Important Topics in Ethics for UPSC Mains 2024: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude is a crucial part of the UPSC Mains General Studies Paper IV . This paper tests a candidate's attitude and approach to issues related to integrity, probity in public life, and problem-solving approaches to various societal and governance issues.
Scoring 100+ in the UPSC Mains Ethics paper can be tricky due to the subjective nature of the questions and the dynamic syllabus. To excel in this paper, aspirants must have a comprehensive grasp of the key concepts in ethics. Here's a detailed guide on important topics in Ethics for UPSC Mains 2024 for aspirants.Important Topics in Ethics for UPSC Mains 2024 | |
Topic | Subtopics |
Ethics and Human Interface | Essence, determinants, and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships. |
Human Values | Lessons from great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, APJ Kalam, Swami Vivekananda, the role of family, society, and educational institutions |
Attitude | Structure and function of attitude, influence of attitude, Moral and political attitudes, Social influence, persuasion |
Aptitude and Values for Civil Service | Foundational Values for Civil Service; Integrity, impartiality, non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance, and compassion |
Emotional Intelligence | Concepts of emotional intelligence, utility, and application in administration and governance. |
Moral Thinkers and Philosophers | Contributions of Moral Thinkers and Philosophers from India and the World, including Kautilya, Swami Vivekananda, Buddha, Rabindranath Tagore, Plato, Aristotle, and Immanuel Kant. |
Ethics in Public Administration | Ethical concerns and dilemmas, Sources of ethical guidance, Accountability, Ethical governance, and Corporate governance. |
Probity in Governance | Concept of public service, Transparency in government, Codes of ethics, Codes of conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Quality of service delivery, Challenges and solutions to corruption. |
Case Studies | Practical applications of the aforementioned topics in real-world scenarios. |
Current Affairs Based | Forgery by Officers, Radical Democracy, Abuse of Power and Privilege , and Ethical use of AI. |
UPSC Mains Ethics Previous Year Questions | ||
Questions | Word Limit | Marks |
Q.1 What do you understand by ‘moral integrity’ and ‘professional efficiency’ in the context of corporate governance in India? Illustrate with suitable examples. (2023) | 150 Words | 10 Marks |
Q.2 “Corruption is the manifestation of the failure of core values in the society.” In your opinion, what measures can be adopted to uplift the core values in the society? (2023) | 150 Words | 10 Marks |
Q.3 Differentiate ‘moral intuition’ from ‘moral reasoning’ with suitable examples. (2023) | 150 Words | 10 Marks |
Q.4 Apart from intellectual competence and moral qualities, empathy and compassion are some of the other vital attributes that facilitate the civil servants to be more competent in tackling the crucial issues or taking critical decisions. Explain with suitable illustrations (2022) | 150 Words | 10 Marks |
Q.5 “If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.” – Abdul Kalam. (2022) | 150 Words | 10 Marks |
Click Here for Previous Years’ Solved Case Studies | ||
Click Here for Ethics Section A Solved Questions |
UPSC Related Articles | ||
UPSC Mains Subjects | IAS Officer After 12th | Ethics Books for UPSC 2024 |
UPSC Mains Syllabus | Pratigya Diwas 2024 | UPSC Mains Important Topics |