Honesty and uprightness are the hallmarks of civil servants. Civil servants possessing these qualities are considered as the backbone of any strong organization. In the line of duty, they take various decisions; at times some become bonafide mistakes. As long as such decisions are not taken intentionally and do not benefit the officer personally, the officer cannot be said to be guilty. Though such decisions may, at times, lead to unforeseen adverse consequences in the long term. In the recent past, a few instances have surfaced wherein civil servants have been implicated for bonafide mistakes. They have often been prosecuted and even imprisoned. These instances have greatly rattled the moral fibre of the civil servants. How does this trend affect the functioning of civil services? What measures can be taken to ensure that honest civil servants are not implicated for bonafide mistakes on their part? Justify your answer.

In the present digital age, social media has revolutionised our way of communication and interaction. However, it has raised several ethical issues and challenges. Describe the key ethical dilemmas in this regard.

“Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them.” – Napoleon Bonaparte. Stating examples, mention the rulers (i) who have harmed society and country, (ii) who worked for the development of society and country.

What does ‘accountability’ mean in the context of public service? What measures can be adopted to ensure individual and collective accountability of public servants?

Examine the relevance of the following in the context of civil service: (a) Transparency (b) Accountability (c) Fairness and justice (d) Courage of conviction (e) Spirit of service.

What are the basic principles of public life? Illustrate any three of these with suitable examples. It is believed that adherence to ethics in human actions would ensure the smooth functioning of an organization/system.

“Emotional Intelligence is the ability to make your emotions work for you instead of against you.” Do you agree with this view? Discuss.

“An unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates

“A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.” – M.K. Gandhi

“Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.” – A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

What do you understand by the term ‘public servant’? Reflect on the expected role of a public servant.