Published on 24 Nov 2025
Civil servants are often met with multiple ethical challenges in public service. Ethical dilemmas do arise when a public servant has to choose between competing considerations of ethical values and rules in order to determine the right thing to do.
Conflict between Personal Interests vs. Public Interest: Conflict of interest can be referred to as the situation where an individual’s personal interests tends to compromise the public interests or vice versa.
Example: The drug mafia confronted a public servant who investigated drug trading near schools, threatening immediate consequences and potential family safety if he disclosed the crime. Should he disclose the crime?
Conflict between Personal ethics vs. Professional ethics: Civil servants might encounter the situation in which professional duty demands violation of personal ethics or vice versa.
Example: A public servant who is an animal lover is tasked with the oversight of curbing the stray dog issue.
Obedience of lawful but immoral superior orders: Though the disobedience of unlawful order is permitted, a government servant cannot disobey a lawful order even if it is immoral.
Example: Ethical dilemma of Police officers and civil servants who was forced to comply the unethical orders of ministers during emergency.
Policy dilemma: Policy makers are often confronted by conflicting responsibilities. They have specific loyalties to their superiors, but also to society.
Example: Ethical dilemmas faced by civil servants in framing the lockdown policy to contain the pandemic. Should there be an abrupt declaration of lockdown or a gradual one after giving a notice period?
Upholding Transparency vs. Administrative Secrecy: Public servants must strive to take decision in a transparent manner but at times secrecy is needed due to the confidentiality of affairs.
Example: IAS Krishna Teja’s Operation Kuttanad successfully evacuated over 2 lakh people in 3 days in Kerala’s low-lying Kuttanad region which was at a risk of submerging. The mission was kept as a secret to avoid panic situation which would have led to stampede and chaos.
Administrative dilemma: The promotion of general welfare depends on the use or exploitation of administrative discretion.
Example: A public servant is pressurised by the minister to speed up the land acquisition process for the construction of a highway. The proposed highway passes through an area of historic importance for a particular section of people. What shall he do?
Procedural compliance vs. compassion: Civil servants are expected to handle affairs with diligence and according to the guidelines, but mere compliance to the rules might affect efficient public service delivery.
Example: A public servants may meet citizens eligible for various welfare schemes but cannot help them due to lack of necessary documents as per guidelines.
Whistle blowing against unethical conduct vs. Goodwill of the Institution: While whistle blowing can curb unethical conduct, it can affect the reputation of the institution. But staying silent will encourage unethical practice.
Example: The frequent transfers and sidelining faced by Ashok Khemka IAS for exposing multiple instances of corruption within the administration.
Ethical dilemmas can be confronted effectively by civil servants by adhering to strong ethical conduct and upholding public service values such as integrity, impartiality, selflessness etc.
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
Ethical Dilemmas faced by Civil Servants
Ethical Dilemma
personal Interests and Public Interest
Personal ethics vs. Professional ethics
Obedience of lawful but immoral superior orders
Policy dilemma
Upholding Transparency
Administrative Secrecy
Administrative dilemma
Whistle blowing against unethical conduct vs. Goodwill of the Institution
Procedural compliance vs. compassion
General Studies Paper 4
Public Service Values
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