General Studies Paper 4, also known as Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude (EIA), is a mandatory paper in the civil services examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This paper deals with ethical and moral dimensions of various topics and issues that civil servants are likely to face in their professional and personal life.
The EIA paper is designed to evaluate the candidate’s attitude towards various issues and their ability to choose the right course of action in different situations. The syllabus of this paper is vast and requires a thorough understanding of ethical principles, values and virtues.
Let’s take a closer look at the EIA syllabus:
- Ethics and Human Interface: This section deals with the relationship between ethics and human behaviour. It includes topics like emotional intelligence, moral and political attitudes, conscience, attitudes towards family, society and work, public/civil service values, etc.
- Attitude: This section covers topics related to attitude, including its components, types, applications and measures of attitude, moral and political attitudes and the influence of environment on attitude.
- Aptitude and Foundational Values: This section covers topics related to aptitude, including aptitude for civil services, foundational values, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections.
- Emotional Intelligence: This section deals with various aspects of emotional intelligence, including its concept, nature and dimensions, emotional stability, interpersonal relationships, stress management, dealing with negative emotions, and the role of emotional intelligence in governance.
- Contributions of Thinkers and Philosophers: This section deals with the contributions of various thinkers and philosophers to the ethical and philosophical dimensions of governance.
- Public/Civil Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration: This section deals with the values and ethics in public administration, including the ethical concerns in governance, the role of ethics in decision-making, accountability and transparency in public administration, etc.
- Probity in Governance: This section covers topics related to probity in governance, including the role of public servant in upholding the integrity of the entire system, case studies of ethical dilemmas in government and ethical issues in international relations.
- Case Studies on above Issues: This section contains case studies and examples of various ethical dilemmas and situations that civil servants might encounter in their professional and personal life.
The EIA paper aims to evaluate the candidate’s ability to deal with ethical issues, based on a sound understanding of the foundational values and principles. The paper requires the candidates to think ethically and apply their knowledge of values and principles to solve practical problems.
The EIA paper is an important component of the civil services examination, and candidates should give it equal importance, along with the other papers. The key to success in this paper is the understanding of ethical principles, along with the ability to apply them in practical situations. Candidates need to take a structured approach to prepare for this paper, by covering the entire syllabus and practicing ethical decision-making through case studies and examples. With the right approach and preparation, candidates can score well in the EIA paper and move closer to their dream of becoming a civil servant.
