GS4 · 10 marks · 150 words

"A politics of confession that encourages politicians and parties to confess and offer regret for their errors can surely be a cathartic experience." Examine the statement from the ethical point of view.

Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2025

Ethics in Private and Public LifeCivil Service ValuesProbity in GovernanceAccountability and Ethical GovernanceEthical Dilemmas in GovernmentDimensions of EthicsTransparency and Information

Syllabus: 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.

How toppers approached it

From all 6 answers · about 140 words · 33% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • No separate opening67%
  • A quotation33%

Body

  • Points67%
  • Points and prose33%

Close

  • A way forward67%
  • No separate close17%
  • A summary17%

The toppers’ answers

A R RajahAIR 7 · CSE 2025 · 108 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Politics has often been compared by political thinkers to a pigsty, due to the in-built dirt and waste that is prevalent.

Body · points and prose

Politics has often been compared by political thinkers to a pigsty, due to the in-built dirt and waste that is prevalent.

Diagram
* Politics of Confession * (1) form of repentance * (2) helps in gaining trust * (3) Value of accountability * (4) Helps in cleaning-up politics

I Positives of this approach (1) Helps in upholding values, (1.1) Accountability. (1.2) Trust (1.3) Public-oriented politics. Eg: Political party dismissing politician who watched 'porn' in parliament.

  1. Leads to gaining of trust and gaining connect with people. Eg: Stages used for giving speeches and apologising → gaining back trust.
  2. Creates the element of self-awareness.
  3. Ensures proper working of the internal mechanism of the parties. Eg: Various cells to prevent sexual harassment of party workers.
Diagram
- II Negative Concept - 1 seen as publicity stunt. - 2 Apologising with no proper compensation. - 3 Tokenistic apologies. - 4 Repetition of mistakes. - 5 Arbitrariness of apology. - Eg: During elections to gain sympathy votes.

Gandhiji's sin of "Politics without morality" not to be committed.

Close

Eg: Various cells to prevent sexual harassment of party workers. Gandhiji's sin of "Politics without morality" not to be committed.

More on Ethics in Private and Public Life

Whether the same standard binds a person in private and in office, and what changes when it does not.

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