APPROACH FOR ETHICS

The Ethics Paper or GS Paper IV is exceptionally and extremely important in the UPSC Civil Services Examination. This paper is meant to test one’s ethical values, moral principles, and critical thinking skills—traits that are indispensable for a future civil servant.

The paper is interesting in the fact that more marks can be scored as compared to other  papers. This certainly makes it an easier task for aspirants who work their way through basic ethical theories. That’s why this paper requires a lot of attention: not only is it important, but doing so may lift an overall score and provide one with a competitive edge.

Syllabus:

  • 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 the Lives and Teachings of Great Leaders, Reformers and Administrators; Role of Family Society and Educational Institutions in Inculcating Values.

  • Attitude: Content, Structure, Function; its Influence and Relation with Thought and Behavior; Moral and Political Attitudes; Social Influence and Persuasion.
  • 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.
  • Emotional Intelligence: Concepts, and their Utilities and Application in Administration and Governance.
  • Contributions of Moral Thinkers and Philosophers from India and World.
  • 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; Corporate Governance.
  • 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.

Case Studies on above issues.

What do we cover under Ethics classes ?

  • Basic Concepts of Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude

  • Moral Thinkers and Philosophers from World and India

  • Meta Ethics, Normative Ethics, Descriptive Ethics and Applied Ethics

  • Ethics in Public Administration

  • Probity in Governance

  • Corporate Ethics, Media Ethics and Ethics in Civil Services

  • Personal and Professional Ethics

  • Case Studies

We, Believers, through our experience, have analyzed that although Ethics paper is highly subjective, but it can be conquered through a formulated strategy; As the approach for subjective philosophical questions and case studies are different, both parts of the paper requires focused approach in distinct ways to get 110+ scores in ethics.

Believers have decoded the Ethics paper word by word as mentioned in syllabus and brought this course exclusively for students who are struggling to find right guidance and strategy to conquer ethics.