The General Studies Paper 4, more commonly known as the Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude paper is an important one in the larger scheme of things. This is because the ‘Ethics paper’ can make or break your UPSC mains score. It is generally a scoring paper but because of its slightly off-beat nature compared to the other three GS papers, candidates have a tough time deciding their preparation strategy for this paper. The paper is equally divided between theory and case studies. Read on for the best books to study for the Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude paper in UPSC civil service mains exam.
Ethics Books for UPSC
- Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude – G Subba Rao & P N Roy Chowdhury
This book by Access Publishers is authored by two retired IAS officers. It contains many case studies and is a recommended book for beginners of the subject.
- Lexicon for Ethics Integrity and Aptitude for IAS General Studies Paper IV – Niraj Kumar
This book is excellent for strategies for solving case studies asked in the GS paper 4. As the name of the book suggests, it explains the meaning of many words related to the subject explicitly.
- Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude – Santosh Ajmera & Nanda Kishore Reddy
Authored by two serving IAS officers, this book provides a comprehensive account of the various theories on ethics and also gives a picture of the moral and ethical dilemmas that may confront administrators in their professional lives. The book is published by Tata McGraw Hill.
- Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude – M Karthikeyan
This book is written by a teacher of this subject and it covers the UPSC syllabus for the GS paper 4 in depth.
- Ethics in Governance: Innovations, Issues and Instrumentalities – Ramesh K Arora
Published by Rawat Publications, this book analyses and describes the roots of corrupt and unscrupulous practices in public systems. It explains the need for honesty and transparency in public administration. The book also talks about designing and implementing sound governmental practices. In addition, a summary of the report of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission on ‘Ethics in Governance’ is also included.
- ARC Reports
The reports of the Administrative Reforms Commission are very important for the Ethics paper. Even if you don’t find time to study the detailed reports in the original, do grab a summary of the reports and go through them. The Second ARC Report on ‘Ethics in Governance’ recommends the following values in civil services: integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections. These are explicitly mentioned in the UPSC syllabus for GS paper 4.
It is important to select the most recommended study material for the UPSC civil service exam. It is also essential to use those books that you find most easy to understand and study from to clear this highly competitive exam.
