Mains Practice Questions

Introduction

Ethical behavior in human interactions is influenced by an interplay of individual values, societal norms, and situational factors. In public service, where actions directly affect public welfare, understanding these determinants can guide officials toward responsible, fair, and transparent decision-making.

Body

Key Determinants of Ethical Behavior in Human Interactions:

• Personal Values and Morals: Individual beliefs, shaped by family, education, and culture, play a significant role in guiding ethical choices. For instance, a public servant with a strong sense of integrity is likely to resist corrupt practices.
• Societal and Cultural Norms: Social expectations and cultural traditions influence ethical behavior. For example, in collectivist societies, values such as cooperation and respect for elders are emphasized, impacting interpersonal conduct.
• Legal and Institutional Frameworks: Laws, regulations, and institutional codes of conduct provide boundaries for acceptable behavior.
  • In public service, adherence to codes like the Civil Service Conduct Rules reinforces ethical behavior by establishing clear guidelines.
• Situational Factors and Environment: External factors, such as peer behavior, work culture, and leadership, shape ethical behavior.
  • An environment that values transparency and integrity encourages employees to act ethically.
• Role Models and Mentorship: Leaders and mentors influence ethical standards. When senior public officials demonstrate integrity, it sets a positive example, inspiring others to uphold ethical standards like E. Sreedharan the Metro Man of India led by example.

Promoting Ethical Conduct in Public Service Through Understanding Determinants:

• Embedding Ethics Training and Value Education: Understanding the impact of personal values highlights the need for ethics training in public administration.
  • Example: The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) includes ethics modules to train future civil servants, instilling the importance of honesty, impartiality, and accountability.
• Encouraging a Transparent and Supportive Work Environment: Situational factors, such as workplace culture, can promote ethical behavior if managed well.
  • By fostering a transparent environment with strict accountability, public organizations can reduce unethical practices like favoritism and corruption.
  • Example: The Vigilance Awareness Week observed in India encourages transparency and emphasizes the need for public servants to adopt ethical practices in their daily interactions.
• Establishing Strong Legal and Institutional Safeguards: Legal frameworks can deter unethical behavior.
  • Example: The Right to Information Act (RTI) has been instrumental in promoting transparency in public service by allowing citizens to access government information, thus curbing corrupt practices.
• Cultivating Ethical Leadership and Role Modeling: Ethical leadership influences an organization’s values and culture.
  • Leaders who demonstrate ethical conduct serve as role models, creating a ripple effect in ethical behavior across the organization.
  • Example: Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri exemplified honesty and simplicity.
• Enhancing Public Accountability and Citizens’ Involvement: When public servants understand that they are accountable to the public, they are more likely to act ethically.
  • Example: Citizen charters in government departments outline the standards of service delivery, enabling citizens to hold public officials accountable and promoting ethical behavior in administration.

Conclusion

By understanding these determinants, public service can foster a culture of integrity, transparency, and accountability. Through ethics training, transparent work environments, strong legal frameworks, ethical leadership, and public accountability, public service can be strengthened, leading to better governance and public welfare.