ETHICS STRATEGY

Strategy for Ethics (GS Paper – 4) Maximum marks: 250

Introduction

GS Paper-4, Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude, was introduced as part of reforms to the mains curriculum for the 2013 civil services examination.

• The official UPSC course outline provides broad guidelines for what UPSC intends to test in this paper.
• It is stated that “This paper will test the candidate’s attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life, and his problem-solving approach to various issues and conflicts he faces in dealing with society.” These aspects may be determined using case study-based inquiries.
• This paper is divided into two components, each worth 125 points: Section A and Section B.
  • Section A contains theoretical concerns that are typical of an applied nature.Case studies are found in Section B.

Both sections necessitate distinct approaches.

• Overall, scoring an ethics paper is a game of keywords, self-awareness, and the ability to present oneself as a pragmatic, productive, and committed individual to personal and professional ethics.
• The examination is of a generalist nature. Until now, the UPSC has asked questions requiring the application of common sense while bearing ethical principles in mind.
• Importance of Ethics Paper Obtaining a high score on the ethics paper is a prerequisite for making the final list and receiving the desired service. Similar to the essay paper, this paper provides the highest returns. With minimal effort, one can earn high grades. Incorporating a moral dimension into answers for GS Papers 1, 2, and 3, as well as the essay, is facilitated by careful preparation for this exam. The personality examination also helps to appear as a person with the qualities desired in a civil servant.
  

General Instructions for Writing an Ethics Paper

• Know the syllabus – The Syllabus of Ethics is your most essential book and keyword list. Learn the course outline to use the course-specific keywords in your answers.
• Read limited literature. Read them twice before highlighting essential passages. Mark lines and jot down brief remarks.
• Notes facilitate the organization of keywords in condensed form. This is a MUST, as composing honest answers consists of keyword play.
• View previous year’s documents. Note uncommon search terms such as seven transgressions, Weber, and Rawls’s social justice theory. Use these terms in your responses.
• Reading is less essential than writing answers in Ethics. Know the optimal structure and technique for writing section-A and case study responses.
• Provide examples from contemporary social issues, professional life, areas of interest, etc. The essence of answer writing for an Ethics paper consists of examples.
• Draw diagrams in Ethics that are original and inventive. This will provide an advantage over competitors.
• Preparation of Ethics Paper: The ETHICS paper assesses “ethical competence,” not “knowledge of ethics.”
• Initially, one should become familiar with the terms included in the syllabus. Then, one should be able to express concepts in the most straightforward and fewest words feasible.
  • To illustrate, Values are preferences; ethics are a code of conduct; Transparency is the availability of government information to the public; Accountability is holding a person accountable for his or her actions; and Attitude is an individual’s evaluation of another person, idea, situation, etc.

• Relate course-specific terms and values to one’s own life experiences. For instance, if you are honest, attempt to recall instances where you demonstrated honesty.
  

Examples: 

• Incident 1 – During my 10th Standard Board Exams, we were required to compose the antonym of POPULAR in the English Paper. I had typed IMPOPULOUS. Then, a strolling exam monitor saw my answer sheet and informed me that the correct response was UNPOPULAR. However, I did not alter my response.
• Incident 2 – One Saturday, I ate idli at Parimala Hotel in Tumakuru Bus stand. After forgetting to pay the money, I left the hotel without paying the bill. Even hotel personnel did not inquire. I came to the same conclusion when I discovered extra cash in my pocket in the evening. I went to the hotel the following Monday, apologized, and paid the bill.
  • If there is no real-life example, be prepared to illustrate your point with anecdotes from the lives of social reformers, leaders, civil servants, etc. and other illustrious public figures. Example:
    • Sir M. Visvesvrayya, the then-Dewan of the state of Mysore, used a government vehicle to submit his resignation. After submitting his resignation, he returned to his vehicle. He always kept two sets of candles, one purchased with government funds and the other with money. He used the first set of candles to review official documents and the second to read novels. (The preceding two anecdotes are examples of how not to misuse public resources for private benefit.)
    • Kuvempu, recipient of the Jnanapith award, poet, and glory of Karnataka, was once Vice-Chancellor of Mysore University. His son Poorna Chandra Tejaswi was pursuing a Bachelor of Arts at the same institution. Once, an English Professor approached Kuvempu and informed him that his son had scored below the minimum pass mark on an English Paper. He then inquired as to what Kuvempu should do. Kuvempu reviewed the response script and instructed the professor to assign even lower grades.
    • A Rajput prince was the target of a murder plot. Panna, a judicial employee, discovered the conspiracy. In order to save the Prince, she substituted her child for him. Her child got killed. 
    • A workaholic engineer was engaged in a significant scientific undertaking. Sir Abdul Kalam led the initiative. The children of that engineer once requested that their father take them to an evening exhibition. The engineer requested Kalam’s permission to depart early and explained why. Kalam sir concurred. However, he became so immersed in his task that he forgot to leave early. Sir Kalam observed the engineer engaged in his task. Therefore, he took the children to the exhibition himself. This story demonstrates empathy towards subordinates.
    • Satish Dhawan was the chairman of ISRO during the first SLV launch, which was a failure. However, he accepted accountability for the debacle. On the subsequent attempt, when the launch was successful, he gave the entire credit to the crew. This story illustrates leadership and teamwork.
    • Sagayam, a Tamil Nadu-based IAS officer, has disclosed his and his family’s assets on his website. (Example of integrity and candour)
    • K. Jairaj, an IAS officer from the Karnataka cadre, was requested to approve the dismissal of a female typist due to her disruptive behaviour toward her co-workers. Sir Jairaj dug deeper and discovered that she had been a widow and that a co-worker had abused her by promising her a new existence. Moreover, this precipitated her depression. Her co-workers verbally abused her as if to rub salt in the wound. This caused her to lose her cool. Later, considering her precarious financial situation and the need to educate her son, two increments were subtracted, and she was reinstated to service. Later, her son obtained an excellent position at Infosys. (Example of compassion for women; empathy for subordinates; workplace culture).

Additionally, be prepared to use a hypothetical scenario if no real-world examples or anecdotes are available. Always begin such examples with Supposing… Assuming… etc.

• As an example, for a query on ‘conflict of interest,’ you could write that an IAS officer is a member of an interview panel. During interviews, he/she uncovers that one of the candidates is a friend’s son. The IAS officer should then disclose this information. As a result, he should not interview that candidate.
• Depending on the nature of the query, such situations must be created in the examination room. Therefore, this type of thinking must be fostered beforehand.

Additionally, every case study you solve is a hypothetical situation. Therefore, you can use the case studies you have practised as hypothetical scenarios in your exam responses.

Strategy for Answering Part A-Theoretical Questions

• Section A typically consists of 12 to 13 questions worth 10 points each, for 120 to 130 points. These will be answered in 150 words, for which two pages are provided. A 10-point query should be answered within seven minutes. Questions may be analytical or theoretical at times.
• Depending on the demand/type of inquiry, answers in Ethics may be written in paragraphs or points. Ideally, a response will include the following:
• In the introduction, you should define any keywords or terms mentioned in the query in two to three lines.
• The answer body may be in points or paragraph format. What matters is that multiple dimensions are addressed to make the response multidimensional. Compared to a paragraph-based response, which carries a high risk of deviating from the query, a point-by-point or bulleted response is more adept at handling dimensions.
• The syllabus-referenced theories, theorists, and terms must be incorporated into answers. This aids in maintaining the responses “ethically.” Ideally, Theory should account for at most 20% of the response. Overusing theories and keywords render responses mechanical.
• Generally, it is stated in the query that examples are required. Therefore, in such queries, write two examples. While some queries do not explicitly request examples, one should still provide at least one.
• Diagrams are crucial to gaining an advantage over other candidates. Diagrams provide the elusive X-factor that examiners seek. Additionally, they break up the monotony and improve the presentation.
• It is as essential as the answer’s introduction or body itself. First, complete the conclusion to move on to the next question(s) quickly. Then, summarise the response in a few lines.

Answer Writing Strategy for Case Studies in Part B

• There is never a definitive solution to a case study. The objective should be to study the format:
  • Actors
  • Difficulties
  • Body of Answer 
  • Points
  • Keywords
  • Theory
  • Diagram
  • Conclusion

• Try to offer pragmatic solutions. Ideal solutions that are impractical would not earn you credit. Provide creative yet practical solutions.
• Attempt to offer specific solutions. Avoid using generic solutions.
• Do not say, for example, “I would take measures to promote transparency. Instead, describe how you would advocate openness.
• Give even the most undesirable course of action as one of your options when requested to list all available alternatives. However, that option should not be chosen.
• To illustrate, in a case in which you were offered a bribe, include “acceptance of a bribe” as one of the options. However, prefer the alternatives that involve “refusal of bribery.”
• Do more than address fundamental issues. Additionally, include peripheral issues in a case study.
• For example, consider a case study in which “you are the head of a committee investigating college irregularities.” You are faced with the difficult decision of whether to recommend the de-recognition of a college and jeopardize thousands of students’ career prospects or recommend their regularization given their future. You have been promised an Rs. 5 crore bribe.” This case study’s central question is whether colleges should be regulated. Many candidates would address this issue in their response. However, there is also a peripheral issue, namely the bribe offer. Attempt to address this concern as well. Please do not just say, “I will not take the bribe,” when addressing the bribery issue. Also, say, “I intend to file a formal complaint against the individual who offered me the bribe.”

Let your solutions strive to achieve the most excellent possible balance between competing options. (Caution – such balancing may not always happen).

Consider the examples provided in the preceding point. Most candidates would respond, “I will recommend de-recognition of colleges because errant colleges must be punished” or “I will recommend regularization of colleges for the sake of students’ futures.” Instead, consider a solution that simultaneously penalizes colleges and improves the career prospects of thousands of students. For example, one possible solution is allowing currently enrolled students to complete their courses and recognize their degrees while prohibiting new enrollments. Or housing for students of such colleges in other accredited institutions.

Recommended reading

• Books
• The fourth ARC report.
• Selected chapters from the NCERT Psychology textbook for grades XI and XII.
• Citizen-Centric Administration – ARC Report.
• Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude — Civil services chronicle.
  

Biographies and additional literature

1. “Experiment with the Truth” is a quote by Mahatma Gandhi.
2. Varghese Kurien’s autobiography.
3. Swami Vivekananda – Karmayoga and his biography.
4. Selected works by Immanuel Kant, Aristotle, and others. There is an ethics-related BBC website.