UPSC GS Paper 4 — Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude Notes — Page 17

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What's covered

General Studies Paper IV is Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude — 250 marks that test how you reason rather than what you recall. Roughly half the paper is case studies, which makes it the most improvable paper on the table.
The paper hands you conflicts: duty to a superior against duty to the public, transparency against confidentiality, speed against due process. Marks come from naming the real conflict, committing to a decision, and defending it in the vocabulary the paper expects. Definitions alone answer a question the syllabus did not ask.
Concepts, thinkers, foundational values, probity in governance and a case-study method are all covered here.

Official UPSC CSE syllabus

UPSC Syllabus for GS IV

Main Examination — General Studies Paper IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)

This paper includes questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and their problem-solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by them in dealing with society. Questions may utilise the case study approach.
Ethics and Human Interface — essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships. Human Values — lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
Attitude — content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
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.
Emotional intelligence — concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world.
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.
Probity in Governance — concept of public service; philosophical basis of governance and probity; information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.
Case Studies on the above issues.

Source: Official UPSC Civil Services Examination notification — Preliminary & Main Examination syllabus.