GS-IV UPSC PYQ 2015

How do the virtues of trustworthiness and fortitude get manifested in public service? Explain with examples (150 words, 10 Marks)

“A mere compliance with law is not enough, the public servant also has to have a well-developed sensibility to ethical issues for effective discharge of duties” Do you agree? Explain with the help of two examples where (i) an act is ethically right, but not legally and (ii) an act is legally right, but not ethically. (150 words, 10 Marks)

Differentiate between Law and Ethics; Ethical management and Management of ethics; Discrimination and Preferential treatment; Personal ethics and Professional ethics. How to approach this question Write a brief introduction setting context ( 1–2 lines ) Cover both sides if question says "critically discuss / examine / analyse" Use data, schemes, examples specific to PART A Conclude with a forward-looking statement ( 1 line ) Practice all GS4 Mains questions Model answers + key points for every question Open App Model Answer Framework (English) Show Hide Several pairs of closely related concepts in ethics are often confused; distinguishing them clearly is essential. Law versus Ethics Law is the body of formal, written rules enacted and enforced by the state, with definite penalties for breach; it is externally enforced and prescribes a minimum standard of conduct. Ethics is the body of moral principles concerning right and wrong; it operates internally, through conscience and social approval, and sets a higher, aspirational standard. Law tells us what we *must* do; ethics tells us what we *ought* to do. Many acts are legal yet unethical, and law itself is judged just or unjust against ethics. easemyprep.in Ethical management versus Management of ethics Ethical management means managing an organisation in an ethical manner — taking every managerial decision (on resources, people, strategy) honestly, fairly and responsibly. The *manner* of management is ethical. Management of ethics , by contrast, means managing ethics as a subject — the deliberate institutional effort to promote ethical conduct: framing codes of ethics, ethics training, grievance and whistleblower systems, ethics audits. Ethical management is *being* ethical while managing; management of ethics is *administering* ethics as a function. Discrimination versus Preferential treatment easemyprep.in Discrimination is the unjust and arbitrary unfavourable treatment of a person or group on irrelevant grounds — caste, religion, gender, race — denying them equal opportunity. It is unethical and unconstitutional. Preferential treatment (positive or affirmative action) is the conscious, just favourable treatment of historically disadvantaged groups — such as reservation for Scheduled Castes and Tribes — to correct past injustice and achieve genuine equality. Discrimination *creates* inequality on irrelevant grounds; preferential treatment *remedies* historical inequality on relevant grounds. One is treating equals unequally; the other is treating unequals appropriately. Personal ethics versus Professional ethics Personal ethics are the moral values an individual holds in their private life and personal conduct — shaped by upbringing, religion and conscience. Professional ethics are the standards of conduct expected of a person in the exercise of a particular profession or office — codified, role-specific, and binding by virtue of the role (a doctor's duty of confidentiality, a civil servant's impartiality). The two usually align, but can conflict — and a professional must then resolve the tension responsibly, generally honouring legitimate professional obligations while never violating fundamental ethical principles. easemyprep.in Conclusion These distinctions sharpen ethical reasoning: they remind us that the legal is not always the ethical, that being ethical differs from administering ethics, that just preference is not discrimination, and that personal and professional ethics, though related, are distinct domains that must be thoughtfully harmonised. Source: easemyprep.in Structured Mains Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View इस प्रश्न को हिंदी में पढ़ें हिंदी में पढ़ें → Structured Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View Practice All Mains GS4 — Ethics & Integrity Questions Download App More GS4 Questions Ease My Prep Focused UPSC preparation. Daily current affairs, PYQ practice, trend analysis, and mentorship for serious CSE aspirants across India. Based in Gurugram, Haryana · Founded 2022 Product Features Pricing AI Copy Checking Courses Daily News Mentorship Books Blog Company About Us Community Contact Legal Privacy Policy Terms of Service Refund Policy 📱 Android App 🍎 iOS App 🌐 Web App © 2022 – 2026 Ease My Prep . All rights reserved. Made with dedication for UPSC aspirants across India.

You are the Sarpanch of a Panchayat. There is a primary school run by the government in your area. Midday meals are provided to children attending the school. The headmaster has now appointed a new cook in the school to prepare the meals. However, when it is found that cooks are from Dalit community, almost half of the children belonging to higher castes are not allowed to take meals by their parents. Consequently the attendance in the schools falls sharply. This could result in the possibility of discontinuation of midday meal scheme, thereafter of teaching staff and subsequent closing down the school. (a) Discuss some possible strategies to overcome the conflict and to create the right ambiance. (b) What should be the responsibilities of different social segments and agencies to create positive social ambiance for accepting such changes?

What is meant by ‘environmental ethics’? Why is it important to study? Discuss any one environmental issue from the viewpoint of environmental ethics. (150 words, 10 Marks)

A private company is known for its efficiency, transparency and employee welfare. The company, though owned by a private individual, has a cooperative character where employees feel a sense of ownership. The company employs nearly 700 personnel and they have voluntarily decided not to form a union.One day suddenly in the morning, about 40 men belonging to political parties gatecrashed into the factory demanding jobs in the factory. They threatened the management and employees, and also used foul language. The employees feel demoralized. It was clear that those people who crashed wanted to be on the payroll of the company as well as continue as the volunteers/members of the party. The company maintains high standards in integrity and does not extend favors to civil administration that also includes law enforcement agencies. Such incidents occur in the public sector also. (a) Assume you are the CEO of the company. What would you do to diffuse the volatile situation on the date of gate crashing with the violent mob sitting inside the company premises? (b) What can be the long term solution to the issue discussed in the case? (c) Every solution/action that you suggest will have a negative and a positive impact on you as (CEO), the employees and the performance of the employees. Analyze the consequences of each of your suggested actions.

One of the scientists working in the R&D laboratory of a major pharmaceutical company discovers that one of the company’s best selling veterinary drugs has the potential to cure a currently incurable liver disease which is prevalent in tribal areas. However, developing a variant of the drug suitable for human beings entailed a lot of research and development having a huge expenditure to the extent of Rs. 50 crores. It was unlikely that the company would recover the cost as the disease was rampant only in poverty stricken areas having very little market otherwise.If you were the CEO, then (a) Identify the various actions that you could take (b) Evaluate the pros and cons of each of your actions.

Public servants are likely to confront the issues of “Conflict of Interest”. What do you understand by the term “Conflict of Interest” and how does it manifest in the decision making by public servants? If faced with the conflict-of-interest situation, how would you resolve it? Explain with the help of examples. (150 words, 10 Marks)

Two different kinds of attitudes exhibited by public servants towards their work have been identified as bureaucratic attitude and the democratic attitude. (a) Distinguish between these two terms and write their merits and demerits. (b) Is it possible to balance the two to create a better administration for the faster development of our country? (150 words, 10 Marks)

Differentiate between the following (i) Law and ethics (ii) Ethical management and management of ethics (iii) Discrimination and preferential treatment (iv) Personal Ethics and Professional Ethics. (10 marks) (200 Words)

You are heading a district administration in a particular department. Your senior officer calls you from the State Headquarters and tells you that a plot in Rampur village is to have a building constructed on it for a school. A visit is scheduled during which he will visit the site along with the chief engineer and the senior architect. He wants you to check out all the papers relating to it and ensure that the visit is properly arranged. You examine the file which relates to the period before you joined the department. The land was acquired for the local panchayat at a nominal cost and the papers showed that clearance certificates are available for the two of the three authorities who have to certify the site’s suitability. There is no certification by the architect available on file. You decide to visit Rampur to ensure that all is in the order as stated on file. When you visit Rampur, you find that the plot under reference is a part of Thakurgarh fort and that the walls, ramparts, etc., are running across it. The fort is well away from the main village, therefore a school here will be a serious inconvenience for the children. However, the area near the village has potential to expand into a larger residential area. The development charges on the existing plot, at the fort, will be very high and the question of heritage site has not been addressed. Moreover, the Sarpanch, at the time of acquisition of the land, was a relative of your predecessor. The whole transaction appears to have been done with some vested interest. (a) List the likely vested interest of the concerned parties. (b) Some of the options for action available to you are listed below. Discuss the merits and demerits of each of the options: (i) You can await the visit of the superior officer and let him make a decision. (ii) You can seek his advice in writing or on the phone. (iii) You can consult your predecessor/ colleagues, etc, and then decide what to do. (iv) You can find out if any alternate plot can be got in exchange and then send a comprehensive written report. Can you suggest any other option with proper justifications?

Today we find that in-spite of various measures of prescribing codes of conduct, setting up vigilance cells/commissions, RTI, active media and strengthening of legal mechanisms, corrupt practices are not coming under control. (a) Evaluate the effectiveness of these measures with justifications. (b) Suggest more effective strategies to tackle this menace. (150 words, 10 Marks)

There is a disaster prone state having frequent landslides, forest fires, cloudbursts, flash floods and earthquakes, etc. Some of these are seasonal and often unpredictable. The magnitude of the disaster is always unanticipated. During one of the seasons a cloudburst caused devastating floods and landslides leading to high casualties. There was major damage to infrastructure like roads, bridges and power generating units. This led to more than 100000 pilgrims, tourists and other locals trapped across different routes and locations. The people trapped in your area of responsibility include senior citizens, patients in hospitals, women and children, hikers, tourists, ruling parties, regional presidents along with his family, additional chief secretary of the neighboring state and prisoners in jail. As a civil services officer of the state, what would be the order in which you would rescue these people and why? Give Justifications.

“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light” (150 words, 10 Marks)

At the international level, bilateral relations between most nations are governed on the policy of promoting one’s own national interest without any regard for the interest of other nations. This led to conflicts and tension between the nations. How can ethical consideration help resolve such tensions? Discuss with specific examples. (150 words, 10 Marks)

Social values are more important than economic values. Discuss the above statement with examples in the context of inclusive growth of a nation. (150 words, 10 Marks)

Question:- Given are two quotations of moral thinkers/philosophers. For each of these bring out what it means to you in the present context. “The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of strong.” (150 words, 10 Marks)

You were recently posted as district development officer of a district. Shortly thereafter you found that there is considerable tension in the rural areas of your district on the issue of sending girls to schools. The elders of the village feel that many problems have come up because girls are being educated and they are stepping out of the safe environment of the household. They are of the view that the girls should be quickly married off with minimum education. The girls are also competing for jobs after education, which have traditionally remained in boys’ exclusive domain, adding to unemployment amongst male population. The younger generation feels that in the present era, girls should have equal opportunities for education and employment, and other means of livelihood. The entire locality is divided between sexes in both generations. You come to know that in Panchayat or in other local bodies or even in busy crosswords, the issue is being acrimoniously debated. One day you are informed that an unpleasant incident has taken place. Some girls were molested, when they were en route to schools. The incident led to clashes between several groups and a law and order problem has arisen. The elders after heated discussion have taken a joint decision not to allow girls to go to school and to socially boycott all such families, which do not follow their dictate. (a) What steps would you take to ensure girls’ safety without disrupting their education? (b) How would you manage and mold the patriarchal attitude of the village elders to ensure harmony in the inter- generational relations?

Some recent developments such as introduction of RTI Act, media and judicial activism, etc. are proving helpful in bringing about greater transparency and accountability in the functioning of the government. However, it is also being observed that at times the mechanisms are misused. Another negative effect is that the officers are now afraid to make prompt decisions. Analyze the situation in detail and suggest how the dichotomy can be resolved. Suggest how these negative impacts can be minimised. (150 words, 10 Marks)

What is environmental ethics? Why is it important? Discuss one issue from this viewpoint. How to approach this question Write a brief introduction setting context ( 1–2 lines ) Cover both sides if question says "critically discuss / examine / analyse" Use data, schemes, examples specific to PART A Conclude with a forward-looking statement ( 1 line ) Practice all GS4 Mains questions Model answers + key points for every question Open App Model Answer Framework (English) Show Hide Environmental ethics is the branch of applied ethics that examines the moral relationship of human beings with the natural environment — with other living beings, ecosystems and the Earth itself. It asks fundamental questions: do we have moral duties towards nature, and does nature have value, or even rights, of its own? What environmental ethics is Environmental ethics broadens the moral community beyond human beings. It moves along a spectrum — from anthropocentrism (nature has only instrumental value, for human use), through biocentrism (all living things have intrinsic worth), to ecocentrism (whole ecosystems, and the Earth, have intrinsic value and deserve moral consideration). It is grounded in principles such as sustainable development, inter-generational equity, the precautionary principle and the polluter-pays principle . easemyprep.in Why environmental ethics is important It is important because the survival of life itself , including human life, depends on a healthy environment. Unbridled exploitation — driven by greed and a purely anthropocentric outlook — has produced climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss and resource depletion . Environmental ethics is needed to restrain that greed , to recognise our duties to future generations (who cannot speak for themselves), to extend compassion to non-human life , and to reorient development from domination towards stewardship and harmony with nature . Indian traditions — reverence for *prakriti*, the principle of *ahimsa*, and Gandhi's teaching that the earth has enough for need but not for greed — embody this ethic. Discussing one issue: climate change easemyprep.in Climate change can be examined squarely through the lens of environmental ethics. It is, at heart, an ethical problem , not merely a technical one. It involves a grave inter-generational injustice — present generations enjoy the benefits of fossil fuels while future generations bear the harm. It involves climate justice — the nations and people who contributed *least* to emissions (the poor, small island states) suffer the *most*, while the historically high emitters bear the greater moral responsibility, captured in the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities . It raises duties towards non-human life , as countless species face extinction. The ethical response — embodied in the Paris Agreement, in India's "LiFE" (Lifestyle for Environment) movement, and in the call for sustainable, restrained living — is to act on the principles of responsibility, equity and stewardship . Conclusion Environmental ethics reminds us that how we treat nature is a profound moral question . Faced with crises such as climate change, humanity must move from an ethic of domination to one of responsibility, compassion and stewardship — for the sake of all life, present and future. easemyprep.in Value addition (updated 2026) Schools of environmental ethics — name them precisely: Anthropocentrism — nature has instrumental value only. Biocentrism — Albert Schweitzer's "reverence for life"; Paul Taylor, *Respect for Nature* ( 1986 ): living things are "teleological centres of life" with inherent worth. easemyprep.in Ecocentrism / Deep Ecology — Arne Naess coined "deep ecology" in 1973 ; Aldo Leopold's Land Ethic (*A Sand County Almanac*, 1949 ): "A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community." Social ecology — Murray Bookchin ( 1982 ): the domination of nature originates in the domination of human by human. Ecofeminism — Vandana Shiva, *Staying Alive* (1988); Bina Agarwal's "feminist environmentalism" (1992) correcting its essentialism — women's link to nature is materially constituted by the gendered division of labour. easemyprep.in Intergenerational equity — Edith Brown Weiss ( 1989 ): conservation of options, of quality and of access. Commons — Garrett Hardin's "Tragedy of the Commons" (*Science*, 1968 ) versus Elinor Ostrom (*Governing the Commons*, 1990; Nobel 2009 ), who showed empirically that communities do self-govern commons through clear boundaries, monitoring and graduated sanctions. India's sacred groves, *orans* and Community Forest Resources under the FRA are living instances. Judicial spine: *Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra* (1985, first environmental PIL) · *M.C. Mehta*, Oleum gas leak (1987, absolute liability ) · *Subhash Kumar* (1991, pollution-free water and air under Article 21) · *Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum* (1996, precautionary principle and polluter pays , burden of proof on the developer) · *T.N. Godavarman* (1996, continuing mandamus) · *M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath* (1997, public trust doctrine ) · *Orissa Mining Corporation v. MoEF* (2013, Niyamgiri gram sabha consent) · *Hanuman Laxman Aroskar* (2019, environmental rule of law ) · *Vanashakti v. Union of India* (16 May 2025, striking down retrospective environmental clearances). easemyprep.in A model issue to discuss — the "green versus green" dilemma: In *M.K. Ranjitsinh v. Union of India* (21 March 2024) the Supreme Court recognised a right to be free from the adverse effects of climate change under Articles 14 and 21, read with Articles 48A and 51A(g), while modifying its 2021 order that had mandated undergrounding of power lines across roughly 99,000 sq km of Great Indian Bustard habitat. In its follow-up judgment of 19 December 2025 it accepted the expert committee's report, fixed revised priority areas of 14,013 sq km in Rajasthan and 740 sq km in Gujarat , ordered undergrounding of specified critical stretches within two years, and restricted new renewable projects inside those areas. The bustard is down to an estimated 50–249 mature individuals . The lesson is procedural: expert determination, spatial prioritisation, a fixed timeline and reviewability — not a blanket mandate. Data (2024–26): air pollution contributed to about 1.5 million deaths a year in India and every one of its 655 districts exceeds the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³ (*Lancet Planetary Health*, 2024). Forest and tree cover stands at 25.17% of geographical area (ISFR 2023, released 21 December 2024) against the 1988 policy target of 33%. India crossed 50% non-fossil installed capacity in June 2025 , five years early; its third NDC (Cabinet approval, 25 March 2026) targets a 47% cut in emissions intensity and 60% non-fossil capacity by 2035. COP30 at Belém (2025) tripled adaptation finance but produced no fossil-fuel roadmap. Comparative: Bhutan is carbon-negative with a constitutionally mandated minimum of 60% forest cover ; Ecuador and New Zealand grant legal personhood to nature and to the Whanganui river. easemyprep.in Source: easemyprep.in Structured Mains Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View इस प्रश्न को हिंदी में पढ़ें हिंदी में पढ़ें → Structured Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View Practice All Mains GS4 — Ethics & Integrity Questions Download App More GS4 Questions Ease My Prep Focused UPSC preparation. Daily current affairs, PYQ practice, trend analysis, and mentorship for serious CSE aspirants across India. Based in Gurugram, Haryana · Founded 2022 Product Features Pricing AI Copy Checking Courses Daily News Mentorship Books Blog Company About Us Community Contact Legal Privacy Policy Terms of Service Refund Policy 📱 Android App 🍎 iOS App 🌐 Web App © 2022 – 2026 Ease My Prep . All rights reserved. Made with dedication for UPSC aspirants across India.