GS Paper IV · Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude
Ethics Questions in UPSC Mains (2013–2025), Topic-Wise & Year-Wise PYQs
A complete, syllabus-mapped bank of every GS Paper IV question from 2013 to 2025. Analysing these previous year questions helps aspirants understand UPSC's pattern, spot recurring themes, and sharpen the ethical reasoning and answer-writing skills the Ethics paper demands.
Years Covered
2013–25
Syllabus Themes
10
Marks Each
10M
Paper
GS-IV
Analysing UPSC Mains General Studies Paper IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) previous year questions from 2013 to 2025 helps aspirants understand the types of questions UPSC asks and the important topics that are repeatedly tested. These questions focus on areas such as ethics, human values, attitude, emotional intelligence, integrity, probity in governance, public service values, ethical dilemmas, moral thinkers and philosophers, corporate governance, and ethics in governance and international relations.
The UPSC Mains Ethics Questions (2013–2025) give valuable insight into the pattern, difficulty level, and key themes of the GS Paper IV examination. Solving these previous years' questions helps aspirants strengthen ethical reasoning, improve case study–solving skills, and understand the practical application of ethics in public administration.
📌 How to Use This PYQ Bank
The questions below are arranged theme-by-theme along the official GS-IV syllabus, and within each theme they run year-wise. Attempt them cold first, then check against model frameworks — the goal is to build a mental map of how the same core value (integrity, conscience, probity) is repeatedly re-framed by UPSC across years.
1. Ethics and Human Interface
Essence, determinants and consequences of ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships.
| Question | Year | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| The good of an individual is contained in the good of all. What do you understand by this statement? How can this principle be implemented in public life? | 2013 | 10 |
| What is meant by 'environmental ethics'? Why is it important to study? Discuss any one environmental issue from the viewpoint of environmental ethics. | 2015 | 10 |
| Explain how ethics contributes to social and human well-being. | 2016 | 10 |
| Without commonly shared and widely entrenched moral values and obligations, neither the law, nor democratic government, nor even the market economy will function properly. What do you understand by this statement? Explain with illustration in the contemporary times. | 2017 | 10 |
| The crisis of ethical values in modern times is traced to a narrow perception of the good life. Discuss. | 2017 | 10 |
| What are the basic principles of public life? Illustrate any three of these with suitable examples. | 2019 | 10 |
| It is believed that adherence to ethics in human actions would ensure smooth functioning of an organization/system. If so, what does ethics seek to promote in human life? How do ethical values assist in the resolution of conflicts faced by him in his day-to-day functioning? | 2022 | 10 |
| Online methodology is being used for day-to-day meetings, institutional approvals in the administration and for teaching and learning in the education sector to the extent telemedicine in the health sector is getting popular with the approvals of the competent authority. No doubt it has advantages and disadvantages for both the beneficiaries and the system at large. Describe and discuss the ethical issues involved in the use of online methods particularly to vulnerable sections of society. | 2022 | 10 |
| Differentiate 'moral intuition' from 'moral reasoning' with suitable examples. | 2023 | 10 |
| "Ethics encompasses several key dimensions that are crucial in guiding individuals and organizations towards morally responsible behaviour." Explain the key dimensions of ethics that influence human actions. Discuss how these dimensions shape ethical decision-making in the professional context. | 2024 | 10 |
2. Human Values
Lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
| Question | Year | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Some people feel that values keep changing with time and situation, while others strongly believe that there are certain universal and eternal human values. Give your perception in this regard with due justification. | 2013 | 10 |
| What do you understand by 'values' and 'ethics'? In what way is it important to be ethical along with being professionally competent? | 2013 | 10 |
| We are witnessing increasing instances of sexual violence against women in the country. Despite existing legal provisions against it, the number of such incidences is on the rise. Suggest some innovative measures to tackle this menace. | 2014 | 10 |
| The current society is plagued with widespread trust-deficit. What are the consequences of this situation for personal well-being and for societal well-being? What can you do at the personal level to make yourself trustworthy? | 2014 | 10 |
| In the context of defence services, 'patriotism' demands readiness to even lay down one's life in protecting the nation. According to you, what does patriotism imply in everyday civil life? Explain with illustrations and justify your answer. | 2014 | 10 |
| Social values are more important than economic values. Discuss the above statement with examples in the context of inclusive growth of a nation. | 2015 | 10 |
| Our attitudes towards life, work, other people and society are generally shaped unconsciously by the family and social surroundings in which we grow up. Some of these unconsciously acquired attitudes and values are often undesirable in the citizens of modern democratic and egalitarian society. (a) Discuss such undesirable values prevalent in today's educated Indians. (b) How can such undesirable attitudes be changed and socio-ethical values be cultivated in the aspiring and serving civil servants? | 2016 | 10 |
| The current internet expansion has instilled a different set of cultural values which are in conflict with traditional values. Discuss. | 2020 | 10 |
| "Education is not an injunction, it is an effective and pervasive tool for all-round development of an individual and social transformation." Examine the New Education Policy, 2020 (NEP 2020) in light of the above statement. | 2020 | 10 |
3. Attitude
Content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
| Question | Year | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| It is often said that 'politics' and 'ethics' do not go together. What is your opinion in this regard? Justify your answer with illustrations. | 2013 | 10 |
| What factors affect the formation of a person's attitude towards social problems? In our society, contrasting attitudes are prevalent about many social problems. What contrasting attitudes do you notice about the caste system in our society? How do you explain the existence of these contrasting attitudes? | 2014 | 10 |
| Two different kinds of attitudes exhibited by public servants towards their work have been identified as the bureaucratic attitude and the democratic attitude. (a) Distinguish between these two terms and write their merits and demerits. (b) Is it possible to balance the two to create a better administration for the faster development of our country? | 2015 | — |
| How could social influence and persuasion contribute to the success of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan? | 2016 | 10 |
| Young people with ethical conduct are not willing to come forward to join active politics. Suggest steps to motivate them to come forward. | 2017 | 10 |
| A positive attitude is considered to be an essential characteristic of a civil servant who is often required to function under extreme stress. What contributes to a positive attitude in a person? | 2020 | 10 |
| Attitude is an important component that goes as input in the development of humans. How to build a suitable attitude needed for a public servant? | 2021 | 10 |
| "The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes." – William James | 2025 | 10 |
4. 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.
| Question | Year | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| What do you understand by the following terms in the context of public service? (a) Integrity (b) Perseverance (c) Spirit of service (d) Commitment (e) Courage of conviction. Indicate two more attributes which you consider important for public service. Justify your answer. | 2013 | 10 |
| Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, but knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful. What do you understand by this statement? Explain your stand with illustrations from the modern context. | 2014 | 10 |
| How do the virtues of trustworthiness and fortitude get manifested in public service? Explain with examples. | 2015 | 10 |
| Public servants are likely to confront the issues of 'Conflict of Interest'. What do you understand by the term 'Conflict of Interest' and how does it manifest in the decision making by public servants? If faced with the conflict of interest situation, how would you resolve it? Explain with the help of examples. | 2015 | 10 |
| Why should impartiality and non-partisanship be considered as foundational values in public services, especially in the present day socio-political context? Illustrate your answer with examples. | 2016 | 10 |
| One of the tests of integrity is complete refusal to be compromised. Explain with reference to a real life example. | 2017 | 10 |
| "In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence and energy. And if they do not have the first, the other two will kill you." – Warren Buffett. What do you understand by this statement in the present-day scenario? Explain. | 2018 | 10 |
| Identify five ethical traits on which one can plot the performance of a civil servant. Justify their inclusion in the matrix. | 2021 | 10 |
| Should impartiality and being non-partisan be considered as indispensable qualities to make a successful civil servant? Discuss with illustrations. | 2021 | 10 |
| "Integrity is a value that empowers the human being." Justify with suitable illustration. | 2021 | 10 |
| Apart from intellectual competency and moral qualities, empathy and compassion are some of the other vital attributes that facilitate the civil servants to be more competent in tackling the crucial issues or taking critical decisions. Explain with suitable illustrations. | 2022 | 10 |
| Write short notes on the following in 30 words each: (i) Constitutional morality (ii) Conflict of interest (iii) Probity in public life (iv) Challenges of digitalization (v) Devotion to duty. | 2022 | 10 |
| The soul of the new law, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is Justice, Equality and Impartiality based on Indian culture and ethos. Discuss this in the light of major shift from a doctrine of punishment to justice in the present judicial system. | 2024 | 10 |
| "Mindless addiction to Form, ignoring the Substance of the matter, results in rendering of injustice. A perceptive civil servant is one who ignores such literalness and carries out true intent." Examine the above statement with suitable illustrations. | 2024 | 10 |
| "One who is devoted to one's duty attains highest perfection in life." Analyse this statement with reference to sense of responsibility and personal fulfilment as a civil servant. | 2025 | 10 |
5. Emotional Intelligence
Concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
| Question | Year | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| What is 'emotional intelligence' and how can it be developed in people? How does it help an individual in taking ethical decisions? | 2013 | 10 |
| All human beings aspire for happiness. Do you agree? What does happiness mean to you? Explain with examples. | 2014 | 10 |
| Anger is a harmful negative emotion. It is injurious to both personal life and work life. (a) Discuss how it leads to negative emotions and undesirable behaviours. (b) How can it be managed and controlled? | 2016 | 10 |
| How will you apply emotional intelligence in administrative practices? | 2017 | 10 |
| What does this quotation mean to you in the present context: "Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding." — Mahatma Gandhi. | 2018 | 10 |
| "Emotional Intelligence is the ability to make your emotions work for you instead of against you." Do you agree with this view? Discuss. | 2019 | 10 |
| What are the main components of emotional intelligence (EI)? Can they be learned? Discuss. | 2020 | 10 |
| In case of crisis of conscience does emotional intelligence help to overcome the same without compromising the ethical or moral stand that you are likely to follow? Critically examine. | 2021 | 10 |
| "What really matters for success, character, happiness, and lifelong achievements is a definite set of emotional skills — your EQ — not just purely cognitive abilities that are measured by conventional IQ tests." Do you agree with the view? Give reasons in support of your answer. | 2023 | 10 |
| "Those who in trouble untroubled are, Will trouble trouble itself." – Thiruvalluvar | 2025 | 10 |
6. Contributions of Moral Thinkers and Philosophers from India and World
| Question | Year | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who overcomes his enemies. — Aristotle | 2013 | 10 |
| Nearly all men can withstand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. — Abraham Lincoln | 2013 | 10 |
| There is enough on this earth for everyone's need but for no one's greed. — Mahatma Gandhi | 2013 | 10 |
| Human beings should always be treated as 'ends' in themselves and never as merely 'means'. Explain the meaning and significance of this statement, giving its implications in the modern techno-economic society. | 2014 | 10 |
| Which eminent personality has inspired you the most in the context of ethical conduct in life? Give the gist of his/her teachings. Giving specific examples, describe how you have been able to apply these teachings for your own ethical development. | 2014 | 10 |
| "The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." | 2015 | 10 |
| We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light. | 2015 | 10 |
| Corruption causes misuse of government treasury, administrative inefficiency and obstruction in the path of national development. Discuss Kautilya's views. | 2016 | 10 |
| Analyse John Rawls's concept of social justice in the Indian context. | 2016 | 10 |
| Discuss Mahatma Gandhi's concept of seven sins. | 2016 | 10 |
| Max Weber said that it is not wise to apply to public administration the sort of moral and ethical norms we apply to matters of personal conscience. It is important to realise that the State bureaucracy might possess its own independent bureaucratic morality. Critically analyse this statement. | 2016 | 10 |
| "Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them." – Napoleon Bonaparte. Stating examples, mention the rulers (i) who have harmed society and country, (ii) who worked for the development of society and country. | 2017 | 10 |
| With regard to the morality of actions, one view is that means is of paramount importance and the other view is that the ends justify the means. Which view do you think is more appropriate? Justify your answer. | 2018 | 10 |
| What does this quotation mean to you in the present context: "Falsehood takes the place of truth when it results in unblemished common good." – Tirukkural. | 2018 | 10 |
| "An unexamined life is not worth living." – Socrates | 2019 | 10 |
| "A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes." – M.K. Gandhi | 2019 | 10 |
| "Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world." – A.P.J. Abdul Kalam | 2019 | 10 |
| What teachings of Buddha are most relevant today and why? Discuss. | 2020 | 10 |
| What are the main factors responsible for gender inequality in India? Discuss the contribution of Savitribai Phule in this regard. | 2020 | 10 |
| "Condemn none: if you can stretch out a helping hand do so. If not, fold your hands, bless your brothers and let them go their own way." – Swami Vivekananda | 2020 | 10 |
| "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service of others." — Mahatma Gandhi | 2020 | 10 |
| "A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true." – Socrates | 2020 | 10 |
| "Every work has got to pass through hundreds of difficulties before succeeding. Those that persevere will see the light, sooner or later." — Swami Vivekananda | 2021 | 10 |
| "We can never obtain peace in the outer world until and unless we obtain peace within ourselves." – Dalai Lama | 2021 | 10 |
| "Life doesn't make any sense without interdependence. We need each other, and the sooner we learn that, it is better for us all." — Erik Erikson | 2021 | 10 |
| "Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do." — Potter Stewart | 2022 | 10 |
| "If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher." – Abdul Kalam | 2022 | 10 |
| "Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it." — Dalai Lama. | 2022 | 10 |
| "The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer." — Mahatma Gandhi | 2023 | 10 |
| "To awaken the people, it is the women who must be awakened. Once she is on the move, the family moves, the village moves, the nation moves." — Jawaharlal Nehru | 2023 | 10 |
| "Do not hate anybody, because that hatred that comes out from you must, in the long run, come back to you. If you love, that love will come back to you, completing the circle." — Swami Vivekananda | 2023 | 10 |
| What were the major teachings of Guru Nanak? Explain their relevance in the contemporary world. | 2023 | 10 |
| "Learn everything that is good from others, but bring it in, and in your own way absorb it; do not become others." – Swami Vivekananda | 2024 | 10 |
| "Faith is of no avail in the absence of strength. Faith and strength, both are essential to accomplish any great work." – Sardar Patel | 2024 | 10 |
| "In law, a man is guilty when he violates the rights of others. In ethics, he is guilty if he only thinks of doing so." – Immanuel Kant | 2024 | 10 |
| "The strength of a society is not in its laws, but in the morality of its people." – Swami Vivekananda | 2025 | 10 |
| What are the major teachings of Mahavir? Explain their relevance in the contemporary world. | 2025 | 10 |
7. Public/Civil Service Values & 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.
| Question | Year | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| What is meant by 'crisis of conscience'? Narrate one incident in your life when you were faced with such a crisis and how you resolved the same. | 2013 | 10 |
| What do you understand by the term 'voice of conscience'? How do you prepare yourself to heed the voice of conscience? | 2013 | 10 |
| What does 'accountability' mean in the context of public service? What measures can be adopted to ensure individual and collective accountability of public servants? | 2014 | — |
| What does ethics seek to promote in human life? Why is it all the more important in public administration? | 2014 | — |
| Differentiate between the following: (a) Law and Ethics (b) Ethical management and Management of ethics (c) Discrimination and Preferential treatment (d) Personal ethics and Professional ethics. | 2015 | — |
| "A mere compliance with law is not enough, the public servant also has to have a well-developed sensibility to ethical issues for effective discharge of duties." Do you agree? Explain with the help of two examples, where (i) an act is ethically right, but not legally and (ii) an act is legally right, but not ethically. | 2015 | — |
| Law and ethics are considered to be the two tools for controlling human conduct so as to make it conducive to civilized social existence. (a) Discuss how they achieve this objective. (b) Giving examples, show how the two differ in their approaches. | 2016 | — |
| Conflict of interest in the public sector arises when (a) official duties, (b) public interest, and (c) personal interest are taking priority one above the other. How can this conflict in administration be resolved? Describe with an example. | 2017 | — |
| Examine the relevance of the following in the context of civil service: (a) Transparency (b) Accountability (c) Fairness and justice (d) Courage of conviction (e) Spirit of service. | 2017 | — |
| "In doing a good thing, everything is permitted which is not prohibited expressly or by clear implication." Examine the statement with suitable examples in the context of a public servant discharging his/her duties. | 2018 | — |
| Explain the process of resolving ethical dilemmas in Public Administration. | 2018 | — |
| State the three basic values, universal in nature, in the context of civil services and bring out their importance. | 2018 | — |
| Suppose the Government of India is thinking of constructing a dam in a mountain valley bounded by forests and inhabited by ethnic communities. What rational policy should it resort to in dealing with unforeseen contingencies? | 2018 | — |
| What is meant by public interest? What are the principles and procedures to be followed by the civil servants in public interest? | 2018 | — |
| What does this quotation mean to you in the present context: "The true rule, in determining to embrace, or reject anything, is not whether it has any evil in it; but whether it has more evil than good. There are few things wholly evil or wholly good. Almost everything, especially of governmental policy, is an inseparable compound of the two; so that our best judgement of the preponderance between them is continually demanded." — Abraham Lincoln. | 2018 | — |
| What is meant by conflict of interest? Illustrate with examples, the difference between the actual and potential conflicts of interest. | 2018 | — |
| What do you understand by the term 'public servant'? Reflect on the expected role of a public servant. | 2019 | — |
| What is meant by 'crisis of conscience'? How does it manifest itself in the public domain? | 2019 | — |
| What is meant by constitutional morality? How does one uphold constitutional morality? | 2019 | — |
| Distinguish between laws and rules. Discuss the role of ethics in formulating them. | 2020 | — |
| 'Hatred is destructive of a person's wisdom and conscience that can poison a nation's spirit.' Do you agree with this view? Justify your answer. | 2020 | — |
| Identify ten essential values that are needed to be an effective public servant. Describe the ways and means to prevent non-ethical behaviour in public servants. | 2021 | — |
| Impact of digital technology as a reliable source of input for rational decision making is a debatable issue. Critically evaluate with a suitable example. | 2021 | — |
| An independent and empowered social audit mechanism is an absolute must in every sphere of public service, including the judiciary, to ensure performance, accountability and ethical conduct. Elaborate. | 2021 | — |
| Besides domain knowledge, a public official needs innovativeness and creativity of a high order as well, while resolving ethical dilemmas. Discuss with a suitable example. | 2021 | — |
| The Rules and Regulations provided to all the civil servants are the same, yet there is difference in the performance. Positive-minded officers are able to interpret the Rules and Regulations in favour of the case and achieve success, whereas negative-minded officers are unable to achieve goals by interpreting the same Rules and Regulations against the case. Discuss with illustrations. | 2022 | — |
| Is conscience a more reliable guide when compared to laws, rules, and regulations in the context of ethical decision-making? Discuss. | 2023 | — |
| The application of Artificial Intelligence as a dependable source of input for administrative rational decision-making is a debatable issue. Critically examine the statement from the ethical point of view. | 2024 | — |
| "The concept of Just and Unjust is contextual. What was just a year back, may turn out to be unjust in today's context. Changing context should be constantly under scrutiny to prevent miscarriage of justice." Examine the above statement with suitable examples. | 2024 | — |
| "For any kind of social re-engineering by successfully implementing welfare schemes, a civil servant must use reason and critical thinking in an ethical framework." Justify this statement with suitable examples. | 2025 | — |
| "Constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment but a product of civil education and adherence of the rule of law." Examine the significance of constitutional morality for a public servant, highlighting the role in promoting good governance and ensuring accountability in public administration. | 2025 | — |
| Keeping the national security in mind, examine the ethical dilemmas related to controversies over environmental clearance of development projects in ecologically sensitive border areas in the country. | 2025 | — |
| In the present digital age, social media has revolutionised our way of communication and interaction. However, it has raised several ethical issues and challenges. Describe the key ethical dilemmas in this regard. | 2025 | 10 |
8. Ethical Issues in International Relations, Funding & Corporate Governance
| Question | Year | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| At the international level, the bilateral relations between most nations are governed on the policy of promoting one's own national interest without any regard for the interest of other nations. This leads to conflicts and tensions between the nations. How can ethical consideration help resolve such tensions? Discuss with specific examples. | 2015 | 10 |
| Strength, peace and security are considered to be the pillars of international relations. Elucidate. | 2017 | 10 |
| Corporate social responsibility makes companies more profitable and sustainable. Analyse. | 2017 | 10 |
| Increased national wealth did not result in equitable distribution of its benefits. It has created only some "enclaves of modernity and prosperity for a small minority at the cost of the majority". Justify. | 2017 | 10 |
| 'The will to power exists, but it can be tamed and be guided by rationality and principles of moral duty.' Examine this statement in the context of international relations. | 2020 | 10 |
| Discuss the role of ethics and values in enhancing the following three major components of Comprehensive National Power (CNP) viz. human capital, soft power (culture and policies), and social harmony. | 2020 | 10 |
| "Refugees should not be turned back to the country where they would face persecution or human right violation." Examine the statement with reference to ethical dimension being violated by the nation claiming to be democratic with open society. | 2021 | 10 |
| Russia and Ukraine war has been going on for the last seven months. Different countries have taken independent stands and actions keeping in view their own national interests. We are all aware that war has its own impact on the different aspects of society, including human tragedy. What are those ethical issues that are crucial to be considered while launching the war and its continuation so far? Illustrate with justification the ethical issues involved in the given state of affairs. | 2022 | 10 |
| In contemporary world, corporate sector's contribution in generating wealth and employment is increasing. In doing so, they are bringing in unprecedented onslaught on the climate, environmental sustainability and living conditions of human beings. In this background, do you find that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is efficient and sufficient enough to fulfill the social roles and responsibilities needed in the corporate work mandated? Critically examine. | 2022 | 10 |
| What do you understand by 'moral integrity' and 'professional efficiency' in the context of corporate governance in India? Illustrate with suitable examples. | 2023 | 10 |
| International aid is an accepted form of helping resource-challenged nations. Comment on ethics in contemporary international aid. Support your answer with suitable examples. | 2023 | 10 |
| Global warming and climate change are the outcomes of human greed in the name of development, indicating the direction in which extinction of organisms including human beings is heading towards loss of life on Earth. How do you put an end to this to protect life and bring equilibrium between the society and the environment? | 2024 | 10 |
| "It is not enough to talk about peace, one must believe in it; and it is not enough to believe in it, one must act upon it." In the present context, the major weapon industries of the developed nations are adversely influencing continuation of a number of wars for their own self-interest, all around the world. What are the ethical considerations of the powerful nations in today's international arena to stop continuation of ongoing conflicts? | 2024 | 10 |
| Carl von Clausewitz once said, "War is a diplomacy by other means." Critically analyse the above statement in the present context of contemporary geo-political conflict. | 2025 | 10 |
9. Probity in Governance
Concept of public service; philosophical basis of governance and probity; information sharing and transparency in government; Right to Information.
| Question | Year | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| What do you understand by 'probity' in public life? What are the difficulties in practicing it in the present times? How can these difficulties be overcome? | 2014 | 10 |
| Today we find that in spite of various measures like prescribing codes of conduct, setting up vigilance cells/commissions, RTI, active media and strengthening of legal mechanisms, corrupt practices are not coming under control. (a) Evaluate the effectiveness of these measures with justifications. (b) Suggest more effective strategies to tackle this menace. | 2015 | 10 |
| Some recent developments such as introduction of RTI Act, media and judicial activism, etc., are proving helpful in bringing about greater transparency and accountability in the functioning of the government. However, it is also being observed that at times the mechanisms are misused. Another negative effect is that the officers are now afraid to take prompt decisions. Analyze this situation in detail and suggest how this dichotomy can be resolved. Suggest how these negative impacts can be minimized. | 2015 | 10 |
| What do you understand by the terms 'governance' and 'ethical governance'? | 2016 | 10 |
| "The Right to Information Act is not all about citizens' empowerment alone, it essentially redefines the concept of accountability." Discuss. | 2018 | 10 |
| What do you understand by probity in governance? Based on your understanding of the term, suggest measures for ensuring probity in government. | 2019 | 10 |
| There is a view that the official secrets act is an obstacle to the implementation of the Right to Information act. Do you agree with the view? Discuss. | 2019 | 10 |
| Wisdom lies in knowing what to reckon with and what to overlook. An officer being engrossed with the periphery, ignoring the core issues before him, is no rare in the bureaucracy. Do you agree that such preoccupation of an administrator leads to travesty of justice to the cause of effective service delivery and good governance? Critically evaluate. | 2022 | 10 |
| What do you understand by the term 'good governance'? How far recent initiatives in terms of e-Governance steps taken by the State have helped the beneficiaries? Discuss with suitable examples. | 2022 | 10 |
| Probity is essential for an effective system of governance and socio-economic development. Discuss. | 2023 | 10 |
| Explain the term social capital. How does it enhance good governance? | 2023 | 10 |
| "In Indian culture and value system, an equal opportunity has been provided irrespective of gender identity. The number of women in public service has been steadily increasing over the years." Examine the gender-specific challenges faced by female public servants and suggest suitable measures to increase their efficiency in discharging their duties and maintaining high standards of probity. | 2024 | 10 |
| To achieve holistic development goal, a civil servant acts as an enabler and active facilitator of growth rather than a regulator. What specific measures will you suggest to achieve this goal? | 2025 | 10 |
10. Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizens' Charters & Corruption
Codes of ethics, codes of conduct, citizens' charters, work culture, quality of service delivery, utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.
| Question | Year | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| It is often said that poverty leads to corruption. However, there is no dearth of instances where affluent and powerful people indulge in corruption in a big way. What are the basic causes of corruption among people? Support your answer with examples. | 2024 | 10 |
| There is a heavy ethical responsibility on the public servants because they occupy positions of power, handle huge amounts of public funds, and their decisions have wide-ranging impact on society and environment. What steps have you taken to improve your ethical competence to handle such responsibility? | 2014 | 10 |
| Discuss the Public Services Code as recommended by the 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission. | 2016 | 10 |
| "If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher." – A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Analyse. | 2017 | 10 |
| Discipline generally implies following the order and subordination. However, it may be counter-productive for the organisation. Discuss. | 2017 | 10 |
| Distinguish between "Code of ethics" and "Code of conduct" with suitable examples. | 2018 | 10 |
| Explain the basic principles of citizens' charter movement and bring out its importance. | 2019 | 10 |
| "Non-performance of duty by a public servant is a form of corruption." Do you agree with this view? Justify your answer. | 2019 | 10 |
| Effective utilisation of public funds is crucial to meet development goals. Critically examine the reasons for under-utilization and mis-utilisation of public funds and their implication. | 2019 | 10 |
| Whistle blower, who reports corruption and illegal activities, wrongdoing and misconduct to the concerned authorities, runs the risk of being exposed to grave danger, physical harm and victimization by the vested interests, accused persons and his team. What policy measures would you suggest to strengthen protection mechanism to safeguard the whistle blower? | 2022 | 10 |
| "Corruption is the manifestation of the failure of core values in the society." In your opinion, what measures can be adopted to uplift the core values in the society? | 2023 | 10 |
| In the context of work environment, differentiate between 'coercion and undue influence' with suitable examples. | 2023 | 10 |
| "The 'Code of Conduct' and 'Code of Ethics' are the sources of guidance in public administration. There is code of conduct already in operation, whereas code of ethics is not yet put in place. Suggest a suitable model for code of ethics to maintain integrity, probity and transparency in governance." | 2024 | 10 |
| Mission Karmayogi is aiming for maintaining a very high standard of conduct and behaviour to ensure efficiency for serving citizens and in turn developing oneself. How will this scheme empower the civil servants in enhancing productive efficiency and delivering the services at the grassroots level? | 2024 | 10 |
| It is said that for an ethical work culture, there must be code of ethics in place in every organisation. To ensure value-based and compliance-based work culture, what suitable measures would you adopt in your work place? | 2025 | 10 |
| India is an emerging economic power of the world as it has recently secured the status of fourth largest economy of the world as per IMF projection. However, it has been observed that in some sectors, allocated funds remain either under-utilised or mis-utilised. What specific measures would you recommend for ensuring accountability in this regard to stop leakages and gaining the status of third largest economy of the world in near future? | 2025 | 10 |
In GS-IV, the paper never really changes — only the costume does. Master the twelve or thirteen core values, and you will recognise every "new" question as an old friend in a fresh quotation. — Legacy IAS Faculty
Why Practise UPSC Mains Ethics PYQs
Practising GS Paper IV previous year questions is one of the most effective ways to prepare for the Ethics paper. It helps aspirants understand UPSC's expectations, identify recurring themes, strengthen conceptual clarity, and develop the ethical reasoning and answer-writing skills needed to score high marks. The key gains:
- Understand UPSC's Pattern: Get familiar with the type, difficulty, and trend of questions asked in GS Paper IV.
- Identify Important Topics: Recognise frequently asked themes such as integrity, emotional intelligence, human values, probity, attitude, and ethical dilemmas.
- Improve Answer Writing: Learn to write structured, balanced, and value-rich answers within the prescribed word limit.
- Develop Ethical Reasoning: Enhance your ability to analyse moral issues, resolve ethical dilemmas, and justify decisions logically.
- Strengthen Conceptual Clarity: Revise and reinforce core ethics concepts through their practical application in previous questions.
- Learn Effective Use of Examples: Practise incorporating real-life examples, case studies, constitutional values, and contemporary issues into your answers.
- Master Quotations and Thinkers: Understand how to effectively use the teachings of Gandhi, Vivekananda, Buddha, Ambedkar, Kant, Aristotle, Rawls, and other thinkers.
- Boost Confidence: Regular practice builds familiarity with the paper and improves speed, accuracy, and confidence before the examination.
- Improve Marks through Value Addition: Learn to enrich answers with committee recommendations, ethical principles, constitutional provisions, and governance examples.
- Enhance Overall Mains Preparation: Ethics answer-writing also improves analytical thinking and presentation skills, benefiting other General Studies papers and the Essay paper.
Key Takeaways
- The GS-IV syllabus is stable — questions cluster around 10 recurring themes, from ethics & human interface to codes of conduct and corruption.
- Quotation-based questions dominate the "Moral Thinkers & Philosophers" section; build a ready bank of Gandhi, Vivekananda, Kant, Aristotle, Rawls and Thiruvalluvar with your own interpretation.
- Core values — integrity, conscience, probity, conflict of interest, and accountability — are re-asked almost every year in fresh wording, so mastering concepts beats rote memorisation.
- Recent years (2021–2025) increasingly test contemporary applications — AI in decision-making, social media ethics, CSR, refugees, and constitutional morality.
- Most questions are 10 markers (150 words); a few older items left marks unspecified — plan roughly 7–8 minutes per answer in the exam.
- Pairing each theme with real-life examples, committee recommendations and constitutional provisions is the fastest route to value addition and higher scores.
