UPSC Ethics Paper IV Syllabus

The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) conducts the Civil Services Examination in India, which includes the Ethics paper as part of the General Studies Paper IV. The Ethics paper focuses on testing the candidate’s understanding of ethical and moral principles, integrity, and aptitude in public service. The syllabus for the UPSC Ethics paper includes the following topics:

1. Ethics and Human Interface:
   • Essence, determinants, and consequences of ethics in human actions.
   • Dimensions of ethics.
   • Ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions.
   • Ethics in personal and professional relationships.
     
     
2. Attitude:
   • Content, structure, and function of attitudes.
   • Influence of attitudes on behavior.
   • Attitude formation and its influence on thought processes.
     
     
3. Aptitude and Foundational Values for Civil Service:
   • Integrity, impartiality, and non-partisanship.
   • Objectivity and dedication to public service.
   • Empathy, tolerance, and compassion.
   • Emotional intelligence and its application in administration and governance.
     
     
4. Emotional Intelligence:
   • Concepts, dimensions, and components of emotional intelligence.
   • Emotional intelligence and its role in governance and administration.
   • Contributions of emotional intelligence for dealing with stress and conflicts.
     
     
5. Contributions of Moral Thinkers and Philosophers:
   • Ethical theories and concepts.
   • Contributions of moral thinkers from India and the world.
     
     
6. Public/Civil Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration:
   • Ethical governance and the challenges involved.
   • Ethical dilemmas faced by public servants and measures to address them.
   • Strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance.
     

The UPSC Ethics syllabus aims to assess the candidate’s understanding of ethical and moral principles, as well as their ability to apply these principles in real-world scenarios and decision-making processes. Candidates are expected to demonstrate a strong foundation in ethics and integrity, as well as the ability to analyze ethical dilemmas and provide well-reasoned solutions in the context of public service.