UPSC Mains 2016 · GS IV · Q8 · 10 marks · 150 words

“Max Weber said that it is not wise to apply to public administration the sort of moral and ethical norms we apply to matters of personal conscience. It is important to realise that the State bureaucracy might possess its own independent bureaucratic morality.” Critically analyse this statement.

हिन्दी में

“मैक्स वैबर ने कहा था कि जिस प्रकार के नैतिक प्रतिमानों को हम व्यक्तिगत अंतरात्मा के मामलों पर लागू करते हैं, उस प्रकार के नैतिक प्रतिमानों को लोक प्रशासन पर लागू करना समझदारी नहीं है । इस बात को समझ लेना महत्त्वपूर्ण है कि हो सकता है कि राज्य के अधिकारीतंत्र के पास अपनी स्वयं की स्वतंत्र अधिकारीतंत्रीय नैतिकता हो ।” इस कथन का समालोचनापूर्वक विश्लेषण कीजिए ।

Ethics in Private and Public LifeWorld Thinkers

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Norms of social morality should not be applied to acts of civil servants while they are carrying out their professional roles and responsibilities to further the common Good. Critically Analyze.”

Ankita JainAIR 3 · CSE 2020 · 193 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Social morality refers to the norms that society has set and follow and perceive as moral.

Body · points

Expectations from civil servant

(1) Constitutional ideals to be followed (2) Rule of law to be followed (3) 6 roles as envisaged by ARC II such as anonymity, neutrality etc. (4) All India civil services rules and central civil services rules

Issues in following social morality

(1) popular belief mistaken as morality Eg. Head hunters of Nagaland think head hunting is moral. (2) Comprising objectivity as civil servant may choose social morality over objectivity. For eg. human sacrifice in Tantric cult. (3) conflicts in constitutional morality and social morality. For. g. sabimala issue (4) Hero-worship by society starts influencing opinion & decisions of civil servants.

What should civil servant do?

Close · a summary

Strike a fine balance between the two. Do not compromise with objectivity.

Season rationality with emotions (emotional intelligence).

Discretionary powers should always be exercised without violating rule of law and in public interest as per section 3 of All India Service rules.

Therefore, civil servant is expected to upheld public interest, and social morality can be uphold if it does not comprise on values.

How toppers approach this question, and more on its topic: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2016, General Studies Paper IV, Q8. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.