ETHICS AND HUMAN INTERFACE

ETHICS EXCELLENCE
KARMAYOGI IAS ADITYA SIR
PROGRAM

Ethics: Meaning and Sources

Meaning

The term Ethics comes from the Greek word Ethos meaning character, habit,
customs, or way of behaviour.
Ethics is the systematic study of human actions in terms of rightfulness or
wrongfulness.
Simply put: A set of principles guiding what to do and what not to do, in a
way acceptable to society.

Sources of Ethics
Religion

Religious teachings outline what is right and wrong, shaping social standards.
Example: Christianity – Compassion; Hinduism/Buddhism – Peace.

Leadership

Leaders influence societal conduct and values.

Example: Independence leaders instilled democratic, liberal , and tolerant
traditions.

Philosophies

Thinkers and movements promote ethical values.

Example: Bhakti movement – Inclusiveness, tolerance, selfless service.
Human Conscience

Inner sense distinguishes right from wrong.

Example: Refusing a bribe; showing compassion to animals.

Culture

Defines acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.

Example: Western culture – Individualism; Indian culture – Universalism,
multiplicity.

Family

Family system nurtures values and roles.

Example: Respecting elders, love, trust, cooperation.

Legal System

Laws guide human behaviour in society.

Example: Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.

Thinkers and Philosophers

Serve as role models and sources of virtues.

Example: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu – Selfless service, dedication, submission to
God.

Role of Ethics:

1. In human behavior, ethics role is to decide how human must behave.

2. In political and social life, ethics decides how human’s life and institution must
be organized to be moral .

3. In economic life of human, ethics deals with those activities which are the
conditions of the attainment of the highest end of life.
Significance of Ethics
Treat everyone equally

Promotes equality and fairness in society.

Example: Right to equality, life, and freedom in democracies like India and the
USA.

Make society better

Builds tolerance, compassion, and integrity.

Example: Refugees welcomed in Europe and India.

Succeed at business

Ethical practices ensure consumer trust and loyalty.

Example: Tata’s compassionate business model; valued products by Apple.

Reduce stress

Moral decisions ease personal and professional life.

Example: Avoiding corruption, unfair means, or match-fixing in sports.

Provides moral map

Acts as a framework to navigate difficult issues.

Example: Gandhi’s compassion-based talisman.

Solution for moral issues

Clarifies confusion and resolves ethical conflicts.

Example: Managing conflict of interest situations.

Ensures individual and social good

Encourages right conduct for overall human welfare.

Example: Balancing personal and professional relations.

Resolves ethical dilemmas

Values like integrity and responsibility guide complex decisions.

Example: Balancing development with environment in Western Ghats or
Himalayas.

Frees from bias and prejudices

Breaks wrong conceptions and ensures fairness.

Example: Recruitment based on merit; unbiased political development.

Effective decision-making

Helps in just, inclusive, and socially beneficial choices.

Example: Attainment of “Summum Bonum” – the highest good.
Nature and Scope of Ethics (Essence of Ethics)

Essence

Refers to the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of ethics that

determines its character.

1. Types of Principles

First Principles: Self-evident, intuitively known, cannot be erased from the

human heart.
Secondary Principles: Derived from first principles, require reflection.
Tertiary Principles: Require study and reasoning.

Key Point: All moral principles are derived from self-evident truths → Moral
Intuitionism.

Moral consciousness is integral to human consciousness.

As awareness grows, moral precepts and values emerge.

2. Absolute vs. Relative Ethics

Absolute Ethics: Ideal code of conduct for a completely evolved society.

Relative Ethics: Practical approximation of ideals, varying with social
evolution.
Moral intuitions evolve from accumulated human experience → passed across
generations → become instinctive moral reactions.

3. Legal vs. Moral Ethics

Law ≠ Ethics.
Some acts may be legal but unethical (e.g., capital punishment, abortion).
Some acts may be illegal but ethical (e.g., civil disobedience).
Ethical principles can critique, shape, or reform laws.
 Example: Peaceful civil disobedience as ethical protest against unjust laws.

4. Morality vs. Ethics

Morality: Customs, principles, and codes of conduct of individuals, groups, or

societies.
Ethics: Moral philosophy — systematic study of right and wrong in human
action.
Ethical disputes exist because:
People share some common norms,
But interpret and balance them differently based on values and
experiences.

Determinants of Ethics in Human Action

Meaning

Determinants are factors that decisively affect the nature or outcome of

ethics in human action.
Ethics is shaped by both individual and situational factors, along with
broader social influences.

1. Individual Factors

Knowledge, values, attitude, and intention guide choices.

Influenced by dominant moral philosophies:
Deontological: judging rightness/wrongness of behavior itself.
Teleological: judging outcomes (good vs. bad consequences).
Evaluations are shaped by personal experiences, culture, and norms.

2. Situational Factors

Significant others (family, colleagues, peers) influence ethical choices.

Opportunities for unethical behavior depend on:
Codes of ethics,
Rewards and punishments,
Organizational culture.

Consequences of Ethics in Human Action

Key Idea

Consequences are the effects caused by an action.

Human beings are naturally consequence-oriented, seeking intended results.
The quality of outcomes depends on the amount of goodness they contain.
An action is judged good or bad based on its outcome:
If people suffer → wrong.
If people benefit → right.

1. Knowledge of Consequences
 If the doer anticipates (even vaguely) the possible outcomes, they are morally
responsible.
Example: A hunter unsure if the target is a man or deer, yet chooses to shoot,
wills the effect (killing either).

2. Indirect Responsibility

Responsibility extends to those who encourage, incite, or cause others to act.

Example: A politician giving a hate speech that incites communal violence is
morally guilty.

3. Errors of Omission

Failing to act when required makes one accountable for bad outcomes.
Example: A bystander who ignores an accident victim in need, leading to
death, is guilty of omission.

Dimensions of Ethics
1. Personal Ethics

Guides individual conduct and decision-making.

Cannot be separated from the organizational context where
individuals spend much of their lives (corporate, government, NGOs,
volunteering).

2. Organizational Ethics

Reflects the values, practices, and culture of institutions.

Organizations must align their operations with the values and
expectations of the wider society.

3. Societal Ethics

Defines norms of right and wrong within the community.

Ensures fairness, justice, and harmony across diverse groups.

4. Ethics for the Future (Sustainability Principle)

Ethical responsibility toward future generations.

Sustainability means meeting the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs (World Business Council for Sustainable Development).

Effects of Lack of Ethics

Individual Level

Impact
 Selfishness, tendency to cheat, poor interpersonal relations.
Stress, imbalance between personal and professional life.

Examples

Issues with partners leading to divorce.

Engaging in corruption.

Societal Level

Impact

Culture of corruption, gender bias, commodification of life.

Moral degradation, rise in crime, weak law and order.

Examples

Degradation of status of women and marginalized groups.

Stalking, drug addiction, social boycotts.

Political Level

Impact

Criminalisation of politics, nepotism, power concentration.

Defections, communalism, violence, constitutional abuse.

Examples

Campaigns on communal agenda.

Bribing voters, political violence at rallies.

Bureaucratic Level

Impact

Conflict of interest, abuse of power, neglect of welfare.

Poor implementation of schemes, corruption culture.

Examples

Bribe culture, delay in file disposal .

Absence of due process of law.

International Level

Impact

Border encroachments, terrorism, organised crime.

Tax havens, vaccine nationalism, arms race, erosion of institutions.

Examples

Russia–Ukraine war, Wagner private army in Moscow.

 China’s aggression, US–China trade war, human rights violations.

Environmental Level

Impact

Deforestation, encroachment of water bodies, wildlife crimes.

Overexploitation of natural resources, animal rights violations.

Examples

Illegal poaching and trade of endangered species.

Large dams altering rivers (e.g., China’s dam on Yarlung Zangbo).
Excessive fertiliser and water use.

Ethics in India: Sources and Influences

Historic Texts

Ashoka: Renunciation of war, spread of dharma.

Harshavardhana: Charity, truthfulness.
Ramayana & Mahabharata: Ideal governance, Nishkama Karma,
consequences of unethical conduct.

Gandhi’s Ethics

Non-violence, satyagraha, swaraj.

Self-sustenance, courage of conviction.
Sustainable development.

Constitution

Liberty, equality, fraternity.

Secularism, justice.

Religious and Philosophical Traditions

Buddhist Ethics: Four Noble Truths, Middle Path, non-violence.

Jain Ethics: Non-harm (ahimsa) to all beings.
Sikh Ethics: Langar (community kitchen), brotherhood.
Islamic Ethics: Collectivism, code of conduct.

Laws

Provide framework for ethical action.

Indicate guidelines for justice and fairness.

Society

Defines norms of acceptable community behaviour.

Conscience

Inner guide for moral decision-making.

Human Values

Universal principles like truthfulness, honesty, and integrity.

Difference between Ethics in Private and Public

Relations

Parameter Private Relations Public Relations

Nature Informal (e.g., Formal (e.g., office,

friendship) professional)

Flexibility Flexible, no strict Less flexible, often

protocols rigid with codes &
protocols (e.g.,
police, army)

Level Personal — based on Professional — based

emotions & feelings on hierarchy

Motive Self-interest (e.g., Public/organizational

traveling with interest (e.g., budget
friends) making, welfare
schemes)

Association Privacy Openness &

accountability

Core Ethical Values in Public Service

Selflessness
Public officials should act solely in the public interest.
Examples:

Super 30 by Anand Kumar & Abhayanand (free coaching for poor

students).
CSR initiatives of TATA Group (e.g., Cancer hospital in Assam).
Mother Teresa cancelling Nobel Prize banquet to feed poor children.
ISKCON temples feeding lakhs daily.
Sanskrit saying: “Pibanti Naddhah, Swayameva Naambha” – rivers
don’t drink their own water; they give selflessly.

Integrity
Officials should not be influenced by external interests.
Example: A policeman refusing to fire on peaceful protestors despite
orders.

Objectivity
Decisions should be merit-based.
Example: A judicial magistrate judging a drug abuse case on evidence,
not media hype.

Accountability
Officials must be answerable for their actions.
Examples:
 Portugal’s Health Minister resigned after a tourist ’s death due to
service closure.
PM Modi supported ISRO scientists after Chandrayaan-2 failure.
Vikram Sarabhai accepted ISRO’s first mission failure instead of
blaming Kalam.

Openness & Honesty

Officials must be as transparent as possible and declare private
interests.
Example: “Honesty is the fastest way to prevent a mistake from
becoming a failure.”

Loyalty to Organization
Examples:

Doctors & frontline workers’ dedication during COVID-19.

Taj Hotel staff during 26/11 attacks risking their lives to save guests.

Spirit of Service

Examples:

Poonam Nautiyal, Uttarakhand healthcare worker, walked 8–10 km to

vaccinate the elderly and vulnerable.
Collector Bro initiative in Kerala: cleaning ponds, feeding hungry,
rebuilding lives after floods.

Fairness & Justice

Examples:

Justice H.R. Khanna’s judgment during the Emergency.

A judge imposing equal fine on rich & poor may be objective, but
fairness requires considering context.

Philosophical Anchors
Bhagavad Gita: Nishkam Karma – selfless duty.
M.K. Gandhi: Service to the vulnerable as true service.
Swami Vivekananda: Service to man is service to God.
Immanuel Kant: Moral duty guided by conscience.
 HUMAN VALUES

ETHICS EXCELLENCE
KARMAYOGI IAS ADITYA SIR
PROGRAM

Values – Meaning
Derived from Latin word “valere” → to be of worth, strong, precious.
Values = set of standards, rules, beliefs, or guidelines for behaviour.
They shape attitudes, choices, relationships, and vision.
Dewey: Value means to price, to esteem, to appraise, to estimate.
Milton Rokeach: A value is an enduring belief about a preferable
mode of conduct or end-state of existence.

Importance of Values
Give meaning and strength to character.
Reflect personal attitudes, judgements, and relationships.
Influence thoughts, feelings, and actions → guide us to do right.
Provide direction and firmness in life; shape identity.
As Einstein said: “ Try not to become a man of success but try to
become a man of values.”

Key Differences between Ethics and Values

 Aspect Ethics Values

Meaning Guidelines for Principles and ideals

conduct, addressing guiding judgments of
questions of morality what is more
important

Application Mostly professional Mostly personal

Consistency Generally constant, Varies widely person

less variation to person

Influenced by Profession, Family, religion,

institution, culture, society
organization

Types 3 main branches: Many types: Moral ,

Meta-Ethics, Applied Religious, Social ,
Ethics, Normative Aesthetic values, etc.
Ethics

Role Constrains negative Motivates positive

behaviour behaviour in chosen
areas

Examples Integrity, loyalty, Prejudice,

punctuality, honesty judgement,
perspective, dislike

Classification of Values
Personal Values – Principles and ideologies an individual follows in
personal life.
Universal Values – Principles expected to be followed by all people
across the world.
Human Values – Basic principles essential to human nature for a
smooth and happy life.
Religious Values – Beliefs and principles derived from religion,
guiding choices between good and bad.
Civic Values – Principles that guide citizens in their rights, duties,
and responsibilities.
Sources of Values
Family – The primary and most important source. Parents’ nurturing,
education, and upbringing shape a child’s personality and values.
Society – Schools, colleges, religious, economic, and political groups
influence manners, discipline, and broader value systems.
Personal Factors – Intelligence, education, and ability strongly
determine how quickly one learns and adopts values.
Culture – Norms, customs, rituals, and traditions that society
accepts as absolute; resistant to change.
Religion – Provides a set of values and traditions guiding daily
behaviour and decisions about right and wrong.
Life Experiences – Lessons learned from personal and others’
experiences; usually long-lasting and deeply rooted.
Role Demands – Each role in life or work has expected behaviours;
individuals adopt organisational or social values to survive and
grow.
Constitution – National constitutions (e.g., Indian Constitution)
enshrine core values such as Justice, Liberty, Equality, and
Fraternity.

Role of Families in the Formation of Human Values

Home as First School – Parents are the first teachers; children
develop through non-formal education at home.

How Parents Shape Values

Observations
Children closely watch parents and imitate their values.
Ex: Learning mother tongue, food habits, dressing, rituals.
Conditioning
Rewards strengthen values, punishments weaken them.
Ex: Reward for studying, discouragement for excessive gaming.
Customs & Traditions
Family traditions discipline and organize behaviour.
Ex: Patriarchal practices influencing children’s mindset.
Integration into Society
Families teach values aligned with social norms.
Ex: Tolerance, compassion, respect for others’ beliefs.
Emotional Experience
Secure family bonds build trust and positivity.
Ex: Encouraging children through good reading habits.
Democratic Decision-Making
Participation in family decisions fosters equality and fairness.
 Ex: Treating all members equally, rotating food preferences.

Role of Education in Value Formation

Inspiring Quotes

“Intelligence plus character — that is the true goal of education.” –

Martin Luther King
“Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make
man a cleverer devil .” – C.S. Lewis
“If a man carefully cultivates values in his conduct, he may still err a
little but he won’t be far from the standard of truth.” – Confucius
“Destiny of a nation is shaped in her classroom.”
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam:
“ The aim of the teacher should be to build character; human
values enhance learning capacity and build confidence to
innovate and create.”
“If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of
beautiful minds, I strongly feel the key societal members who can
make a difference are the father, the mother and the teacher.”

Role of School
Formal agency of socialization (enters child’s life at 4–5 years).
Bridge between family & society, preparing child for adult life.

Agents in Value Development

Teacher ’s efforts → imparting values to disciples.
Curriculum & extracurricular activities.
 Unbiased treatment & impartiality.
Ex: Ramananda enrolling disciples from all castes; Kabir, Surdas
spreading inclusivity.

Values through Learning

Patriotism via freedom fighter stories.
Societal values via Panchtantra.
Scientific temperament via inquisitive syllabus.
Cultural values: Yoga, Ayurveda, meditation.
Teamwork, tolerance, patience via sports.
Hard work & punctuality (Ex: Chanakya, Chandragupta).
Rational , objective thinking (Ex: H.C. Verma).

Education Policy & Global Practices

NEP: Education as a potent tool for inculcating values.
School introduces child to community beyond family → builds social
regulation.
Japan: First 4 years focus on etiquette & values; children clean
classrooms & toilets.
Netherlands: Early years taught in natural environment; no plastic
in classrooms.
Japan’s NIER model: Twelve moral values like caring, social
responsibility, spirituality, peaceful conflict resolution, equality,
justice, truth, and freedom.

Strengthening the Role of Schools

Syllabus & Textbooks: Must integrate value-based content.
Sports Activities: Promote sportsmanship, team spirit, participation.
Personality Development: Focus on environment protection, unity in
diversity, constitutional morality, Gandhi & philosophers.
Deconstructing Wrong Values: Correct biases like gender, caste,
communalism through rational approach.
Technology & Skill Training: Prepare technocrats to balance
constructive & destructive aspects.
Ex: Awareness of AI & counter-AI technology.

Attitude: Definition, Characteristics, &

Impact on Behavior
 Attitude is a tendency or predisposition to evaluate an object or
symbol of that object in a certain way - Katz and Scotland
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference - Winston
Churchill

Characteristics of Attitude

Learnt: It is learned and is not innate.

Abstract construction: It is a tendency to evaluate things in a
certain way.
Form of expression: It is an expression of favour or disfavour
towards a person, place, thing or event.
Observation: Attitude helps us define how we see situations and
define how we behave toward the situation or object.
Summary of Experience: An attitude is a summary of a person’s
experience; thus, an attitude is grounded in direct experience and
predicts future behaviour more accurately.
Reflect Personality: It includes certain aspects of the personality as
interests, appreciation, and social conduct. It indicates the total of
a man’s inclinations and feelings.
Point of View: An attitude is a point of view, substantiated or
otherwise, true or false, which one holds towards an idea, object, or
person.
Consent: It refers to one’s readiness for doing Work.
Depends on personal aspects: It may be positive or negative and
may be affected by age, position, and education. Influence of
attitude on behaviour
Mutable/ Fluctuating- It can vary from time to time.

Components of Attitude
Attitude Formation

There are the following factors which affect the

formation of Attitude -
Experience: Attitude can form because of direct experience or observation.
Ex. Newly recruited jawans are disciplined by observing fellow colleagues
 Prejudice: An attitude could include prejudice, which occurs when we make
assumptions about a situation before carefully considering all the available
information.
Ex. Media trial post suicide of Susant Rajput before the verdict of the court
Media: It plays a major role in shaping people’s opinions and beliefs. Ex.
Opinion Polls before the election helps in shaping people's opinion.
Direct expierence: Ex. A person who has faced racism in his life develops a
negative attitude towards it eg Mahatma Gandhi was evicted from the train by
a white man making him stand against apartheid policies.
Social Factors: Social institutions like family, region, caste, religion etc. affect
the formation of Attitude.
Ex. Not accepting intercaste marriages, leads to honour killing.
Politicisation of caste i.e. Giving votes to members of the same caste.
Learning institution: Itlays the foundation of understanding and moral values
and hence affects attitude formation.
Role Modelling: People, particularly children, try to emulate the people they
admire, and this includes accepting the attitudes held by these people as
one’s own.
Ex. Children started emulating the action of ‘Shaktiman’ after watching the
serial .

What are the Functions of Attitude?

Knowledge Function:
Attitudes have a knowledge function, which enables individuals to
understand their environment and to be consistent in their ideas
and thinking. Most attitudes serve this basic function in some
measure.
Utilitarian Function:
Attitude helps individuals in maximizing benefits and minimizing
disadvantages while interacting with individuals, groups and
situations in their environment. Utilitarian attitudes lead to
behaviour that optimizes one’s interests.
Performing a Social Role:
Attitudes help perform a social role, helping in an individual’s self-
expression and social interaction.
Subscribing to a given set of attitudes signals one’s identification
with important reference groups to express one’s core values, and
to establish one’s identity. This social role of attitudes is known as
social identity function, it underlies an individual’s desire to
establish his individual and social identity.
Maintain an Individual’s Self-Esteem:
Attitudes can serve as defence mechanisms for handling an
individual’s internal mental conflict which reflect tensions within
the individual psyche.
The defence mechanisms hide an individual’s true motives from
himself or psychologically isolate him from groups perceived as
hostile or threatening.
Attitudes maintain self-esteem in other ways also. An
individual’s attitudes toward many things are influenced by his
view on how they affect his own self-assessment.
For Example: Our attitudes toward our friends and social
acquaintances depend on whether we regard such association as
enhancing or lowering our social standing.
Relationship Between Attitude and Behavior:
Influential Factors
Following factors influences relation between
Attitude & Behaviour:
Qualities of a person – Values like courage, integrity etc.
People who are aware of their feelings display greater attitude
behaviour consistently than those people who rely on situational
questions to decide how to behave.
People with a high level of integrity show high correlation between
Attitude and Behaviour.
People in individual society have more correlation compared to
people in collective society.
Individuals who depend on their own feelings and principles to judge
act much more consistently with their attitudes towards moral issues
than the people who rely on external standards to determine what is
moral .
Qualities of attitude – Strong and weak attitude show high and low
correlation between attitude and behaviour.
Attitude accessibility – Attitudes which are acted upon on a regular
basis are more accessible from memory. Such attitudes show higher
correlation with behaviour.
Situation:
Norms or belief about how one should or is expected to behave in a
given situation can exert a powerful influence on behaviour.
Time pressure results in behaviour as per attitude
Survival instincts dominate attitude.

Steps To Increase Correlation Between Attitude And

Behaviour
Development of emotional intelligence.
Introspection
Attitude literacy – learn what attitudes are. Identify your good and
bad attitudes.
Connecting with conscience – try to understand the reasons behind
holding a particular attitude.
Developing values of integrity and truthfulness.
Discovering ways to motivate yourself.
 See change as an opportunity to grow.
Seeing criticism as an feedback and opportunity to achieve
excellence.

How do Attitude Influence Behaviour?

Positive Attitude:
A person who has positive attitudes towards work and co-
workers (such as contentment, friendliness, etc.) can positively
influence those around them.
Example: People with a good attitude are active and productive
and do what they can to improve the mood of those around
them.
Negative Attitudes:
A person who displays negative attitudes (such as
discontentment, boredom, etc.), will behave accordingly.
Example: People with these types of attitudes towards work
may likewise affect those around them and behave in a manner
that reduces efficiency and effectiveness.
Selfish Attitude:
It will guide an individual's actions in a selfish manner.
Example: Holding one's self-interest as the standard for decision
making.
Logic or Rational Attitudes:
It develops rational behaviour.
Example: A rational person will not act superstitiously and will
always try to find rational behind any act.
Egoistic Attitude:
It will result in a negative attitude and behaviour.
Example: Elder individuals control their younger siblings even if
they are wrong to satisfy their ego of being elder.
Attitude based on Values and Beliefs:
It will act according to the values.
Example: In India touching the feet of elders is guided by an
attitude of giving respect to them.
Moral Attitude
It is based on moral convictions of what is right and what is wrong. Family,
society, religion and education play an essential role in framing those moral
convictions.
All attitudes are not associated with Moral attitudes. Ex. Attitude towards
Cricket matches has nothing to do with morality.

Characteristics of Moral Attitude

Reverence: This attitude takes the highest rank in terms of deriving moral
attitude, it stands for respecting things, actions or situations. Ex: Standing up
in attention at times of National songs played in the theatre.
Faithfulness: It is required when the sanctity of the human being needs to be
weighed and measured. Ex. Husband shows faithfulness when getting married
and even after that till they exist.
Veracity: It conveys sincerity, loyalty, and a sense of accountability. A lack of
honesty makes a person's personality crippled.
Ex. Pakistan has lost veracity after failing to curb cross-border terrorism
despite multiple assurances.
Goodness: It emanates from an intentional act of love. It is the fundamental
mindset that facilitates practising generosity and charity.

Political Attitude
It refers to the emotional set with which an individual approach a political
issue and which determines his line of conduct towards the issues.
It can be learned. Ex. Radical , liberal , progressive, conservative or reactionary
etc.
Factors Affecting Political Attitude

Religion: Many people cast their votes based on religious biases. Religion
shapes our moral attitude which in turn shapes Political attitude.
Ex. People supported a Party which declared to prohibit same-sex marriage as
it was against religious belief
Economic Status: Middle class adhere to the capitalist system ideology,
whereas the poor adhere to the socialistic ideology.
Ex. Socialist people cast their votes for parties that promise freebies and
subsidised services.
Education: The political ideologies are significantly shaped by the curriculum
and philosophy of the school .
Ex. Military schools imbibe nationalist ideology among students from the
beginning
Social Media: Social media has emerged as a key propaganda tool which
affects people's political ideas.
Ex. Twitter and Instagram following guides political attitudes of youth
Family: It helps to inculcate political ideology in their children.
Ex. Discussion on the political topic in family shapes the political attitude of
kids
Age: New generation like privacy, an independent lifestyle and liberal
thoughts whereas old-generation people show rigidity in their thoughts.
Ex. New-gen youngsters support that candidate who promises individuality
and freedom

Importance of Political Attitude

Influence Political process: It determines how individuals engage in politics,

who they support and which political parties they vote for.
Ex. People having Liberal political attitudes favour parties based on liberal
thoughts.
Represents Moral Attitude:Religion shapes our moral attitude which in turn
shapes Political attitude.
Ex. People develop moral attitude against living in relationships and support
party which upholds their ideas.
Determines values of Society: Societal values like service to the needy, and
empowering the marginalized are evolved through political attitude.

Ex. During COVID people came forward to support people by

emulating their leaders
Enforce Ethics in Politics: Positive political attitudes like tolerance,
nationalism, and social service reinforce ethics in politics.

Democratic Attitude
 The attitude of authority that promotes people's participation in decision-
making is called Democratic Attitude.
Compassion, tolerance, and inclusiveness are prioritized more than rules and
restrictions.
Merits of Democratic Attitude
Strengthen democracy: Decision is based on the majority and hence
strengthens the democratic system at the grass root level . Ex. Framing of
legislation by including civil society
Accountable system: Authority is accountable to the public for their work. Ex.
Cooperative society accountable to its members
Transparency: It promotes characteristics of transparency in working. Ex. All
stakeholders know about the action
Demerits of Democratic Attitude
Delays in execution: Taking everyone on board takes considerable time. Ex.
Electoral process
Barrier in development approach: Every segment of society is tough to
please. Such a mindset might occasionally impede the process of
development.
Ex. Land pooling for infrastructural projects, clearance for Mining activities in
Scheduled areas, because of mandatory consultation under the Forest Act
2006.

Bureaucratic Attitude
It refers to the attitude which precisely complies with norms, rules, and
regulations. It weighs less importance to public opinion and the elected
representatives.
Merits ofBureaucratic Attitude
Adherence to SoP: There is strict compliance with the standard operating
procedure. Ex. The Mock drill before the beginning of voting in an election
Quick decision: It involves less number of stakeholders, and hence a quick
decision is possible. Ex. Army deployment during Disaster
Easy to fix responsibility: Due to the hierarchical nature of the decision-
making process, fixing responsibility is easy. Ex. Departmental punishment for
any guilty
Demerits ofBureaucratic Attitude
Red Tapism: Decisions are not taken on a priority basis. Ex. Pending cases in
courts
Rigid outlook: They are opposed to changes in the system, leading to
stagnation.
Indifference towards common citizen: This attitude shows apathy towards
common people as rule is supreme and not citizens
Aptitude & Foundational Values for Civil
Services

APTITUDE
It is one's ability to learn/acquire new skills. Ex. Start swimming after getting
training
Aptitude is inborn and varies to different degrees in different individuals. Ex.
Virat Kohli has an inborn skill to excel in Cricket.

How is Aptitude Different from Interest, Skill or

Intelligence?

Interest is something that attracts us without the need to have any particular
skill for a thing. A person may be interested in a particular activity, job or
training, but may not have the potential/aptitude to perform well in that
particular area and achieve success. For example, one may have an intense
interest in music, but not enough ability to succeed in a career as a
performer.

Skill is the knowledge or ability to perform a given task with ease and
precision, aptitude on the other hand, it denotes the potential to get skilled if
training is done. While skills are the abilities that can be acquired by way of
reading, observation, practice, and training, aptitude is inborn and unique.
Intelligence is the capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding, and
similar forms of mental activity. It is the ability to learn and apply skills. On
the other hand, aptitude is the specific ability of a person to master a skill .
However, aptitude requires a degree of intelligence to do the job well .
 ATTITUDE
APTITUDE

Aptitude for Civil Services and its Role

Innovation: IAS Rajat Bansal (Chhattisgarh) started “ THINK- B” startup
incubator for helping individuals/ companies to acquire talent to scale up
businesses.
Leadership Skill:Harichandra DM Narayanpet(Telangana) started “ Toilet on
Wheel” to achieve ODF status.
Adaptability:Civil servants need to change as per modern technology. Ex.
SVAMITVAScheme aims to use Drone Surveying
Professionalism: Ex. Debo Na Lebo Na, DM Cacher drops boxes outside all
government officials to stop corruption.
Persuasive Skill:Kisan Naik use to visit the remotest part and persuade
parents to get their children educated.
 Inclusivity:Pawan Kadyan (DM Cooch Bihar) via waste management lucrative
called Nirmal Cooch Bihar focuses on Women’s Mensural Health by providing
sanitary napkins.
Communication Skills: Project Nidaan for better implementation of Central
schemes
Stewardship: Mission Nirmal CoochBihar to segregate Municipal Solid waste
and convert them into VermiCompost from Biodegradable waste

Foundational Values for Civil Services

Values & Foundational Values

Values are long-lasting beliefs that serve as the foundation for an individual
to make a judgement. These preferences illustrate what is significant in a
person's life. Human values are influenced by family, educational institutions,
peers, role models etc.
Ex. Traditional values of Indians are – “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam”, Universal
brotherhood, Atithi Devo Bhava, Toleranceetc.
Foundational values are those that are fundamental in nature, define a civil
servant's core identity, and are necessary to accomplish the objectives, such
as compassion, integrity, etc.
Ex. As per 2nd ARC, foundational values for civil servants are Integrity,
Objectivity, Impartiality, Dedication, Compassion, Neutrality, courage etc.

Need for Foundational Values

 Public Interest:Civil servants should be guided solely by public interest in
their official decision making.
Ex. Smita Sabharwal alsoknown as people’s officers constructed many public
utilities through the program of ‘Fund your city’
Effective Administration:The voids left by the legislation are filled by the
administration and actions of bureaucrats, which improve administration.
[Link] Sheela Nair is known as an administrator par excellence. She is
credited with saving Chennai city from a water crisis.
Uphold Constitutional values:Civil servants are granted extensive and
arbitrary powers, and in the absence of guiding principles, there is a risk that
corruption and the misuse of authority would undermine the goals of the
Constitution.
[Link] like Non-partisanship, Neutrality helps the Election commissioner
to take action against candidates flaunting moral code
Ex. Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar visited areas of post-violence to
entrust confidence among citizens
Shifting priorities:Work domain is being shifted due to a change in the
priorities of work. Foundational values act as a guide to select the most
appropriate work suited for the situation.
Ex. Values like innovation to facilitate DBT instead of subsidised products
(Sugar, kerosene)
Technological evolutions: Frequent use of Artificial intelligence has been
changing technology of objects frequently. Values like adaptability, learning,
innovative approach can help civil servants to adjust as per need.
Ex. Use of AI in criminal tracking, Intelligent Transport system of Mysore

Inculcation of Foundational Values among Civil Servants

Ethical Training: Training on societal values, Personal and professional

valueswill help in the inculcation of foundational [Link] helps to develop
values of tolerance, humanitarianism etc.
Ex. Yoga training, Workshops on administrative and management skills in
Ramayana and Mahabharata
Field Posting: Working in the field among people encourages bureaucrats to
experience the feelings in first-hand.
Ex. Visit of Senior officials on their first posting and observing the changes
made thus far will inculcate emotions and dedication in bureaucrats.
Rules book:Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 and the All-India
Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968 mentions values like integrity and devotion to
duty.
[Link] of conducts from the Rule books may lead to departmental
enquiry and hence civil servants motivate to adhere to foundational values.
Role Modelling: The work of Successful civil servants may be used as a case
study for the newly recruited civil servants. It will help them to imbibe good
practices.
Ex. Waste management and city transport of Indore started by Municipal
Commissioner Manish Singh can be emulated by others
Evolution of Foundational Values among Civil Servants

Rules and Conduct manuals: The Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules of
1964 and the All-India Services (Conduct) Rules of 1968 both make reference
to virtues like loyalty to one's duty and integrity.
Legislative measures:The 2007 Draft Public Service Bill outlined principles
such as
Adherence to the Constitution's ideals, good governance as the main
objective,
Apolitical operation, objectivity, impartiality, accountability, and
transparency in decision-making
Merit-based hiring of civil servants, avoiding wasteful spending, etc.
Committee recommendations:The Second Administrative Reforms
Commission's 10th Report recommended values like the highest standards of
integrity and conduct, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity,
dedication to public service, empathy and compassion towards the weaker
sections, in addition to upholding the spirit of the Constitution.
Adoption of Best practices: Foundational values of civil servants also evolves
with the best practices usedacross the world. Ex.
Foundational values mentioned in Nolan Committee
Basawan Committee report on Civil service reforms
Best practices adopted by NITI Aayog

COMPASSION AND EMPATHY

Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita - A devotee should feel universal
empathy. He will be a perfect yogi, by comparison to his own self, sees the
true equality of all beings, in both their happiness and their distress.
Compassion is at the root of tree called Dharma –HolyBhagavad Gita
The Eightfold path of Lord Buddha tells us to reach out to the weakest and
the poorest in our societies. It is a path to a more sustainable planet.
 Values Definition Features Examples

Antipathy Attempt to cause Negative Authority scolds

suffering & emotions, not a poor person
discomfort to hate lacking
the target group documents for
PMAY, instead of
helping

Apathy Indifference, Absence of Authority ignores

disinterest attachment the poor person,
towards the showing no will
needs of others to address issues

Sympathy Acknowledging Awareness; Authority shows

another ’s pain feeling sorry & concern for the
and providing pity poor person’s
comfort/assuran lack of
ce documents—
shows sympathy

Empathy Placing oneself Experience; Authority

in another ’s putting oneself consoles the
position— in another ’s poor person and
understanding shoes shares in their
their emotions & suffering—shows
experiences empathy

Compassion Empathy plus Action-based; Authority both

desire/action to Empathy + Action shows solidarity
alleviate = Compassion and uses
suffering discretion to
allocate PMAY
fund—shows
compassion

Integrity
2nd RC - Integrity means that civil servants should be guided solely by the
public interest in their official decision-making instead of financial or other
consideration.
“Sheelam Pradhanam Purushe” meaning character, or integrity, is the most
important thing in man. - The Mahabharata
Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know
whether you did it or not. - Oprah Winfrey
“Courage combined with integrity is the foundation of character.” - Brian
Tracy
 There is no integrity without courage and there is no leadership without
integrity.
Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, but knowledge without
integrity is dangerous and dreadful .
Integrity is the practice of being truthful and demonstrating a consistent and
unwavering dedication to ethical and moral excellence.
A person with integrity will always be in harmony in their words, acts, and
thoughts. This builds a person's strong character.
Ex. Swami Vivekananda
It indicates adherence to moral and ethical principles, as well as a code of
ethics and conduct. It is the trait of being trustworthy and possessing high
moral standards.

Examples -

The Great Mahabharata Warrior Karna didn’t compromise with his integrity,
with his principles and sided with Duryodhana despite knowing the fact that
the Pandavas were his own brothers, his own flesh and blood.
Second Covid wave hit street vendors hard but less than 1 in 5 defaulted on
relief loans (Only 17.5%).
If a doctor does not have any integrity, he or she might be strongly influenced
by drug companies that might recommend for getting tests or procedures
which one doesn' t need’.

Significance of Integrity for Civil Servants

Discretionary Power: Civil servants have huge discretion in decision-making.

 Ex. A district Magistrate has the authority of financial approval as well as an
administrative authority
Ensure ethical standards: Civil servants follow of code of conduct and code
of ethics in their actions.
Ex. Doctors adhere to Medical ethics while prescribing medicines or doing the
operation
Sense of justice: A person of integrity does his/her duties with a conscience.
E.g. Policeman ordered to fire on unarmed peaceful protestors. Honest
policemen will obey the order. A policeman of integrity will refuse to fire.
Public trust: Civil servants are the mirror of society, any corruption
associated with them not only tarnishes the image but also breaches the
public trust.
[Link] recent arrest of IAS Chaavi Ranjan by ED defames the image of
bureaucrats.
Importance of good governance: Good governance can only be possible where
integrity is upheld in letter and spirit.
Ex. Countries which are low on the Corruption perception index also perform
poorly in good governance.

Method to Inculcate Integrity

Training: Ethical training can help to uphold integrity while taking decisions.
Ex. Workshops based on ethical practices in the administration of our epics
(The Ramayana, Mahabharata), Kautilya, Yoga etc.
Institutional guidelines: Laws, rules and regulations can help to inculcate
integrity.
Ex. 2nd ARC recommends setting up a code of ethics for all departments of
the government. Similarly, the speaker could monitor the disruption of the
house and publish a report on this.
Random trials:Random officers can be tried to bribe to check their integrity.
Sharing experiences of senior officers: Officers who have upheld integrity in
their careers can be chosen to provide training and guide new officers.
Ex. E. Shreedharan, Rajni Sekhri Sibal , D Subba Rao etc.
Technological intervention: Using of Camera, GPS, monitoring money
transactions, digital transactions, self-declaration etc. can help to promote
Integrity.
Practicing Emotional Intelligence: EI helps to take decisions and practice of
EI can help to take action based on mandate and under the rules and laws.

Honesty
Honesty is defined as " truthfulness," or the absence of deception and fraud,
as well as fair and straightforward behavior.
 Honesty Integrity

It refers to being truthful Being honest consistently and

sticking to moral and ethical codes

Honesty without integrity is possible Integrity without honesty is not

possible

Telling what one thinks is true based Integrity is being honest not only for
on available information and others but also for self-satisfaction
knowledge

Example: You are honest while Integrity means being honest even
driving, stopping at red light, but lack when no one is watching or expecting
integrity if you exceed speed limit
when alone

Impartiality and Non- Partisanship

Impartiality

It asserts that judgments should be based on objective standards rather than

biased or prejudicial .
According to the principle of impartiality, civil servants must make decisions
only on the basis of merit when performing their official duties.
Ex. Judge cannot convict a person based on media trials
Non- Partisanship: It is non – disposition of civil servants towards any
political party/entity, i.e. exhibit political neutrality regardless of his/her own
political thoughts.
Ex. Non alignment Movement, India’s positions on Ukraine war
 Values Impartiality Non-Partisanship

Definition Decisions based on Not siding with any

merit only; fair and group or political party
unbiased

Nature Behaviour in particular Attitude or stance

situations

Examples Kasturirangan report Vidur ’s advice to

limiting economic Drishtrastra in
activities in Western Mahabharata
Ghats to protect maintaining neutrality
ecology

Key Stakeholders People and political Mostly political

executives executives

Advisory Role Advice without fear of Neutral and objective

backlash guidance

Significance of Impartiality

To control disruptions: During riots/arsons impartial decisions of the Civil

servants can control in a short span of time.
Ex. Recent migrant issues in Tamil Nadu were controlled through impartial
views
Team spirit: Impartial value is crucial to build a competitive team.
Ex. Selection of team for International matches
Appraisal of Subordinates: Seniors should uphold an impartial view while
apprising annual performance reports of subordinates.
Ex. Career progression, Recruitment
Assist marginalised society: Thinking about the underprivileged as much as
the wealthy helps to promote equality, liberty, and fraternity.
Ex. Same priority for the rich and the poor in the University.

How to ensure non-partisanship

Professional relations: Maintaining contact only at a professional level with

industrialists, builders, NGOs, politicians etc.
Avoid gift culture: Regulate gifts and pprivileges from stakeholders.
 Transparency: Ensuring transparency via a website for the departments where
all decisions and reasons for taking the decision will be uploaded on a real-
time basis.
Time-bound work: Ensuring accountability by assigning time-bound tasks to
officers and monitoring the progress.
Guidelines issued by the government: In accordance with the Central Civil
Services Conduct Rules, 1964, and the All India Services Conduct Rules, 1968,
civil servants are required to uphold non- partisanship.

Neutrality and Objectivity

Neutrality

Neutrality refers to not being biased in providing facts, feedback, opinions

etc. to the political executives.
Political neutrality deals with the relationship between the civil servants and
the political executives.

Challenges of Neutrality

Lack of independent institutions: There is a lack of independent institutions

for transferring, posting, and other service conditions. As a result, the civil
servants align with one or the other political party to get their favourite
postings and other perks.
Secrecy: Secrecy in official functioning, as a result there develops nexus
between the political executive and civil servants to fulfil their illegitimate
gratifications.
In-service and intra-service rivalry: In each government service, there are
various factions based on language, religion, caste and region. To gain
promotion and perks for their faction, they’d bend to the wills of politicians.
Illegitimate Political agendas: Wrong notion of committed bureaucracy, where
the civil servants try to fulfil the political agenda of a particular political
party.
Election and corruption: Ministers need a lot of money to finance election
campaigns, so they prefer a convenient subordinate. Many don’t like an
officer who gives free and frank advice.

Significance of Political Neutrality

Promotes cooperative Federalism: Ex. Roles of Governor

Upheld Constitutional values: Ex. Decisions of the Speaker in the House
Institution integrity: Ex. Chief Secretary giving advice to the Chief Minister
Public trust: Ex. Development works initiated by the Public Representative in
areas where he/she does not have voters
Rule base order: Ex. SP of a city taking action based on rules instead of
political vendetta

Objectivity
 It deals with decisions based on established facts and figures instead of
personal opinion or bias. Objectivity promotes a scientific approach and
rational thinking.
Ex. DGCA gives clearance to flights based on a checklist instead of years of
operations.

SIGNIFICANCE

Consensus building among stakeholders. Ex. Wearing of Mask during Covid -

19
Minimise interference of emotions in decision-making. Ex. Selection of
candidate for election.
Corruption-free appointment: It facilitatesimpartiality and integrity among
personnel .[Link]-based recruitment
Accelerate the process, as litigation is minimised as the decision is facts
based. Ex. Distribution of government benefits, land acquisition for
expressway

Method to Inculcate Objectivity

Training: It ensures that the individual is aware of procedures and updated

with new changes.
[Link] for Tax officers after the implementation of GST
Transparency: It ensures that facts—not whims and fantasies—are used to
make the [Link] to information act
Accountability: Within judicial/administrative procedure, there should be a
mechanism for the appellate board to review the decisions of the authorities.
Ex:Taxation, land acquisition etc.
Critical thinking: It acts as a checklist and facilitates balanced decisions.
 Ex. Lack of critical thinking led to gold hunting by ASI in Uttar Pradesh
Information management system:Decisions could not be taken in the lack of
adequate information.
[Link] Taxation - Honouring the honest platform” to provide fearless
assessment, faceless appeal and taxpayer charter

Tolerance
Tolerance refers to a permissive attitude towards those whose opinions,
practices, religion and nationality, etc., differ from one’s own.
Tolerance accommodates people in society irrespective of their sexual
orientation.
Ex. Acceptance of LGBTQ community

For Examples

Rohingya Persecution in Myanmar &Atrocities, curtailment of rights for

minorities
Communal tensions in Nigeria lead to economic repercussions
Public officials need to be secular in outlook. To do this, the value of
tolerance is necessary.
Ex: All India services call upon civil servants to serve culturally different
people. A Punjabi civil servant may find it difficult to serve in South India if
he does not have aptitude of tolerance
Tolerance also means being open to diverse views which is fundamental in our
constitution.
Ex. The constitution through articles 25 -30 upholds the secular principle
entailed in the preamble accommodating the diversity of different
communities and religions.

Quotes/ Constitutional provisions

We may have different religions, different languages, and different coloured

skin, but we all belong to one human race - Kofi Annan
Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the perfect present for the test
of our civilisation - Mahatma Gandhi

Other Important Values

Courage
Courage is the virtue that enables a person to restrain fear in the face of
danger, difficulty, hardship, or uncertainty. Courage is not the absence of fear,
but the triumph over it.
Ex. Sam Manekshaw during 1971 War.
People with courage may accept harsh repercussions for their deeds.
[Link] disclosure on the corporate governance of MNCs across the
world. Whistle-blowers like Edward Snowden often pay a heavy price for
 disclosures.
Without courage, it is difficult to exhibit traits like leadership which entails
laying out roadmaps for the future amidst uncertainty.
[Link] youth scolding Ex-army chief of Pakistan Paris
Non-violence of Gandhiji against the oppressive colonial regime
It motivates people to make certain decisions and try things they have never
done before.
[Link] made by Angel investors in new-era tech startups
Without courage, a number of personal , social , and professional achievements
are impossible.
Ex. Raja Rammohan Roy would not have battled Sati if he lacked bravery.
Courage is more than just heroic acts of violence. Life provides daily
opportunities and instances of courageous acts like
Director, of Primary Education Rajuni Sibal withstood pressure from the
government and exposed the JBT recruitment scam
Raising voices against injustice, and supporting cleanliness in public places.

Prudence
Prudence is the ability to govern one’s behaviour by the use of reason,
insight, wisdom and knowledge.
Ex. Recent, RBI monetary policy decision to halt the increase in rate as
inflation is coming down
Fact-check any information before taking action
It is often associated with wisdom, insight and knowledge. Prudence avoids
extreme actions and focuses on a middle path as suggested by Buddhism.
Ex. During Covid -19, when people were losing their jobs and getting impacted
by severe pay cuts, IAS Dr Adarsh used the time to generate for migrants
returning to their homes.

Relevance for Civil Servants

Prudence is the mother of all virtues. It is essential for directing and
controlling the other virtues.
Prudence is care, caution and good judgement as well as wisdom in looking
[Link].
Strengthening of the embankment before the onset of Monsoon in Kosi areas
by the Dm of the district
IAS Shalini Agarwal tackled the Varsha Kal Nidhi scheme to tackle the
shortage of water by an ingenious solution of setting up rainwater harvesting.

Temperance
It is described as voluntary self-control or restraint. This involves Restraining
oneself –
From retaliation tofollowing forgiveness and nonviolence
[Link] advocates always choosing the middle course
 From arrogance to adhere modesty and humility
Ex. Dhoni’s response after winning the IPL titles five times
From extreme rage to desire for something and maintaining composure and
self-control
Ex. Response of Police during farmers’ Protest

Confidentiality
It refers to retaining or keeping secret certain facts and matters from the
public eyesight in the interest of the larger public interest. Ex.
Caste data of Socio - Economic Census has not been made public to avoid
division of society on region, caste, religion base
Preparation of Annual budget

Factors Privacy Confidentiality

About The principle of not A state where it is

being interrupted or intended or expected
invaded by the public. from someone to keep
information secret.

Relates to A person’s right to Information entrusted

personal space and to someone that must
autonomy. be kept secret.

Access Restriction Restricts public from Prevents unauthorized

accessing personal access to sensitive
details. information.

Examples Breach of personal data Confidential report on

fromZivamecompany, Balasore Rail accident
Data theft by Safety commissioner.
fromCoWINplatform.

Essential for Medical reports, public Chat messages, cabinet

bathrooms, changing decisions, doctor-
rooms, personal data on patient relationship,
mobile/laptops. bank details,Aadharcard
data provided to UIDAI.
Emotional Intelligence-Concepts, and their Utilities
and Application in Administration and Governance

Understanding Emotions and Their Role in Emotional

Intelligence
Emotions are often defined as strong feelings, either positive or negative,
directed at someone or something. For instance, happiness, sadness, fear,
disgust, wrath, surprise, and so on. There are 3 vital elements of emotions:

Emotional Intelligence is defined as the ability to understand our own

emotions and other ’s emotions and use them constructively to guide
one’s thinking and actions.

" The term was coined by two researchers – Peter Salovey and John Mayer in
1990. However, it was popularized by Daniel Goleman’s book ‘Emotional
Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ’ in 1996.

Quotes Highlighting Emotional Intelligence

Anyone can become angry —that is easy. But to be angry with the right person,
to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right
way —this is not easy. - Aristotle
When dealing with people, remember that you are not dealing with creatures
of logic, but with the creatures of emotion. - Dale Carnegie
Give me that man that is not passion’s slave, and I will wear him in my heart ’s
core. (Hamlet to his friend Horatio)
Self-awareness:

Ability to understand the variety and intensity of one’s own emotions. People
with self-awareness understand their emotions and don’t let their feelings
rule them. They are also willing to take an honest look at themselves. Example
leaving bodily pleasures by Buddha, Gandhi…
Techniques to become self-aware:
Introspection: Examination of one’s conscious thoughts and feelings.
Emotional literacy: Knowing about a different kind of emotion.
Meta-cognition: Introspection of our thinking process if our thinking
process is rational and objective or not. Talking to trusted friends, Regular
feedback at the workplace, Sensitivity training

Self-regulation/management: This involves:

Self-control: managing one’s disruptive impulses.

 Adaptability: handling change with flexibility.
Anybody can become angry, that is easy; but to be angry with the right
person, and to the right degree, and at the right time, and for the right
purpose, and in the right way, that is not within everybody’s power, that is not
easy." —Aristotle

Techniques to regulate emotion:

Engaging one’s senses: Listening to music, going to the gym, reverse-counting.

Yoga and meditation: training the mind to connect with inner selves
Laughing therapy
Use of humour
Feel energized, not angry: Use what others call "anger " to help feel energized
to take productive action.
Avoid people who invalidate you. While this is not always possible, at least try
to spend less time with them, or try not to let them have psychological power
over you.

Internal Motivation: It includes one’s drive to improve and achieve

commitment to one’s goals, initiative, or readiness to act on
opportunities, and optimism and resilience.

Self-motivation is made up of self-drive, commitment, initiative,

optimism, passion, achievement orientation, and the ability to delay
gratification.

Steps to stay motivated:

Defining one’s goal

Having a clear understanding of the ideas
Eliminate distractions
Strive for possibilities

Social awareness:

It includes:
Service orientation: anticipating, recognizing, and meeting other people’s
needs.
Developing others: Understanding the needs of people to progress and
cultivating their abilities.
Understanding opportunities through diverse people.

Steps to develop empathy:

 Listening to others with patience instead of controlling, commanding,
criticising, or judging them.
Role-playing put you in their place and think from their perspective.
Challenging prejudice and stereotypes.
Meeting culturally diverse people.

Social skill or relationship management:

It includes
Communication skills: Modi’s speech after demonetization, Modi’s speech
before announcing the lockdown.
Understanding, acceptance, and Validating feelings of other people: Your
behaviour of consolation after failing your close friend.
Persuasion: convincing the government to fund the space missions by Abdul
Kalam.
Leadership: Modi ji
Cooperation
Collaboration
Developing team capability:
Conflict management: Gandhi ji managed conflict between pro changers (CR
DAS) and no changes (Sardar Patel)

Steps to improve social skills or relationship

management:
Use emotion to make decisions
Respect others
Concerning other people

Benefit of Emotional Intelligence

Performance at workplace: Daniel Goleman asserts that 80% of success at
workplace is due to emotional quotient and 20% due to intelligence quotient.
Physical & mental health: Inability to control stress level may lead to many
serious health problems like high/low blood pressure, suppressed immune
system, speeding up the aging process, anxiety and depression.
Ex. Patience of Diabetics have increased significantly due to overthinking,
haphazard lifestyle
Enhanced relationship & interpersonal skills: Good relations in the personal ,
social and professional sphere and also balance among them.
Ex. India having good relation with Israel , Saudi Arab, Philistine and Iran,
however they have hostile relation in themselves.
Effective conflict management
 Ex. Issues of Naxalism has been controlled by using tools of Emotional
intelligence like social skills, empathy
Enthusiastic work environment: It helps to increased productivity, effective
problem-solving decision making ambient.
Ex. Work culture of new age startups, ISRO’s lab, Google etc.
Higher Creativity: Ex. Country’s top in World Happiness Index also performing
excellent in Innovation index like Iceland, Swedan, Norway etc.

Application of Emotions in Governance

Relationship between different entities of government: Governance is the
way resources are utilized for the development. Relationships are the DNA of
governance and EI is at the core of any relationship. Without people who can
develop trusting relationships with other people, there is no governance.

Ex. Swastaya Swaraj is trying to make good health a reality for the poorest and
most disadvantaged people. It has established model community health
programmes in tribal areas such as the Thuamul Rampur Block of Odisha's
Kalahandi district

Civil service values: Foundational values of empathy & Compassion,

tolerance, impartiality etc requires EI.

Ex. When an angry mob is protesting for justice for a rape victim, a Civil Servant
should be able to get hold of public emotions and should be able to pacify them
with his/her words

Social capital: It refers to the bonds of mutual respect and care among
members of a collective. Social capital allows for reducing the transaction
costs of economic exchange. The higher the level of group emotional
intelligence, higher is the level of social capital .
Good decision making: “power with rather than power over ”. Emotional
intelligence, focuses like a laser beam what is important to us. Without the
signals communicated by emotions, life would be drab, colorless and
meaningless.
Leadership: manager relation: Ex. A civil servant high on emotional
intelligence will be able to solve difficult issues such as IAS Office OP
Choudhary solved the problem of lack of availability of skilled labour with
education initiative ‘Choo Lo Aasman’.

Challenges for the development of Emotional

Intelligence
Work pressure: There is excessive work pressure on the bureaucracy which
leads to development of “do whatever it takes” approach.
Example: Police of a state use to work more than 15 hours per day, which
cause them to become casual for time being.
 Cultural gap: There is also cultural gap between the bureaucracy and public,
which reduces the empathy, understanding of the public among the
bureaucracy and increases the communication gap between them.
Example: Migrant workers come from North Eastern states to Delhi use to feel
gap of communication
Use of technology: Technology is being increasingly used in the
administration now. However, technology lacks emotions and becomes a
hinderance in emotional intelligence.
Example: A girl , Santoshi Kumari from Jharkhand died due to starvation
because of denial of ration as the family’s ration card was not linked with
Aadhar card.
Excessive anonymity and hierarchy: Anonymity is considered the strength of
the bureaucracy. However, excessive anonymity and hierarchy might
sometimes lead to lack of motivation for taking up responsibility.
Example: A government official can refuse to grant PDS benefits to a destitute
(eligible but lacking required documents) by making an excuse over want of
order from higher officials.
Lack of training: Indian bureaucracy is largely trained on the technical part of
the task but not on the emotional intelligence. Also, there is reluctance/red
tapism in changing the curriculum of training.
Ex. Ticket checker (TC) has been provided tablet to update with current
status, but some of them are not adapting themselves

Bhagavad Gita on Emotional Intelligence

It refers to the emotionally intelligent person as a ‘Sthithapragnya’ (the

emotionally stable person).
A ‘Sthithapragnya’, according to Lord Krishna is one who remains
unperturbed in the face of calamity, and takes good or evil with
equanimity.
He has the power to emotionally attach or detach from any situation, at
his will .
 Anger and Forgiveness

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it
at someone else; you are the one who gets burned - Buddha
Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding -
Mahatma Gandhi
All my best ideas were born of anger - Kailash Satyarthi

Examples

(From Ramayana) Forgiveness Trumps Revenge

Ravana went to seek vengeance when Laxman insulted his sister
Surpanakha and abducted Sita. Unfortunately, his need for revenge cost
him his life.
On the other hand, Lord Rama and Sita were forgiving and kind to all .
They even forgave Kaikeyi, the one responsible for sending him into
exile.
Anger brings nothing good - Laxman was impulsive and angry when he cut
off Surpanekha's nose, which led to Ravana wanting revenge for his sister.
Ravana's destruction was also brought about by hasty judgments and ego.
Recent examples of unruly behaviour of passengers on flight including
physical gestures, verbal harassment and unruly inebriation, have shown
short temper and anger of the passengers.

Success Trinity

Creative Quotient (CQ): It is used to assess intelligence’s ability to be

creative and adventurous.
Intelligent Quotient (IQ): This is your mental or reasoning aptitude, as well as
your ability to learn and understand.
Emotional Quotient (EQ): the ability to notice, appraise, and control one's
own and others' emotions.
Examples/ Best Practices

Best Practices
Save life Foundations - Focused on enabling bystander care or community-
driven emergency medical response for road accident victims. As people do
not indulge in these cases for fear of the formalities and police issues, they
have also been working on a supportive legal framework for bystanders to
help the victims of road accidents.
Video Volunteers - An international community media organisation that trains
women and men in developing countries in critical thinking, creative, activist,
and video journalism skills. It facilitates communities to expose
underreported stories and take action to correct the wrongs of poverty,
injustice, and inequality. As a result, it encourages community producers to
speak up and be recognised.
Arth India: Academy for Applied Research and Training in Healthcare in India
is a non-government initiative striving for the attainment of better health of
the community supplementing, and not substituting, the existing and future
government systems and networks in healthcare in India.
NGO CRY - During the lockdown period, CRY’s (Child Rights and You) efforts,
along with its partner NGOs, have been concentrated on reaching all
households as far as possible, with basic health and hygiene kits for the
children and their families.
 Salaam Bombay Foundation has taken up certain initiatives to keep the slum
children engaged, mentally and emotionally while using technology to hone
their skills and create an environment which is positively reinforcing.
Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA), Bangalore, Karnataka CUPA is a
non-profit and non-government organisation.
The Swasth Foundation was founded with the objective of "Health and Joy for
Everyone." The organisation's network of primary healthcare centres offers
low-cost services that cut out-of-pocket expenses for individuals in need by
more than half.
CanKids KidsCan - It is India's first national Charity that works throughout the
entire spectrum of kids cancer care. CanKids' signature programme, YANA (You
Are Not Alone), provides holistic support to a child with cancer from the
moment of diagnosis.
DoctorsForSeva Foundation Arogya (Aarogya Seva) - Aarogya Seva is a
humanitarian volunteer organisation that provides quality healthcare services
to diverse strata of society through micro-volunteering.
MAYA (Movement for Alternatives and Youth Awareness) is a Karnataka-based
non-profit that works to promote a fair society by systematically addressing
issues of livelihood, education, and health. MAYA (Movement for Alternatives
and Youth Awareness) is a Karnataka-based non-profit that works to promote
a fair society by systematically addressing issues of livelihood, education,
and health.

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.
Public Administration is the machinery through which government policies
and programmes are implemented. It is characterized by certain
foundational features that distinguish it from private administration,
including its non-political nature, wide coverage, regulatory functions,
and its vital role in both policy formulation and execution. These
characteristics shape its functioning within a democratic and legal
framework.

Characteristics of Public Administration

Non-Political: It is a non-political public bureaucracy operating in a political
system and it deals with the sovereign will , the public interests and laws
Ex. India’s ambassadors in Nepal supervising the infrastructural projects
initiated by the government of India.
Policy formulation: It is concerned with policy-making as well as policy
execution.
Ex. Recently, 22nd Law Commission of India drafted the UCC code
Coverage: It covers all three branches of the government, although it tends to
be concentrated in the executive branch.
Ex. Speakers, Governors in Legislation, Judicial Officers in Judiciary,
Secretary in Executive
Regulatory service: It provides regulatory and service functions to people to
attain aquality lifestyle.
Ex. FSSAI monitors the food quality and recommends accordingly
Different from Private administration: It differs significantly from private
administration, especially in its emphasis on the public with respect to means
and ends.
Ex. MNC companies largely draft policy for their companies whereas public
administration covers the public at large

Public & Private Administration

Public administration is concerned with government administration whereas
private administration is concerned with the administration of private
business organisations.
Public Administration differsfrom Private Administration on the following
principles.
 Principles Public Administration Examples

Principle of Uniformity Common and uniform CCS Rules, Emoluments

laws and regulations. as per fixed pay matrix

Principle of External Legislative body Finance Ministry

Financial Control controls government prepares a budget every
revenues and year
expenditures.

Principle of Ministerial Accountable to political Cabinet ministers

Responsibility masters and through report to the Prime
them to the people. Minister

Principle of Marginal Business ventures aim Central government

Return for profit, but public provides financial
administration goals assistance to loss-
cannot be measured making BSNL to ensure
monetarily. network connectivity in
remote areas

Need for Ethics in Public Administration

The ethical dimension the Public administration in India isas
important as that of political , legal and financial domains, which
can be summarised as:
Public resource utilisation: Efficient and effective utilisation of resources
with the absence of any kind of corruption provides benefits to citizens.
[Link] practice in the allotment of tender can have avoided the
collapse of the bridge on the Ganga river in Bhagalpur
Social Justice: Ethical public administration is important to achieve the goal
of social justice. It ensures equality and equity for vulnerable sections of the
society.
Ex. 50% reservation in jobs for Women in states like Bihar. SC/STs Act for
Marginalised sections of society Monthly financial support through the
‘Ladli Bahna Scheme’
Resolve dilemma: Ethics ensures priority-based distribution of public goods
whichcould resolve conflicts and dilemmas.
 [Link] to senior citizens and front-line workers for Covid vaccine
accessibility
Decision making: Public administrators take key decisions and when those
decisions are based on objectivity, fairness, justice and above the personal
interest, they yield the required results for the society.
Ex. Government decision to shoot out rioters in Manipur to curb violence
Public trust: Ethical public administration creates confidence and trusts in
the people towards the competence, fairness, honesty, impartiality and
sincerity of the public services.
Ex. Fair exams conducted by UPSC for aspirants, Service provided by DMRC
in Delhi
Social capital: Ethical public administration ensures credibility in the eyes of
the people and ensures civil society cooperation and thus building the social
capital of the country.
Ex. Presence of the railway minister on the site of the accident in Balasore
encouraged all to work hard to open the track for the service before the
scheduled date.
Sarvodaya/Antyodaya: Ethical public administration brings empathy, and
compassion for poor and vulnerable sections of society leading to a better
understanding of societal problems and thus finding their solutions.

Ex. Implementation of Bonded Labour Abolition Act by IAS

officer S. Shankaran in Tripura

Provisions for Inculcating Ethics in Public

Administration
Category Provisions Examples/Details

Legislative Provisions Draft Public Service Patriotism, national

Bill , 2007: Envisions pride, allegiance to
moral behavior from Constitution and law,
civil servants with objectivity, impartiality,
specified values. honesty, diligence,
courtesy, transparency,
absolute integrity.

Conduct Rules Central Services Sets dos and don’ts;

Conduct Rules, 1964 & expects high ethical
All India Service standards, integrity,
Conduct Rules, 1968. honesty, political
neutrality.

Ethical Codes Code of Ethics, 1997: Conflict of interest

First initiative for code rules (e.g., OECD
of ethics for Indian Toolkit), gift receipt
public servants. limits, income/asset
disclosures, pre/post-
employment cooling
periods, anti-bribery &
corruption training,
workshops including
yoga and management
lessons from
Ramayana/Mahabharata
.

World Best Practices Examples from global PepsiCo’s global code

organizations and of conduct, Microsoft ’s
countries. Standards of Business
Conduct, Poland’s anti-
corruption e-learning
platform, OECD
toolkits, Austria’s
integrity training
programs.
Ethical Issues in Public Administration
Misuse of discretionary powers: Public welfare is mainly ignored as
discretionary powers are abused for personal benefit and favouritism in the
administration.

Example:

IAS Pooja Singhal used her power for personal benefit and favouritism
Food Inspector of Kankerordered emptying a reservoir in search of his phone
Undue importance to rules and regulations: Indian administration gives
undue importance to rules and regulations, which leads to red-tapism and
disregard for justice, fairness etc. For Example -
High pendency of cases in courts due to adjournments on various rules &
regulations
Environment clearance for infrastructural projects such asAarey car shed of
the Mumbai Metro
Pensioners to be present in physical for live certificate
Poor reward and punishment mechanism: Reward and punishment are
determined by favouritism and political nexus instead of merit in the
administration.

Example

The practice of appointment of Governor from the ruling party

Selection of Ministers based on social representation instead of performance
Lack of communication: Indian administration is characterised by closed
communication and limited public contact. Rigid hierarchy within the
organisations further hinders communication.

Example

Lack of feedback mechanism from the public to the administration

Civil servants cannot approach media on issues of public interests
Negligence: A public official either does not perform his professional
responsibilities or performs them in a delinquent manner due to a lack of
interestand responsibilities.

Example -

Medical professionals fail to visit health centres in remote places

Cleanliness of coaches in trains are ignored or not monitored appropriately
Corruption: Bribery and corruption are seen as rewards for the performance
of obligatory work and are considered necessary evilsthat grease the wheels
of departments.
Example: India has been ranked 85th in Corruption Perception Index, 2022.
Evasive tendency: Administrators fail to take initiative when faced with a
challenging circumstance, and the issue is avoided by shifting the
 responsibility from one department to another.
Ex. Railway and Electricity Supplier Company have been transferring the
issues at each other regarding the recent incidence of electrocution of a
traveller at the Delhi Railway station.
Patronage: Political patronage plays an important role in the appointment of
administrators, especially at the higher levels.
Example: Post-retirement assignments to senior officials to Regulatory
bodies like NGT, CIC/IC, Membership for Rajya Sabha
Excessive Security: Article 311 of the Constitution provides excessive security
to public servants and this reduces the enforcement of accountability.
Ill-conceived goals: When incentives are given for the achievement of any
goal but they promote a negative behaviour.
Example: The Bank Manager of Utkala Grameen Bank in Odisha insisted on
the physical verification of a 100-year-old lady for withdrawal of money
from Jan Dhan Account.
Nepotism- The practice of nepotism may lead to the downgrading of the
quality of public service.

Example:

Political posts in Regional parties in India

Allotment of a contract to family members
Lack of compassion: Indifference towards the feelings or the inconvenience
of an individual . Example -
Debarring families to get Ration in the absence of proper documents
Cancellation of exam post-paper leak leads to the inconvenience of
students financially as well as mentally
Overvaluing outcomes: It is about giving more importance to the end result
and not to the process.
Ex. Certifying a drug developed by a drug company, even if it has used
unethical means.
Lobbying: Pressure groups raise issues and advocate for their causes. Even
though these requests may not always be in the best interests of the
government or administration in the long run.

For Example:
Ordinance to abandon Farm Bill
Various political parties have given in the demands of loan waivers

Problems of Ethics in Indian Administration

Lack of ethical literacy: It refers to making decisions solely on the basis of rule
books and being unable to comprehend the ethical dilemmas present in any given
circumstance.

Ex. Sarus crane saved by a man in Uttar Pradesh and formed a bond with it,
later officials took it to the wildlife sanctuary
Secrecy: It leads to opaqueness in the working of public administration.
Ex. Official Secret Act prohibit the disclosure of information
Societal pressures: Irrational and unreasonable demands are made upon the
officers by families, relatives, peers and other close ones.
Ex. Undue advantages in government policies, Engage in corruption
Political superiority: Bureaucrats are accountable to their political masters
and they have to abide by their decisions.
Ex. Showing constraint while dealing with mob violence, arson etc.
Lack of grievance redressal mechanism: There should be an organisation
which takes up the issuesof grievance redressal against officials.
Ex. Nordic countries use - External involvement in the investigation of
complaints against the police
Information leaks: Sometimes officials are not able to hold on to sensitive
issuesand the information is leaked into the public domain.

Example

Government policy for giving rebates to apparel sectors, which use to have an
impact on share price
Recommendation of Committee
Cost-cutting of staff etc.
Lack of whistleblower protection: Whistle Blowers are victimized despite the
existence of the Whistle Blower Protection Act, 2014, and there is no
 punishment for any public employee who abuses the complainant.
Ex. Satyendra Dubey, Manjunath were killed for flagging corruption in their
respective departments.
Lack of knowledge of rights: There is also a lack of knowledge of rights among
the public, mainly due to the complexity of administration and also due to the
insular attitude of officials.

Ethical Dilemma in Government and Private Institutions

Ethical dilemmas faced by Public Servants are

Conflict of interest: It is a situation involvingconflict between private interest

and public interest when an individual is in a position of power and trust.

Example -

Judge hearing the case of his own son (CJI SH Kapadia in Vodafone case)
As a district collector, deciding the circle rate of properties where my
ancestral property also lies.
Conflict between National interests vs Interests of Human
Example: India’s practice of abiding with Vasudhaivakutumbakam, on the
other hand, there are Security threats, demographic bulge (more than 1 crore
refugees)
Conflict between personal values and values of public administration -

Example:
 A public servant may be against encounter but go ahead to save lives of
others.
Against the use of Aadhar because of privacy issues but accept to facilitate
DBT
Conflict between professional ethics and Seniors’ order
Example: Bankersare against hair cut of resolution plans but accept the
decisions of insolvency professionals.
Code of conduct versus Gift offered by clients
Example: A Public servant might be of the opinion that small gifts act as a
motivation to perform his/her duty but that is against the code of conduct.
Professional commitment versus public welfare
Example: Taking a strict stand on issues related to corruption could result in
delays in projects, tender allocation etc.

Resolving Ethical Dilemma in Government

Ethical dilemmas can be solved by adhering following processes-

Prioritising public interest: Officials should put the public interest ahead of
their own while taking action.

Example:

Cancel personal trip to manage law and order during Ganpati Utsava in
Mumbai
Bomb squad team save the lives of many by risking their own lives
 Comprehensive evaluation: An ethical dilemma should be resolved by
considering all the options and taking a decision that gives ‘maximum welfare
to maximum people’.

For Example

Compulsory retirement in MTNL & BSNL staff to reduce the cost of the
company and provide cheaper services to consumers.
Merging of government schools to improve efficiency and synergy of
resources
Disinvestment of PSUs like Shipping Corporation and BPCL to get funds for
the development works

Value neutrality: Public employees should avoid biased views

and make choices based on Neutrality.

[Link] speaker of the house should provide opportunities to all members

based on the values of Neutrality
Fusion: fusion of individual , organisational and social goals mitigate ethical
dilemmas as a suitable option leads to all goals.
Ex. Green routes were provided to all ambulances from Balasore Rail
accidents to Hospital at Katak, by halting normal traffic

Rule of law:The rule of law is fundamental to politics and society

in general . Law provides the minimum standard for ethics.

[Link] rules and regulations bring order to city road traffic.

Ethical Issues in Private Institutions

Business ethics are relevant to the behaviour of both individuals
and the entire organization and apply to all facets of business
conduct.

Example: An honest salesman might have to sell a defective

medical product which could affect the patient ’s health.

Ethical Issues
Conflict of interest

A situation in which an entity or individual becomes unreliable because of

clash between personal interests and professional duties.

Example:

UK new policy on Child care will benefit Koru Kids in which Akshata Murty
(wife of UK PM Rishi Sunak) has invested.
Insider trading and manipulation of share prices: People are frequently
compelled to engage in immoral behaviour by excessive market rivalry. Some
employees are poached by companies seeking insider information.
Ex. SEBI held Rakesh Agarwal for insider trading and charged fine
Nepotism and favoritism: Nepotism and favoritism are generally seen in
employment and appointments in an organisation where caste, clan or other
 identities overtake merit. This is also seen in the positions of the board of
directors.
Ex. Chanda Kochar provided undue benefits to NuPower Renewables
Private Limited a company owned by her husband, Deepak Kochhar.
Integrity of audit process: Companies occasionally manipulate their financial
statements in order to appear financially stable and maintain high credit
ratings.
Example: Hindenburg reports for the Adani enterprises flag audit reports of
small firmshired by the group
Monopolistic tendencies: Companies often indulge in monopolistic
tendencies in order to kill the competition in the market.
Example: Deep discounts by Online platforms and new tech companies
Lobbying: Lobbying in some countries is ethical in which companies get
benefits by lobbying the governments. Lobbying in a regulated manner is
often recommended by experts.
Example: Radia tape issues
Cartelisation and manipulation of the market: Private business enterprises
usually involve in cartelisation in order to displace new entrants in the market
or to earn higher profits.

Example

OPEC countries to manipulate the price of Petroleum

Manipulation of prices by Arhartiyas in APMCs

Laws, Rules, Regulations and Conscience as a Source

of Ethical Guidance
Law

Society cannot be made strong by strong laws. For that people with good
character is needed. - Swami Vivekananda
Laws are usually based on an ethical framework and aim to bring social order
while controlling the immoral and unethical behaviour of individuals in
society.

Rules

These are elaborated framework that is usually framed with an aim to bring
simplification, facilitation, convenience etc. in order to guide the behaviour
of individual or organisations.
 Example: Information Technology Act, 2000 is a law and Information
Technology Intermediary Guidelines Rules 2021 are framed to give effect to
the law.

Regulation

It is an attempt of authority to modify the behaviour of an individual and

businesses.
Ex. Biometric Attendance system to avoid late arrival of employees

Difference between Laws and Rules

 Parameter Rules Law

Objective Rules focus on Laws aim to increase

individual good. public good and serve
public interests.

Examples Rules of public parks Law allowing

(entry rules), school compulsory licensing of
activity rules. patents to make generic
cancer drugs
affordable.

Authority Set by individuals or Enacted by sovereign or

organizations. government authorities
(Central/State
governments).

Examples Temple authority rules, Ancient kings or modern

gym timings, IT governments approve
company device laws.
policies.

Flexibility and violation More flexible; lighter Inflexible; carry stiff

consequences. penalties including
imprisonment or death
in some cases.

Examples Not following temple Carrying prohibited

dress code, carrying arms in public, using
plastic bags where old diesel cars in Delhi.
banned, prohibited
photography.

Range Based on narrow Based on broad

technicalities (games principles (child labour
like chess, cricket). protection, women's
safety, taxation).

Laws, Rules and Regulations are a Source of ethical guidance

 Regulate discretionary powers: Public servants have discretionary powers for
governance, and that can be used for personal benefit. Laws, rules and
regulations regulate this power by laying specific ‘dos and don’ts.

Example:

Mandatory audit regulates bank officers to adhere to procedures while

sanctioning loan
Right to appeal to higher courts to regulate the power of Tribunals
Parliamentary procedures like Questions, Motions, and Parliamentary
committees like JPC also limit the discretionary power of executives
Regulate actions: Laws, rules and regulations act as positive and negative
enablers and encourage or prohibit action.
Example: The Prevention of Corruption Act prevents corruption and
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act enables social
audit.
Foster social justice: Social justice is fostered by the laws, rules and
regulations by ensuring equality, Freedom of Expression etc.

Example:

Maternity benefits to women like paid leaves of 24 weeks

Horizontal reservation for specially abled persons (Divyang)
Prevention of Civil Rights Act 1955 prohibit untouchability
Human rights protection: Laws, rules and regulations encourage empathy
towards the needy and thus promote human rights protection.

Example:
Minority Rights provided under the Constitution
Freeing of Bonded labour, providing technical skills to prisoners for their
livelihood post convictions

Limitations of Laws, Rules and Regulations as a Source of ethical

guidance

Lack of enforcement of laws: Laws, rules and regulations demand official

machinery for their enforcement, lack of which might lead to unethical
behaviour by individuals or organisations.
Example: There are laws for the protection of IPRs, but violations of
copyrights, Patents are difficult to enforce
Evasive tendency: Enactment of laws, rules and regulations may not translate
into ethical behaviour from individuals or organisations because of the
tendency of non-compliance.

Example:
 Child marriage in Rajasthan, child labour in line hotels, brick klins, tea
gardens, diamond industry have been continued by evading Children
Protection laws
People avoid fines under Motor Vehicle Amendment Act by carrying their
vehicle by hand.
Finding loopholes: Laws, rules and regulations might not be able to envisage
every possible scenario and therefore people might find loopholes in them.

Example:

Wilful defaulters like Vijay Mallya, Neerav Modi, Mehul Choksi etc. by
tactically used provisions to escape loan payment
Tax evasion by companies by finding loopholes in Income Tax Act.
Loopholes were used to deposit notes of Rs. 2000 and 500 during
“Notebandi”
Negative perception: Some laws, rules and regulations might have negative
perceptions among those who are obliged to perform under them.

Example:

Sedition law is seen from the frame of harassment and political vendetta.
Corporate Social Responsibility is perceived as an additional tax by some
corporate.
Lack of social maturity: Laws, rules and regulations might have good
intentions but society might not be mature enough to accept them.

Example:

A portion of Muslim society opposes the Triple Talaq law, and some sections
of Hindu society disagrees with the Supreme Court's decision in the
Sabarimala case.
Cultural evils: Laws, rules and regulations cannot always provide protection
against social evils.

Example:
Misuse of the Dowry Act and Domestic Violence provisions to harass family
members of in-laws.
Sexual harassment of women at workplace despite having POSH Act.
The act to prohibit Female infanticide was enacted in the 1870s, however, it
has been continued till now.
Maternity benefit provision also failed to provide facilities like Crèche and
layoffs during pregnancies
In spite of legal provisions for the protection of women but still rape/dowry
cases are witnessed in literate societies like Kerala.

Conclusion
 Hence, laws, rules and regulations are external sources of ethics. However, an
ethical society can be made by ethical conscience.

Conscience as a Source of ethical guidance

Quotes
Conscience without intelligence is blunt and Intelligence without conscience
is numb - Bhagwat Gita
In a law a man is guilty when he violates the rights of others, in Ethics he is
guilty even if he only thinks of doing so. - Immanuel Kant

About

Conscience: It is the inner sense of right or wrong that helps a person make
correct decisions.
It also refers to a person's subjective awareness of their moral sense of
right and wrong, which serves as a behavioural guide.

Example:

Vibhishana listened to his conscience and chose the path of righteousness,

refusing to support his brother in his war against Ram. He was well aware that
his brother Ravana had erred by abducting a married woman.
 Parameter Law Conscience

Conscience Law applies principles Conscience acts within

of morality outside human beings, checking
human beings. the morality of actions.

Example Prohibition of Child A child feeling

Infanticide Act uncomfortable seeing
disrespect shown to a
mother and reacting
emotionally.

Rule Nature Law states a general Conscience provides

rule. practical rules for
specific actions,
applying laws and rules
to them.

Example Child Adoption Rule, Helping injured people

Marriage Registration in an accident.
Rule

Scope Law usually silent about Applicable even when

ethical course of action law is silent about the
but conscience guides ethical course.
beyond that.

Example [Incomplete in source] Supplying food in an

emergency where law
provides no directive.

Strengthening Ethical and Moral Values in

Governance
Ethics and moral values are the foundation of effective governance. They ensure
public officials act with fairness, integrity, and promote the public good. Good
governance goes beyond managing resources or following laws; it requires
upholding ethical standards to build public trust and justice.

Across countries, including India, ethics have become crucial in combating

corruption and nepotism. For example, Infosys co-founder N. R. Narayana Murthy
emphasized transparency in business, while Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of truth
and non-violence laid the groundwork for ethical governance in India.

Strengthening ethics in governance creates equitable, transparent, and

accountable systems. This article explores ethics’ role, challenges, and ways to
foster ethical public administration through examples and best practices.

Key Features of Ethics in Governance

● Integrity: Adherence to moral and ethical principles, ensuring honesty and

fairness.
● Transparency: Openness in decision-making processes, allowing citizens to hold
officials accountable.
● Accountability: Obligation of officials to explain their actions and decisions to
the public.
● Impartiality: Ensuring that decisions are made without favoritism or bias.
● Responsiveness: Being sensitive to the needs and concerns of citizens,
especially marginalized communities.
● Respect for Human Rights: Upholding fundamental rights and freedoms,
ensuring that policies and decisions protect the dignity and well-being of every
individual , especially vulnerable groups.
● Sustainability: Ensuring that government policies and actions promote long-
term benefits for society, the environment, and future generations, balancing
immediate needs with future welfare.

Importance of Ethics and Moral Values in Governance

● Building Public Trust: Citizens are more likely to trust a government that is
transparent and ethical .
● Reducing Corruption: Ethical governance acts as a deterrent to corrupt
practices.
● Improving Service Delivery: Ethical values ensure that resources are allocated
fairly, leading to efficient and equitable public service delivery.
● Enhancing Social Justice: By upholding moral values, governments can address
social inequalities and ensure that vulnerable populations receive adequate
support.
● Encouraging Civic Engagement: Ethical practices encourage citizens to actively
participate in governance, fostering accountability.

Important Dimensions of Strengthening Ethical and

Moral Values in Governance

1. Ethical Leadership

Leaders play a crucial role in setting the tone for ethical behavior in
organizations and governments. Ethical leadership is about demonstrating
integrity, accountability, and a commitment to the public good. Leaders who
uphold strong moral values inspire their teams to act ethically.

Example: E. Sreedharan, known as the “Metro Man” of India, demonstrated ethical

leadership during the Delhi Metro project. His commitment to transparency,
punctuality, and integrity led to the timely completion of the project without cost
overruns or corruption.

Case Study: In Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew’s leadership focused on eradicating

corruption and fostering ethical governance. The result was the transformation of
Singapore into one of the least corrupt countries in the world, with a high
standard of living.

2. Institutional Mechanisms for Ethical Governance

To strengthen ethical values, countries must establish robust institutions that

promote accountability and transparency. These include anti-corruption
agencies, ombudsman offices, and audit mechanisms.

Example:
• Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013: India established these institutions to
investigate corruption among public officials, aiming to enhance accountability.
• Central Vigilance Commission (CVC): This body plays a critical role in curbing
corruption in government offices by investigating unethical practices.

3. Codes of Conduct and Ethics in Public Administration

Having a clear code of conduct helps guide the behavior of public officials. Codes
of ethics outline the expected standards of behavior, promoting integrity and
professionalism.

Example:
• The Civil Services Conduct Rules in India set guidelines for the behavior of
public servants, ensuring they act in the public interest and avoid conflicts of
interest.
• In the UK, the Civil Service Code outlines the core values expected of public
servants, including integrity, honesty, objectivity, and impartiality, which guide
their work and decision-making.

4. Training and Capacity Building

Ethics training for public officials is crucial to reinforce the importance of ethical
behavior in governance. Training programs should include case studies,
workshops, and real-life scenarios to help officials navigate ethical dilemmas.

• Example: Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA):

This institution trains civil servants in ethics, leadership, and public
administration.
• Case Study: In the United States, the Federal Executive Institute provides ethics
training to government leaders, focusing on ethical decision-making and public
service values.

5. Citizen Participation and Social Accountability

Citizen engagement is a powerful tool for strengthening ethics in governance.

Social accountability mechanisms, such as social audits and public hearings,
enable citizens to hold officials accountable.

• Example: Social Audits under MGNREGA have exposed irregularities in the

implementation of rural employment schemes, leading to corrective actions and
ensuring that resources reach the intended beneficiaries.
• Case Study: In Kenya, the Social Accountability Monitoring Program (SAMP)
allows citizens to track public funds and service delivery, leading to improved
infrastructure and reduced corruption.

6. Technology and Digital Tools

Digital platforms can enhance transparency and accountability by providing

citizens with access to information and enabling them to report unethical
behavior.

• Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005: This act empowers Indian citizens to
request information from public authorities, promoting transparency.
• CPGRAMS (Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System): This
online platform allows citizens to file complaints and monitor the resolution of
their grievances, improving responsiveness.

7. Whistleblower Protection

Encouraging whistleblowers to report unethical practices is vital for maintaining

ethical standards. However, without adequate protection, whistleblowers may
face retaliation.

• Example: Whistleblower Protection Act, 2014 was enacted to protect individuals

who expose corruption in the Indian public sector.
• Case Study: The Satyendra Dubey Case highlighted the risks faced by
whistleblowers in India. Dubey, who exposed corruption in the Golden
Quadrilateral project, was tragically murdered, emphasizing the need for stronger
protections.

Challenges to Strengthening Ethical Values in

Governance

● Political Interference: Political influence in administrative matters often leads

to compromised decision-making, undermining ethical governance.

● Weak Implementation of Ethical Codes: While codes of conduct exist, their

enforcement is often inconsistent, reducing their effectiveness.

● Lack of Public Awareness: Many citizens are unaware of their rights and the
mechanisms available to hold officials accountable, limiting the impact of
transparency initiatives like the RTI Act.

● Corruption and Nepotism: Corruption continues to be a significant challenge,

with vested interests hindering reforms aimed at promoting ethical behavior.
● Resistance to Change: There is often resistance from within institutions to
adopt ethical reforms, particularly when it threatens entrenched interests.

● Cultural Factors: Deep-rooted societal norms and practices may sometimes

support unethical behavior, making it challenging to change attitudes and
establish ethical governance.

● Resource Constraints: Limited resources, especially in developing countries,

can hinder the effective implementation of ethics training, oversight mechanisms,
and citizen participation programs.

Measures to Strengthen Ethical and Moral Values in

Governance

● Enhancing Ethics Training and Awareness:

○ Integrate ethics training into the curriculum for civil servants, emphasizing
practical scenarios and case studies.

○ Conduct regular workshops and seminars to reinforce the importance of ethical

behavior.
● Strengthening Institutional Mechanisms:
○ Empower bodies like the Lokpal and CVC with greater autonomy and resources.
○ Establish ethics offices within government departments to provide guidance on
ethical dilemmas.

● Promoting Citizen Engagement:

○ Expand the use of social audits and public hearings to enhance citizen
participation.
○ Encourage community monitoring of public projects to ensure accountability.

● Leveraging Technology for Transparency:

○ Use blockchain technology to improve transparency in public procurement and
prevent data tampering.
○ Expand the reach of digital platforms like CPGRAMS to rural areas to ensure
inclusivity.
● Encouraging Ethical Leadership:
○ Recognize and reward public officials who demonstrate ethical behavior and
transparency in their duties.
○ Promote leaders who act as role models, inspiring their teams to uphold ethical
standards.

● Strengthening Legal Frameworks:

○ Amend the Whistleblower Protection Act to provide better safeguards for
individuals reporting unethical practices.
○ Regularly update the Civil Services Conduct Rules to address emerging ethical
challenges.

● Institutionalizing Ethics Codes:

○ Regularly update and enforce codes of conduct to address emerging ethical
challenges, ensuring public servants act in the public interest.
○ Adapting to new circumstances helps maintain public trust and ensures ethical
behavior in governance.

Conclusion
Strengthening ethical and moral values in governance is essential for ensuring
that public officials act with integrity and prioritize the welfare of citizens. While
India has made significant progress through legal reforms, institutional
mechanisms, and digital platforms, challenges remain. By investing in ethics
training, empowering oversight bodies, and promoting citizen engagement, India
can foster a culture of ethical governance that builds public trust and enhances
social justice.

Ethical governance goes beyond laws—it fosters moral responsibility among

public servants, as demonstrated by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who promoted
integrity and transparency throughout his career. Integrating ethics into
governance makes it not only efficient but also fair, just and accountable.

WHAT IS ACCOUNTABILITY?
• Accountability means being answerable for the tasks assigned.
• Example: If someone selects beneficiaries for a scheme, accountability checks
whether criteria, procedures, timelines, and budgets were followed.

• It requires clear specification of tasks, time frame, and available budget.

• Responsibility must also be clearly defined —
Who is responsible?
Do they have the capacity and resources to perform the task?

• Accountability includes answerability — usually upwards in government (to

seniors in the hierarchy).

• It also includes horizontal accountability — checks and balances across

institutions.
Examples:
– CAG auditing government expenditure
– Finance Ministry oversight mechanisms

WHEN CAN ACCOUNTABILITY BE ASSESSED?

• Tasks must be clearly defined

• Time and budget for completing the task must be concretely laid down
• The responsible person / position / team must be known to everyone
• A clear reporting procedure must exist for progress and completion (usually
upward in the hierarchy)
• A course-correction mechanism must be available to improve performance

Example:
Supplying drinking water in a town is the municipality’s responsibility. But
accountability becomes unclear if there are no defined standards for how much
water and how frequently it should be supplied to qualify as satisfactory service.

Ethical issues in international

relations and funding

Various schools of thought

Liberalism emphasises that the broad ties among states have both made it
difficult to define national interest and decreased the use of military power.
Increasing globalisation, the rapid rise in information technology and the increase
in international trade mean that states can no longer rely on simple power
politics to decide matters.

Idealism is the specific school of liberalism that stresses the need for states to
peruse moral goals and to act ethically in the international arena.
Realism is a simple perspective of state-centred international affairs, which
claims that all states are attempting to enhance their power and that those
governments who can efficiently accumulate such strength will prosper, quickly
transcending the accomplishments of comparatively less compelling states.
According to this theory’s assumption, a nation’s primary goal ought to be self-
preservation, and increasing power has to be a socioeconomic and political
requisite.

Defensive Realism According to this, states tend to act in favour of a balance of

power instead of letting other states develop economic, and military strengths,
and political power because it is perceived as a threat to their security and
interests. According to defensive realism, nations should obtain the proper
measure of power to enable them to survive. They should not, nevertheless, use
their comparative power to try to become hegemonic powers.

Offensive Realism According to offensive realism, nations are prone to rivalry

and conflict because they are self-interested, power-maximizing, and frightened
of other states. Furthermore, it contends that nations are obligated to behave in
this manner to survive in the international system. John Mearsheimer argues that
the international system requires that states maximize their offensive power to
be secure and keep rivals from gaining power at their expense.

Constructivism Its arguments are based on concepts such as discourses,

conventions, identities, and social interaction, which are widely used in
contemporary conversations about a variety of international matters such as
globalization, international human rights, defence policy, and others.
Constructivism believes that the structure of the international system cannot be
uniformly applied to all state relations as it mainly bases the relations and
interactions between countries and their shared understandings as the sources of
conflicts or cooperation. Constructivists view identity as the basis for interests,
institutions, and relations between countries.

Some Ethical Issues at International Level

Human Rights Violations Political interventions frequently lead to Human Rights

Violations. US intervention in Afghanistan, Vietnam etc.

Refugee Issue: European nations are closing their borders to refugees fleeing war-
torn areas India refused to accept Rohingyas.

Climate Change

International Equity Concerns: Countries that are least responsible for

climate change and have the least economic capacity to fight the effects of
climate change are the most affected ones. For example, the Marshall Islands.
 Issue of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities: There are issues in
defining and differentiating the responsibilities between present and future
generations as well as developed and developing countries. Climate Sceptics
don’t consider climate change to be real .

Disarmament Cause of disarmament at the international stage is being promoted

by those states, which have massive reserves of nuclear armaments, missiles etc.
Countries like the USA impose economic and other sanctions on countries like
Iran to prevent them from developing nuclear weapons. How it is ethical for a
country to impose sanctions on others without discarding its weapons?

IPRs The developed countries are depriving the poor countries of accessing new
technologies (even life-saving drugs) by the restrictive clauses of IPRs. It is
essential to determine whether it is justifiable for a country to defend its IPRs on
commercial grounds or should share technology for the greater interest of
humanity.

Global Commons: Global commons are defined as those parts of the planet that
fall outside national jurisdictions and to which all nations have access.
International law identifies four global commons, namely the High Seas, the
Atmosphere, Antarctica and Outer Space. Some of the issues concerning global
commons are as follows

Zoonotic diseases like Covid-19

Greenhouse gas emission Governance and
conservation of Arctic
Overfishing
Accumulation of plastic waste
Accumulation of Space debris

Global Poverty Rise in insensitivity: Global poverty as Kaushik Basu argues largely
remains out of sight for those who are not living it. This enhances insensitivity
amongst the well-off nations. Whom to prioritise? The states being a stakeholder
in the global fight against poverty, face an inherent dilemma, that whether they
should prioritise citizens or non-citizens for the allocation of resources.

Power Asymmetry at United Nations UN is not democratic with Veto power given
to 5 Permanent members. The organisation which is formed to protect democracy
and led by the US and UK which call themselves the defenders of Democracy in
the world are heading the institution in an undemocratic way.

Genocide is a crime against humanity and the world has signed the ‘UN
Convention on Genocide to end this. Even after that, Genocide does happen in
the present world. Some of the notorious genocides include the Jewish Holocaust
in Nazi Germany (1933 to 1945), the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Empire
(1915 to 1923) Rape of Nanking by the Japanese Empire (1937), the Rwandan
Genocide (1994), the Tamil Genocide in Sri Lanka, Rohingya Genocide in Myanmar
etc. Ethical aspects related to this include:

Right, to Protect is vague. As a result, either the international community

acts very late or doesn’t at all against the genocides carried out by the
states.
The international community also faces a dilemma that whether it should
intervene on its own or arm the group so that persecuted section can protect
itself.
The narrow definition of Genocide: The definition excludes targeted political
and social groups. It also excludes indirect acts against an environment that
sustains people and their cultural distinctiveness.

Terrorism:
Most countries of the world are affected by terrorism.
But there are some ethical issues in this, such as Good terrorists vs Bad
terrorists.
States differentiate between Good Terrorists and Bad Terrorists based on
their interests.
This reveals a selective and self-serving approach toward the inhumane
activity of terrorism. For example, Pakistan differentiates between ‘Good
Taliban’ and ‘Bad Taliban’.
States use Terrorism as a tool of foreign policy and indulge in human rights
violations. (eg: Pakistan (supporting LeT, JeM), Iran (supporting Hezbollah).

Issues with World Trade Organisation, IMF & World

Bank:
Western First World Countries have asymmetric voting rights in these bodies.
This asymmetry of voting power negatively affects the interests of the third
world.
For example, the third world is paying the cost for historical wrongs of the
first world in terms of restrictions on their economic development due to fear
of climate change.

Ethics and International Funding

Foreign aid means the transfer of money, goods or technical knowledge, from
developed to under-developed countries.

Why Funding?
Philosophical Explanation Humanitarian Concern: We might have drawn artificial
boundaries to create a nation-state but we belong to the Human race. Historical
Burden: Past Colonial nations like the UK, France etc. developed by exploitation
of other nations in Asia, Africa, South America etc. To compensate for that, they
give grants and soft loans to their earlier colonies Principle of Sacrifice: It is the
duty of the well-off to sacrifice some of their wealth to protect those who can’t
protect themselves.

Economical Explanation Export of Capital: Western Countries have an excess of

capital that need investment in lucrative developing countries.

Types of Aids

Military Aid It is the worst form of aid as it can destabilise the whole region.
The objective of this kind of aid is to garner new military allies or to
strengthen the military capability of their respective allies. Eg: the US used to
give huge Military Assistance to Pakistan.
Technical Assistance It aims at providing technical know-how instead of
equipment and helps in capacity building. It is the least expensive with big
benefits. Eg: Pan African e-Network Project by India in Africa.
Economic Aid These are economic loans given at very nominal interest rates
which are to be repaid over a long time. Such loans can help in the economic
development of a nation by setting up infrastructure.
Humanitarian Assistance Humanitarian aids are the actions designed to save
lives, alleviate suffering and maintain and protect human dignity during and in
the aftermath of emergencies.
Bilateral aid: aid by India to Nepal , Bhutan, and Srilanka
Multilateral aid: aid by WB, IMF, BRICS
Project aid: Salma Dam/bandh in Afghanistan
Voluntary aid: doctors without borders

Issues in International Funding

State vs Non-State Actors:

Through which actors Funding should be done?

State Actor or Non-State Actor.

If funds are given to the Government of Donne Country, most of the time they are
inefficient in spending them.

NGO and UN organisations can utilise the funds more effectively than Govt
Organisations.

But if rich countries give funds directly to Non-State-actors, there is an issue

that erodes the sovereignty of the nation.
Conditions on Funds Most of the funds that developing nations receive have a
large number of conditions attached to them. These include Receiving nations
that can’t use it for their most pressing needs but only on projects which donor
countries or agencies allow. Highly-paid observers have to be hired which makes
the overall cost very expensive. World Bank and IMF Grants come with large
conditions like Opening markets for the world. This can therefore be viewed as a
continuation of colonialism by other means.

Other aspects

The proliferation of Monoculturalism: These programmes are often aimed at

inculcating certain forms of culture and have low regard for indigenous
culture in the targeted nations.
Modern technologies are preserved for for-profit motives and ‘Obsolete
Technologies’ are transferred instead of advanced, to the developing
nations. Corruption: Only one per cent of humanitarian funds reach the
affected population. For Example, It was seen in West Africa during Ebola
Crisis.
Dependency on foreign aid: The state starts to lose its independence and
relies on foreign aid for socio-economic policies.
Indirect benefits to rebel groups: The rebel groups might derive considerable
financial benefits from humanitarian operations by imposing charges on
transports, levying taxes on imports and employees’ salaries, and collecting
rent for warehouses, offices and residences.

Problems in Funding Institutions The key problem of the major funding

institutions of global governance is the unilateralism of Economic powerhouses
like the US, EU, and Japan and the lack of democracy in their working.

Main Problems of Major Funding Institutions

Democratic Deficits: Voting shares are in favour of the US, EU and global
north. Countries like China and India are showing discontent
Global Response to Regional Problems: Response concerning problems of
developing nations is untimely.
Issues of Accountability and Transparency due to large back-door diplomacy.

Limit of Sovereignty

Important ethical concern in International Ethics includes what is the limit of

Sovereignty. When large-scale Ethnic cleansing & Genocide is taking place (eg in
South Sudan or Myanmar), can a country protect its actions in the garb of
sovereignty?

What is the limit of Non-Intervention by the

International Community?
For this, there is an initiative of the UN called the Responsibility to Protect (R2P)
Initiative.

It states that Nations have sovereignty but are subject to Human Rights. If human
rights are violated, then International Community can unilaterally act against that
nation.

The idea was invented in the aftermath of the Nazi execution of the Jews to
protect such crimes from happening which ‘shocked the conscience of mankind’.

But weaker and smaller states fear that the garb of Responsibility to protect
developed nations will undermine their sovereignty.

Just War Theory

What is a valid justification to start the war, if war has started which+

which type of actions are justified during the war and what are the steps that the
country should take after the war?

Components of Just War Theory

Jus ad Bellum (just recourse to war)

Jus in Bello (Just conduct in war)
Post-war

Principles of Jus ad Bellum (Just Recourse to War)

Last resort: All non-violent options must have been exhausted

Just cause: The purpose of war is to redress a wrong
Legitimate authority: Lawfully constituted government of a sovereign state
can declare war, rather than a private individual or group.
Right intention: War must be prosecuted on morally acceptable aims rather
than revenge
Reasonable prospect of success: War should not be fought in a hopeless
cause
Proportionality: Any response to an attack should be measured and
proportionate.

Principles of Jus in Bello (Just Conduct in War)

Discrimination: Force must be directed at military targets only because

civilians or non-combatants are innocent.
Proportionality: Force should be proportional .
Humanity: Force must not be directed ever against enemy personnel if they
are captured, wounded or under control (prisoners of war).

Post War
 Reconstruction: Post-war reconstruction should also be done.
Reconciliation: There should be efforts of reconciliation after the war is over.

It should be noted that the theory is not intended to justify wars but to prevent
them, by showing that going to war except in certain limited circumstances is
wrong, and thus motivate states to find other ways of resolving conflicts.
Similarly, Mahabharata outlines the principles and contours of the conduct of a
just war. Some rules propounded were armies were allowed to collect bodies,
personnel could meet for negotiations etc.

Ethical Issues Around Nuclear-Weapons

Nuclear weapons have the potential to destroy the entire ecosystem of the
planet. However, a handful of states insist that these weapons provide unique
security benefits, but reserve the sole right to possess them.

Hence, the possession of nuclear weapons leads to numerous moral and ethical
dilemmas.

Benefits

The fact that there has not been a war between nuclear-armed states due to
fear of mutually assured destruction implies that deterrence has prevented
the aggravation of conflicts. Eg: USSR and the US didn’t fight during the
period of the cold war.
It has indirectly saved millions of lives as conventional wars have not
happened. Pakistan and India are less likely to attack each other because both
are nuclear states.
Nuclear statesmanship: Possession of nuclear weapons engenders a sense of
responsibility and a strong bias against adventurism.

Against

The first question is whether nuclear weapons are moral or immoral in

themselves. According to ethical theories, since morality cannot be attributed
to non-human things, hence nuclear weapons in themselves are neither evil
nor good. The question of Morality comes when it goes into the hands of the
person who will use it. Till Nuclear Weapons are available, there is always a
possibility that Terrorists can get hold of them and use them.
According to proponents of nuclear weapons, these weapons create
deterrence and stabilize the world order.
From the utilitarian perspective, while nuclear weapons give a sense of
security to the nations, which possess them, they instil fear of destruction in
the mind of billions. Even the citizens of nuclear-armed states cannot be sure
of their safety. Hence, on the touchstone of ‘maximum good to maximum
people’ nuclear weapons falter.
 Similarly from a deontological perspective, which believes that the means to
achieve peace should also be pure. Means to avoid war should not be fear of
destruction but values of humanity, peaceful co-existence etc
Another dimension could be whether the money used for the production of
nuclear weapons can be put to better use. Spending on social upliftment is
more moral than spending on weapons
The possibility that nuclear-armed states may go rogue, collapse, or fail to
prevent their arsenal from falling into the hands of terrorists, cannot be
ignored.
Hence, it can be concluded that although the deterrent effect of nuclear
weapons worked during the bipolar ‘first nuclear age’, it is far less reliable in
the less stable, multi-polar circumstances of the ‘second nuclear age’.

Asylum

The response of countries to asylum seekers has been xenophobic. Afghanis,

Tunisians, Libyans, Syrians, Rohingyas etc.

Arguments Against Giving Asylum

It leads to draining the (scarce) economic resources of the country.

Giving asylum leads to fear of job loss.

It also leads to the entry of extremist elements into the country. For instance, the
Indian government fears that a large number of Rohingya coming to India makes
India prone to Islamic extremism and terrorism.

Rebirth of Extreme Right-Wingers Playing on Xenophobia. For example, far-right

political parties such as Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Germany and National
Rally in France are gaining ground playing on this card.

Arguments in Favour of Giving Asylum

Every human being has an equal right to the resources of the earth.

The principle of non-refoulment (to which a large number of countries except

India are signatories) states that no one should be returned to a country where
they would face torture, cruelty or any other irreparable harm.

India’s Contribution to Ethics in International

Relations
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Peaceful Coexistence: Sovereignty, non-
aggression, and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
 India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, was a
founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in 1961.
Example: India’s role in mediating conflicts, such as the Korean War (1950-
53) and the Suez Crisis (1956), showcased its commitment to peace and
neutrality.
Panchsheel: The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence
India, along with China, introduced the Panchsheel principles in 1954,
which became a cornerstone of ethical international relations.
Mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Mutual non-aggression.
Mutual non-interference in internal affairs.
Equality and mutual benefit.
Peaceful coexistence.
Example: Panchsheel influenced the Bandung Conference (1955) and
became a guiding framework for many newly independent nations.
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: The idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, drawn from
Indian philosophy, envisions the world as a single family, emphasizing global
cooperation and ethical diplomacy.
Example: India’s G20 Presidency (2023) was themed “One Earth, One
Family, One Future”, focusing on inclusive development and ethical
international cooperation.
India’s Vaccine Maitri Initiative (2021) provided COVID-19 vaccines to
over 100 countries, prioritizing humanitarian ethics.
Advocacy for Decolonization and Anti-Racism: Justice, equality, and the right
to self-determination.
India was a vocal advocate for the decolonization of Asia, Africa, and Latin
America, supporting the right to self-determination for colonized nations.
Example: India supported independence movements in countries like
Indonesia, South Africa, and Namibia, and played a key role in the UN’s
efforts to end apartheid in South Africa.
Ethical Foreign Policy and Soft Power
India’s foreign policy has been guided by ethical principles such as non-
violence (ahimsa), tolerance, and mutual respect, which are rooted in its
ancient philosophical traditions.
Example: India’s use of soft power, including yoga, Bollywood, and its
democratic values, has enhanced its global influence and promoted ethical
principles.
Article 51: Constitutional Commitment to Global Ethics
Article 51 of the Indian Constitution (Directive Principles of State Policy)
directs the state to:
Promote international peace and security.
Maintain just and honorable relations between nations.
Foster respect for international law.
Encourage settlement of disputes through arbitration.
Example: India’s strong advocacy for UN reforms reflects its constitutional
commitment to fair global governance.
 No First Use (NFU) Doctrine: India follows a “No First Use” (NFU) nuclear
policy, ensuring that nuclear weapons are used only for self-defense.
Example: India is a responsible nuclear power, committed to non-
proliferation and global disarmament discussions at the UN.

Key Sources of International Ethics

Philosophical and Religious Traditions: Ethical principles in international
relations are influenced by philosophy and religious teachings that advocate
justice, peace, and human dignity.
Kant ’s Categorical Imperative: Emphasizes moral duties and universal
ethics in diplomacy.
International Law and Treaties: Legal frameworks establish binding ethical
guidelines for nations.
Geneva Conventions (1949): Sets ethical standards for war conduct.
Global Institutions and Organizations: International organizations shape
ethical norms by setting global standards and enforcing laws.
World Health Organization (WHO): Ensures global health equity and ethics
in medicine.
Customary International Practices: Ethical behavior in global relations is
often based on established traditions and diplomatic norms.
Diplomatic Immunity: Protects foreign diplomats under international
norms.
Human Rights Declarations and Ethical Frameworks: Ethical norms in
international relations are derived from human rights frameworks.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948): Defines global human rights
standards.
Public Opinion and Civil Society Movements: Global ethics are influenced by
NGOs, media, and grassroots movements that advocate for justice and
accountability.
Global Protests Against War and Genocide: Influence diplomatic decisions
(e.g., anti-Iraq war protests in 2003).
 Promoting Sustainable Development through
International Ethics
Upholding Human Rights: Ensuring non-discrimination and equality
promotes inclusive and sustainable development.
Example: Providing quality education without discrimination aligns with
SDG 4 (Quality Education).
Environmental Stewardship: Ethical principles of sustainability, such as
reducing carbon emissions and preserving biodiversity, contribute to SDG
13 (Climate Action) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
Ethical Governance: Promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity
in institutions supports SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
Fair Trade Practices: Adhering to ethical trade practices, including fair
wages and safe working conditions, advances SDG 8 (Decent Work and
Economic Growth).
Gender Equality: Embracing gender equality principles empowers women
and girls, directly contributing to SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
Ethical Investment: Responsible investment channels funds into
sustainable projects, supporting SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and
SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).
Ethical Consumption: Promoting responsible consumption patterns aligns
with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Way Forward for Strengthening Ethics in International

Relations
Strengthening International Legal Mechanisms: Enhance the enforcement
power of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of
Justice (ICJ) to hold violators accountable.
Reform the UN Security Council veto system to prevent political bias in
global conflict resolutions.
Promoting Ethical Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution: Encourage peaceful
negotiations over military interventions through mediation efforts by the UN
and regional bodies.
Strengthen the role of track-II diplomacy (non-governmental conflict
resolution) to promote ethical dialogue.
Ensuring Fair Global Economic Policies: Reform institutions like the IMF and
World Bank to prioritize ethical lending and reduce economic exploitation.
Promote fair trade agreements that benefit developing nations and
prevent debt traps.
Addressing Climate and Environmental Ethics: Ensure that developed
countries fulfill their commitments under the Paris Agreement and Loss and
Damage Fund for climate justice.
 Encourage ethical investment in renewable energy and sustainable
development.
Strengthening Human Rights and Refugee Protections: Ensure the UN Human
Rights Council takes unbiased action against human rights violations.
Strengthen the global refugee protection framework by ensuring equitable
responsibility-sharing among nations.
Encouraging Transparency and Accountability: Implement stricter regulations
to prevent cyber warfare, misinformation, and digital surveillance abuses.
Promote independent watchdogs like NGOs and investigative journalism to
expose global ethical violations.

Conclusion
Ethics in international relations is essential for promoting peace, justice, and
global cooperation. Strengthening international institutions, promoting ethical
diplomacy, and ensuring global accountability can help create a more fair, just,
and sustainable world order.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
What is Corporate Governance?

About:
Corporate governance is the set of rules and processes that guide how a
company is managed and overseen. It's vital for ensuring that businesses
operate ethically and in the best interests of those involved. A primary
goal of corporate governance is to prevent corporate greed and promote
responsible and transparent business practices.
By establishing and enforcing high ethical standards and holding
individuals accountable for their actions, corporate governance serves as a
safeguard against misconduct, protecting the interests of shareholders,
customers, and the wider community.
Principles of Corporate Governance:
Fairness: The board of directors must treat shareholders, employees,
vendors, and communities fairly and with equal consideration.
Transparency: The board should provide timely, accurate, and clear
information about such things as financial performance, conflicts of
interest, and risks to shareholders and other stakeholders.
Risk Management: The board and management must determine risks of all
kinds and how best to control them. They must act on those
 recommendations to manage them. They must inform all relevant parties
about the existence and status of risks.
Responsibility: The board is responsible for the oversight of corporate
matters and management activities.
It must be aware of and support the successful , ongoing performance of
the company. Part of its responsibility is to recruit and hire a Chief
Executive Officer (CEO). It must act in the best interests of a company
and its investors.
Accountability: The board must explain the purpose of a company's
activities and the results of its conduct. It and company leadership are
accountable for the assessment of a company's capacity, potential , and
performance. It must communicate issues of importance to shareholders.

Four Ps of Corporate Governance:

People: This 'P' emphasizes the importance of the individuals involved in
corporate governance, including the board of directors, executives, and
employees. The composition of the board, their skills, independence, and
diversity are crucial factors.
Purpose: Purpose refers to the overarching mission and goals of the
company. Corporate governance ensures that the company's purpose
aligns with ethical standards and is focused on creating long-term value for
shareholders and stakeholders.
 Processes: This 'P' involves the systems and procedures established to
oversee and manage the company. Governance processes include how
decisions are made, how risk is assessed and managed, and how
accountability is maintained.
Practices: Performance in corporate governance relates to the company's
overall success in achieving its goals while adhering to ethical standards.
The governance framework monitors and evaluates the performance of the
company against established benchmarks.

What are the Key Components of Corporate

Governance?
Board of Directors:
Composition and Independence:
The number of directors can vary depending on the size of the company.
The board of directors must have a minimum of three directors if it is a
public company, two directors if it is a private company, and one
director in a one-person company. The maximum number of members a
company can assign as directors is fifteen.
At least one director, who has lived in India for a minimum of 182
calendar days of the previous year, shall be appointed by every
company’s board. It is a mandatory rule.
At least, one woman director must be appointed by the company. All
listed companies must have at least one-third proportion of their board
 of directors as independent directors.
Board Committees:
Board committees are sub-groups of the board of directors that are
formed to focus on specific areas of responsibility. Not every board of
directors has committees, but they are common in larger organisations.
Some of the most common board committees include audit
committees, compensation committees, and nominating committees.
Shareholders and Stakeholders:
Rights and Responsibilities:
Shareholders have the right to vote on important company decisions,
such as electing the board of directors, approving mergers and
acquisitions, and making changes to the company’s articles of
incorporation.
They also have the right to receive dividends and to inspect the
company’s books and records.
Minority Shareholder Protection:
Minority shareholders are shareholders who own less than 50% of a
company’s shares and do not have full control over the corporation.
However, they still have the right to vote and can hold directors and
officers accountable for their actions, which ultimately leads to greater
efficiency and increases financial returns.
Disclosure and Transparency:
Financial Reporting:
Financial reporting is the process of disclosing financial information to
stakeholders. It includes the preparation of financial statements, such
as balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
Financial reporting is governed by various accounting standards, such
as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
Non-Financial Disclosure:
Non-financial disclosure refers to the disclosure of information that is
not directly related to a company’s financial performance. This can
include information about a company’s Environmental , Social , and
Governance (ESG) practices.

What are Environmental , Social and Governance

(ESG) Goals?
 ESG goals are a set of standards for a company’s operations that force
companies to follow better governance, ethical practices, environment-
friendly measures and social responsibility.
Environmental criteria consider how a company performs as a steward of
nature.
Social criteria examine how it manages relationships with employees,
suppliers, customers, and the communities where it operates.
Governance deals with a company’s leadership, executive pay, audits,
internal controls, and shareholder rights.
It focuses on non-financial factors as a metric for guiding investment
decisions wherein increased financial returns is no longer the sole objective
of investors.
Ever since the introduction of the United Nations Principles for Responsible
Investing (UNPRI) in 2006, the ESG framework has been recognised as an
inextricable link of modern-day businesses.
ESG Framework relates to intangible aspects of corporate governance unlike
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) which fufils the tangible aspects
through implementation of projects.
In developing economies like India, CSR is seen as part of corporate
philanthropy in which corporations augment the social development to
support the initiatives of the government and it also synchronises the
concept of good governance with corporate governance.

What is the Regulatory Framework for Corporate

Governance in India?
Evolution of Regulatory Framework:
Regulatory Authorities for Corporate Governance:
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and the Securities and
Exchange Board of India (SEBI) play pivotal roles in overseeing
corporate governance initiatives in India.
Their responsibilities encompass establishing and enforcing regulations
to ensure ethical business practices and safeguard the interests of
stakeholders.
Corporate Governance Regulation:
In the 1990s, SEBI took charge of regulating corporate governance
through key laws such as the Security Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956;
Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992; and the Depositories
Act of 1996, marking a crucial period of regulatory development.
Introduction of Formal Regulatory Framework:
 In a landmark move in 2000, SEBI instituted the first formal regulatory
framework for corporate governance in response to recommendations
from the Kumar Mangalam Birla Committee, 1999.
This initiative aimed to enhance corporate governance standards in
India and laid down guidelines for transparent and accountable business
practices.
Subsequent Governance Initiatives:
Building on these developments, a significant corporate governance
initiative unfolded in 2002 when the Naresh Chandra Committee on
Corporate Audit and Governance extended its recommendations to
address various governance issues.
Notable examples include setting up the Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII), National Foundation for Corporate Governance
(NFCG), and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI),
all working collectively to foster responsible and transparent
corporate practices in the country.
Companies Act, 2013:
Provisions Related to Corporate Governance:
These provisions include greater accountability on companies through
the appointment of Key Managerial Personnel (KMPs), the role of audit
committees, independent audits, stricter regulation of related party
transactions, and restrictions on layers of companies.
Enhanced disclosures are mandated, including through the board’s
report, financial statements, and filings with the Registrar of
Companies, to ensure that all relevant information is available to
investors and regulatory agencies.
Amendments and Updates:
Some of the key amendments include the introduction of the National
Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the National Company Law Appellate
Tribunal (NCLAT) to replace the Company Law Board, the introduction of
the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
The amendment of the definition of “related party” to include entities
holding equity shares of 10% or more in the listed entity either directly
or on a beneficial interest basis.
The Act has also been amended to provide for the appointment of an
independent director in case of a company with a paid-up share capital
of ten crore rupees or more, and the requirement of a special resolution
for the appointment of an auditor.
National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA):
 NFRA is an Indian regulatory body that was established in 2018, under
section 132 of the Companies Act, 2013. The duties of the NFRA include
recommending accounting and auditing policies and standards to be
adopted by companies for approval by the Central Government etc.

What are the Ethical Challenges Associated with

Corporate Governance?
Selection Procedure and Term of Board: The selection of board members and
their term is highly misused in Indian corporate [Link] term of the
board members should be long enough to ensure stability, but not so long
that they become complacent.
For example, the Tata-Mistry fallout in 2016 was due to the disagreement
between Cyrus Mistry and the board of Tata Sons over the appointment of
independent directors.
Performance Evaluation of Directors: The performance evaluation of
directors is a challenging aspect of corporate governance. It helps to identify
areas of improvement and ensure that the board is functioning effectively.
However, the evaluation process should be transparent and objective.
For example, in 2018, SEBI directed listed companies to disclose the
criteria for evaluating the performance of independent directors.
Missing Independence of Directors: In many cases, the independence of
directors is compromised due to their close association with the promoters or
management.
For example, in 2018, the ICICI Bank controversy arose when it was alleged
that the bank ’s CEO had approved a loan to Videocon Industries in
exchange for a quid pro quo deal for her husband.
Removal of Independent Directors: The removal of independent directors is a
serious issue in corporate governance. It is important to ensure that
independent directors are not removed for raising concerns or dissenting
opinions.
For example, in 2018, the board of Fortis Healthcare removed its
independent director after he raised concerns over the company’s
acquisition by IHH Healthcare.
Liability Toward Stakeholders: In many cases, companies prioritize the
interests of their promoters or management over the interests of their
stakeholders.
For example, in 2019, the Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services
(IL&FS) crisis occurred due to the company’s mismanagement and failure to
meet its financial obligations to its stakeholders.
 Founder/Promoter ’s Extensive Role: The role of the founder or promoter in
the company’s governance can be a double-edged sword. While their vision
and leadership can be beneficial , their extensive role can lead to conflicts of
interest and lack of transparency.
For example, in 2019, SEBI directed companies to disclose the reasons for
the appointment of the founder or promoter as the chairman of the board.
Transparency and Data Protection: Lack of transparency and inadequate data
protection are the harmful corporate practices. They should ensure the
protection of sensitive data and information.
For example, in 2018, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directed banks to
ensure the protection of their customers’ data and information.
Business Structure and internal conflicts: The business structure and internal
conflicts are often visible in corporate sector. Companies should have a clear
and well-defined business structure to avoid conflicts of interest. They
should also have mechanisms in place to resolve internal conflicts.
For example, in 2019, the board of IndiGo Airlines had a public spat over
the appointment of its CEO, which led to concerns over the company’s
corporate governance.
Conflict of Interest: The challenge of managers potentially enriching
themselves at the cost of shareholders is a significant issue in corporate
governance.
For example, in 2018, SEBI directed companies to disclose the details of
related party transactions.
Weak Board: Lack of diversity of experience and background represents a
major area of weakness for these boards. Companies should ensure that their
board members have diverse backgrounds and experiences to ensure
effective decision-making.
For example, in 2018, SEBI directed companies to have at least one woman
director on their board.
Insider Trading:
Insider Trading occurs when corporate insiders, such as officers, directors
etc use confidential information to make personal profits. The problem
arises because SEBI lacks a robust investigative mechanism and a vigilant
approach, enabling culprits to escape.

What are the Reforms Needed in Corporate

Governance?
Strengthening Board Independence:
Ensure a balanced board composition with a substantial number of
independent directors who can provide unbiased perspectives.
 Conduct periodic assessments of the board's performance and individual
director effectiveness.
Infosys is often cited as a benchmark for corporate governance in India.
The company has a strong board structure, with a majority of
independent directors.
Enhancing Transparency and Disclosure:
Implement rigorous financial reporting practices to provide stakeholders
with accurate and timely information.
Disclose non-financial information, such as ESG factors, to give a holistic
view of the company's performance.
Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, has a history of
transparency and adherence to governance norms. The removal of Cyrus
Mistry as the Chairman in 2016 and subsequent legal battles highlighted
the group's commitment to governance principles.
Empowering Shareholders:
Encourage the use of proxy advisory services to facilitate informed
shareholder decision-making, especially during critical votes.
Promote shareholder activism to hold the board and management
accountable for their actions.
Effective Risk Management:
Establish a dedicated committee to identify, assess, and manage risks,
ensuring that potential threats to the business are proactively addressed.
Conduct regular risk assessments to stay ahead of emerging risks and
vulnerabilities.
Ethical Conduct and Compliance:
Develop and enforce a comprehensive code of ethics that outlines
expected behavior and ethical standards for all employees and
stakeholders.
Implement a robust whistleblower mechanism to encourage the reporting
of unethical practices without fear of retaliation.
Executive Compensation Policies:
Align executive compensation with the company's performance to ensure
that leaders are motivated to drive sustainable growth.
Clearly disclose executive compensation structures to shareholders,
promoting accountability.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):
Integrate socially responsible practices into business operations and
disclose CSR activities to showcase the company's commitment to broader
societal well-being.
Board Training and Development:
 Provide ongoing training for board members to keep them updated on
industry trends, regulatory changes, and governance best practices.
Develop a robust succession plan for key leadership positions to ensure
continuity and stability.
Regulatory Compliance:
Conduct regular audits to ensure compliance with all relevant laws and
regulations.
Follow established corporate governance codes and guidelines set by
regulatory authorities.
Engagement with Stakeholders:
Foster open communication with stakeholders, including shareholders,
employees, and customers, to build trust and transparency.
Actively seek and consider feedback from stakeholders to address their
concerns and expectations.
Mahindra & Mahindra is known for its commitment to ethical business
conduct and sustainability. The company's governance practices focus
on stakeholder engagement and risk management.

What are Committee Reports and Supreme Court

Judgments on Corporate Governance?
Kotak Panel Report: The panel constituted by SEBI under the chairmanship of
Uday Kotak has suggested a host of changes for improving corporate
governance standards of firms in 2017:
Chairman of the board cannot be the Managing Director/ CEO of the
company.
Boards should have minimum of six directors. Of these 50% should be
independent directors including at least one woman independent director.
Mandate minimum qualification for independent directors and disclose
their relevant skills.
Create a formal channel for sharing of information between the company
and its promoters.
Public sector companies should be governed by listing regulations, not by
the nodal ministries.
Auditors should be penalized if lapses are found.
SEBI should have powers to grant immunity to whistleblowers. Companies
should disclose medium-to-long term business strategy in annual reports.
TK Viswanathan Committee: The recommendations of TK Viswanathan
committee on fair market conduct which submitted its report in 2018 are:
Among a number of recommendations on insider trading, is the creation of
two separate codes of conduct.
 Minimum standards on dealing with insider information by listed
companies.
Standards for market intermediaries and others who are handling price-
sensitive information.
Companies should maintain details of immediate relatives of designated
persons who might deal with sensitive information and of people with
whom the designated person might share a material financial relationship
or who share the same address for a year.
Such information may be maintained by the company in a searchable
electronic format. It may also be shared with the SEBI when sought on a
case-to-case basis.
The committee has recommended direct power for SEBI to tap telephones
and other electronic communication devices. This is to check insider
trading and other frauds.
Currently, SEBI has the power to only ask for call records including
numbers and durations.
Kumar Mangalam Birla Committee Report, 2000:
Some of the key recommendations of the report include:
The separation of the roles of Chairman and CEO.
The appointment of independent directors to the board of directors.
The establishment of an audit committee to oversee financial reporting.
The requirement for companies to disclose their financial and non-
financial performance.
The establishment of a code of conduct for directors and senior
management.
Supreme Court Judgements:
Satyam Computer Services Ltd. Fraud (2009):
Satyam's founder and chairman, Ramalinga Raju, admitted to inflating
the company's financial statements and engaging in accounting fraud.
The Supreme Court's intervention led to a reconstitution of the board
and management of Satyam and highlighted the need for robust
corporate governance mechanisms.
SEBI v. Sahara (2012):
The Sahara case involved a long-standing dispute between SEBI and
Sahara Group regarding the issuance of optionally fully convertible
debentures (OFCDs).
The Supreme Court emphasized the importance of protecting the
interests of investors and ensuring compliance with securities laws. This
judgment had implications for corporate fundraising practices.

Conclusion
Addressing the multifaceted aspects of corporate governance in India requires a
holistic approach involving legal reforms, regulatory enhancements, and a
cultural shift towards ethical business practices. Continuous monitoring and
adaptation to evolving global standards are imperative for sustaining investor
trust and fostering economic growth.

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.

Probity in governance refers to the adherence to the highest

standards of integrity, honesty, and ethical conduct in public life.
It is essential for ensuring trust in public institutions, upholding
the rule of law, and delivering transparent and accountable
governance.

Quotes on Probity in Governance

” No responsibility of government is more fundamental than the responsibility
of maintaining higher standards of ethical behaviour ”: John F Kennedy
“ The purpose of a government is to make it easy for people to do good and
difficult to do evil”. Gladstone
“Rivers do not drink their waters themselves, nor do trees eat their fruit, nor
do the clouds eat the grains raised by them. The wealth of the noble is used
solely for the benefit of others.”

Public Service and Its Role in Probity in Governance

It refers to the goods and services that are available to the general public by
institutions of government. It forms the interface between the citizens and
the administration.
 These services are partially or fully funded by the government.

Example:

Services such as healthcare, education, maintenance of law and order, public

utility etc. are public services provided by the government.

Features of Public Service that Differentiate it from Private

Sector

Essential Services: Services such as water, transport, food etc. are vital for
the existence of community itself.
To Upheld Accountability: Public accountability is the essence of public
services in a democracy.

Ex. Government was blamed for Poor Health conditions during

Covid

Social Goods: Public services are social goods and hence not profit oriented.
It has to maintain the fairness of treatment.
Provided by the organisation: Public services are usually provided by local or
national monopolies institutions, especially in a sector which is natural
monopoly. Ex. law & order, judiciary
Large-scale participation of Administration: Public service is provided by the
administration and works under political direction and scrutiny.
Concept of Probity in Governance (Satyanishtha in Hindi)

Probity is an attribute of having strong knowledge of moral principles,

honesty and decency and integrity (in personal or public relations).
It represents a maximalist approach to life whereby a person adheres to the
best principles and ideals rather than simply avoiding corrupt or dishonest
practices in personal and public relations.
It is regarded as strict adherence to code of ethics.
Example:

When Former Supreme Court Judge Kurian Joseph visited the Vatican for the
canonisation of Mother Teresa. He skipped the dinner that comprised senior
officials of the Italian government to avoid perceived conflict of interest. He
was a member of the bench adjudicating the dispute between India and Italy
over the jurisdiction to try two Italian marines for allegedly shooting two
fishermen off the Kerala coast in 2012.
M. Vishvesvaraya was hard working, efficient, and having qualities of strong
moral principles, honesty and integrity, which were reflected in every sphere
of his activities.

Philosophical Basis for Probity in Governance

 Philosophical Sources/Schools Features

Indian Scriptures Mahabharata, Ramayana,

Arthashastra provide philosophical
guidance for probity.

Chinese Philosophers Confucius, Lao Tse emphasize ethical

governance maxims.

Aristotle Virtues like justice and generosity

benefit individuals and society.

Immanuel Kant Centrality of duty; knowledge of duty

fosters respect for others.

Socrates Advocates for rule by virtuous,

knowledge-seeking individuals.

Machiavelli Realpolitik foundation; ends justify

means.

Thomas Hobbes Social contract theory; all-powerful

state as Leviathan with institutions
subordinate.

Max Weber Separation of office property from

personal property is essential for
probity.

Objectives of Probity in Governance

 Maintain Integrity: Ex. Time-bound corruption-free work in the office
Ensure compliance: Ex. Zero Omission Zero Commission, Police working as per
ethical conduct rule.
Mutual Trust: To maintain public trust in the government's decision-making
process.

Ex. Fulfilment of manifesto by the government before the

election.

Avoid fraud: To avoid the potential for fraud, misconduct and corruption.

Ex. Ensure proper functioning EVM before voting

Equitable and sustainable development: It is an essential requirement for an

efficient and effective system of governance as well as for socio-economic
development.

Ex. Nordic Countries’ governance and quality of Public services

offered by the government
To serve the constitutional cause: Probity in Governance is required to serve
the motto of the Constitution. i.e. to provide Social , Political and economic
justice to all .

Ex. Special Provision for marginal section of the Society like

Divyang, Women Sc/STs etc., Due Process of Law
 Participatory Governance: It helps address nepotism, favouritism, and
Political partisanship. Public repose more trust in governance and therefore it
facilitates participatory governance.

Ex. Law commission has asked feedback from public for Draft
UCC Code

Ensure accountability:

Ex. Compulsory resignation or termination of non performing

officers.

Challenges for Probity in Governance

Lack of implementation of acts: It is the implementation of the law that tests
its effectiveness in addressing problems on the ground.

Example:
Effective implementation of whistleblower act, RTI act
Enforcement of section 5 of the Benami Transactions Act
Colonial legacy: Due to ingrained culture of indiscipline resulting from
colonial legacy of bureaucracy/executive functioning, those in authority can
exercise power in an unchallenged way.

Example:
IPC – 1860, Code of Civil Procedure 1908
Social asymmetries of powers: Nearly 90% of the people work in the
unorganized sector. Such asymmetry of power reduces societal pressure to
conform to ethical behaviour.
Erosion of Values of Institutions: The gross perversion of the Constitution
and democratic institutions amounting to a wilful violation of the oath of
office.

Example:

Most of the Governors are appointed from Ruling Party

CBI and CVC issues escalated by the chiefs of the respective institution
Culture of Corruption ingrained in society: It is unfortunate that corruption
has, for many, become a matter of habit. It is so deeply entrenched that
corruption is now considered a social norm. Greed for Illegitimate Money,
Over Centralisation is some of the reason for the culture of corruption.

Example:

Transparency International Rank

Bridge on the Ganga River Collapsed twice during its construction
 Lack of Transparency in Institutions: Transparency is a cornerstone for
probity. Due to the opaque working ambient in the organisation, it is difficult
to maintain probity in the governance of the Institutions.

Example:

Political Parties are out of the ambit of RTI

Importance of Probity in Governance for Civil

Services
Civil service is the executive branch of the government which
excludes the army and the judiciary.

Unifying nature of the service: Strong binding character and presence

throughout the country.

Example:

Civil servants from All India Services are liable to work across the country.
Policy making: Effective policy making and regulation.

Example:

Draft Bill by the law Commission such as Surrogacy, privacy, Uniform Civil
Code
RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee try to limit inflation within 4+-2%
Coordination: Among government institutions.

Example:

Governor working as linkage between Centre and States

NITI Aayog framing policy across stakeholders and themes
Leadership at different levels of governance.

Example:

Cabinet Secretary
Conflict: Significant role of N Ravi Naga peace talk
Service delivery at the cutting-edge level .
Example: Pota Cabins – Residential Schools started in Bastar regions (the LWE
areas of Chhattisgarh)
Continuity: Provides continuity and change to the administration.

Example: Phenomenal progress in Space technology due to the

contribution of each successor of ISRO over the time period.
 Store house of knowledge: Civil servants work in the field and in various
departments of the government. This helps them in giving effective policy
advice to the ministers.

Example:

Strengthens ethos of democracy: Civil servants are accountable to the public

representatives who in turn are responsible to the people. They carry out the
policies of the elected government and help in the smooth conduct of
elections.
Example: Panchayat Banks – Providing banking services at the Panchayat level
and strengthening the decentralised service delivery
Fulfils constitutional mandate: Helps toimplement social and economic
development programs, ensuring law and order etc.
Example: Andhra Pradesh - CM Office real Time Executive dashboard to
monitor key Performance Indicators

Measures to Strengthen Probity in Governance

Transparency in Governance: Accountability and transparency in governance
can be achieved through digitisation and self-disclosures.

Example:
Practice of evidence-based policymaking as use in Nordic Countries
Availability of Contact numbers of senior servants to Public
Details in Departmental websites
Institutional reforms: Introducing public delivery of service agreements by
executive agencies for ensuring accountability, objectivity and transparency.
This can be achieved through -
Citizen Advisory Boards
Government Contract Committees
Public Watchdog Groups
Independent Anti-Corruption Agencies
Capacity building of citizens and civil society groups
Empowering Grassroot democratic institution: Allowing stakeholders to
participate in various decision-making processes and encouraging and
facilitating public participation.

Example:

Strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions as platform for citizen’s

participation.
Regularising social audit
Grievance Redressal Mechanism: Easy access of government officials to the
public is important for grievance redressal .
Information Sharing and Transparency in Government
What is Information?
Information is data that has been organized or classified and has
some significant value for the recipient. Information is the processed
data on which conclusions and responses are based.
Information plays a key role in decision making. The significance of
the decision making depends on the accuracy, completeness and
timing of the information.
Data is a new oil and information is emulated by data processing.

What is Information Sharing?

Information sharing is the voluntary act of making information
available to others controlled by one entity.
The interchange of data across multiple companies, individuals, and
technology is referred to as information sharing.
Wide distributed networks, intranets, cross-platform compatibility,
application porting, and IP protocol standardization have all enabled
a tremendous growth in global information interchange.

How to Maintain Transparency in Information Sharing as

per ethics is concern?
Transparency entails revealing information and operating in an open
and honest manner.
The availability of information is a critical component in achieving
transparency.
Transparency and effectiveness of information sharing is dependent
on the relevance, transparency, accuracy and timing of the
information.
Transparency in information sharing assures the accountability and
responsibility of the government.
Innovation in information technology is the basic requirement for
maintaining transparency.
Right to Information Act, 2005
Genesis and Background:
The campaign for the right to information (RTI) in India originated in
Rajasthan, spearheaded by the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Led
by Aruna Roy, this grassroots movement pressured the state government to
enact the Rajasthan RTI Act in 1997. Its success inspired the national
legislation, culminating in the RTI Act passed in 2005, aiming to usher in
transparency and reduce governmental secrecy.
Structure and Machinery:
The Act establishes a detailed framework comprising Public Information
Officers (PIOs), Assistant PIOs, Departmental Appellate Authorities, and both
State and Central Information Commissions. PIOs are responsible for
providing information to applicants. The definition of Public Authorities under
RTI is broad, encompassing various government bodies.
Time Frames for Information:
Under normal circumstances, information must be supplied within 30 days of
the request. If the information concerns the life or liberty of an individual , it
must be provided within 48 hours. Additional time of up to five days is
allowed if the application is misdirected or routed through an Assistant PIO.
Appeals and Penalties:
Appellate Authorities handle appeals against PIO decisions. The State and
Central Information Commissions hear appeals against orders by Appellate
Authorities. The Act prescribes penalties for failure to provide information
within the stipulated time.
Challenges in Implementation:
Despite the positive framework, several challenges persist:
Section 4 mandates suo motu disclosure, but compliance remains
unsatisfactory.
Exemptions in Section 8 protect certain information from disclosure.
Frivolous or malicious RTI applications are sometimes exploited for
harassment or blackmail .
Conflicting statutes, such as provisions in the Indian Evidence Act, Atomic
Energy Act, Central Civil Services Act, and Official Secrets Act, inhibit full
transparency.
The Information Commissions face heavy backlogs; more than 2.2 lakh
cases await resolution.
Poor record-keeping and low public awareness hinder effectiveness.
Recent amendments affecting tenure and appointment powers of
Information Commissioners have raised concerns about dilution of
independent oversight.
Recent Amendments:
The term of Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information
Commissioners has been reduced from five years to a period determined
by the Central government (currently three years).
Salaries and allowances are now decided by the government rather than
being pegged to Election Commissioners.
Appointments powers previously shared with a committee including the
Leader of Opposition are now solely vested in the Central Government.
Judicial Interpretations:
 The RTI Act confers powers on Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and
High Courts to implement its provisions.
While the Supreme Court adopted RTI-friendly rules, some High Courts
established stringent conditions, such as the Allahabad High Court ’s Rs.
500 fee per information request.
The judiciary is a final appellate authority under RTI, but rulings on
exemptions are often contentious.
Notable cases, such as the Girish Deshpande judgment, highlight nuanced
interpretations balancing privacy and transparency.
Subhash Agarwal Case:
Declared the office of the Chief Justice of India as a public authority under
RTI.
Emphasized the balance between the right to information and judicial
independence.
Stressed that RTI should not be used for surveillance and the privacy of
judicial processes must be protected.
Only names of judges recommended for appointment may be disclosed, not
the reasons.
RTI and Political Parties:
In 2013, the Central Information Commission (CIC) included national
political parties within the ambit of RTI.
Political parties have largely resisted compliance.
Arguments for inclusion cite accountability of elected representatives,
financial transparency, and informed voting.
Opponents argue political parties are neither constitutional nor statutory
bodies and raise concerns about strategic confidentiality.
Legal safeguards under Section 8(1) exist to protect sensitive information.
Impact of RTI:
Enhanced transparency has benefited marginalized communities and aided
anti-corruption efforts.
Public exposure of scams such as the Adarsh Society and Commonwealth
Games aided accountability.
Successful use cases include improved government service delivery, e.g.,
improved teacher attendance after RTI queries.
Way Forward:
Clear responsibilities for implementation should be defined.
Mass awareness initiatives and public training on RTI are essential .
Training on RTI should be institutionalized in government training
programs.
A consensus on uniform RTI procedures across states will help streamline
applications and appeals.

E-Procurement
Central Public Procurement Portal:
National Informatics Center (NIC), Ministry of Electronics & Information
Technology, in close association with the Procurement Policy Division,
 Ministry of Finance, has developed, hosted and implemented the Central
Public Procurement Portal customized to cater to the electronic
procurement/ tendering requirements of the Central Government
Departments and other organizations.
The primary objective of the portal is to provide a single point access to
the information on procurements made across various Ministries and the
line Departments.
Online Procurement is done through the Government e Market Place
(GeM)
GeM is a one-stop National Public Procurement Portal to facilitate online
procurement of common use Goods & Services required by various Central
and State Government Departments/Organizations/Public Sector
Undertakings (PSUs).
It also provides the tools of e-bidding and reverse e-auction to facilitate
the government users achieve the best value for their money.
Vision:
To bring an evolution in public procurement, promoting a
transparent, efficient and inclusive marketplace.
Mission:
Institute a unified procurement policy to encourage behavorial change and
drive reform.
Establish a lean, dynamic organization capable of continuous innovation
and market driven decision making.
Build an easy to use, fully automated platform to ensure transparency and
efficiency in procurement.
Demonstrate commitment to delivering value by ensuring the right quality
at the right price.
Create a sustainable ecosystem covering all stakeholders and driving
inclusive development in India.
Values:
Commitment
Responsiveness
Ownership and Accountability
Transparency and Integrity
Social Inclusion
Innovate to simplify
E-Governance
Definition:
Application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to
government functioning to achieve simple, accountable, speedy, responsive,
and transparent governance. It aims to reach citizens at their doorstep and
transition governance from passive information delivery to active citizen
engagement.
Why E-Governance?
ICT enhances public administration by enabling:
Administrative Development: Automation, reduction of paperwork, service
quality improvement, hierarchy elimination, and transparency.
Effective Service Delivery: Promotes transparency, economic growth, and
social development.
Strategic Information System: Provides comprehensive info management.
Key Initiatives & Examples:
DIGITAL INDIA Initiatives: Including e-NAM (agriculture), Naari portal
(women empowerment), Pencil (child labor eradication), Kiran (promoting
women in science), RTI portal , SVEEP app (voter education), and NFON
(rural broadband).
Challenges with E-Governance:
Economic Cost: Funding and managing fraudulent transactions without
excessive checking burdens.
Social Issues: Digital divide, resistance to change from citizens and
officials.
Management of Change: Requires delegation of authority and restructuring
decision-making levels.
Technical Privacy Concerns: Protecting citizen data from misuse.
Security Threats: Spoofing, tampering, denial of service attacks, elevation
of privileges, and cybercrimes.
Importance of Infrastructure & Integration:
Efficient connectivity, hardware, software, and security systems are critical .
Integration and interoperability challenges must be addressed to ensure
seamless service delivery across platforms.
Future Outlook:
Adoption of citizen-centric, personalized, mobile-friendly platforms with
proactive service delivery continues to evolve, enhancing accessibility and
responsiveness.
Example Initiatives

PRAGATI: A platform where the Prime Minister interacts with government

officials at different levels using ICT tools to address public issues.
Mobile Seva: Delivers government services via mobile phones and tablets,
increasing accessibility.

Conclusion

Significance:
E-Governance is integral to modern governance ensuring efficiency,
transparency, and inclusive citizen participation.
Vision:
Empower India’s transformation into a digitally-enabled society delivering
better services to all citizens.

Significance of the Transparency and Information

Sharing
The most important aspect of sustaining transparency and
information sharing is removing communication barriers.
Transparency and information sharing are crucial for increasing
quality of life.
Citizens' support and participation in the management of public
services is vital to maintaining openness and accountability.
 Transparency in information sharing is required for effective
governance and the maintenance of governance efficacy.

Whistle Blowing

Occurs when an employee identifies ethical violations that pose imminent

danger to the organization, consumers, or public.
Whistleblowers are key sources of information on malpractices in both public
and private sectors.
It often creates conflicts of interest between personal , societal , and
organizational loyalties.
Example: Frances Haugen’s testimony against Facebook highlighting harm
caused for profit.

Arguments Against Whistle Blowing:

Violates organizational culture built on secrecy.

Breaks trust between employer and employee.
Can be unethical if done for personal attention.
May endanger organization/institution, e.g., leaking sensitive data threatening
national security.

Arguments in Support of Whistle Blowing:

Promotes accountability, strengthening organizations over time.

Ethical duty for the greater public good.
A moral commitment to law and society.
Exposes corruption and wrongdoing.

Code of Ethics
Written guidelines issued by organizations to direct employee conduct.
Contains general values like integrity, impartiality, accountability, and
devotion to duty.
Violations do not usually lead to penalties.
No formal code for civil servants in India yet, but generally expected values
include:
Integrity, impartiality, public service commitment, accountability, and
exemplary behaviour.

Purpose of Codes of Ethics:

Promote uniform standards of moral conduct inside and outside the

organization.
Assure mutual reliability among colleagues based on shared principles.
Clarify that outsiders are not bound by these standards.
Limitations:

Cannot guide every individual in every situation.

Cannot be enforced legally.
Cannot substitute inherent personal values.
Public service demands innate adherence beyond written codes.

Codes of Conduct
Explicit set of rules detailing acceptable and unacceptable behaviours.
Violations constitute breaches with possible penalties.
In India, Central Civil Service Conduct Rules, 1964, set behavioural standards
for government servants, including:
1. Independent judgement without external influence.
2. Written confirmation of oral orders.
3. Refusal of bribes; intellectual honesty.
4. Reporting assets and transactions.
5. Prohibition of influence peddling.
6. Avoiding conflicts of interest.
7. Financial propriety in private dealings.
8. Political neutrality.
9. Respect for social law and cultural norms, e.g., anti-dowry practices.

Difference Between Code of Ethics and Code of

Conduct

Code of Ethics Code of Conduct

Broad guiding principles shaping Specific, mandatory rules defining

moral behaviour behaviour

Expected but non-mandatory Explicitly mandatory with penalties

Applies to culture, education, religion Applies to professional or official

conduct

Influences judgement and values Directs specific actions and

compliance

Example: Sympathetic attitude Example: Media briefing restrictions,

towards needy protocol
Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) Suggestions

Partial State funding of elections.

Tightening of anti-defection and Prevention of Corruption laws.
Making corrupt officials liable to pay damages.
Speedy trials for corruption cases.
Establishment of Lokpal institutions at all levels.
Amend Article 311 to enable quick action against corrupt officials.
Measures to protect honest civil servants.

Citizen’s Charter

Definition:
A public institution’s commitment to provide specified service levels,
focusing on citizen-centric governance by placing citizens at the center of
administration instead of passive recipients.
Key Principles:
1. Wide publicity of performance standards.
2. Assured quality and timely services.
3. Access to information with courtesy.
4. Citizen consultation and choice.
5. Simplified complaint procedures with quick redressal .
6. Performance scrutiny involving citizens.
Significance:
Empowers citizens with clear service standards.
Enhances accountability and minimizes corruption opportunities.
Ensures feedback incorporation and better grievance redressal .
 Example: Hyderabad Water Supply Board guarantees compensation for
service lapses.
Challenges:
Not legally binding; lacks enforceability.
Citizen awareness is low.
Resource constraints, especially locally.
Uniform charters overlook local issues and evolving needs.
Lack of measurable standards for service quality.
Way Forward:
Implement the Sevottam Model focusing on Charter, grievance redressal ,
and service delivery capacity.
Update charters regularly.
Adopt the Seven-Step Citizen-Centric Model suggested by the Second ARC,
including grievance database, education, and inclusivity.

Work Culture

Definition:
Practices, values, and shared beliefs shaping employee interaction and
organizational functioning, influenced by history, tradition, and vision.

Characteristics of Healthy Work Culture:

Mutual respect and conflict resolution.
Impartial employee treatment.
Judgement based solely on work performance.
Encouragement for performers and constructive feedback for others.
Enhanced participation in decision-making.
Skill development through workshops and seminars.
Case Study:
Google exemplifies informal , flat organizational culture fostering creativity
and decentralized decision-making.
Work Ethics
Definition:
Commitment to fulfilling official responsibilities with dedication and
sincerity, appreciating work rather than viewing it as a burden.
Characteristics:
1. Organizational values nourish and sustain it.
2. Leadership shapes and permeates the ethical culture.
3. Balances stakeholder interests to resolve tensions.
4. Ensures process integrity aligning all functions with core values.
5. Adopts long-term strategic perspectives.

Service Delivery
Importance:
Central to good governance, impacting millions and achieving inclusive,
sustainable socio-economic development aligned with the Constitution’s
equity principles.
Challenges:
India ranked low (100th) in UN’s E-governance Index 2020.
Focus traditionally on service providers’ convenience over users’ needs.
Complex regulations, lack of performance standards, corruption,
inefficiency at grassroots.
Ranked 86th in Corruption Perception Index 2020.
Suggestions for Improvement:
Treat people as participants with choices, not mere beneficiaries.
Provide services with clear standards like single-window, automated
delivery.
Foster a stable, vision-driven work environment for public servants.
Ensure cost-effectiveness and value for money.
Promote decentralization and empower local self-governments.
Best practice: Meghalaya’s Social Audit Legislation enforcing transparency
in schemes.
Passport Mission Mode Project under NeGP improved service delivery via
tech and process reforms.

Corruption Quotations and Insights:

“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” — Lord
Acton
Corruption is the misuse of one’s position for personal gain—material or non-
material , such as increased power or status.
The World Bank identifies corruption as the biggest barrier to economic and
social progress.
 According to the 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), corruption
has two aspects: corrupt institutions and corrupt individuals. Tackling both
and ensuring interlocking accountability is vital .

Corruption in India:
India ranks 96th in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (down from 93rd in
2023), with a score of 38/100.
Transparency International reports 62% of Indians pay bribes during police
encounters, illustrating widespread corruption.

Types of Corruption:

Coercive Corruption: Citizens forced to pay bribes, facing delays, harassment,

and sometimes life-threatening risks.
Collusive Corruption: Mutual gain between bribe-givers and public servants,
such as in contract awards and recruitments.

Corruption, Ethics, and Values:

Corruption reflects ethical failure and has become ingrained socially.

While some attribute it to declining values, others note honest humans
corrupted by systemic aberrations.
Ethics and institutions must work together, as values without strong
institutions are vulnerable.

Challenges Due to Corruption:

Corrupt individuals resist reforms.

Corruption hinders foreign investment and productivity.
It leads to inequality, poor social investments, and hampers ease of business.
It denies the poor opportunities and burdens them with higher taxes.
Political legitimacy suffers, enabling groups like left-wing extremists.

Causes of Corruption:

Administrative: politicization, low wages, judicial delays.

Social: growing individualism, discrimination, poor education.
Economic: large informal sector, inequality, complicated regulations.
Political: black money in elections, crony capitalism.

Ways to Tackle Corruption:

Enforce codes of ethics and conduct promoting honesty and public

dedication.
Strengthen accountability mechanisms and reduce red tape via formal and
informal processes.
Use technology (e-governance, Aadhaar) to enhance transparency.
Encourage global and local cooperation against corruption.
 Educate citizens to reject bribes and understand social costs.
Cultivate ethical organizational cultures through training.

Conclusion:

Reducing corruption to Scandinavian levels could boost GDP by 1.5% and

investment by 12%.
Recovering black money offshore could help India clear national debt.

Relevant Laws in India:

Indian Penal Code provisions on criminal breach, illegal gratification.

The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act and Amendments.
Prevention of Corruption Act (amended 2018).
Prevention of Money Laundering Act (2002) with recent stricter amendments.
Companies Act (2013) addressing corporate governance and fraud.

Anti-Corruption Institutions:

Lokpal and Lokayukta: Investigate high-level officials; limited powers and

protection issues.
Central Vigilance Commission (CVC): Apex vigilance agency, advisory in
nature.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI): Investigates corruption; criticized for
political dependence and delays.

Achieving Probity:

Enforce transparency and accountability via RTI, grievance redressal .

Strengthen local governance and citizen participation.
Impart value-based training to officials.
Electoral and administrative reforms to combat corruption effectively.