Procurement, Licensing & Regulatory Ethics — Conflict, Collusion, Audit Trails

What should you study in Procurement, Licensing & Regulatory Ethics?

• Procurement ethics — tendering, conflict of interest, unduly favoured bidder
• Licensing & inspection — inspector raj; bribery; Ease of Doing Business
• Collusion in contracts — cartel behaviour; anti-corruption measures
• Audit trail — e-tendering (GeM platform); audit observation resolution

How often is Procurement, Licensing & Regulatory Ethics asked in UPSC Mains?

Asked in 4 of 10 years, including 2 of the last 5. Highlighted years below are the ones it appeared in.

1. 2016: not asked
2. 2017: asked
3. 2018: not asked
4. 2019: asked
5. 2020: not asked
6. 2021: asked
7. 2022: not asked
8. 2023: asked
9. 2024: not asked
10. 2025: not asked

About the Mains GS Paper IV paper

GS Paper IV is the 250-mark Mains paper on ethics, integrity and aptitude, including case studies. See all 34 Mains GS Paper IV topics.

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