Introduction

A new GS Paper 4, titled Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude, was included as part of the 2013 civil services exam's mains syllabus revisions. Wide-ranging recommendations on what the UPSC intends to examine with this paper are provided in the official UPSC syllabus. This paper includes questions to test the candidates' attitudes and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life, and problem-solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. The case study method may be used in questions to ascertain these elements.

The two portions of this paper, Section A and Section B, each carry 125 marks. Theoretical topics, which are typically of an applied nature, are included in Section A. Case studies are presented in Section B. Both parts call for particular approaches.

Overall, the capacity to present oneself as a person who is pragmatic and productive while being devoted to personal and professional ethics is crucial to scoring in an ethics paper. Up till now, UPSC has been posing questions that call for the use of common sense while keeping moral standards in mind.

Importance of Ethics Paper

A strong performance on the ethics paper is a requirement for being included in the final list and receiving the requested service. This paper also gives maximum profits, similar to the essay paper. It takes relatively little work to achieve decent grades. A thorough preparation of this paper also aids in the addition of a moral component to the responses in the GS Papers 1, 2, and 3 as well as the essay paper. Additionally, it aids in projecting traits that would be appropriate for a government worker in a personality test.

General Instructions for Writing an Ethics Paper

Understand the syllabus; it contains your most crucial readings and a list of vital terms. To utilise the vocabulary included in the syllabus in your responses, familiarise yourself with it.

Read only a few books. Before underlining significant lines, read them twice. Make quick notes and highlight lines.

Using notes makes it easier to group keywords into compact forms. This is essential because developing an ethical response involves keyword play.

Read all papers from past years. 

For Ethics, reading is not as crucial as answer writing. Understand the most effective response writing format and method for both section-A and case studies.

Create examples using current events, societal concerns, your career, your interests, etc. The foundation of any answer in an ethics paper is an example.

To be creative and original, draw diagrams in Ethics. This will put you ahead of the competition.

Preparation of Ethics Paper

The purpose of the Ethics paper is to assess "ethical competence," not "knowledge about ethics."

One should first familiarise themselves with the words listed on the syllabus. One should be able to communicate ideas with the fewest words feasible.

To provide an example, values are preferences, while ethics are rules for what is good and bad. Giving the public access to government information is what is meant by transparency; Accountability entails holding someone responsible for their actions; A person's attitude is their personal assessment of another person, a concept, a circumstance, etc.

Relate concepts and principles from the syllabus to one's own experiences. Try to recall instances in your life where you showed honesty.

Be prepared with tales from the lives of social reformers, leaders, civil officials, etc. and other venerable public figures to illustrate one's thesis if there isn't a real-life example.

Additionally, be ready to use a hypothetical scenario if there are no examples or stories from real life. Always begin these kinds of examples with Suppose, Assume, etc.

One more crucial piece of advice: every case study you resolve is a fictitious scenario. Therefore, you can utilise the case studies you may have practised as fictitious examples for your test replies.

Writing Techniques for Part A's Theoretical Portion of the Answers

Typically, Section-A consists of 12–13 questions at 10 marks each, for a total of 120–130 marks. There are two pages available for you to answer these in 150 words each. The ideal response time for a 10-mark question is seven minutes. Analytical or occasionally theoretical questions are possible. According to the requirement/type of inquiry, answers in ethics can be written either in paragraphs or in points. An ideal response would contain the following: 

Introduction: In this section, a definition of each word or phrase used in the question must be provided in two to three lines.

Body: It may be in a paragraph or in points. It is important to include a variety of aspects so that the solution is multi-dimensional. A response presented in bullet points can manage dimensions far more readily than one presented in paragraphs when there is a great possibility of straying from the topic at hand.

Theory: Answers must include the theories, philosophers, and concepts from the syllabus. The replies are kept more "ethical" as a result. Idealistically, theory should only account for 20% of the solution. Using too many theories or terms results in robotic responses.

Examples: Typically, the question specifies that an example or examples should be given. Include two instances in such queries. While one should nonetheless provide at least one example in cases when it has not been specifically requested for one.

Diagrams: Using them can help you stand out from the competition. The X-factor that the examiner is searching for is provided through diagrams. They improve presentations and break up the monotony.

Conclusion: It is just as crucial as the question or response body itself. Don't rush beyond the conclusion to the following question or questions. Put the response in a few of lines.

Answer Writing Strategy for Part B- Case Studies

A case study never has a predetermined solution. Getting knowledge from the format should be the goal.

Actors

Dilemmas

Answer Body

Points

Keywords

Theory

Diagram

Conclusion

Try to provide practical solutions. Ideal solutions, if unworkable, would not fetch you marks.

Give out-of-the-box yet practical solutions.

Try to provide specific solutions. Avoid generalized solutions.

Don't state, "I would promote transparency," as an example. Mention how you would encourage openness.

Don't focus just on fundamental concerns. Include ancillary topics in a case study as well.

Consider a case study where "you are the head of the committee.

Let your solutions strive to strike the best possible balance between opposing viewpoints. Warning: Such balance may not always occur.

Recommended Books

Books

1. ARC 4th report.

2. Ethics in Public Administration – Patrick Sheeran.

3. Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude: G. Subbarao.

4. NCERT Psychology book Class XI & XII: Selected chapters.

5. Citizen Centric Administration – ARC Report.

6. Yojana Issues- Good Governance (2013), Inclusive Governance (2013), Reforms in Public         Administration (2014).

7. Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude- Civil services chronicle.

8. Ethics, Integrity, and aptitude – McGraw-Hill education – M. Karthikeyan.

Biographies and other literature

1. Experiment with Truth – Mahatma Gandhi.

2. Verghese Kurien's autobiography.

3. Swami Vivekananda – Karmayoga and his biography.

4. Selected articles by Immanuel Kant, Aristotle etc.  

Videos

1. Harvard lectures by Michael Sandel.