GS4 · 10 marks · 150 words

Though laws and rules can be considered as the principal guide on morality for public administrators, they are not sufficient in themselves. Substantiate with examples.

Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2022–2024

Sources of Ethical GuidanceCivil Service ValuesEthical Dilemmas in GovernmentRules versus CompassionLaw and Morality

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 4 answers · about 180 words · 25% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • No separate opening2 of 4
  • A definition1 of 4
  • A quotation1 of 4

Body

  • Points3 of 4
  • Points and prose1 of 4

Close

  • A way forward2 of 4
  • No separate close1 of 4
  • A summary1 of 4

The toppers’ answers

Parsanjeet KourAIR 11 · CSE 2022 · 175 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a quotation

"Laws can only direct society where to go, where it actually goes, it all depends on itself."

Body · points and prose

Similar is the case of public administrator.

Laws and rules are guiding lights on morality for public administrators, but they are not sufficient in themselves. In addition, what is required is commitment of obedience from civil servants and adherence to principles suggested by NOLAN committee- objectivity, honesty, integrity, openness, selflessness, accountability, leadership.

Eg:- All India civil services rules direct civil servants to remain politically neutral, to follow this is all dependent on administrator.

People like O.P. Choudhary failed in this test but others like Satyendra Kumar Dubey succeed.

Similarly laws clarify civil servants as ambassadors to take governance to people but it is upto people to follow this code.

Eg:- People like Armstrong Pame excelled in this but some like Arvind Joshi got involved in corruption scams and badly failed.

Close · a way forward

Thus along with laws and rules, commitment is must and in this regard moral values need to be promoted. Mission Karamyogi is a good step in this direction.

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Laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of guidance, and which governs when they disagree.

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