UPSC Mains 2013 · GS IV · Q1 · 10 marks · 150 words

What do you understand by ‘values’ and ‘ethics’? In what way is it important to be ethical along with being professionally competent?

हिन्दी में

‘मूल्यों’ व ‘नैतिकताओं’ से आप क्या समझते हैं? व्यावसायिक सक्षमता के साथ नैतिक भी होना किस प्रकार महत्त्वपूर्ण है?

Dimensions of EthicsHuman ValuesAptitude for Civil Service

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “In the realm of professional conduct, ethics plays a role that tends to go far beyond fulfilling the roles and responsibilities of the job with diligence and honesty. But some people consider professional competence as the only critical requirement for a job. If faced with a choice, who would you prefer to hire - someone with professional competence or one with strong moral values?”

Aayushi BansalAIR 7 · CSE 2024 · 166 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Ethics is a set of values that societies place upon individuals, guiding their choice, behaviour, action based on sense of right vs wrong. It plays a critical role in professional conduct.

Role of ethics in professional conduct

Body · points

(1) Interpret laws, rules, regulations for fulfillment of organisational goals & public welfare. (2) Improve work culture based on team work & leadership, communication [eg] → Tata brands are known to have good work culture. (3) Motivates to go beyond call of duty. [eg] → Parmeshvaran Iyer stepped into a pit to clean toilet to build positive attitude of public.

Choice → professional competence vs strong moral values

I would choose the one with strong moral values because:- (1) Intelligence without integrity results in 'clever devil' [eg] → insider trading. (2) Training can build prof. competence but not values in short time. (3) Commitment & dedication to work is of utmost importance.

Close · a summary

The ideal scenario is to choose one with holistic competence (professional + values) to uphold public interest.

2 more toppers’ answers to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2013, General Studies Paper IV, Q1. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.