Suppose one of your close friends, who is also aspiring for civil services, comes to you for discussing some of the issues related to ethical conduct in public service. He raises the following points:- (i)In the present times, when unethical environment is quite prevalent, individual attempts to stick to ethical principles may cause a lot of problems in one’s career. It may cause hardship to the family members as well as risk to one’s life. Why should we not be pragmatic and follow the path of least resistance, and be happy with doing whatever good we can? (ii) When so many people are adopting wrong means and are grossly harming the system, what difference would it make if only a small minority tries to be ethical? They are going t be rather ineffective and are bound to get frustrated. (iii) If we become fussy about ethical considerations, will it not hamper the economic progress of our country? After all in the present age of high competition we cannot afford to be left behind in the race of development (iv) It is understandable that we should not get involved in grossly unethical practices, but giving and accepting small gratifications and doing small favours increases everybody’s motivation. It also makes the system more efficient. What is wrong in adopting such practices? Critically analyze the above viewpoints. On the basis of this analysis, what will be your advice to your friend?

Ethics

Ethics: Case Study

2014

20 Marks

The case presents a critical dialogue about ethical pragmatism versus principled governance in civil services, where a friend questions the viability of maintaining ethical standards in a seemingly corrupt environment. This reflects the fundamental challenge faced by aspiring civil servants in balancing idealism with practical realities.

Stakeholders

Primary Stakeholders: The friend (aspiring civil servant), citizens who will be served, current civil servants, family members
Secondary Stakeholders: Political leadership, judiciary, civil society, future generations, democratic institutions

Critical Analysis of Viewpoints

Viewpoint (i): Pragmatic Approach vs Ethical Principles

Flawed Logic: Assumes ethical conduct inevitably leads to career problems, ignoring numerous examples of successful ethical officers like E. Sreedharan, Kiran Bedi, and Armstrong Pame
Short-term Thinking: Prioritizes immediate comfort over long-term institutional integrity and personal satisfaction
Utilitarian Fallacy: "Doing whatever good we can" within corrupt systems often perpetuates the very problems civil servants should solve
Constitutional Violation: Contradicts Article 311 protections and fundamental duties under Article 51A

Viewpoint (ii): Individual Impact Skepticism

Historical Counter-evidence: Individual ethical stands have created systemic changes - Vinod Rai's CAG reports, Ashok Khemka's land deal exposures
Ripple Effect Ignorance: Ethical behavior inspires others and builds institutional credibility over time
Democratic Responsibility: Article 21 guarantees citizens' right to honest governance, making individual integrity constitutionally mandated

Viewpoint (iii): Ethics vs Economic Development

False Dichotomy: Countries like Singapore, Denmark demonstrate that ethical governance accelerates economic growth
Corruption Cost: Transparency International estimates corruption reduces GDP growth by 0.5-1% annually
Sustainable Development: SDG 16 explicitly links good governance with development outcomes

Viewpoint (iv): Small Gratifications Rationalization

Slippery Slope: Small corruptions normalize larger ones, as seen in various scam progressions
System Inefficiency: Gratifications create parallel economies and delay legitimate processes
Legal Violation: Prevention of Corruption Act 2018 criminalizes all forms of gratification without threshold limits

Advice to Friend

Philosophical Foundation

Embrace dharmic leadership - duty-bound service regardless of external environment
Apply Kantian categorical imperative - act only according to principles you'd want universalized
Follow Gandhian principle: "Be the change you wish to see"

Practical Strategy

Build Alliances: Connect with like-minded officers and civil society organizations
Document Everything: Maintain transparent records to protect against false allegations
Leverage Technology: Use digital platforms for transparent service delivery
Continuous Learning: Study successful ethical leaders' strategies and adapt contextually

Career Protection Measures

Know Legal Protections: Understand RTI Act 2005, Whistleblower Protection Act 2014
Professional Networks: Build relationships with ethical seniors and peer groups
Media Engagement: Maintain healthy relationships with responsible journalism
Family Communication: Ensure family understands the nobility and long-term benefits of ethical service

Ethical governance isn't just about personal integrity; it's about fulfilling the constitutional promise to citizens. As Swami Vivekananda said, "Take up one idea, make that one idea your life, think of it, dream of it, live on that idea." Let service with integrity be that transformative idea.

Answer Length

Model answers may exceed the word limit for better clarity and depth. Use them as a guide, but always frame your final answer within the exam’s prescribed limit.

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