98 Short, Exam-Ready Definitions of the Key Terms in GS Paper 4 (Ethics), for Quick Revision and for Use in Your Answers.
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Ethics is the systematic framework of principles used to evaluate and guide human conduct as right or wrong.
Ethics is the systematic framework of principles used to evaluate and guide human conduct as right or wrong.
Personal beliefs and convictions about right and wrong, shaped by conscience, upbringing, religion and experience.
Values are enduring beliefs about what is desirable or worthwhile, which guide an individual’s choices, priorities and behaviour.
Human action is a voluntary act performed with knowledge, intention and freedom, making it subject to moral evaluation.
Ethical behaviour is conduct consistent with accepted moral principles such as honesty, fairness, responsibility and respect for others.
An ethical dilemma is a situation involving competing moral values or duties, where fulfilling one may require compromising another.
Conscience is the inner moral faculty through which a person judges the ethical correctness of their own actions.
Integrity is the quality of being honest and having a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values.
Consistency of ethical values across words, decisions and actions.
Honesty is the commitment to truthfulness and freedom from deception in words, actions and intentions.
Probity is strict adherence to the highest standards of honesty, uprightness and propriety, particularly in the exercise of public authority.
Impartiality is the fair and equal treatment of individuals without favour, prejudice or discrimination.
Non-partisanship is political neutrality in which civil servants serve the government of the day without attachment to any political party or ideology.
Objectivity is the ability to make decisions on relevant facts, evidence and established criteria rather than personal preferences or biases.
Dedication to public service is a sustained commitment to public welfare and official duty above personal convenience or private interest.
Selflessness is the willingness to place the welfare of others or the public interest above personal gain, comfort or recognition.
Leadership is the ability to influence, guide and motivate individuals or groups towards the achievement of a shared goal.
Ethical leadership: It involves leading by example, exercising authority responsibly and aligning collective action with integrity, fairness and public interest.
Commitment is the firm and sustained determination to fulfil a duty, promise or goal despite difficulties or personal inconvenience.
Sympathy is a feeling of sincere concern for someone who is experiencing something difficult or painful.
Empathy is the ability to understand another person’s feelings, experiences and perspective by placing oneself in their position.
Compassion is empathetic concern accompanied by a desire and willingness to alleviate another person’s suffering.
Compassion is a social emotion that motivates people to go out of their way to relieve the physical, mental, or emotional pains of others and themselves.
Tolerance is the quality of accepting and respecting beliefs, practices, opinions, or behaviors that differ from one's own, without necessarily agreeing with them
Discipline is the consistent regulation of one’s behaviour in accordance with established rules, duties and values, even in the absence of external supervision.
Punctuality is the habit of performing duties and honouring commitments at the prescribed or agreed time.
Courage of conviction is the moral strength to uphold and act upon one’s ethical beliefs despite pressure, opposition or personal risk.
Perseverance is the sustained pursuit of a legitimate objective despite difficulties, delays or repeated setbacks.
A deep sense of love, loyalty, and devotion toward one's nation, expressed through commitment to its values, welfare, and constitutional ideals, along with a willingness to serve and safeguard its interests.
Happiness is a state of subjective well-being characterised by positive emotions, life satisfaction and a sense of meaning and fulfilment.
It is often associated with positive life experiences, such as achieving goals, spending time with loved ones, or engaging in enjoyable activities.
Ethical sense: Happiness is not merely momentary pleasure; it is enduring well-being derived from meaningful living, virtuous conduct and harmonious relationships.
Attitude is a learned predisposition to evaluate and respond favourably or unfavourably towards a person, object, issue or situation.
Moral attitude is an individual’s evaluative orientation towards questions of right, wrong, justice, duty and human welfare.
Political attitude refers to an individual’s beliefs and orientations concerning political institutions, ideologies, leaders and public policies.
Aptitude is a natural ability or innate potential to learn or acquire a skill.
Social influence is the process through which an individual’s attitudes or behaviour are shaped by the real or perceived presence and actions of others.
Persuasion is a deliberate attempt to change another person’s attitudes, beliefs or behaviour through communication, reasoning, emotion or credibility.
Behaviour refers to the observable actions and responses of an individual in a given situation.
Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognise, understand and regulate one’s own emotions and appropriately respond to the emotions of others.
Self-awareness is the ability to accurately recognise one’s emotions, values, strengths, weaknesses and their influence on behaviour.
Self-regulation is the ability to manage emotions, impulses and reactions in a constructive and socially appropriate manner.
Motivation is the internal drive that directs and sustains behaviour towards the achievement of a goal.
Relationship management is the ability to build trust, manage conflict, communicate effectively and maintain constructive interpersonal relationships.
Trust deficit is a condition in which people lack confidence in the integrity, competence or intentions of a person or institution
In governance: It reflects declining public confidence in institutions, officials and decision-making processes.
Administrative ethics refers to the standards of right conduct that govern the behaviour and decisions of public officials.
The process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented).
Ethical Governance is the practice of exercising political, administrative, and institutional authority in a manner that upholds moral principles — such as integrity, transparency, accountability, fairness, and public interest — in all decisions and actions of governance.
Governance that is participatory, transparent, accountable, effective, equitable, and follows the rule of law — ensuring decisions are made and implemented in a manner that is responsive to the needs of citizens and promotes the welfare of society, particularly the most vulnerable.
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.
Accountability is the obligation of a person or institution to explain and justify its decisions and accept responsibility for their consequences.
Responsibility is the duty to perform an assigned role properly and take ownership of its outcomes.
Answerability is the obligation to provide information, explanations and justification for one’s actions and decisions.
Conflict of interest is a situation in which a person’s private interests may improperly influence, or appear to influence, the performance of official duties.
Abuse of discretion occurs when an official uses legally available decision-making power arbitrarily, improperly or for an unauthorised purpose.
Law is a formally enacted and enforceable system of rules prescribed by a legitimate authority to regulate conduct.
A rule is a specific direction prescribing or prohibiting conduct within an institution or legal framework.
A regulation is a legally authorised standard or procedure framed to implement and administer a law.
A Code of Ethics is a broad statement of values and principles intended to guide the judgment and conduct of members of an organisation.
A Code of Conduct is a set of specific and generally enforceable rules prescribing acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.
Probity in governance is adherence to the highest standards of integrity, honesty and propriety in public decision-making and the use of public authority.
Transparency is the openness and accessibility of governmental information, decisions and processes to legitimate public scrutiny.
Information sharing is the timely and appropriate dissemination or exchange of relevant information among citizens, institutions and public authorities.
A Citizen’s Charter is a public document specifying service standards, timelines, citizen entitlements and grievance-redress mechanisms of an organisation.
Proactive disclosure is the voluntary publication of public information by authorities without requiring citizens to formally request it.
Work culture is the collective set of values, attitudes, norms and practices that shape behaviour and performance within an organisation.
An ethical work culture is a professional environment where core values like integrity, fairness, transparency, and respect drive daily behaviors and decision-making
Professional ethics refers to the moral principles and standards that govern the conduct, decisions and responsibilities of individuals in a particular profession.
Personal ethics refers to the moral principles and values that guide an individual’s conduct and decisions in personal life.
Quality of service delivery is the degree to which public services are accessible, timely, reliable, responsive, equitable and effective.
Responsiveness is the willingness and ability of public institutions to recognise and address citizens’ needs promptly and appropriately.
Citizen-centric administration is an approach in which policies, processes and services are designed around the rights, needs and convenience of citizens.
Economy means acquiring resources of appropriate quality at the lowest reasonable cost.
Efficiency means achieving maximum output from available resources or achieving a given output with minimum resources.
Effectiveness is the extent to which intended objectives and outcomes are actually achieved.
Equity is fairness in the distribution of opportunities, resources and burdens according to differing needs and circumstances.
Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power or public office for private gain.
Bribery is the offering, giving, receiving or soliciting of an undue benefit to influence an official or professional decision.
Nepotism is the unfair favouring of relatives in appointments, promotions or allocation of benefits.
Cronyism is awarding positions, jobs, contracts, loans, privileges, or advantages to friends or colleagues.
Favouritism is the unfair granting of advantages to selected individuals or groups on considerations unrelated to merit or justice.
A branch of ethics concerned with the moral relationship between human beings and the natural environment, examining the moral status, value, and rights of nature, and prescribing principles for the sustainable and responsible use of natural resources for present and future generations.
Constitutional morality signifies a commitment to the fundamental values and principles established in the Constitution, including justice, liberty, equality, fraternity, secularism, and the respect for individual dignity.
Public morality typically denotes the accepted moral standards embraced by the majority of society at a particular time.
Public morality is influenced by cultural customs, religious beliefs, traditions, and social conventions.
In a nation as varied as India, perceptions of public morality can differ significantly among various communities, regions, and generation
Human capital refers to the stock of knowledge, skills, health, experience and capabilities embodied in individuals that enhances their productivity and contribution to society.
It is developed through education, healthcare, training and skill formation.
Social capital refers to the networks, relationships, shared norms and mutual trust that enable individuals and groups to cooperate for collective benefit.
Social harmony is a condition in which diverse individuals and groups coexist peacefully, cooperate with one another and resolve differences through mutual respect, tolerance and justice.
It rests on inclusion, equality, fraternity and respect for diversity.
Coercion is the use or threat of force, punishment or serious disadvantage to compel a person to act against their free will.
Undue influence is the improper use of authority, trust, dependence or a dominant position to manipulate another person’s decision and compromise their free and independent judgment.
The quality of being genuinely considerate, generous, and helpful toward others, expressed through voluntary acts of care and goodwill, without expectation of reward or reciprocity.
Spirit of service is the inner willingness to serve others with dedication, humility and concern for their welfare, without being driven primarily by personal gain or recognition
Voice of conscience is the inner moral awareness that guides a person to distinguish right from wrong and urges action consistent with ethical principles.
A state of intense internal conflict experienced by an individual when their personal moral convictions clash with the demands of duty, authority, or external circumstances, compelling a difficult choice between conscience and compliance.
Trustworthiness is the quality of being worthy of confidence because of consistent honesty, integrity, reliability and fulfilment of commitments.
Fortitude is the moral strength to endure hardship, fear, pressure or adversity while remaining committed to one’s duties and ethical principles.
Fairness is the principle of treating people impartially and making decisions according to relevant reasons, established rules and individual circumstances.
Justice is the principle of giving every person their due by ensuring fairness, rights, equality and impartial treatment.
Corporate Social Responsibility is the responsibility of businesses to conduct their operations ethically and contribute to social welfare and environmental sustainability while pursuing economic objectives.
It extends corporate accountability beyond shareholders to employees, consumers, communities, the environment and other stakeholders.
Public interest is the welfare and well-being of the general public and society, transcending individual, partisan, or sectional benefits.
A public servant is an individual employed by the government to serve the public and carry out the policies, programs, and laws of the state.
Devotion to duty is the sincere, steadfast and conscientious fulfilment of one’s responsibilities, even in the face of difficulty or personal inconvenience.
Professional efficiency is the ability to perform one’s duties competently, accurately and promptly while making optimal use of available time and resources.
Moral integrity is the consistent adherence to one’s ethical principles in thought, decision and action, even under pressure or when no one is watching.
Humility is the quality of staying modest about your abilities and achievements, willing to admit your mistakes and limitations, and not thinking you're better than others.
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