Hello Everyone,
My name is Ahinsa Jain and I belong to the IAS 2021 batch, West Bengal Cadre. I secured AIR 164 in CSE 2019 and AIR 53 in CSE 2020 and a lot of it was because of my ethics marks. Here I will share a few things which worked for me.
Sources
1. Syllabus
Each and every word of the syllabus should be memorised. Yes, it should be memorised because the keywords and different sections of the syllabus will help in better understanding of the subject and framing of answers would be much easier. For any question the answer can be written based on different pointers of the syllabus.
2. Previous Year questions
PYQ keeps one on track and there should be no demand- supply gap. The preparation should be aligned and one should know more about what not to read rather than what to read. Infact PYQ helps in providing a good collection of quotes, keywords which can add value to the answers. They also serve a good purpose for practising answer writing.
3. Books and materials
- a. Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude for IAS General Studies Paper IV – Niraj Kumar
- b. Ethics book by Arihant Publication
- c. Class notes of any coaching institute
- d. Toppers answer copies
- e. Solved papers of Test series especially for the case study part.
- f. My Political Science and International Relation notes especially the Indian and Western thinkers.
- g. Essay notes which had a good amount of quotes, examples, best practices, etc.
- h. ARC’s 4th report Ethics in Governance or its summary which is easily available online
4. Newspaper
Newspapers are a good source to collect case studies and examples which can be incorporated in the answers. I have incorporated a photo here which describes an example of humility by cricketer MS Dhoni when he humbly refused to inaugurate the stadium named after him. We can collect such kinds of examples and add to the ethics notes and use them in our answers. This will give an edge to the answers as there will be good use of current examples and case studies.
5. Internet
For making your own notes and basic definition
6. GS notes and books
When I used to read Spectrum for modern history I used to write down various examples from the freedom movement, religious movement in the ethics notes. This does not require any extra effort, it’s just that we have to read our GS material with an ethical bent of mind also 🙂. For example: Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar had opened a school for girls which showed his compassion for the women in the society.
Note making
Firstly, the syllabus should be thorough to start with the process of note making so that one can update the notes on a daily basis whenever he/she comes across something in books, notes, newspaper, etc. Identifying keywords from the syllabus is crucial.
For instance, if ‘integrity’ is a keyword, I will define it in simple language using reference materials or my own words, and then provide examples from the lives of leaders and administrators. I will also include personal examples that demonstrate integrity.
Additionally, I will incorporate a quote from a famous thinker known for their adherence to integrity to enhance the value of my notes. The notes can also contain judgments by the Honourable Supreme Court, High Court, or any other relevant information related to the ethics syllabus. It’s also advisable to include the ARC takeaway on integrity, as well as current examples from newspapers.
Answer writing
Ethics paper requires a lot of answer writing, so practise writing answers regularly. Use the knowledge gained from your reading and analysis to frame coherent and well-structured answers. Make sure to provide relevant examples and case studies to support your arguments. Use of diagrams, flowcharts, tables adds value to the answer. Underline important keywords in the question and also in the answers. Try to break the question into different subheadings to better answer what is being asked in the question. Always write a short introduction and conclusion in the answers which makes the answer look complete.
Check the Mock Answer Copy for ethics here
Case Study
Answering a case study well in a time bound manner requires a lot of practice and good hold of the subject. Try to read a few case studies from PYQ to know the pattern of topics covered or ethical dilemmas involved. Then solve case studies from test series papers and make notes on different types of case studies like corruption, social issues, law and order, professional vs personal ethics,etc. Certain keywords and way forward will be the same for case studies under different heads. I also prepared a list of introductions and conclusions for case studies which saved a lot of time while writing ethics papers. Also incorporate diagrams or flowcharts for showing stakeholders involved. Popular judgements, reference of ARC reports, quotes by philosophers can be incorporated to support the arguments. One of the most important things is the use of Section A in writing case studies such as in a case study we can write Harm principle, Rawls theory of Justice and other theories to justify the course of action.
While writing a case study following points can be followed.
1. Understand the case study: the first and foremost step is to read and understand the case study thoroughly. Identify the central ethical dilemma, the stakeholders involved, and the options available for resolution. Underline keywords, stakeholders in the question itself
2. Analyze the situation: Once you have understood the case study, analyse the situation from different ethical perspectives. Consider the ethical principles and values involved, and identify any conflicts between them.
3. Evaluate the options: Identify the options available for resolving the ethical dilemma presented in the case study. Evaluate the pros and cons of each option and the ethical implications of choosing each option.
4. Support your arguments: Use your understanding of ethical principles, values, and case studies to support your arguments. Provide relevant examples and case studies to support your arguments and demonstrate your understanding of the topic.
5. Be objective and unbiased: It’s essential to maintain an objective and unbiased approach while analysing a case study. Avoid presenting your personal biases or opinions and analyse the situation from a neutral perspective.
6. Structure your answer: Structure your answer in a logical and coherent manner. Start with an introduction that summarises the ethical dilemma presented in the case study. In the main body, present your arguments with supporting examples and case studies. Finally, provide a conclusion that summarises your arguments and provides a clear resolution to the ethical dilemma.
Time management
Time management is crucial in the Ethics exam, so practice time management skills while answering mock tests. Develop a strategy to allocate time to each section. I used to answer 4-5 questions of Section – A in the first half an hour and then used to answer all case studies within the next 1.5 hrs. In the last half an hour all the remaining questions of Section-A.
Value Addition Points
- Thinkers
- Quotes
- Examples
- Use of principles from different religions
- 7 sins
- Gandhiji’s Talisman
- Court Judgements
- Constitution
- Preamble
- Fundamental Rights
- DPSP
- Recommendations of various committees
- Niti Aayog suggestions
- UN
- SDG
- Use of keywords
- Use of she instead of he
- Diversity in examples
- Quote administrators
- Incorporate best practices of India and other countries
- Code of conduct
- Code of Ethics
- Government schemes like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao; Kanyashree Prakalpa
Disclaimer
Although notes help in better framing of answers, one needs to use presence of mind and analytical abilities to meet the demand of the questions. Also, this strategy worked for me and may or may not work for you. The sources referred here were convenient for me so one can change the sources accordingly.
For ethics Study materials, Click Here.
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