UPSC Mains GS Paper IV Syllabus (Ethics)
GS Paper IV is the 250-mark Mains paper on ethics, integrity and aptitude, including case studies. The syllabus below is split into 34 topics across 5 subjects, with how often each was asked from 2016 to 2025.
Most asked Mains GS Paper IV topics
- Ethics — Essence, Determinants, Consequences & Ethics vs Morality vs LawHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Ethical Theories — Utilitarianism, Deontology, Virtue Ethics, Moral RelativismHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Dimensions of Ethics — Personal, Social, Professional & International EthicsHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Attitude — Content, Structure, Function & Formation MechanismsHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Integrity in Public Service — Concept, Manifestations & ThreatsHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Emotional Intelligence — Concepts, Components (Self-awareness, Self-regulation, Empathy)High-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Ethical Dilemmas in Governance — Conflict of Interest, Loyalty vs RulesHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Ethics in Private & Public Relationships — Family, Friends, Civil SocietyHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Human Values — Role of Family, Society & Educational Institutions in ValuesHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Moral Thinkers & Leaders — Gandhi, Buddha, Socrates, Aristotle, Kant, RawlsHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
Ethics & Human Interface — 10 topics
- Ethics — Essence, Determinants, Consequences & Ethics vs Morality vs LawHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Ethical Theories — Utilitarianism, Deontology, Virtue Ethics, Moral RelativismHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Dimensions of Ethics — Personal, Social, Professional & International EthicsHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Ethics in Private & Public Relationships — Family, Friends, Civil SocietyHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Human Values — Role of Family, Society & Educational Institutions in ValuesHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Moral Thinkers & Leaders — Gandhi, Buddha, Socrates, Aristotle, Kant, RawlsHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Ethics in Public Administration — Probity, Integrity, Codes of Conduct, Citizen ChartersHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Contemporary Ethics — AI Ethics, Climate Ethics, Social Media Ethics, Corporate GovernanceHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Ethical Issues in International Relations — Foreign Policy Ethics, Global Justice, Warasked 2/10 yrs
- Institutional Frameworks — Constitutional Morality, RTI Ethics, Lokpal, Anti-corruptionHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
Attitude — 6 topics
- Attitude — Content, Structure, Function & Formation MechanismsHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Attitude & Behaviour — Relationship, Influence on Decision MakingHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Social Influence & Persuasion — Propaganda, Media, Behavioural Change CampaignsHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Moral & Political Attitudes — Civil Service Values, Democratic TemperamentHigh-yieldasked 3/10 yrs
- Attitude Change — Cognitive Dissonance, Persuasion Theories & Resistanceasked 3/10 yrs
- Prejudice, Discrimination & Bias — Stereotypes, Implicit Bias in Public Serviceasked 2/10 yrs
Aptitude & Foundational Values — 8 topics
- Integrity in Public Service — Concept, Manifestations & ThreatsHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Impartiality, Non-partisanship & Objectivity in AdministrationHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Dedication & Commitment to Public Service — Civil Service as a CallingHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Empathy, Tolerance & Compassion — Towards Citizens & Vulnerable SectionsHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Probity in Governance — Concept, RTI, Transparency, Citizen ChartersHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Utilisation of Public Funds & Corruption Prevention — Transparency, AccountabilityHigh-yieldasked 3/10 yrs
- Information Sharing, Transparency & Right to Privacy in Administrationasked 2/10 yrs
- Corporate Governance & Ethics in Private Sector — CSR, ESG, Whistleblowerasked 2/10 yrs
Emotional Intelligence — 4 topics
- Emotional Intelligence — Concepts, Components (Self-awareness, Self-regulation, Empathy)High-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- EI in Administration — Teamwork, Conflict Resolution, Citizen InterfaceHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- EI & Leadership — Motivation, Stress Management, Resilience in Crisisasked 2/10 yrs
- Developing Emotional Competencies — Training, Mindfulness & Application in Governanceasked 2/10 yrs
Case Studies — 6 topics
- Ethical Dilemmas in Governance — Conflict of Interest, Loyalty vs RulesHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Procurement, Licensing & Regulatory Ethics — Conflict, Collusion, Audit TrailsHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Law vs Compassion — Eviction, Disaster Relief, Eligibility, ProportionalityHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Data/Technology Ethics — AI Bias, Surveillance, Algorithmic Decisions, Data PrivacyHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Civil Servant Conduct — Whistleblowing, Political Pressure, Media AccountabilityHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Environment & Livelihood Ethics — Displacement, Conservation vs Developmentasked 3/10 yrs
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