done some time or the other. An assessment of what is corrupt income and what is honest
income might as well throw up an alternate mirror economy out there. And that sure is a scary truth
to behold.
Corruption is then the biggest issue that faces the nation today. Not very strangely, this is a big
internal threat. A threat that has the potential of being our biggest weakness in a world that is
progressively getting empowered through the implementation of every rule and ethos that talks
about equality, liberty and fraternity.
Corruption then has two facets to it. The facet of the giver and the facet of the taker. Each is equally
guilty for sure. In sheer number terms, there are really more givers and fewer takers. Corruption is
a citizen-centric retail enterprise of big value. The value is really all the money that is hijacked into
personal pockets at the cost of the nation. If the giver were to just cease and desist, this entire
industry of corruption would come to a standstill.
The mass and national action against corruption was huge, led by Anna Hazare. But what came out
of it was a meek Act in the form of Lokpal without any real powers. Government system in India is
understaffed and underpaid. And a lot of discretionary powers are given which leads to corruption
even at the lowest level. E-governance must bring in more transparency and accountability and
prevent corruption.
Conclusion
The nation would surely gain in more ways than one if there was a sincere action against corruption.
The nation and its many institutions that look after the good of the people would benefit hugely. It is
time, after all these 75 years of independence, to bell the cat of corruption. We need to attack the
root of it all. The root of it lies in the dynamics of the giver more than that of the taker.
Enumerate the importance of whistleblowing in preventing corruption in public

organisations. (150 words)
Why the question:
To write about the importance of whistleblowing.
Introduction:
Begin by defining whistleblowing.
Body:
Explain What are the moral and ethical justification of whistleblowing – whistleblowing is morally
required when it is required at all; people have a moral obligation to prevent serious harm to others if
they can do so with little costs to themselves. Mention how it prevents corruption. Give examples to
justify your points.
Conclusion:
Complete the answer by summarising its importance.
Introduction
A whistle-blower is a person who comes forward and shares his/her knowledge on any wrongdoing
which he/she thinks is happening in the whole organisation or in a specific department. A whistle-
blower could be an employee, contractor, or a supplier who becomes aware of any illegal
activities. Personal Values and Organizational Culture are the Foundation of Whistle-blowing
A good civil servant is one who is kind, responsive, fair, has sense of duty, objective judgement
skills with a hint of rebellion.
Body

In the course of civil service, an officer is bound to face challenges of various types. One must find
innovative solutions to such problems by working around the problems. However, when there are
inevitable situations, it becomes necessary to whistle blow, albeit within the system.
Merits of whistleblowing:
 Exposing Unethical Behaviour: When corporations and government agencies step over legal
and ethical lines, whistle-blowers can make these practices public knowledge, which can
lead to violators being held accountable.
 Take care of things internally:Stronger whistle-blower protection laws all over the world,
such as in the EU and Australia, mean that if you do not listen to and act upon
whistleblowing tips internally, people may decide to report externally, for example to the
media, and are legally protected if they do so.
 Reduce losses when misconduct occurs:Whistleblowing benefits organisations through

significant loss savings. Organisations that did not have a whistleblowing system in place
suffered losses that were twice the size compared to those who did have a whistleblowing
system.
 Build trust in your brand: 50% of the participants responded that building trust was the
main benefit of a whistleblowing system. An openness to whistleblowing demonstrates a
commitment to high ethical standards and builds trust in the company.
 Ensure legal compliance: Having a system in place for whistleblowing benefits organisations
by reducing compliance risk.
Demerits of whistleblowing:
 The world, government, corporates and even society to an extent do not like whistle-
blowers and some countries go so far as to call them ‘traitors’
 The case of Edward Snowden and Julian Assange of Wikileaks proves the point
 Whistle-blowers face legal action, criminal charges, social stigma, and termination from any
position, office, or job.
 Vindictive tactics to make the individual’s work more difficult and/or insignificant,
assassination of character, formal reprimand, and difficult court proceedings
Ethical perspective:
The ethics of whistleblowing is a tricky matter. Whistle-blowing brings two moral values, fairness
and loyalty, into conflict.
In the case where a company does serious harm through its service or product, the disclosure of
such information for the sake of public constitute the ground for an understanding that takes
whistleblowing as an ethical behaviour.
The situations where whistleblowing is morally justified:
 Whenever and wherever the product/service of the firm will cause considerable harm to the
public.

 Whenever an employee feels serious threat or harm to him or anybody he should report to
the firm.
 If an immediate boss does not care for report (whistle blowing) the employee should go up
to highest level to present his case.
Conclusion
A good civil servant would adhere to the foundational principles and fight against corrupt practices
in a pragmatic way as the situation demands.
Case Studies on above issues.

You’re a HR responsible for hiring content writers for a project. Binod is one such
applicant who has applied for the job. He has cleared all the earlier rounds and during
HR round you come to know that he has financial difficulties and is in dire need of the
job. As he met all technical qualifications and his attitude seemed to be fine, you hire
him with a probationary period of 6 months. Post 6 months, based on his performance
he would be made permanent. Few weeks into his job, you get adverse reports from his
team lead about his performance. When you talk to him, he informs you that he is
unable to balance personal and professional life. His personal problems are affecting his
work performance. You counsel him and guide him to the best of your abilities but in a
few weeks the same problems continue. The team lead requests you to consider
terminating his employment as he has been given enough chances to improve. But
ultimately it is your call. What will be your course of action in this scenario?
Introduction:
In brief, mention the facts of the case
Body:
Give the major ethical issues involved along with the stakeholders. Write about the course of action
that you will take with respect to Binod. Evaluate its pros and cons of the course of action.
Conclusion:
Stress on the importance of balancing empathy with efficiency.
Introduction
With Liberalization, Privatization & Globalisation, services sector has seen a great boom
since 1992. Variety of services have come up giving skilled personnel the opportunities for

employment. The above case study is one such where a skilled person, Binod, is applying for a job as
a content writer and I being the HR responsible for hiring should decide on Binod’s employment.
Body
Binod is faced with personal problems which is interfering with his performance at profession. The
team lead has requested me to consider Binod’s termination as the latter has been given enough
chances to improve.
The options with me are
 Terminating Binod’s employment
 Giving Binod a brief leave and asking him to sort his personal life and then join back work.
My course of action
In the above scenario, I would go with option 2 considering the importance of job and difficulties in
securing the job. Further, I would also give Binod an ultimatum that if there are issues again, he
would be terminated. As the team leader had requested me to remove Binod. I would place Binod in
a different team and once he is proven good, he would be placed back in the team.
Conclusion
At times, there are issues of mixing up of personal and professional lives of employees. As HR
personnel, one should have empathy and emotional intelligence to ensure that the employee is
safeguarded but at the same time the productivity at work is not degraded.
As the Chief Project Officer, you have been given an emergency grant for re-
construction of the bridge that collapsed due to recent flash floods in the area
surrounding Malgudi. Although it is a small project for you but it is vital one as it is a
sole way in and out of the rural hamlet of Malgudi. After the collapse, people of
Malgudi are forced to navigate the river in an un-safe means for reaching to jobs,
hospitals and educational institutes etc.
The instruction from the higher ups is to get the project completed at the earliest as well as ensure
highest level of quality so that bridge remains strong for a long time irrespective of the weather
conditions.
As it is a small project, you need to assign, just one engineer to it. Most of the engineers under you
are involved in other major projects and you have two engineers who are relatively less burdened
– Mr Swami and Mr Rajam. Both are similar in the quality of work. Mr Swami is known for his
honesty and uprightness in the department but his efficiency is low. He has missed many
deadlines in the past. On the other hand, Mr Rajam, is a highly efficient worker and known for
doing high quality work on time but in the past, he had some allegations of corruption against him
and many have complained against his nexus with the contractors.
With the bridge needing to be constructed at the earliest, who will you appoint as the engineer for
this project? (250 words)

Introduction:

Start by giving the context of choosing between an effective but dishonest guy or an honest but
ineffective individual. Bring out the key stakeholders in the above case study and major ethical
dilemmas present.
Body:
In the body, analyse the case of Mr Rajam, who is highly productive but integrity is questionable.
Bring forward both the short term and long-term consequences of put Mr Rajam in charge of the
Malgudi bridge project.
Then take up the case of Mr Swami, who is known for his honesty but is not efficient and prone to
missing deadlines. Bring forward both the short term and long-term consequences of put Mr Swami
in charge of the Malgudi bridge project.
Conclusion:
Follow this up with ethical reasoning and justify who you will choose for the project.
Introduction
The bridge is the only connection for the hamlet of Malgudi to the outer world. Being the chief
Project officer, it is vital that this responsibility is handled with utmost importance and due diligence.
The case presents an ethical dilemma of choosing between two engineers, one who is honest but
slightly inefficient, the other who is highly efficient yet allegedly corrupt.
Body
Stakeholders
 Myself and my reputation as chief project officer
 The two engineers
 The people of Malgudi
 The state government
Ethical issues involved
 Dilemma of whether to choose a person with impeccable integrity (Mr swami), but falls
short of work done; or to choose a dishonest person (Mr Rajam) but get the work done.
 Gandhiji’s ‘Purity of means’ versus Machiavelli’s ‘Ends justify the means’.
Course of action: Appointment of engineer
 Appointing Mr Rajam
o Merits: The work will be done, as he is efficient. I will also be recognized for the
swift work done, as Mr Rajam is known for his fast work.
o Demerits: Mr Rajam’s integrity is questionable. There have been many instances,

where due to corrupt engineers, the contract was given to cronies. This led to loss of
precious lives, as such bridges/buildings have collapsed. Further, government funds
will be misused and the vicious cycle of officer-crony nexus will continue
perpetually.
 Appointing Mr Swami
o Merits: Mr Swami, can be entrusted with work and he will do it as per instructions.
There won’t be any doubt of misuse of funds. Though, inefficient, this can be
corrected through supervision and constant updates. However, dishonesty has no

antidote as the person is inherently immoral.
o Demerits: Work may be stalled, and speed is a factor for Malgudi as its connection
to the world is at stake.
Despite the demerits in appointing Mr swami, he will be the right choice. As Gandhiji said, “By
sowing seeds of babool, one cannot expect rose flowers”. Mr Rajam’s work will be shoddy and will
put lots of lives at stake. But with Mr Swami, efficiency can be taken care by myself while I can
entrust him with the work without the fear of being misled. Only right means lead to right
destination, as per Gandhi. The bridge so built, will be sustainable for a long time to come and
benefit the future generations well.
Conclusion
One may think fulfilment of ends is the real reward. Ends will after all justify
means. Gandhi maintained a moral means is almost an end in itself because virtue is its own
reward. Also, all focus and energies may get disproportionately concentrated on the ends, which is
unforeseeable. Gandhi said means are foreseeable, ends are not. Thus, means can be controlled,
managed and guaranteed. “If one takes care of the means the end will take care of itself.”
Suppose you are the CEO of a company that manufactures specialized electronic
equipment used by a government department. You have submitted your bid for the
supply of this equipment to the department. Both the quality and cost of your offer are
better than those of the competitors. Yet the concerned officer is demanding a hefty
bribe for approving the tender Getting the order is important both for you and your
company. Not getting the order would mean closing a production line. It may also affect
your own career. However, as a value-conscious person, You do not want to give bribe.
Valid arguments can be advanced both for giving the bribe and getting the order, and
for refusing to pay the bribe and risking the loss of the order. What those arguments
could be, Could there be any better way to get out of this dilemma? If so, outline the
main elements of this third way, pointing out its merits. (250 Words) (20 M) (UPSC
2014)
Introduction:
Start by giving the context. Bring out the key stakeholders in the above case study and major ethical
dilemmas present.
Body:
In the body, give valid arguments for the both the above mentioned courses of action to pay bribe
and get order and not to pay bribe and lose the order. Analyse both the courses of action ethically.
Next, mention the third way of action to resolve this ethical dilemma without compromising your
morals. Evaluate the merits and demerits of such a course of action.
Conclusion:
Follow this up with ethical reasoning and justify.
Introduction
Corruption eats into the resources that are meant for welfare of the common public. It hinders the
development of society as there in inefficiency in the system. For a job that is one’s duty, a public

servant cannot seek money for the same. But like Kautilya in Arthashashtra said, money is like honey
on tongue, one cannot taste it. This happens with power and discretion in governance. Only
transparency can bring a stop to such kinds of corruption.
Body
Arguments in favour of giving the bribe
A CEO’s duty first and foremost lies to his business house, and its business’ interest that he must try
to protect at all costs. Closing of a whole production line affects the strategy and bottom line of a
business. Hence, it is important for the CEO to secure the tender.
Closing production line would mean lot of cost and losses that may not be sustained by the firm and
would mean closing down operations. It also will lead to lot of unemployment and distress. Instead
paying the one –time bribe is a better solution.
Arguments in favour of not-giving bribe
By the simple logic of being the lowest cost provider for quality equipment amongst anybody in the
market, the firm by default should get the tender. Not getting would be an injustice to the laid-out
system. For something so sure, I must not be paying bribe as CEO.
Despite this if the tender does not come to my firm, I’ll take up with appropriate authorities through
formal channel and go to court regarding the same.
Bribery is legally and ethically wrong. Companies that are found providing bribes can be blacklisted
and barred from further contracts for public procurement. Also, the company and the CEO could
both face legal action for providing bribe to obtain the tender.
Better way out of the dilemma
Single person cannot decide on the tender as per government rules and I will insist on a committee
to decide on such tenders. I will also inform the concerned officer that if the firm by merits not get
the tender, I would go to the vigilance section and complain against the said officer who asked for
bribe. In this regard I will also inform Lokpal and Anti-Corruption Bureau against the harassment to
pay bribe.
Also, RTI can be used to force the department concerned to reveal the process according to which
the tender was awarded. Thus, the irregularities will come to light and the process of awarding the
tender will have to be started afresh, and the company can make a fresh bid.
Conclusion
Stopping corruption at its roots through e-governance, making officers accountable for their action is
the key. A strong anti-corruption wave in the country must be the next step either emanating from
public or through reforms. Corruption is a bane to the people who are earning an honest meal.

One of the scientists working in the R&D laboratory of a major pharmaceutical company
discovers that one of the company’s bestselling veterinary drugs has the potential to
cure a currently incurable liver disease which is prevalent in tribal areas. However,
developing a variant of the drug suitable for human being entailed a lot of research and
development having a huge expenditure to the extent of Rs. 50 crores. It was unlikely
that company would recover the cost as the disease was rampant only in poverty
stricken areas having very little market otherwise.
If you were the CEO, then
(a) Identify the various actions that you could take
(b) Evaluate the pros and cons of each of your actions (250 Words) (20 M) (UPSC 2015)

Introduction:
Start by giving the context. Bring out the key stakeholders in the above case study and major ethical
dilemmas present.
Body:
In the body, write about the various course of action available for you as the CEO.
Next, give valid arguments for the both the above-mentioned courses of action that you can take.
Evaluate its pros and cons in detail
Conclusion:
Write about the course of action you will take.
Introduction
The above case presents a scenario where the private drug company has developed a potential cure
to an incurable liver disease, prevalent among tribals. The case presents a dilemma of a CEO who
has to ensure the profitability of the drug company meanwhile being compassionate and trustee
of the society in which the company is located too.
Body
The various actions which can be taken by me as CEO are:
1. to adhere to my obligations and professional ethics, which is to serve my company and to

garner its maximum profit.
2. Taking support of Government by the Viability gap funding.
3. Raising money through finance market.
4. Collaborating with foreign company
5. appealing to public through media and NGO’s for collaboration and funds through sale of
products
Evaluation of the options:
 Option 1:to adhere to my obligations and professional ethics, which is to serve my company and
to garner its maximum profit
o Merits:

 Professional Loyalty to the company.
 this would not be contradictory to my personal ethics which derives from my

societal obligations and my conscience.
o Demerits:
 Company will lose the public goodwill and do a bigger harm.
 Against the trusteeship factor of the company.
 Option 2:Taking support of government by the Viability gap funding.
o Merits:
 It will solve the funding issue.
 Poor people will benefit. Justice will be done to them.
 Government machinery can be utilized for better service delivery.
o Demerits:
 It will put Subsidy burden on government.
 Company’s ownership of product will be diluted
 Option 3:Raising money through finance market
o Merits:
 It will solve the problem temporarily.
 Poor people will benefit
 Corporate Social Responsibility will be fulfilled
o Demerits:
 Investors may lose money in future.
 My company might come under severe financial stress.
 Option 4:collaborating with foreign company
o Merits:
 Not just poor of India, but of whole world will benefit.
 The problem can be solved in holistic manner.
o Demerits:
 Issues of Intellectual property rights may hamper this collaboration.
 foreign company may sell the drug at higher prices.
o Option 5:appealing to the public through media and NGO’s for collaboration and funds
through sale of products
 Merits:
 Pool for social activities will be created
 Good publicity of company will be done.
 Increase in sales and profits which then are transfer to the project
 Demerits:
 It may also decrease the sale as price of company’s products will be

increased.
 may take a long time to collect necessary funds
Conclusion
In the above scenario, I would go in for the combination of options 2 and 5 along with pitching in
with some of my company’s CSR funds. This would ensure public goodwill for my company as well
as ensure an easy, affordable access of the drug to the tribals. Compromises have to be struck
between the profit motive of my company and the public good in a way that both benefit from each
other in a complementary manner. This will also set a precedent for others to follow who are faced
with such a dilemma thus increasing social capital and trust in society.




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INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS

INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS

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Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics

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 There is no recognition of good work in civil services.

 An administration certainly needs guardrails in the form of non-negotiable rules. Without

 Similarly, we have a colossal army of paper-pushing subordinates churning out work of

 Corruption, favouritism, criminalisation of governance, self-centred functionaries etc. are on

Measures to ensure probity

 Independent office of Ethics Commissioner– Need to create such an independent office on

 A great teacher is a Motivator:

o g.: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

 Analytical and solution provider:

o A good teacher is capable of identifying the weakness of the student, do micro

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 A good teacher instils & demonstrate confidence.

 They have life experience.

 Good Teachers Show Empathy.

 Good Teachers Have Patience.

 Good Teachers Value Real-World Learning.

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Values envisaged by builders of Independent India

 Constitution of India: The Founding fathers came up with a constitutional scheme

The role of value in addressing present day challenges

 A bottom-up approach to development that should focus on building capabilities of the

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 It essentially implies avoiding extremes, such as what we are witnessing today-narrow

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Be it an author or anyone, without experiencing certain things in life, we cannot meaningfully

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Learning Wisdom by Reflection

Learning Wisdom by Imitation

Learning Wisdom by Experience

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Nonpartisan service responds to demonstrable objective and external criteria rather

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A bureaucrat is needed to be politically neutral:

Impartiality and Non-partisanship which determine the foundation of a non-partisan public

 Recruitment, promotions or even terminations should be completely free of any kind of

 All public officials should perform their duties in an impartial manner.

 Public officials do not engage in any partisan politics.

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Need for moonlighting and its ethical basis

 While moonlighting is often considered wrong, “Ethical moonlighting” is a win-win concept