(a) What do you understand by probity in governance ? Based on your understanding of the term, suggest measures for ensuring probity in government. (b) “Emotional Intelligence is the ability to make your emotions work for you instead of against you”. Do you agree with this view ? Discuss.
Approach · directive: “what / suggest / do you agree / discuss”
What it asks · (a) Define probity in governance and suggest legal, systemic and cultural measures to secure it; (b) test the statement on emotional intelligence, noting what it captures and what it leaves out.
The question has 3 parts — answer each
- (a) Explain what probity in governance means
- (a) Suggest measures for ensuring probity in government
- (b) Take a position on the statement about emotional intelligence, and discuss
Open with · (a) Kautilya's fish under water: probity needs systems, not trust alone; (b) emotional intelligence is the skill of recognising and managing emotions, one's own and others'.
Cover
- (a) Meaning: adherence to high moral standards in public office: honesty, integrity, fairness, and use of public power and money only for public good.
- (a) Legal and institutional measures: Prevention of Corruption Act, Lokpal and Lokayuktas, independent CVC and CBI, asset declarations, and protection for whistle-blowers.
- (a) Transparency and systems: RTI, proactive disclosure, e-procurement, integrity pacts, e-governance, citizen's charters and social audits reduce discretion and chances of bribes.
- (a) People and culture: codes of conduct, ethics training, merit-based postings, protection for honest officers, and transparent political funding.
- (b) Broadly agree: emotional intelligence is knowing and regulating one's emotions and using them constructively, such as turning anger into resolve or anxiety into preparation.
- (b) Uses: calm decisions in crises, empathy in service delivery, conflict resolution and team building; Goleman's components are self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills.
- (b) Limits: it is self-centred, since EI also means reading and managing others' emotions; without ethics it can turn into manipulation; suppression is not EI.
Close with · Laws make probity enforceable and character makes it habitual; emotional intelligence anchored in values keeps an officer calm, humane and principled.
Add value (verified)
- Kautilya's Arthashastra: just as one cannot tell whether a fish moving under water is drinking, one cannot detect government servants taking money. Kautilya's Arthashastra, R. Shamasastry's English translation (Internet Archive) ↗“Just as fish moving under water cannot possibly be found out either as drinking or not drinking water, so government servants employed in the government work cannot be found out (while) taking money (for themselves).”
- The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (assent 1 January 2014) set up a Lokpal for the Union and Lokayuktas for States to inquire into corruption allegations against public functionaries. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (Gazette copy) — DoPT, Government of India ↗“An Act to provide for the establishment of a body of Lokpal for the Union and Lokayukta for States to inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.”
- Rule 3(2B) of the AIS (Conduct) Rules (2014): take decisions solely in public interest, use public resources efficiently and economically, and declare private interests and resolve conflicts so as to protect the public interest. All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, Rule 3 as amended (incl. DoPT notification of 6.08.2014) — copy hosted by the High Court of Tripura ↗“(iii) maintain integrity in public service; (iv) take decisions solely in public interest and use or cause to use public resources efficiently, effectively and economically; (v) declare any private interests relating to his public duties and take steps to resolve any conflicts in a way that protects the public interest;”
- Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book II: anyone can get angry, but to do so with the right person, to the right extent, at the right time, with the right motive and in the right way is not for every one, nor is it easy. Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book II (W. D. Ross translation) — The Internet Classics Archive, MIT ↗“any one can get angry- that is easy- or give or spend money; but to do this to the right person, to the right extent, at the right time, with the right motive, and in the right way, that is not for every one, nor is it easy”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2019, GS Paper IV — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer · 351 words (UPSC limit 150) · Minimalist IAS
Kautilya warned that, as one cannot tell whether a fish moving under water is drinking, one cannot catch officials quietly taking money. Probity therefore needs systems, not trust alone; emotional intelligence governs how officers handle the pressures on it.
(a) What probity in governance means
- Probity: uprightness in using public office and money: honesty, integrity and fairness, more than the mere absence of corruption.
- In practice: decide solely in the public interest and declare private interests, as Rule 3(2B) of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules (2014) requires.
- Small choices count: a favour, a delayed file or a gift tests probity as much as a large contract.
(a) Measures for ensuring probity in government
Probity in government
- Law and watchdogs: the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, an independent CVC and CBI, asset declarations and whistle-blower protection.
- Transparency by design: RTI proactive disclosure, e-procurement, e-governance, integrity pacts, citizens' charters and social audits remove face-to-face discretion.
- Culture: a Code of Ethics beside conduct rules, ethics training, merit-based postings and protection for honest officers.
- Politics: transparent political funding eases the pressure on officers.
(b) Emotional intelligence: broadly agree
- Core truth: emotions are energy. Anger at injustice can become resolve; anxiety before a crisis can become preparation.
- Goleman's components: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills show how emotion is put to work.
- Aristotle's test: anyone can get angry, but to do so with the right person, extent, time, motive and way "is not for every one, nor is it easy".
- In public service: composure in a riot or disaster, calm negotiation and a patient hearing for angry citizens.
(b) Where the view falls short
- Too self-centred: EI also means reading and responding to others' emotions.
- Manipulation risk: EI without ethics can charm, flatter and exploit; it must serve values.
- Not suppression: hiding feelings is not intelligence; acknowledging them is.
Laws and watchdogs make probity enforceable, but character makes it habitual. Emotional intelligence, anchored in values, lets an officer stay calm and humane while holding firmly to principle.
Written by Minimalist IAS from facts checked at source (how we verify) — a little fuller than exam length, so every part of the question is covered; in the hall, keep the structure and trim the detail. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.