GS Paper IV 2017 · Q2 (Section A)
10 marks · 150 words Foundational values for civil service X-Ray · Core #66Examine the relevance of the following in the context of civil service :
- (a)Transparency
- (b)Accountability
- (c)Fairness and justice
- (d)Courage of conviction
- (e)Spirit of service
Approach · directive: “examine”
What it asks · Explain why each of the five values matters to a civil servant and how it shows in daily work.
It asks 5 things — answer each
- Examine the relevance of transparency to the civil service
- Examine the relevance of accountability
- Examine the relevance of fairness and justice
- Examine the relevance of courage of conviction
- Examine the relevance of the spirit of service
Open with · Rule 3(1) of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964, which binds civil servants to maintain accountability and transparency and fairness: these values are duties, not ornaments.
Cover
- Transparency: open access to information on policies, actions and spending; under the RTI Act, 2005, a villager learns why his ration card was refused.
- Accountability: answering to the public for decisions; the CAG, CIC, Lokpal and CVC make officers own their errors.
- Fairness and justice: equal treatment under Article 14 and a fair hearing; Rawls's veil of ignorance as the test for a fair relief list.
- Courage of conviction: Sardar Patel's call (1949) for a service free to speak its mind; recording dissent, refusing illegal oral orders.
- Spirit of service: office as a duty, tested by Gandhi's talisman: will the step help the poorest person one has seen?
- Close: transparency enables accountability, fairness confers legitimacy, and courage and service supply the will to act.
Close with · Transparency enables accountability, fairness confers legitimacy, and courage and service supply the will to act; together they turn compliance into public trust.
Add value (verified)
- Sardar Patel in the Constituent Assembly (10 October 1949): India needs a good all-India service with the independence to speak out its mind.Constituent Assembly Debates, 10 October 1949 (Vallabhbhai Patel) — constitutionofindia.net ↗“you will not have a united India if you have not. a good all-India service which has the independence to speak out its mind, which has a sense of security that you will stand by your word”
- Nolan principles (UK, 1995), Selflessness: holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.The Seven Principles of Public Life — Committee on Standards in Public Life, GOV.UK (published 31 May 1995) ↗“1.1 Selflessness Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.”
- CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964, Rule 3(1)(viii)-(x): every Government servant shall promote the principles of merit, fairness and impartiality, maintain accountability and transparency, and maintain responsiveness to the public, particularly to the weaker section.Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, as amended up to 31.12.2014 (DoPT, updated 27 Feb 2015) ↗“(viii) promote the principles of merit, fairness and impartiality in the discharge of duties; (ix) maintain accountability and transparency; (x) maintain responsiveness to the public, particularly to the weaker section;”
- Gandhi's talisman (one of his last notes, 1948; The Last Phase, Vol. II, 1958, p. 65): recall the face of the poorest and weakest person you have seen and ask whether the step you contemplate will be of any use to that person.Gandhi's Talisman — mkgandhi.org (Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal and Gandhi Research Foundation) ↗“Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her].”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2017, GS Paper IV — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 223words · Minimalist IAS
Rule 3(1) of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 binds central civil servants to "maintain accountability and transparency" and to promote fairness; such values are duties, not ornaments.
Public trust: Transparency; Accountability; Fairness; Courage; Service
(a) Transparency
- Transparency is open access to information on policies, actions and spending. It deters arbitrariness: under the RTI Act, 2005, a villager can learn why his ration card was refused.
(b) Accountability
- Accountability means answering to the public for one's decisions. The CAG, the CIC, the Lokpal and the CVC make officers own errors, not bury them.
(c) Fairness and justice
- Fairness and justice mean equal treatment under Article 14 and a fair hearing. Rawls's veil of ignorance gives the test: frame a relief list as if you might be its weakest claimant.
(d) Courage of conviction
- Courage of conviction is holding a reasoned, lawful view under pressure. Sardar Patel sought a service with "the independence to speak out its mind" (1949); today that means recording dissent or refusing illegal oral orders.
(e) Spirit of service
- Spirit of service treats office as a duty, not a privilege. Gandhi's talisman is the test: will this step be of any use to the poorest person I have seen?
Transparency enables accountability, fairness confers legitimacy, and courage and service supply the will to act. Together they turn compliance into public trust.
Prepared by Minimalist IAS to the answer standard of Shivam Singh (mentor, 7 years) · facts checked against official sources (how we verify) · updated 1 Oct 2026. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.
