Framework for Ethical Guidance in Public Administration

Published on 24 Nov 2025

Ethical frameworks like code of conduct and code of ethics gives an outline of expected behaviour, and instructions on what is and isn’t considered good practices to be followed in public administration. 

• Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 and All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968: Conduct Rules contain some general norms they are primarily aimed at cataloguing specific activities deemed unfit for government employees.

• Examples: Civil servants must maintain absolute integrity at all times, Civil servants must maintain independence and impartiality in the discharge of their duties etc

• Code of Ethics (1997): Though the Code of ethics was not accepted officially, it contained certain standards of integrity and conduct that are to apply to public services. 

• Example: It dealt with subjects like building public trust, financial prudence,  accessibility of public servants to people etc.

• Draft Public Services Bill 2007: It proposed to set up a regulatory and protective framework for making civil and police officers perform in a competitive atmosphere without interference and without fear of persecution for being upright and impartial.

• Example : Protection of action taken in good faith, promotion the Public Service Values and a standard of ethics in the Public Service operations

• Constitution: Constitution serves as a prime ethical guide to the civil servants when the laws and regulations fail to guide them in decision making. 

• Example: In the administration, Civil servants could follow values enshrined in the constitution such as socialism, secularism etc. 

Though ethical frameworks do not address all the ethical dilemmas faced by the civil servants in their day to day administration, it does give a moral guidance to civil servants when faced with ethical challenges. 

Tags:
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

Keywords:
Framework for Ethical Guidance in Public Administration ethics in administration ethics public service code of conduct and code of ethics Central Civil Services conduct rules All India Services conducts rules Code of Ethics constitution

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 4

Topics:
Public Service Values