Ashish Kumar: GS4 answer copy

Importance:

(1) Integrity:

i) brings objectivity in action → favour merit ii) Resist pressure of negative situations iii) minimises discretion → reduces corruption iv) saves from mental discomfort.

1. Honesty: i) Clear conscience by taking appropriate action ii) brings accountability in action. iii) transparency of decision-making iv) moral responsibility

Measures to Cultivate Integrity and Honesty:

i) Socialisation: ↳ family, school and society may inculcate these values.

ii) Training → regular in-service. iii) 360° Appraisal and Perform/Perish. iv) RTI, Social Audits, Citizen charter v) Strengthening accountability and vigilance institutions vi) Conducive Works culture.

Integrity and Honesty are two sides of a coin needed for ethical governance.

Human behaviour is the portrayal of values in action in a social situation and which becomes object of scrutiny.

Sources of Behaviour:

1. Desire: It is the character trait of a person to achieve something or do action as per his wishes. Desire motivates a person to behave in a certain manner. A determined individual works passionately to achieve his goals. A compassionate behaviour is reflection of desire to help someone in need. Similarly, patriarchal behaviour is emanated out of desire to control and exploit women.

② Emotions: The perception of stimulus in favourable or unfavourable manner produces corresponding emotions. It is affect part of the attitude. The emotions attached to an object determines behaviour. E.g Fear of dogs makes children run away. Positive emotions towards weaker sections stimulate action E.g Gandhi on Harijans.

③ Knowledge: The cognitive part of an individual determines his way of looking at things and corresponding behaviour. An astronaut looks at sky to find new star while a child looks at "Chanda Mama". Knowledge if negative leads to indoctrination and corresponding negative behaviour. E.g Nazi against Jews in Germany.

Conflict of interest refers to the irreconcilable state of affairs between private and professional interests of an individual.

Affect on Working:

i) Hampers Objectivity: affects merit E.g Awarding tender to a known person.

ii) Biased Decisions: may lead to nepotism E.g Sitting on interview boards and the applicant is relative.

iii) Against Procedural fairness: E.g Judges deciding cases against themselves.

iv) Undermines trust in administration: E.g Ex CBI chief Ranjit Sinha questioning a relative at home.

v) Against Compassion: E.g Giving job to a required person in disadvantageous situation. But favour to a known vi) Affects quality of Public service

Minimising Conflict of Interest: i) Prior disclosure to affected parties. ii) Recusal from conflicting circumstances. iii) Seek senior's / expert's advice. iv) Documenting facts of the case on merit. v) Proper training and accountability mechanism. vi) Moral inculcation of values of impartial behaviour.

Conflict of Interest having negative connotations needs to be handled in a wholistic manner to ensure trust.

Surveillance state refers to monitoring of citizens' activities and actions by the state machinery, usually through CCTV, face recognition, digital traits etc.

Benefits: i) Ensures safety of citizens against violence, crimes, cyber crimes. ii) Provides national security by nabbing terrorists and organised criminals. iii) Fosters trust in the state → Social contract

Negatives of Ethical Issues: i) Against individual liberty → liberty is inalienable right as per John Locke.

ii) Produces docile bodies → citizens are ever-worried and disciplined but are disenchanted. e.g erstwhile 66 A of IT Act iii) Provides only temporal safety → Criminals devise ways to circumvent e.g cyber frauds iv) Collingridge Dilemma: → regulating early stifles creativity → regulating late is not commensurate ⇒ National security takes precedence but affects rights of people v) Against Minimum government: → hampers transparency and accountability. vi) Curbs dissent → e.g Pegasus.

Surveillance state though necessary should pass proportionality test of Puttaswamy case.

Corruption is destruction of moral and ethical values. In governance, it is arbitrary use of power bringing tangible/intangible losses to the public interest.

It is a disease as it has its reasons, affects the organisation negatively and can be cured by proper measures.

Reasons: ARC-II finds: i) Colonial past trivialised corruption. ii) centralisation of power → discretion iii) less jobs in organised sector.

Legal → stringent, outdated, ambiguous laws.

Social → complacent culture, pomp and show, nonfulfilment of ego needs, peer pressure

Moral : Socialisation to accept corruption as a virtue.

Affects: i) Inefficient Utilisation of funds ii) Nepotism, favouritism iii) Sanskritisation iv) Criminalisation of politics v) Hampers objectivity → undermines trust in governance

Cure: Corruption thrives in secret, avoids open places.

Transparency : ↳ Disclosure of decisions as well as process of decision-making ↳ supports objectivity by reducing discretion ↳ follow proper rules.

Accountability :