GS4 · 10 marks · 150 words

"The strength of a professional public service lies in its ability to remain non-partisan, even in a deeply political environment." Do you agree that partisanship undermines the ethical foundation of public administration? Discuss the risks posed by political bias among civil servants and the safeguards that help uphold neutrality.

Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2023–2025

Impartiality and ObjectivityCivil Service ValuesCodes of Ethics and ConductIntegrityAccountability and Ethical GovernanceCorruption

Syllabus: Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.

How toppers approached it

From all 6 answers · about 170 words · 33% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • A definition50%
  • A quotation33%
  • No separate opening17%

Body

  • Points67%
  • Points and prose33%

Close

  • A summary83%
  • A way forward17%

The toppers’ answers

Pakshal SecretryAIR 8 · CSE 2025 · 136 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a quotation

"Partisanship would lead to fossilisation of public administration" — JL Nehru

Body · points

Partisanship undermining foundation

  1. Leads to trust deficit with people
  2. Promotes corruption (eg. Pooja Singhal - Coal Scam)
  3. Politicians don't get neutral advice from administration → lead to trust deficit.
  4. Against weberian principle of administration (Eg) OP Chaudhary (IAS) → joined political party

Risk by political bias → Might give political advice to government → Non effective service delivery due to bias → would create division among administration (eg pro govt vs pro opposition)

Safeguards already present → Civil service conduct rules, 1968 - principle of neutrality → Restriction of civil servant → joining party

More safeguards (1) cooling off period for administrators (2) Training to be neutral (3) Internal Mechanism → for Dissent

Close · a summary

Neutrality is thus core pillar of weberian system

More on Impartiality and Objectivity

Non-partisanship, freedom from favour and prejudice, deciding on the evidence, and political neutrality in the civil service.

All GS4 questions on Impartiality and Objectivity