GS4 · 10 marks · 150 words

What do you understand by political responsibility, professional responsibility and personal responsibility? In situations of conflict among the three, what responsibility must the public servant prioritise and why? Illustrate with suitable examples.

Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2024–2025

Civil Service ValuesEthical Dilemmas in GovernmentPressure and LoyaltyAccountability and Ethical Governance

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 3 answers · about 140 words · 67% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • A definition2 of 3
  • No separate opening1 of 3

Body

  • Points and prose2 of 3
  • Points1 of 3

Close

  • No separate close2 of 3
  • A way forward1 of 3

The toppers’ answers

Raghav JhunjhunwalaAIR 4 · CSE 2025 · 132 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

None written.

Body · points and prose

Responsibility refers to externally imposed duty to get a task completed.

Ex: Responsibility to water my lawn.

(1) Political Resp.: towards my political mates (Sr. + Jr.)

Ex: Submitting report to minister, etc.

(2) Professional Resp.: towards my professional life

Ex: Abiding code of conduct, pursuit of excellence, etc.

(3) Personal Resp.: my responsibility towards myself (career, health) and my close ones

Conflict :

Example : my political senior (Pol. resp) asking me to expedite a project by working overtime (Professional resp.) (Personal resp.: to family)

Priority :

Diagram
Bar chart showing three priorities on the x-axis (I, II, III) with corresponding values on the y-axis: - Priority I: Professional Resp. (highest bar) - Priority II: Political resp. (medium bar) - Priority III: Personal resp. (lowest bar)

Why?

I) Professional → Being bound by oath of service & Constitution → I live by it day-in & day-out

II) Political → need to respect political seniors.

Close

III) Personal In public life, this takes back seat.

∴ public welfare > Personal Interest

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