GS4 · 10 marks · 150 words

Public servants often operate within environments shaped by political expectations, peer norms, and public opinion. How do moral and political attitudes influence ethical decision-making? How can civil servants maintain independence without becoming socially or politically detached?

Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2023–2025

AttitudeImpartiality and ObjectivityCivil Service Values

Syllabus: Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.

How toppers approached it

From all 3 answers · about 120 words · 67% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • No separate opening3 of 3

Body

  • Points2 of 3
  • Points and prose1 of 3

Close

  • A summary2 of 3
  • A way forward1 of 3

The toppers’ answers

Raghav JhunjhunwalaAIR 4 · CSE 2025 · 120 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Public servants need to solve governance problems using minimal resources yet fulfill maximum expectations of various stakeholders.

Body · points and prose

moral Attitude:

Diagram
* moral Attitude: when a civil servant remains steadfast in their thought & behavior as per their deep entrenched morals. * guides Decisions * (i) Reduces cognitive load (& gives clarity). Ex: Gandhiji called off NCM post Chauri Chaura * (ii) Provides courage in difficult times.

Political attitude: Covers the political Rights, discources, etc.

Diagram
* Political attitude: Covers the political Rights, discources, etc. * guides Decision making * (i) A person sensitized about patriarchal issues, will undertake women Empowerment measures * (ii) Gandhian 7 sins; Kalam's proactiveness, etc shape decisions.

maintaining Independence without compulsorily detaching

(1) man is social Animal. Also civil servants need to be aware fully so, detachment is unadvisable.

(2) Following objectivity, Impartiality and non partisanship

(3) Using wisdom and Emotional Intelligence to guide self control

(4) Reading about credible scholarly articles to gain correct inputs.

(5) Defining boundaries of engagement. Ex: not attending personal parties of politicians

(6) Abiding by civil servant code of conduct & Foundational values.

Close · a way forward

Sardar Patel's dream of a 'trusted frame' of Bureaucracy needs to rise above peripheral distractions to focus upon core governance challenges.

More on Attitude

Content, structure and function of attitude, its influence on thought and behaviour, how attitudes form and change, and moral and political attitudes.

All GS4 questions on Attitude