Ethics is a tactical subject. Aspirants find it challenging to pull a decent score in Ethics, thanks to case studies. It requires a good understanding and insurmountable patience while studying Ethics For UPSC. One needs to undertake a different approach while attempting the paper since it is a theory as well as an application-based case study question. It is these very case studies that make ethics complex and tactical.
Fear not when Eden IAS is here! Eden IAS has a special course for this very special subject with the name “Ethics GS4”. The instructor of this course is Mr. Tirthankar Roychowdhary. Sir is a commendable educator with an experience of more than 15 years.
This Ethics book for UPSC – your ultimate study material
It is a 10-week-long course spreading over 50 classes. Each of these classes will be of 3 hours duration. Mr. Tirthankar Roychowdhary has curated Ethics book for UPSC that comprehensively and intensively covers the entire syllabus of the GS-IV paper. These booklets are:
- Glossary for Ethics
- Theoretical Framework
- 70 Thinkers & Thoughts
- Ethics case studies
The best part is that these booklets are more than enough. One need not read the traditional Ethics study material such as Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude, Human Values – IGNOU material, Santosh Ajmera & Nanda Kishore Reddy’s Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude –
A Short Introduction to Ethics by Dr. S.N. Singh or Arihant’s Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude. If one goes through these four booklets thoroughly, then one can ace ethics with grace.
Please Must Read: How UPSC aspirants can get good marks in Ethics Case Studies UPSC Examination CSE?
Special emphasis on case studies
Case studies have a weightage of 120 marks out of 250. So, it becomes integral to attempt them and fetch handsome marks from the examiner. The last book has over 100 case studies including startup case studies, deontological case studies, and business case studies.
As per Mr. Roychowdhary, there are multiple approaches to case studies. But he recommends a specific approach called the “10-step generic approach”.
Step 1: Lay out the integral facts given in the question.
Step 2: Identify the stakeholders and categorize them into primary/specific stakeholders and other/generic stakeholders. Here, the process of ethical mapping commences.
Step 3: Identify the interests of these stakeholders.
Step 4: Next step is to identify the stakeholders’ interests that tend to clash with each other. This is called “conflict of interests”.
Step 5: Interests always have an underlying value. The next step is to identify these very values. There is not a clash of interests but a clash of values. This is known as “ethical dilemma”.
Step 6: Lay down all the situations of ethical dilemma or ethical paradox.
Step 7: List down the options that can be potential solutions to the case study. If the options are already given, then analyze their merits and demerits. Here, the process of ethical mapping ends.
Step 8: Pick an appropriate option from the aforementioned ones. This is called “ethical judgment”.
Step 9: Morally reason and henceforth, justify your ethical judgment.
Step 10: Use a quote or 2-3 lines to give a nice conclusion to your case study.
Hence, this course will guide you in the right direction with the apt Ethics Integrity and Aptitude and you will end up clearing the exam with flying colors.