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UPPSC Mains 2025 — Ethics Questions with Answers

All 20 Ethics previous-year questions from UPPSC Mains 2025, each with the correct answer and a full explanation. Practise them as a free, timed mock test with instant scoring.

1. Q1.Values, Human Values, Family Role

   Defining value; explain the distinctive features of human values and the role of the family in inculcating these values.

2. Q2.Administration, Induced Compliance

   Discuss the practical utilities of induced compliance in administration.

3. Q3.Ethical Administration, Good Governance

   Clearly distinguish between ethical administration and good governance. Which one of these is more important? Explain.

4. Q4.Digital Governance, Big Data, Algorithms, Automated Decision Making, Ethical Risks, Public Administration

   In the age of digital governance and big-data; public officials rely increasingly on algorithms and automated decision making systems. Critically examine the ethical risks involved in algorithmic bias, opacity and lack of accountability and suggest guiding principles for responsible use of such technologies in the public administration.

5. Q5.Ethical Judgement and Administrative Decisions

   Explain the essential factors in ethical judgement. In case of ethical judgement being against the administrative decision, how would you harmonize them ? Discuss with example.

6. Q6.RTI, Good Governance, and Privacy Dilemma

   Can the “Right to Information(RTI) Act” be a moral basis for the good governance ? If so, does it create moral dilemma regarding the protection of individual privacy ? Evaluate.

7. Q7.Code of Conduct vs. Values in Ethical Governance

   Is adherence to a code of conduct sufficient for ethical governance or does ethical governance require values beyond codified rules ? Explain critically.

8. Q8.Emotional Intelligence for Civil Servants (Tolerance and Sympathy)

   Why tolerance and sympathy is a necessary quality for civil servant to promote mental health among the weaker sections of the society ? Give answer with suitable argument.

9. Q9.Social Influence and Persuasion in Public Campaigns

   How can social influence and persuasion contribute to the success of “Swachha Bharat Abhiyan”? Give your objective suggestion.

10. Q10.Attitudes, Values, Public Service Ethics, Social Influence

    Our attitude towards life, work, other people and society are generally shaped unconsciously by family and social surroundings in which we grow up. Some of these unconsciously acquired attitudes and values are often undesirable in the citizens of a modern democratic and egalitarian society. (a) Discuss such undesirable values prevalent in today's educated Indians. (b) How can such undesirable attitudes be changed and socio-ethical values considered necessary in public services be cultivated in the aspiring and serving public servant ? Discuss.

11. Q11.Corporate Governance, Moral Integrity, Professional Efficiency

    What do you understand by "moral integrity" and "professional efficiency" in the context of corporate governance in India ? Discuss with suitable examples.

12. Q12.Chanakya, Ethics, Governance, Public Administration

    Evaluate the contemporary relevance of Chanakya life and thoughts in the context of ethical and people centric governance.

13. Q13.Case Study, Public Service, Child Bullying, Parental Dilemma, Ethical Dilemmas

    You are working in a responsible position in a district. One morning, you received a call from your 11-year-old son's school, asking you to meet the principal. You went to the school and saw your son in the principal's office. The principal informed you that your son was found aimlessly wandering in the playground during class hours. The class teacher informs you that your son has become isolated recently and doesn't answer questions asked in class; he also failed to perform well in the recently held football trials. You bring your son home from school and in the evening, with your wife, try to understand the reasons behind his changed behavior. After repeated persuasion, your son shared that some children in class and in the students' WhatsApp group make fun of him, calling him a dwarf, a fool, and a frog. He tells you the names of some children who are the main culprits but requests you to let the matter drop.

14. Q14.Aristotle, Virtues, Public Administration

    Discuss the Aristotelian view of virtues and its application in administrative affairs.

15. Q15.Public Service, Moral Responsibility, Role Responsibility

    Distinguish between moral responsibility and role (ex-officio) responsibility in the life of a public servant.

16. Q16.Gandhi, Ends and Means, Public Fund Management

    How would you assess the desirability of Gandhian view regarding ends and means in the context of public fund management ? Discuss with suitable examples.

17. Q17.Self-regulation, Workplace Ethics, Performance Improvement

    Write the role of self-regulation and its components in improving performance at workplace.

18. Q18.Emotional Intelligence

    "Emotional intelligence is the ability to make your emotions work for you instead of against you." Do you agree with this statement ? Discuss.

19. Q19.Public Services, Social Influence, Persuasion, Ethics

    How can social influence and persuasion be ethically employed in a public information campaign by the public servants? Explain.

20. Q20.Social Media, Cybercrime, Social Skills

    Analyse the role of social skills in the context of increasing use and role of social media in cyber crimes.