Suppose one of your close friends, who is also aspiring for civil services, comes to you for discussing some of the issues related to ethical conduct in public service. He raises the following points :1) In the present times, when unethical environment is quite prevalent, individual attempts to stick to ethical principles may cause a lot of problems in one’s career. It may also cause hardship to the family members as well as risk to one’s life. Why should we not be pragmatic and follow the path of least resistance, and be happy with doing whatever good we can?2) When so many people are adopting wrong means and are grossly harming the system, what difference would it make if only a small minority tries to be ethical? They are going to be rather ineffective and are bound to get frustrated.3) If we become fussy about ethical considerations, will it not hamper the economic progress of our country? After all, in the present age of high competition, we cannot afford to be left behind in the race of development.4) It is understandable that we should not get involved in grossly unethical practices, but giving and accepting small gratifications and doing small favours increases everybody’s motivation. It also makes the system more efficient. What is wrong in adopting such practices? Critically analyze the above viewpoints. On the basis of this analysis, what will be your advice to your friend?
What the examiner wants
Critically analyse each of the friend's arguments for bending ethics in an unethical system and advise him on the right course.
Demand-wise check
- 1Stakeholders and issues: the friend's integrity and career, his family's security, citizens served, the institution; dilemma of personal cost vs public duty, consequentialism vs duty ethics≈50 words
- 2Arguments with partial truth: career setbacks, transfers, threats are real risks (Satyendra Dubey, Manjunath); being isolated can reduce effectiveness≈50 words
- 3Arguments that fail: 'small favours make systems efficient' (speed money creates artificial delays and harms the poor); 'ethics slows growth' (corruption raises costs, deters investment, distorts allocation); family burden is greater from disgrace and prosecution≈50 words
- 4Advice: stay ethical but smart: competence, tact, documentation, legal safeguards, allies among honest officers, choosing battles, using institutional channels (CVC, RTI); integrity builds long-term credibility (Ashok Khemka, T.N. Seshan)≈50 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Where marks usually go
- Dismissing the friend's fears as baseless instead of acknowledging real risks
- Moral lecture without practical strategies to survive and stay effective
Draw this
- Two-column table: friend's claim → critical response with evidence
Value addition
- ThinkerGandhi's 'Seven Social Sins' include 'commerce without morality' and 'politics without principle'.Gandhi, Young India, 1925
- ExampleT.N. Seshan as CEC (1990-96) enforced the Model Code strictly and changed election conduct despite resistance, showing ethics can be effective.Election Commission history
- ThinkerGunnar Myrdal's 'soft state' (Asian Drama, 1968): speed money creates delays rather than removing them.Myrdal, 1968
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Aakash Garg · AIR 5 · Page 33 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 35 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 29 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aakash Garg · AIR 5 · Page 31 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
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