(a) ‘The ‘Code of Conduct’ and ‘Code of Ethics’ are the sources of guidance in public administration. There is code of conduct already in operation, whereas code of ethics is not yet put in place. Suggest a suitable model for code of ethics to maintain integrity, probity and transparency in governance. (b) The soul of the new law, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is Justice, Equality and Impartiality based on Indian culture and ethos. Discuss this in the light of major shift from a doctrine of punishment to justice in the present judicial system.
Approach · directive: “suggest / discuss”
What it asks · (a) Distinguish codes of conduct and ethics and propose a model code of ethics for integrity, probity and transparency; (b) discuss how the BNS reflects a shift from punishment to justice.
The question has 2 parts — answer each
- (a) Distinguish the code of conduct from a code of ethics and suggest a suitable model code of ethics to maintain integrity, probity and transparency in governance
- (b) Discuss how the BNS embodies justice, equality and impartiality, in the light of the shift from a doctrine of punishment to justice
Open with · A code of conduct lists what not to do; a code of ethics states the values from which right conduct flows.
Cover
- (a) Existing: CCS (Conduct) Rules 1964 and AIS (Conduct) Rules 1968 — rule-based and largely prohibitive.
- (a) Model code: integrity, impartiality, objectivity, accountability, openness, empathy and dedication to public service, stated briefly and in plain words.
- (a) Make it work: an ethics officer, training, declarations of interest, whistle-blower protection and periodic review; the Second ARC urged such codes.
- (b) BNS (2023, in force from July 2024) replaces the IPC and aims at justice for victims, not only punishment of offenders.
- (b) Shift: community service for petty offences, gender-neutral offences, focus on crimes against women and children, and a recast sedition provision.
- (b) Caveat: much of the IPC carries over; justice will depend on police reform, speedy trials and fair implementation.
- (a) Model: the UK's Seven Principles of Public Life — selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, leadership — short and value-based.
Close with · Rules restrain and values inspire — a code of ethics and a justice-oriented criminal law both aim to rebuild public trust.
Add value (verified)
- For the first time, community service is a punishment under Section 4 of the BNS. PIB — New criminal laws (MHA, July 2024) ↗“For the first time, Community Service has been introduced as one of the punishments in section 4 of BNS, 2023.”
- The UK's Seven Principles of Public Life — selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership — are a model of a short, value-based code; the first asks office-holders to act solely in the public interest. UK Government — The Seven Principles of Public Life (Committee on Standards in Public Life) ↗“Selflessness Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.”
- DoPT amended Rule 3 of the CCS (Conduct) Rules on 27 November 2014 (G.S.R. 845(E)) to add the expected standards of the civil services, in an OM titled 'Need for code of Ethics and Values of Civil Services'. DoPT OM No. 11013/6/2014-Estt.A, 10 December 2014: Amendment to Rule 3 of CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 (copy on referencer.in) ↗“Amendment to Rule 3 of Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 - Need for code of Ethics and Values of Civil Services. This undersigned is directed to say that Rule 3 of Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 has been amended vide G.S.R. No 845(E) dated 27 th November, 2014 to incorporate the expected standards of the civil services”
- The Fourth Report of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission, 'Ethics in Governance', was published in 2007. Fourth Report of Second Administrative Reforms Commission: Ethics in Governance — Parliament Digital Library (eLibrary, Sansad) ↗“Title Fourth Report of Second Administrative Reforms Commission: Ethics in Governance Title (Hindi) Title (Transliteration) Accession Number RC121628 Session Number URI https://elibrary.sansad.in/handle/123456789/16435 Call Number 351.6063R P7 Subject/Keywords ISO Language English Regional Language Other Languages Author Edition Year of Publication 01-jan-2007”
- The BNS adds a new chapter on offences against women and children, and makes various such offences gender-neutral. PIB — New criminal laws (MHA, July 2024) ↗“Offences Against Women and Children: A new chapter has been added in BNS specifically to address offences against women and children, ensuring focused protection and justice. xx. Gender-Neutral Offences: Various offences against women and children have been made gender-neutral in BNS, covering all victims and perpetrators regardless of gender.”
- Under the new criminal laws, victims are entitled to an update on the progress of their case within 90 days. PIB — New criminal laws (MHA, July 2024) ↗“Progress Updates to Victims: Victims are entitled to get update on the progress of their case within 90 days. This provision keeps victims informed and involved in the legal process”
- BNS Section 152 punishes acts that excite secession, armed rebellion or subversive activities, or endanger the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act 45 of 2023) — Gazette of India ↗“152. Whoever, purposely or knowingly, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or by electronic communication or by use of financial mean, or otherwise, excites or attempts to excite, secession or armed rebellion or subversive activities, or encourages feelings of separatist activities or endangers sovereignty or unity and integrity of India”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2024, GS Paper IV — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer · 403 words (UPSC limit 150) · Minimalist IAS
(a) A model code of ethics for integrity, probity and transparency
A code of conduct lists what an official must not do: the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 and the AIS (Conduct) Rules, 1968 are largely prohibitive. A code of ethics states the values from which right conduct flows. The 2nd ARC's 4th Report, Ethics in Governance (2007), urged such a code; a 2014 amendment wrote values into Rule 3 of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, but a standalone code is still awaited.
| Feature | Code of conduct | Code of ethics |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Specific dos and don'ts | Broad values and ideals |
| Enforced by | Penalties | Conscience, culture, review |
| Example | CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 | UK's Seven Principles |
- Short value statement: integrity, impartiality, objectivity, accountability, openness, empathy and dedication, as brief as the UK's Seven Principles of Public Life, the first of which asks office-holders to act solely in the public interest.
- Duties beyond prohibitions: declare and resolve conflicts of interest, give reasons for decisions, disclose information proactively and treat every citizen with dignity.
- Institutions: an ethics officer in each department, induction and refresher training, annual declarations of interest, and protection for whistle-blowers.
- Teeth: link adherence to appraisal and empanelment, treat wilful breach as misconduct, and review the code periodically.
Rules restrain and values inspire; a short, enforceable code of ethics would give the conduct rules the conscience they lack.
(b) BNS: from a doctrine of punishment to justice
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 replaced the colonial Indian Penal Code from July 2024. Its very name puts nyaya (justice), not danda (punishment), at the centre.
- Justice to victims: a new chapter addresses offences against women and children; under the companion BNSS, victims are entitled to updates on their case within 90 days.
- Equality: several offences against women and children are now gender-neutral, covering all victims and perpetrators regardless of gender.
- Reform over retribution: community service enters the list of punishments for the first time (Section 4): proportion instead of prison for petty offenders.
- Impartiality: sedition is recast as Section 152, aimed at acts that excite secession, armed rebellion or subversive activities, or endanger India's sovereignty, unity and integrity.
- Caveats: much of the IPC carries over and punishment stays the main tool; the shift will depend on police reform, speedy trials, legal aid and impartial implementation.
A justice-oriented code and a values-based civil service share one aim: law that citizens trust because it is fair, not merely because it is feared.
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.