Civil Service Values

17 UPSC Mains GS IV questions on Civil Service Values, 2013 to 2025, newest first, as UPSC set them. See also practice questions on Civil Service Values toppers answered.

1. 2025 Q5(b)To achieve holistic development goal, a civil servant acts as an enabler and active facilitator of growth rather than a regulator. What specific measures will you suggest to achieve this goal ?10 marks · 150 words
2. 2021 Q1(a)Identify five ethical traits on which one can plot the performance of a civil servant. Justify their inclusion in the matrix.10 marks · 150 words
3. 2021 Q1(b)Identify ten essential values that are needed to be an effective public servant. Describe the ways and means to prevent non-ethical behaviour in the public servants.10 marks · 150 words
4. 2019 Q1(a)What are the basic principles of public life ? Illustrate any three of these with suitable examples.10 marks · 150 words
5. 2019 Q12In recent times, there has been an increasing concern in India to develop effective civil service ethics, codes of conduct, transparency measures, ethics and integrity systems and anti-corruption agencies. In view of this, there is a need being felt to focus on three specific areas, which are directly relevant to the problems of internalizing integrity and ethics in the civil services. These are as follows : 1. Anticipating specific threats to ethical standards and integrity in the civil services, 2. Strengthening the ethical competence of civil servants and 3. Developing administrative processes and practices which promote ethical values and integrity in civil services.20 marks · 250 words · Case study
6. 2018 Q1(a)State the three basic values, universal in nature, in the context of civil services and bring out their importance.10 marks · 150 words
7. 2018 Q2(a)What is meant by public interest ? What are the principles and procedures to be followed by the civil servants in public interest ?10 marks · 150 words
8. 2017 Q2Examine the relevance of the following in the context of civil service : (a) Transparency (b) Accountability (c) Fairness and justice (d) Courage of conviction (e) Spirit of service10 marks · 150 words
9. 2017 Q9You are an honest and responsible civil servant. You often observe the following : (a) There is a general perception that adhering to ethical conduct one may face difficulties to oneself and cause problems for the family, whereas unfair practices may help to reach the career goals. (b) When the number of people adopting unfair means is large, a small minority having a penchant towards ethical means makes no difference. (c) Sticking to ethical means is detrimental to the larger developmental goals. (d) While one may not involve oneself in large unethical practices, but giving and accepting small gifts makes the system more efficient.20 marks · 250 words · Case study
10. 2016 Q3(b)Discuss the Public Services Code as recommended by the 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission.10 marks · 150 words
11. 2016 Q6Our attitudes towards life, work, other people and society are generally shaped unconsciously by the family and the social surroundings in which we grow up. Some of these unconsciously acquired attitudes and values are often undesirable in the citizens of a modern democratic and egalitarian society. (a) Discuss such undesirable values prevalent in today’s educated Indians. (b) How can such undesirable attitudes be changed and socio-ethical values considered necessary in public services be cultivated in the aspiring and serving civil servants ?10 marks · 150 words
12. 2015 Q3(b)How do the virtues of trustworthiness and fortitude get manifested in public service? Explain with examples.10 marks · 150 words
13. 2015 Q5Two different kinds of attitudes exhibited by public servants towards their work have been identified as the bureaucratic attitude and the democratic attitude. (a) Distinguish between these two terms and write their merits and demerits. (b) Is it possible to balance the two to create a better administration for the faster development of our country?10 marks · 150 words
14. 2014 Q1(b)What does ethics seek to promote in human life? Why is it all the more important in public administration?10 marks · 150 words
15. 2014 Q4(b)There is a heavy ethical responsibility on the public servants because they occupy positions of power, handle huge amounts of public funds, and their decisions have wide-ranging impact on society and environment. What steps have you taken to improve your ethical competence to handle such responsibility?10 marks · 150 words
16. 2014 Q10Suppose one of your close friends, who is also aspiring for civil services, comes to you for discussing some of the issues related to ethical conduct in public service. He raises the following points : (i) In the present times, when unethical environment is quite prevalent, individual attempts to stick to ethical principles may cause a lot of problems in one’s career. It may also cause hardship to the family members as well as risk to one’s life. Why should we not be pragmatic and follow the path of least resistance, and be happy with doing whatever good we can? (ii) When so many people are adopting wrong means and are grossly harming the system, what difference would it make if only a small minority tries to be ethical? They are going to be rather ineffective and are bound to get frustrated. (iii) If we become fussy about ethical considerations, will it not hamper the economic progress of our country? After all, in the present age of high competition, we cannot afford to be left behind in the race of development. (iv) It is understandable that we should not get involved in grossly unethical practices, but giving and accepting small gratifications and doing small favours increases everybody’s motivation. It also makes the system more efficient. What is wrong in adopting such practices?20 marks · 250 words · Case study
17. 2013 Q2(b)Indicate two more attributes which you consider important for public service. Justify your answer.10 marks · 100 words

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination question papers, upsc.gov.in. Topics are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.