General Studies Mains-2014 Paper-4 (Ethics and Integrity) Answer : Q-1-B

What does ethics seek to promote in human life? Why is it all the more important in public administration? (150 words)

Being ethical means choosing the proper course of action despite obstacles and challenges that may hinder one from choosing to do the right thing. Ethics promote morality in human life by making morals and value judgments a part of the decision-making process. Ethics is very crucial in public administration because of the magnitude of the issues involved in public administration. It is one of the core values of public administration. An administrator faces very tough decisions in his/her line of work. Ethics help ensure the propriety of such actions. Allegiance to a high degree of ethical standards puts the actions of the administrator above impeachment. Ethics ensure integrity and transparency amongst administrators thus making them perform their duties more efficiently and effectively. Administrators serve to protect public interest, and acting in an ethical manner while taking decisions that affect a multitude of people is of utmost importance.