Sources of Ethical Guidance

11 UPSC Mains GS IV questions on Sources of Ethical Guidance, 2013 to 2023, newest first, as UPSC set them. See also practice questions on Sources of Ethical Guidance toppers answered.

1. 2023 Q4(b)Differentiate ‘moral intuition’ from ‘moral reasoning’ with suitable examples.10 marks · 150 words
2. 2023 Q5(a)Is conscience a more reliable guide when compared to laws, rules and regulations in the context of ethical decision-making ? Discuss.10 marks · 150 words
3. 2021 Q4(b)In case of crisis of conscience does emotional intelligence help to overcome the same without compromising the ethical or moral stand that you are likely to follow? Critically examine.10 marks · 150 words
4. 2020 Q4(a)Distinguish between laws and rules. Discuss the role of ethics in formulating them.10 marks · 150 words
5. 2019 Q3(b)What is meant by ‘crisis of conscience’ ? How does it manifest itself in the public domain ?10 marks · 150 words
6. 2018 Q4(a)“In doing a good thing, everything is permitted which is not prohibited expressly or by clear implication.” Examine the statement with suitable examples in the context of a public servant discharging his/her duties.10 marks · 150 words
7. 2016 Q5Law and ethics are considered to be the two tools for controlling human conduct so as to make it conducive to civilized social existence. (a) Discuss how they achieve this objective. (b) Giving examples, show how the two differ in their approaches.10 marks · 150 words
8. 2016 Q9A fresh engineering graduate gets a job in a prestigious chemical industry. She likes the work. The salary is also good. However, after a few months she accidentally discovers that a highly toxic waste is being secretly discharged into a river nearby. This is causing health problems to the villagers downstream who depend on the river for their water needs. She is perturbed and mentions her concern to her colleagues who have been with the company for longer periods. They advise her to keep quite as anyone who mentions the topic is summarily dismissed. She cannot risk losing her job as she is the sole bread-winner for her family and has to support her ailing parents and siblings. At first, she thinks that if her seniors are keeping quiet, why should she stick out her neck. But her conscience pricks her to do something to save the river and the people who depend upon it. At heart she feels that the advice of silence given by her friends is not correct though she cannot give reasons for it. She thinks you are a wise person and seeks your advice.20 marks · 250 words · Case study
9. 2015 Q3(a)“A mere compliance with law is not enough, the public servant also has to have a well-developed sensibility to ethical issues for effective discharge of duties.” Do you agree? Explain with the help of two examples, where (i) an act is ethically right, but not legally and (ii) an act is legally right, but not ethically.10 marks · 150 words
10. 2013 Q5(a)What do you understand by the term ‘voice of conscience’? How do you prepare yourself to heed to the voice of conscience?10 marks · 150 words
11. 2013 Q5(b)What is meant by ‘crisis of conscience’? Narrate one incident in your life when you were faced with such a crisis and how you resolved the same.10 marks · 150 words

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