Ethics & Integrity in Public Service
GS-IV in one frame: values, dilemmas and the civil servant's spine.
📜 Origin of the word
Greek & Latin roots
- Ethos = character, custom
- Integer = whole, undivided
Meaning: Character that stays whole — the same in public and in private.
What?
The study of the values, standards and conduct expected of public servants, and the reasoning used to resolve conflicts between them.
Why?
Discretionary power without internal standards produces corruption, arbitrariness and loss of public trust; codes alone cannot cover every situation.
How?
Through foundational values (integrity, impartiality, objectivity, empathy, dedication), codes of ethics and conduct, RTI-driven transparency, and institutions like the Lokpal and CVC.
Who?
Nolan Committee (UK) principles, the Second ARC's 4th Report 'Ethics in Governance' (2007), and thinkers from Kautilya and Gandhi to Kant, Mill and Rawls.
Where?
Applies across the All India Services, state services, PSUs and local government.
When?
Second ARC report 2007; Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013; Whistle Blowers Protection Act 2014.
Importance
Beginner explanation
NCERT connection
UPSC-level explanation
Memory trick
History
Constitutional articles & provisions
- Article 51A — Fundamental Duties — the constitutional value base for civic ethics.
- Article 311 — Safeguards for civil servants in dismissal and removal.
- Article 148 — CAG — accountability institution supporting probity.
Important years & timeline
- 1964 — CVC established on Santhanam Committee recommendation
- 1988 — Prevention of Corruption Act
- 2005 — Right to Information Act
- 2007 — Second ARC's 'Ethics in Governance'
- 2013 — Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act
Real-life examples
- · A district collector resisting political pressure on a transfer list.
- · A procurement officer declaring a conflict of interest and recusing herself.
- · A whistle-blower engineer flagging substandard construction material.
Supreme Court cases
- Vineet Narain v. Union of India (1997) — Laid down directions for CBI and CVC autonomy in corruption investigations.
- Subramanian Swamy v. Manmohan Singh (2012) — Sanction for prosecution of public servants must be decided within a time limit.
Current affairs link
Mind map
Ethics in Public Service
- └ Foundational values
- └ Institutions
- └ Dilemmas
- └ Case-study method
Foundational values
- └ Integrity
- └ Impartiality
- └ Objectivity
- └ Empathy
- └ Dedication
Institutions
- └ CVC
- └ Lokpal
- └ CAG
- └ RTI
Dilemmas
- └ Rule vs compassion
- └ Loyalty vs public interest
- └ Speed vs due process
Summary notes
- · Ethos + Integer: consistent character in public office.
- · Second ARC 4th Report is the anchor document.
- · Case studies need structure: stakeholders, issues, options, decision, justification.
- · Institutions support ethics but cannot replace personal integrity.
Previous year questions
- UPSC Mains GS-IV · 2023
'Probity in governance is the foundation of public trust.' Discuss with examples.
- UPSC Mains GS-IV · 2019
What do you understand by 'integrity'? Give two examples where integrity is compromised in public service.
- APPSC Group-I · 2022
Discuss the role of the CVC in ensuring ethical governance.
Recommended videos & sources
- Ethics in Governance — Second ARC — DARPG
- Values and Ethics in Administration — SWAYAM
🧩 Practice this topic
1 MCQs with explanations.