3-Month Weekly Study Plan — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude
📘 Month 1: Conceptual Foundation & Human Values
Week 1: Understanding Ethics and Human Interface
- Meaning, nature, and scope of Ethics
- Essence, determinants, and consequences of ethics in human actions
- Ethics in private and public relationships
- Human values – origin, role, and significance in life
- Daily Task: Read moral dilemma stories and reflect on ethical choices
Practice: Write 3 short notes on “Why ethics matter in administration.”
Week 2: Role of Family, Society & Education in Inculcating Values
- Role of family, teachers, and education system in shaping ethics
- Value conflicts and their resolution
- Factors influencing ethical behavior
- Case study: “Integrity vs Family Pressure”
Practice: Write 2 GS-IV type answers on value conflicts in public service.
Week 3: Attitude – Concept and Application
- Meaning, structure, and components of attitude
- Relationship between attitude and behavior
- Moral and political attitudes
- Social influence and persuasion
Practice: Create attitude-based scenarios and analyze them.
Week 4: Aptitude and Foundational Values for Civil Services
- Meaning and importance of aptitude
- Difference between attitude and aptitude
- Foundational values:
- Integrity
- Impartiality & Non-partisanship
- Objectivity
- Compassion, Empathy, and Tolerance
Practice: 5 situational questions on impartiality and objectivity.
📘 Month 2: Emotional Intelligence, Thinkers & Public Administration Ethics
Week 5: Emotional Intelligence (EI)
- Definition, importance, and models (Goleman, Mayer-Salovey)
- EI in administration and leadership
- Role of EI in decision-making and conflict resolution
- Case Study: “Emotion vs Duty” situation
Practice: Write 2 EI-based answers + 1 real-life example.
Week 6: Contributions of Moral Thinkers and Philosophers – Part 1
- Indian moral thinkers:
- Mahatma Gandhi
- Swami Vivekananda
- Buddha & Mahavira
- A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
- Their ethical philosophy & administrative relevance
Practice: Quote-based answer writing (e.g. “Be the change you wish to see…”).
Week 7: Contributions of Moral Thinkers and Philosophers – Part 2
- Western thinkers:
- Aristotle, Plato (Virtue Ethics)
- Immanuel Kant (Duty Ethics)
- Jeremy Bentham, J.S. Mill (Utilitarianism)
- John Rawls (Justice & Fairness)
Practice: Write comparative table between Indian & Western ethics.
Week 8: Public/Civil Service Values & Ethics in Administration
- Ethical concerns and dilemmas in government
- Laws, rules, regulations vs conscience
- Accountability & ethical governance
- Strengthening moral values in public institutions
Practice: Write 5 case studies on civil service dilemmas.
📘 Month 3: Probity, Governance, and Case Study Mastery
Week 9: Probity in Governance – Part 1
- Concept of public service and probity
- Philosophical basis of governance and probity
- Information sharing & transparency
- RTI Act, Citizen’s Charters
Practice: Draft a sample Citizen’s Charter for a government department.
Week 10: Probity in Governance – Part 2
- Work culture, service delivery, and utilization of public funds
- Corruption: causes, effects, and remedies
- Code of ethics, code of conduct
- Vigilance mechanisms and whistleblower protection
Practice: Case study – “You discover corruption in your department.”
Week 11: Case Studies Practice
- Types of ethical dilemmas
- Framework for solving case studies (Identify → Analyze → Evaluate → Decide → Justify)
- Practice 10+ case studies on:
- Administrative ethics
- Political interference
- Conflict of interest
- Transparency vs confidentiality
- Compassionate administration
Practice: Attempt 2 full-length case study papers.
Week 12: Revision + Mock Tests
- Revise all units & short notes
- Create personal summary sheets for each topic
- Solve previous 10 years’ UPSC GS Paper 4 questions
- Attempt 1 full-length Ethics mock test (3 hours)
- Review and analyze answer structure and examples
📖 Bonus Resources
- Books:
- Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude (Chronicle)
- Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude by Subba Rao & P.N. Roy Chowdhury
- Reports:
- 2nd ARC Report – Ethics in Governance
- UN Public Service Principles
- Online Sources:
- PIB, PRS India, The Hindu (Ethics in Public Life)