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AnalysisandSolutionofTheGSMainsPaperIV(Ethics)2013
AnalysisandSolutionoftheGSMAINSPaperIV(ETHICS)

SectionA
Question1.Whatdoyouunderstandby'Values'and'Ethics'?Inwhatwayisitimportanttobeethicalalong
withbeingprofessionallycompetent?(150words)10marks

Analysis
Beforestartingwiththequestion,keepinmindthewordlimit.Sincethelengthofthepaperisvery
long,youmustprepareyouranswersaccordingtotheexpectedwordlimit.
First,letusanalyzewhatthequestionasks?Thequestionhastwoparts
1.MeaninganddistinctionbetweenValuesandEthics.
2.LinkbetweenBeingEthicalandBeingProfessionallycompetent.
Thus,therightstrategytodealwiththequestionisto,first,discussbrieflythemeaningoftheterm
ValuesandEthics.Then,insteadofgoingdeepintothemeaningandevolutionoftheseterms,you
shouldbringacomparativeanalysisofthetwoterms,soastobringacontrastinthem.
Comingontothenextpartofthequestion,donotstartfromtheverybeginning.Instead,directlygo
tothepoint.Yourargumentsshouldprovethelinkbetweenethicsandprofessionalcompetency.
Letusdiscussthepossibleanswernow:
Solution Values and Ethics are often used interchangeably. However, there does exist a
distinctionbetweenthetwo.Anythingweseeorexperiencearoundusisviewedandinterpretedin
terms of some preconceived ideas/values. Values are the yardsticks which help in measuring the
desirabilityorundesirabilityofanyact,behaviourorpractice.Duetothisnatureofthevalues,there
canbesomeuniversalvaluesthatareadmiredbyallculturesandsocieties.
Ethics, on the other hand, are the socially acceptable principles that define what is goodbad,
moralimmoral, and desirableundesirable in a particular society. Ethics, in this context, becomes
the manifestation of the different values in the human society. Ethical principles are altered to
different shades to suit the human purpose, and achieve its goals. Therefore, while values are,
moreorless,universalincharacter,ethicalprinciplesarecustommadebyeverysocietytoserve
theinterestoftheindividualslivingunderitsframework.
It is very important to be ethical in the performance of one's duty.An unethical person can only
bringharmtothesociety,becauseprofessionalcompetency,devoidofanethicalbase,canonlybe
ahomeforvariousvices.Whereas,anethicalpersonwouldstriveforthecommongood,evenifhe
lacksinthehighstandardsofhisprofession.Whileanethicalandhighlycompetentpersonisseen
as an ideal a person with no ethical principles and high professional competency can become a
baneforthesociety.
Question2.(a)Whatdoyouunderstandbythefollowingtermsinthecontextofpublicservice?(250words)
3x5=15marks.
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1.integrity
2.Perseverance
3.SpiritofService
4.Commitment
5.CourageofConviction
(b)Indicatetwomoreattributeswhichyouconsiderimportantforpublicservice.Justifyyouranswer.10
marks.

Analysis
(a) this question expects you to simply explain/discuss the meaning and significance of the given
values/terms.Sincethewholequestionissplitintwoparts,andthewordlimitismentionedas250
words,itisplausibletowriteinbriefonly,whilefocusingonlyatthemainpoints.
(b) the second part of the question requires the candidate to write and briefly discuss two more
attributesforthepublicservice.Here,itmustbekeptinmindthat,thereareanumberofattributes
thatcanbewritten.However,tofetchthemaximumpossiblemarks,itisnecessarythatyouwrite
themostcrucialattributes.

Solution
2(a)

1.IntegrityIntegrityreferstothecohesivenessofthecharacter.Acivilservantshouldbemisled
bymaterialconsiderations.Onemustbecommittedtoone'sdutyalone.Sincethedutyofthe
publicservantsistoservethesociety,asawhole,hemustnotallowhimselftobemisledbythe
unethical influences that often come in the various courses of action. Integrity is a value that
gives the strength to stand against all odds and circumstances, and do good to the society.
Thus,itisoneofthebasicattributesofthepublicservants.
2.Perseveranceitreferstothequalityofthecharactertostayfirmonthepathofone'sduty.A
civilservantoftenfacesdifficultiesintheperformanceofhisduties.Inthisregard,itisimportant
to develop the attribute of perseverance. This quality gives the character a stability and
conviction,whichensuresthattheendsareachieveddespiteofthedifficultiesthatcomeinthe
path.
3.Spirit of Serviceit refers to the quality of the character that encourages one to pursue the
goals of the organization with devotion. Every organization has some basic objectives, which
areethicalinnature.InthePublicservices,itisparticularlyimportantthattheofficialsabideby
theethicalcodeandgoalsofthepublicorganization.Thegoalofthepublicorganizationisto
do good to the society. Thus, only with a high spirit of service can the public officials bring a
positivechangeinthesociety.
4.Commitmentitisoneofthebasicattributesofthecivilservant.Goodofthesocietycanonly
bedoneifthepersonnelarecommittedtothecauseoftheorganization.Acommittedperson
adherestothepathoftheorganization,andstrivesforthehighestofethicalstandardsofthe
organization.
5.CourageofConvictionitreferstotheattributeofthepublicservantstoservethesocietywith
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convictionintheorganizationalgoalsandobjectives.Apublicservant'sdecisionsshouldnotbe
guided by their personal well being. Courage of conviction implies the performance of duty
eveninadversesituationsandthreats.Also,itimpliesthatthepersonnelshallexpresswhatis
rightandnecessary,ratherthanconsideringthematerialgoodofthehimself.
(b)twomoreattributesthatarenecessaryforthepublicservantsare

Objectivityacivilservantshallnotdifferentiatebetweendifferentpeople,intheperformanceofhis
duties.Thisprincipleisoneofthebasiconesofanystateorganization.Everyoneisequalbefore
theeyeoflaw.Thus,publicpersonnelshouldperformtheirduties,irrespectiveofthecitizen'sclass,
caste,religion,etc.
Empathy a civil servant is expected to do good to the society. In this context, a strict and
uncompromisingadherencetotherulesoftheorganizationmighthelpthemasses.Acivilservant
should be empathetic towards the concerns of the poor and marginalized sections. In genuine
cases, he must be ready to make appropriate amends to the rules, in order to do good to the
society.Itisanimportantcomponentintheattributesofthecivilservants,asitismoreimportantto
aspirefortheendsoftheorganization,ratherthantherules.
Notetherecanbemanymoreattributesthatacandidatemightwrite.thelistnotexhaustive.

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