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30 Jul 2025
GS Paper 4
Theoretical Questions
Day 39: “Ethical leadership begins with ethical character.”Identify five ethical traits that distinguish an ethically robust civil servant from a merely efficient one.(150 words)
Approach:
- Begin by defining ethical leadership and ethical character.
- Clarify the difference between ethical robustness and mere efficiency in civil services, and identify key ethical traits.
- Conclude suitably.
Introduction:
Ethical leadership in civil services goes beyond rule-based efficiency; it is anchored in ethical character. An ethically robust civil servant not only delivers outcomes but upholds values like justice, compassion, and integrity. Such character traits enable governance rooted in public interest and constitutional morality, distinguishing it from mechanical or self-serving efficiency.
Body:
- Integrity: It implies consistency between moral values and professional actions, even in the absence of supervision.
- Example: E. Sreedharan, known as the "Metro Man", upheld integrity by resisting undue political interference in Delhi Metro.
- Empathy and Compassion: Ethical leaders understand public hardship and respond with humane and inclusive governance approaches.
- Example: IAS officer Armstrong Pame built a road in Manipur through community support, sensing people’s suffering.
- Courage of Conviction: It enables officials to act ethically despite pressure or threat from political or institutional powers.
- Example: Ashok Khemka, known for resisting illegal land deals, exemplified ethical courage at great personal cost.
- Accountability and Answerability: Ethical civil servants are transparent, accept responsibility, and learn from failures without shifting blame.
- Tools like RTI, citizen charters, and voluntary disclosure of assets show commitment to public accountability.
- Fairness and Justice: Ensures equitable treatment without bias or discrimination, promoting trust in the state’s moral authority.
- Example: T.N. Chaturvedi, as CAG, upheld fiscal justice by exposing irregularities during his audits.
Conclusion:
While efficiency delivers results, it is the ethical character that sustains public trust and democratic legitimacy. Civil servants with ethical traits such as integrity, empathy, courage, fairness, and accountability not only implement policies but also elevate governance standards, embodying the spirit of the Constitution.
