GS4 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): Principles of Public Life, Public Servant values | UPSC Mains: Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude PDF Download

(A) What are basic principles of public life? Illustrate any three of these with suitable Examples. (UPSC MAINS GS4)

• Public life is aspect of social life which are happening in public. While discussing the basic principles of public life, one must recognize the need of principles in public life. Public officials are expected to uphold highest standards in their actions and an ethical code acts as a guide to achieve this. When people choose a public life, they must follow an ethic distinct from private morality. 
• While in one’s personal life, in our dealings with those with whom we have close daily encounters such as our family, friends or ‘servants’, we can’t help but be partial, and while in the larger public domain, where we face people with different religio-philosophical sensibilities, we can’t entirely escape some degree of partiality to our own world view, the public domain requires the impartial or just use of power for the good of all. 
• Citizens in a public life must be bound together neither by feelings nor by self-interest but by a commitment to common values discovered by public reason — values such as political freedom, solidarity, shared traditions and cultural heritage. Morality in this domain requires that we overcome our loyalty to blood relations, not pursue only our private interests, and commit instead to using power grounded in shared principles. Love and hate are largely imposters in this domain where consensus is forged by the use of public reason. 
• Its democratic version requires that, guided by values of openness, equal respect and justice, we deliberate and help each other arrive at impartial laws and public policies, acceptable in principle to everyone in the polity. 
• Furthermore, those who wield political/administrative power must realise that what they do has enduring consequences affecting the lives of an incalculably large number of people. This brings with it enormous public responsibility which derives in no small part from the fact that they have at least temporary legitimacy to use force against ordinary citizens. They have, at their disposal, an apparatus of violence simply unavailable to heads of families or members of civil society. Powerful politicians/ administrators, therefore, must show great care and sensitivity to the appropriate use of force and violence.

Explaining and illustrating some basic principles of public life:

• Selflessness is characterized by low levels of self-centeredness and a low degree of importance given to the self. Whenever there is the notion of “self”, there is fear; the fear of failure, the fear of being defeated, the fear of being rejected, the fear of making mistake, the fear of poor health, the fear of losing face and the fear of not being recognized. It is rather common for us to see someone hesitating to do thing proactively because his or her mind is too occupied with “self” which is followed by “fear”.
• On the other hand, when one forgets about “self”, one will have no fear. One will be able to see thing as it is and nothing more. One will be able to look at thing with the heart of compassion and love. One will have the courage to do what is right. This style of psychological functioning is closely related to characteristics such as altruism, kindness, respect, empathy, compassion and the search for harmony. Today in the society there is an increase in selfishness, and general lack of concern for other individuals.
• What we have in India today, is not a giving and sharing society, but a grabbing society, not a sacrificing society but a consumer society. Mother Teresa’s life can be said to be an embodiment of selflessness. She treated all human beings as children of god and hence loved them as god loved them. She served people in a way that diluted the boundary between I and Other. Leadership is an abstract quality in a human being to induce his follower to do whatever he is directed to do with zeal and confidence.
• The public servant should be transformational leader. Transformational leaders aim to make team members better people by encouraging their self-awareness and helping them to see the bigger picture of what they do. They want team members to overcome self-interest and move towards achieving the common goals and purposes that are shared with the group. Transformational leaders are often charismatic with a clear vision.
• They spend a lot of time communicating and gaining the support of the team through their enthusiasm. This vision may be developed by the leader or the team, or may emerge from discussions. Leaders will want to be role models that others will follow and will look to explore the various routes to achieve their vision. They look at long-term goals rather than short-term goals. They are always visible and will be accountable for their actions rather than hiding behind their team. They act as mentors and demonstrate how the team should behave and work together through their own good practice.
• They listen to the team and often delegate responsibility – they trust their team enough to leave them to grow and solve the problems through their own decisions. Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of Singapore, was one such leader. With his visionary leadership and strict administration, he radically and completely transformed the society of Singapore. Integrity refers to “honesty” or “trustworthiness” in the discharge of official duties, serving as an antithesis to “corruption” or “the abuse of office.” At the individual level, integrity is more than ethics; it is all about the character of the individual.
• It is those characteristics of an individual that are consistently considerate, compassionate, transparent, honest, and ethical. According to the Nolan Committee holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that may influence them in the performance of their official duties. This only depicts the concept of maintaining financial integrity.
• Civil servants should also be guided by a sense of propriety and conduct themselves at all times in a manner that would bear the closest public scrutiny. This obligation is not fully discharged merely by acting within the law. Civil servants should take steps to avoid conflicts of interest and the appearance of such conflicts. They should take swift action to resolve any conflict that arises. This obligation continues after leaving.

Topics Covered - Leadership, Integrity and Selflessness.

(B) What do you understand by the term public servant? Reflect on the expected role of a public servant. (UPSC MAINS 2019)

Public servants and their guiding principles: 

• A public servant is a person employed in the public sector on behalf of a government department or agency. In other words, public servant is person who works for the government (Centre, State, and Local) such as a teacher, IAS officer, police officers, Judge Etc. to serve the interests of citizens. A public servant is someone who values public good over his/her personal interests in his official capacity. 
• They have to deal with the management of resources that are publicly owned in a way that enhances public interest. Further, the individuals carrying out the task are publicly accountable for their actions. Public interest means allocation of resources in a way that furthers collective well-being and is consistent with ethical and constitutional norms, thereby helping individuals develop fully into citizens. 
• A public servant while performing his role should exercise certain values like accountability, integrity, honesty, commitment to public service, effective implementation of policy, leadership, empathy towards the vulnerable sections in their public dealings. 
• This needs to be qualified that the actions of a public servant must generate common good and general welfare and should not be motivated by sectional or particular interests. There should be a sense of trusteeship in holders of public office and breach of that trust of public should be seen as a crime.

Expected Role of Public Servant:

• The expected role of a public servant depends on the sector in which one is working. As a teacher of public school, one should try to impart best possible education to students without any discrimination. As a doctor in government hospital, one must treat his patients well and in best of capacity. 
• As a civil servant, one should try to see that whatever entitlements are people getting should actually reach them. As a political leader, one should understand and represent the voice of people in right forums and help make legislations that solve them. If we compare with their counterparts in private sector, the only difference will be the motivating force and guiding principles. In public sector, one should not bring into considerations one’s own interests in calculations. 
• One must only try to maximize people’s interest and that too people in general and not sectional interests. In public offices, enough incentives are given so that people can work without fear and favor if they can keep their in genuine desires under control. We have had judges like J.S.Verma who worked till age of 80 to prepare report after Nirbhaya rape case. 
• We had great leaders like E. Sreedharan who altered the public transport landscape of cities of India. M.S. Swami Nathan created Green revolution that made India a food surplus country. When we count such big names, we must not forget the contribution of millions of public servants working in different capacities in different parts of the country that make the system run. Without the dedication and selflessness of people manning the public institutions at meagre wages compared to private sector, a large number of people will not work.

Topics Covered - Public Servant N It’s Role