GS4 · 10 marks · 150 words

Public service requires not merely legal but also morally principled action. Public service requires the public servant to place loyalty to the constitution, laws, and ethical principles. Among the three, which do you think must acquire primacy while carrying out official functions? Why? Discuss.

Answered by 10 toppers · CSE 2021–2025

Civil Service ValuesEthical Dilemmas in GovernmentSources of Ethical GuidanceLaw and MoralityIntegrity

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 10 answers · about 170 words · 60% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • No separate opening60%
  • A definition30%
  • A quotation10%

Body

  • Points and prose60%
  • Points40%

Close

  • No separate close60%
  • A summary30%
  • A way forward10%

The toppers’ answers

RuhaniAIR 5 · CSE 2023 · 126 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Public service involves serving the public in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, laws and ethical principles.

In a constitutional democracy like India, Constitution acquires primacy while carrying out official functions due to following reasons:-

Body · points

• Constitution promotes equality, justice which may not be specified in every laws.

• Law can be unjust also and might not be acceptable to public. Eg:- Farm laws.

• Ethical principles like empathy, comparsion are necessary but all actions must be carried out objectively in

Close · a summary

Accordance with spirit of constitution. Eg:- An officer might be compassionate to an old lady but cannot give her the scheme benefits as she does not fulfill objective criteria.

Thus, Constitution needs to be upheld in letter and spirit while carrying out official functions.

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Public and civil service values and ethics in public administration: their status, and the problems of holding to them.

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