GS Paper IV 2016 · Q2 (Section A)
2 parts · 10 marks and 150 words each Ethics in public administration X-Ray · Core #25Q2(a) 10 marks · 150 words · answered on its own
What do you understand by the terms ‘governance’, ‘good governance’ and ‘ethical governance’ ?
Approach · directive: “what do you understand by”
What it asks · Define governance, good governance and ethical governance, and bring out how each sets a higher test than the one before.
It asks 3 things — answer each
- Explain what is meant by governance
- Explain what is meant by good governance
- Explain what is meant by ethical governance
Open with · UN ESCAP's definition of governance as the process of decision-making and of implementing decisions; good governance and ethical governance then add two tests: how well power is used, and to what moral end.
Cover
- A table sets the three terms side by side: each one's core question and hallmarks.
- Governance as a neutral process, in corporate, national and local settings, with government only one actor.
- Good governance as a standard: UN ESCAP's eight characteristics, ending in the rule of law; the RTI Act, 2005 as an Indian instrument of transparency.
- Ethical governance as a conscience: the 2nd ARC rates rule of law and absence of graft the most directly significant measures for it.
- The difference in practice: a lawful, punctual eviction that leaves families without shelter passes two tests and fails the third.
Close with · The 2nd ARC's view of governance as the weak link in India's quest for prosperity and equity, and SDG target 16.6's call for effective, accountable and transparent institutions, which ethics keeps honest.
Add value (verified)
- UN ESCAP defines governance as the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented), in corporate, international, national and local contexts.What is Good Governance? — United Nations ESCAP (PDF) ↗“Simply put "governance" means: the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented). Governance can be used in several contexts such as corporate governance, international governance, national governance and local governance.”
- The UN's ESCAP lists eight characteristics of good governance, which give a ready framework for the answer.What is Good Governance? — UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific ↗“Good governance has 8 major characteristics. It is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the rule of law.”
- Of six governance quality measures, the 2nd ARC treats the rule of law and the absence of graft as most directly significant for ethical governance.Second Administrative Reforms Commission, 4th Report: Ethics in Governance (DARPG, archived copy) ↗“The six perceived governance quality measures, each an aggregate of a number of sub-measures, are: voice and accountability; absence of political instability and violence; government effectiveness; reasonableness of the regulatory burden; the rule of law; and the absence of graft. Of these, the last two are the most directly significant in the context of ethical governance.”
- The 2nd ARC's 4th Report calls governance the weak link in India's quest for prosperity and equity, and ending corruption both a moral imperative and an economic necessity.Second Administrative Reforms Commission, 4th Report: Ethics in Governance (DARPG, archived copy) ↗“Governance is admittedly the weak link in our quest for prosperity and equity. Elimination of corruption is not only a moral imperative but an economic necessity for a nation aspiring to catch up with the rest of the world.”
- SDG target 16.6: develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.Goal 16: Targets and indicators — United Nations, Sustainable Development (sdgs.un.org) ↗“Target 16.6 Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels Indicators 16.6.1 Primary government expenditures as a proportion of original approved budget”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2016, GS Paper IV — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 3 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 222words · Minimalist IAS
Governance is, in UN ESCAP's words, 'the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented)'. Good governance and ethical governance add two tests: how well power is used, and to what moral end.
| Term | Core question | Hallmarks |
|---|---|---|
| Governance | How are decisions made and carried out? | Institutions, rules, processes |
| Good governance | How well? | Accountable, transparent, rule of law |
|---|---|---|
| Ethical governance | For what values? | Integrity, fairness, compassion |
- Governance, a neutral process: it runs through corporate, national and local settings, with government only one actor; the term itself says nothing about quality.
- Good governance, a standard: UN ESCAP lists eight marks: participatory, consensus-oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive, and following the rule of law. The RTI Act, 2005 puts transparency into Indian practice.
- Ethical governance, a conscience: legality and efficiency joined to integrity, fairness and compassion. Of six governance measures, the 2nd ARC rated rule of law and absence of graft 'the most directly significant' for it.
- The difference in practice: an eviction carried out lawfully and on time passes the first two tests; if it leaves families without shelter, it fails the third.
The 2nd ARC called governance 'the weak link in our quest for prosperity and equity'. SDG target 16.6 seeks 'effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels'; ethics keeps them honest.
Prepared by Minimalist IAS to the answer standard of Shivam Singh (mentor, 7 years) · facts checked against official sources (how we verify) · updated 3 Oct 2026. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.
Q2(b) 10 marks · 150 words · answered on its own
Discuss Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of seven sins.
Approach · directive: “discuss”
What it asks · Discuss the seven social sins Gandhi published: their source, the moral logic that links them, their present-day relevance, their limits and their lesson for public life.
It asks 3 things — answer each
- Explain the seven social sins and their source
- Discuss the moral logic behind them and their relevance today
- Bring out their limits and their lesson for public life
Open with · Young India of 22 October 1925, where Gandhi printed a friend's list of seven social sins: each pairs a good of life with the moral root that keeps it good.
Cover
- A table groups the seven sins by sphere (economy, self and culture, power) with their present-day face.
- The common thread: Gandhi's means and ends, 'means are after all everything' (Young India, 1924).
- Science without humanity: the 1984 Union Carbide gas leak at Bhopal, among the worst industrial disasters in history.
- Politics without principle: even the anti-defection law has not been able to curb defections, so law cannot supply principle.
- A balanced reading: the list rejects not wealth, pleasure or science but their divorce from ethics, though read literally it can seem austere for a market economy.
Close with · The 2nd ARC's reproduction of the list in its report Ethics in Governance; for anyone who holds office, knowledge or public money in trust, a seven-point test of conscience.
Add value (verified)
- Gandhi's list of seven social sins, as published in Young India on 22 October 1925: politics without principle, wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice.Seven Social Sins (FAQs: Myths about Mahatma Gandhi) — mkgandhi.org, Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal and Gandhi Research Foundation ↗“Seven Social Sins Politics without Principle Wealth Without Work Pleasure Without Conscience Knowledge without Character Commerce without Morality Science without Humanity Worship without Sacrifice - Young India, 22-10-1925”
- Gandhi (Young India, 17 July 1924): 'means are after all everything'; as the means, so the end, and there is no wall of separation between them.Aphorisms (chapter 9 of a collection of Gandhi's sayings) — mkgandhi.org ↗“They say 'means are after all means'. I would say 'means are after all everything'. As the means so the end. There is no wall of separation between means and end.”
- The 2nd ARC's 4th Report reproduces Gandhi's Seven Social Sins from Young India, 1925 (Box 2.8).Second Administrative Reforms Commission, 4th Report: Ethics in Governance (DARPG, archived copy) ↗“Box 2.8: The Seven Social Sins The Seven Social Sins, as quoted by Mahatma Gandhi in “Young India,” 1925 1. Politics without principles 2. Wealth without work”
- Gandhi's talisman: recall the face of the poorest and most helpless person and ask whether the step you contemplate will be of use to him.The Gandhi Talisman — mkgandhi.org (Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal / Gandhi Research Foundation) ↗“Recall the face of the poorest and the most helpless man whom you may have seen and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him.”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2016, GS Paper IV — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 3 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 214words · Minimalist IAS
In Young India of 22 October 1925, Gandhi printed a list of seven social sins sent by a friend. Each pairs a good of life with the moral root that keeps it good; cut the root, and the good turns harmful.
| Sphere | Sins | Present-day face |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | Wealth without work; commerce without morality | Black money, adulteration, crony deals |
| Self and culture | Pleasure without conscience; knowledge without character; worship without sacrifice | Consumerism, educated fraud, empty ritual |
|---|---|---|
| Power | Politics without principle; science without humanity | Defections; reckless technology |
- Means and ends: the common thread is Gandhi's creed, 'means are after all everything. As the means so the end' (1924); each sin seeks a good end by unclean means.
- Science without humanity: the 1984 leak at Union Carbide's Bhopal plant, among the worst industrial disasters in history, showed technology and profit cut off from care.
- Politics without principle: law cannot supply principle; even the anti-defection law has not been able to curb defections.
- A balanced reading: the list rejects not wealth, pleasure or science but their divorce from ethics; read literally, it can seem austere for a market economy.
The 2nd ARC reproduced the list in its report Ethics in Governance. For anyone who holds office, knowledge or public money in trust, it remains a seven-point test of conscience.
Prepared by Minimalist IAS to the answer standard of Shivam Singh (mentor, 7 years) · facts checked against official sources (how we verify) · updated 3 Oct 2026. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.
