Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude
Ethics Case Studies
GS Paper IV
Ethics Case Studies — Quick Revision
One-page GS IV revision for case studies: the six-step framework, recurring case types, ethical tests, legal anchors and the mistakes to avoid.
SyllabusGS IV · Case studies on the above issues
Read this the night before the paper. The framework, the tests and the anchors below cover almost every case UPSC sets.
The Six-Step Framework
| Step | Content | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Facts | Dilemma in two lines | Do not rewrite the case |
| 2. Stakeholders | All affected parties | Include the voiceless — children, future generations, environment |
| 3. Ethical issues | Values in conflict | Use precise syllabus terms |
| 4. Options | Three or four, with merits and demerits | A table saves words |
| 5. Course of action | Numbered, immediate and long-term | Lawful, specific, realistic |
| 6. Conclusion | Value, principle or thinker | One or two lines |
Values Frequently in Conflict
| Conflict | Example |
|---|---|
| Integrity vs loyalty | Superior asks you to sign a false certificate |
| Compassion vs rule of law | Deserving applicant lacks one document |
| Transparency vs confidentiality | Media asks for details of an ongoing inquiry |
| Development vs environment | Project requires forest diversion |
| Personal vs professional duty | Family illness during a crisis posting |
| Efficiency vs equity | Faster delivery in towns, slower in remote areas |
| Autonomy vs safety | Villagers refuse evacuation |
Ethical Tests
| Test | Question |
|---|---|
| Legality | Is it lawful? |
| Kant | Could everyone act this way? Am I using someone merely as a means? |
| Mill | Most good, least harm? |
| Rawls / Gandhi’s talisman | What does it do for the weakest? |
| Aristotle | What would a person of integrity do? |
| Publicity | Could I defend it on the front page? |
Legal and Constitutional Anchors
| Situation | Anchor |
|---|---|
| Equality and non-discrimination | Articles 14, 15, 16 |
| Untouchability | Article 17; Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 |
| Life and dignity, privacy | Article 21; K.S. Puttaswamy (2017) |
| Weaker sections | Article 46 |
| Tribal and forest-dweller rights | Forest Rights Act, 2006 |
| Transparency | RTI Act, 2005 |
| Corruption | Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended 2018) |
| Conduct | CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964; AIS (Conduct) Rules, 1968 |
Course-of-action ladder
Stop the harm → Record → Report → Repair → Reform. Lives first, law always, vulnerable protected, everything documented, institutional channels before the media, resignation only as a last resort.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Rewriting the case at length.
- Missing stakeholders or naming issues vaguely.
- Giving only one option.
- Proposing illegal or heroic, unrealistic steps.
- Choosing resignation or media leaks first.
- Lecturing instead of reasoning.
Related Topics
- How to solve ethics case studies
- Ethics Case Studies — practice questions
- Moral Thinkers — quick revision
- All quick-revision sheets
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