GS4 · 10 marks · 150 words

Bring out the significance of probity in public life. What are the requisites for ensuring probity in governance? Pointing out the key concerns in India in this context, suggest certain remedial measures.

Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2018–2019

Syllabus: Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.

How toppers approached it

From all 6 answers · about 170 words · 17% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • A definition83%
  • No separate opening17%

Body

  • Points83%
  • Points and prose17%

Close

  • No separate close50%
  • A summary33%
  • A way forward17%

The toppers’ answers

Akshat JainAIR 2 · CSE 2018 · 80 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Probity refers to the quality of following moral principles. The key concerns in India include -

Body · points

life -> Improved quality of delivery of public goods -> Ethical governance -> Establishing public trust -> Assuring the dignity of the individual

diagram Requisites -> Integrity in duty -> Decision-making on impartial and non-partisan basis -> Openness to accountability -> Empathy and compassion towards citizenry -> Commitment to service

The key concerns in India include -

  1. Corruption and red-tapism in bureaucracy
  2. Political interference
  3. Monopoly of government over key services, and increased scope of discretion
  4. Unempathetic bureaucracy
  5. Uninformed and inactive citizenry

As per 2nd ARC, remedial measures are -

  1. Code of ethics for civil servants, politicians, judiciary
  2. Enhancing legal framework like RTI and Prevention of Corruption Act
  3. Strengthening social infra diagram Social infra
  • Social audits
  • Role of media and civil society
  • Citizen's charter
  1. Systematic reforms diagram Systematic reforms
  • e-Governance
  • Simplifying rules and procedures
  • Strengthening supervisory role of officers

Close · no separate close

None written.

More on Probity in Governance

The concept of public service and the philosophical basis of governance and probity, taken as the syllabus states it.

All GS4 questions on Probity in Governance