Mains Practice Questions

Approach:

• Introduction: Define Aptitude and Foundational Values.
• Body: Mention some examples of aptitude and foundational values.
• Conclusion: Conclude with summarizing key points.

Introduction:

Aptitude and Foundational Values for Civil Service are essential qualities that a civil servant should possess in order to perform his/her duties effectively and ethically. Aptitude is the natural ability or potential to learn or acquire a skill, while Foundational Values are the moral principles that guide the conduct and behaviour of a civil servant.

Body:

The Nolan Committee outlined seven principles of public life that civil servants should adhere to: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership.

Some of the aptitude and foundational values for civil service are:

• Integrity: Integrity means being honest, ethical, and consistent in actions and words. It involves avoiding corruption and misuse of power. A civil servant with integrity acts in the public interest.
• Impartiality and Non-partisanship: Impartiality is being fair, objective, and unbiased in decision-making. It involves respect for diversity, pluralism, and constitutional values. Civil servants with impartiality and non-partisanship do not discriminate or favour anyone based on caste, creed, religion, gender, etc., and do not align with any political party or ideology.
• Objectivity: Objectivity means being rational, logical, and evidence-based in one's judgments and opinions. It involves relying on facts, data, and analysis rather than emotions, prejudices, or assumptions. Civil servants with objectivity evaluate situations and issues objectively and provide honest and accurate information and advice.
• Dedication to Public Service: Dedication to public service means being committed, responsive, and putting the public interest first. It involves striving for excellence and efficiency while seeking feedback and improvement. A dedicated civil servant works hard and takes initiative.
• Empathy, Tolerance and Compassion: It was outlined by the 2nd ARC report. Empathy is being understanding, respectful, and caring towards others' feelings and situations. It involves being sensitive to people's problems, especially those who are vulnerable, and being willing to help. A civil servant with empathy listens, shows kindness and generosity.

Conclusion:

These aptitude and foundational values are important for civil service because they can help in enhancing the trust, confidence, and satisfaction of the public in the administration. They can also help in improving the accountability, transparency, and performance of the civil servants. Moreover, they can foster a culture of ethical values and professional excellence among the civil servants.