UPSC CSE Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude Flashcards

24 sample cards from the Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude deck

Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.

1. What is the relationship between objectivity and rationality in ethics?

   Objectivity requires rationality—judging issues on logical analysis of evidence rather than feelings; rationality is the reasoning faculty that enables a person to remain objective and detached from personal bias.

2. Which committee/report recommended foundational values for the Indian civil services?

   The 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), in its 10th report 'Refurbishing of Personnel Administration', recommended values like integrity, impartiality, commitment to public service, and neutrality.

3. What are the core foundational values for civil services frequently listed in GS-IV?

   Integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication/commitment to public service, empathy/compassion toward the weaker sections, and tolerance for the poor and disabled.

4. What is the difference between intrinsic value and instrumental value?

   Intrinsic value is something valued for its own sake (e.g., happiness, honesty); instrumental value is something valued as a means to achieve something else (e.g., money to buy goods).

5. What is conscience in ethics?

   Conscience is the inner sense or faculty that judges the rightness or wrongness of one's actions, acting as an internal moral guide and the 'moral compass' of the self.

6. What is the difference between dimensions of ethics being descriptive vs prescriptive?

   Descriptive ethics describes what people actually believe and how they behave (empirical/factual); prescriptive (normative) ethics prescribes how people ought to behave (evaluative).

7. What is meant by the 'consequences of ethics' for governance?

   Ethical governance produces transparency, accountability, reduced corruption, efficient service delivery and citizen trust; unethical governance leads to corruption, inefficiency, erosion of legitimacy and loss of public faith.

8. What is the difference between personal ethics and professional ethics?

   Personal ethics are an individual's private moral principles guiding personal life; professional ethics are the codified standards and duties governing conduct within a particular profession or office.

9. What are 'cardinal virtues' in classical ethics?

   The four cardinal virtues identified by Plato and adopted in Western philosophy are: Prudence (wisdom), Justice, Fortitude (courage), and Temperance (self-control/moderation).

10. How does culture and tradition act as a determinant of ethics?

    Cultural norms, customs, festivals and traditions transmit accepted notions of right and wrong across generations, shaping what a community regards as acceptable behaviour.

11. What is the role of conscience in resolving ethical dilemmas?

    When laws, rules and external guidance fall short, conscience serves as the inner crisis-conscience that helps an officer make a morally sound choice in genuinely conflicting situations.

12. What is an ethical dilemma?

    An ethical dilemma is a situation requiring a choice between two or more options where each option involves a conflict between moral principles, so that no choice is fully satisfactory.

13. How do thought and behaviour relate through the concept of 'moral cognition' to 'moral action'?

    Moral cognition (reasoning about right and wrong) ideally translates into moral action; the link can be strengthened by moral emotions, strong values and willpower, and weakened by self-interest and social pressure.

14. What is the difference between bias and prejudice in the context of impartiality?

    Bias is an inclination or leaning (favourable or unfavourable) that distorts fair judgment; prejudice is a preconceived, usually negative, judgment about a person or group formed without adequate evidence. Both undermine impartiality.

15. What does 'fairness' mean as a component of impartiality?

    Fairness means giving each person their due—equal treatment of equals, applying rules consistently, providing equal opportunity, and avoiding favouritism or discrimination.

16. Why can total objectivity be difficult to achieve, and what is the practical standard?

    Pure objectivity is hard because humans have inherent biases, emotions and limited information; the practical standard is to consciously minimize bias by relying on evidence, transparency, consultation and reasoned analysis.

17. What is 'intellectual integrity'?

    Intellectual integrity is honesty in the pursuit, evaluation and communication of knowledge—acknowledging facts even when inconvenient, admitting errors and the limits of one's understanding, and not distorting evidence.

18. How is integrity linked to anti-corruption in public administration?

    Integrity is the primary internal safeguard against corruption; an official of high integrity resists bribes, nepotism and misuse of office, making rules and oversight more effective.

19. What is the difference between empathy and sympathy in ethical conduct?

    Sympathy is feeling pity or sorrow for another's situation from a distance; empathy is the deeper capacity to understand and share another's feelings by putting oneself in their place, enabling more compassionate action.

20. What is meant by 'spirit of service' or dedication to public service as an ethical value?

    It is the commitment to work selflessly for public welfare, placing the citizen's and nation's interest above personal gain, with diligence, responsiveness and a sense of duty.

21. What is the relationship between ethics and emotional intelligence?

    Emotional intelligence (self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, motivation, social skills) helps a person manage emotions and biases, strengthening ethical decision-making and the alignment of thought with behaviour.

22. What is the difference between 'rule of law' and 'rule of man' in the context of impartiality?

    Rule of law means decisions are governed by impartial, predefined laws applied equally to all; rule of man means decisions depend on the arbitrary will of individuals, which permits favouritism and bias.

23. How does the 'cognitive component' of attitude relate to ethical behaviour?

    The cognitive component consists of a person's beliefs and knowledge about an object or issue; it shapes ethical judgments which, combined with affective and behavioural components, influence how the person actually acts.

24. What is the core idea of consistency in integrity?

    Consistency means a person of integrity upholds the same moral principles and standards across all situations, over time, and whether or not they are being observed—there is no gap between private and public conduct.

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