VisionIAS - Video Classroom Lecture

Ethics Class 04

BRIEF REVISION OF THE LAST CLASS (9:11 AM)

HOW TO INCULCATE OBJECTIVITY IN CIVIL SERVICES (9:20 AM)

(a) Use of data analytical tools, for decision-making purposes.
(b) Seeking feedback from citizens on service delivery mechanisms.
For example, Bengaluru municipal corporation initiated the citizen's report card program to seek valuable input from the citizens on the services provided by various authorities.
(c) Social Audit can be a powerful mechanism for inculcating objectivity in civil servants.
It should be institutionalized and made an inseparable part of service delivery as has been done in the case of MGNREGA.
(d) We may evolve a comprehensive code of conduct that should be followed diligently by civil servants to achieve the desired outcomes.

CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH OBJECTIVITY (9:33 AM)

(a) Taking an objective approach is not possible at all times, especially because of the lack of availability of data with the government.
(b) Other than that, the quality of data available is also of concern.
(c) An individual who emphasizes too much on objectivity may become insensitive and may ignore the genuine problems of the citizens.
(d) To be objective at all times is extremely difficult as human beings by nature are biased and partisans, and have stereotypes driven by their upbringing and social conditioning.
(e) Being objective may not help in solving ethical dilemmas especially because values cannot be weighed on a scale.

COURAGE (9:40 AM)

Courage is the ability to take decisions and actions and to stick by one's values and principles, even when there is a possibility of unfavourable outcomes.
Nelson Mandela said, "Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it."
It is the first of human qualities because it guarantees adherence to other values.
It helps individuals in taking ethically correct decisions, however tough the situations, and the circumstances are.
For Example,
(a) Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw refused the monsoon campaign in East Pakistan, even while there was political pressure.
(b) Ex-Director of LBSNAA, PS Appu, suggested the rustication of the probationer, and stood by it, despite the political pressure, and the personal cost involved.
(c) DC Wadha exposing the inappropriate usage of ordinances by the state government.
(d) Jai Prakash Narayan called for a protest against the most powerful politician.
(e) Journalist Ramnath Goenka used journalism to expose the wrong-doings in the government.

IMPORTANCE OF COURAGE FOR CIVIL SERVICES

(a) It allows civil servants to stay on the best course of action despite hardships and temptations.
(b) Financial irregularities have become a part and parcel of the government system, and to expose them as well as to stand up against them one needs courage.
(c) To overcome evil intentions the ethical and courageous need to speak up.
As Napolean once said, "The world suffers a lot not because of the violence of the bad but, because of the silence of the good."
(d) It helps the civil servants to stay firm on their core values and principles.
(e) Civil servants often need to take unpopular and difficult decisions and it is only courage which can help them, in such situations.

INCULCATING COURAGE IN CIVIL SERVICES (10:07 AM)

(a) Enacting a strong whistle-blower protection mechanism so that wrong-doings in the government can be exposed.
(b) The biggest fear that civil servants face while taking tough decisions is that of getting transferred and shunted to irrelevant positions or far-flung areas.
We may address this problem by making the process of appointments, postings, and transfers apolitical.
For example, In 2013 in the TSR Subramanian vs Union of India case, the court directed the central and state government to establish Civil Services Board to decide over postings and transfers.
(c) We may also consider providing a fixed tenure for important postings and appointments.
(d) An independent constitutional body such as UPSC may be given a bigger role in deciding appointments, postings, and transfers of civil servants.
(e) Recognizing and rewarding the acts of courage by civil servants.

DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE (10:44 AM)

It is the quality of being able to apply one's time and attention entirely to the cause of public service.
It refers to commitment and passion and a personal urge to do something for the public good without any external force.
Essentially, it refers to the idea of internalizing the cause of the public good.
For example,
(a) Doctors and public servants risking their lives during the times of COVID.
(b) Andhra Pradesh MLA Nimmala Rama Naidu slept in a graveyard in Palakole to drive away fear among construction workers.
Importance of Dedication to Public Service for Civil Services
(a) The very purpose of civil services is to serve the people and contribute to society.
This would get defeated in cases where there is no dedication to public service.
(b) It can help a civil servant in overcoming adverse situations, especially when there is a shortage of resources within the government.
For example, Armstrong Pame is known for his initiative in building a road in one of the most remote parts of the country with the help of public contribution.
(c) Civil servants enjoy wide discretionary powers which may be used for personal gains in the absence of dedication to public service.
(d) Public service requires unending zeal and enthusiasm, and without this value, civil servants would eventually run out of motivation.
(e) The job of a civil servant is a 24x7 job, and one can sustain long hours only if, one is dedicated to the cause of public service.

INCULCATING DEDICATION TO CIVIL SERVICES IN CIVIL SERVICES (11:04 AM)

(a) Rewards and recognition to the best-performing officers to create inspiration for others.
(b) Organizing regular training sessions and exposure through field visits to sensitize the civil servants towards the challenges faced by the citizens.
(c) Inspiring young civil servants through stories and examples of exemplary civil servants from the past.
(d) We may adopt performance-linked appraisals. it has been already implemented in the private sector.
This would help in shrugging off the complacency in civil services.
(e) We may consider adopting the approach of KPIs, KRA, and OKRs to assess the performance of civil servants.

IMPARTIALITY AND NON-PARTISANSHIP (11:15 AM)

Impartiality refers to the act of not supporting one person or group, over others.
An impartial civil servant would give a fair chance to all sides, without allowing his personal biases to creep into his actions.
Even though impartiality and non-partisanship are used interchangeably with each other, non-partisanship has a special meaning that connotes apolitical behaviour by civil servants.
A civil servant is expected to remain politically neutral and execute the policies irrespective of who is in the power.
In Mahabharata, Bhishma on his death bed told Yudhisthitra that the most important duty of a king is to be impartial toward his subjects.
If a king doesn't treat his subjects as his children in a fair manner, they would lose faith in the king, the idea of justice, and ultimately the state.

DISCUSSION ON THE PREPARATION STRATEGY FOR PRELIMS (11:33 AM)

Revise your weak areas more.
Go through the topics listed in PT-365, and cover the static portions associated with these topics from your reference books and notes.
Cover current affairs through questions.
Practice mock tests and the previous year's question papers. Give Abhyaas tests.

THE TOPICS FOR THE NEXT CLASS: IMPARTIALITY AND NON-PARTISANSHIP (CONTINUED)