UPSC 2018 GS-IV · 10 marks · 150 words
Distinguish between ‘Code of Ethics’ and ‘Code of Conduct’ with suitable examples.
What a top answer must contain
These are the checkable specifics from the marking standard for this question — the actual case, committee, datum or thinker, not an instruction to “give examples”.
- Code of Ethics: aspirational, value-based, general, guides judgement where rules are silent — 'act with integrity'
- Code of Conduct: prescriptive, rule-based, specific, enforceable with penalties — 'do not accept gifts above Rs X'
- Indian examples: CCS (Conduct) Rules 1964 and AIS (Conduct) Rules 1968 as codes of conduct; the proposed Public Service Bill values as a code of ethics
- 2nd ARC's recommendation of a code of ethics alongside the existing conduct rules
- Relationship: ethics supplies the why and covers the unanticipated case; conduct supplies the enforceable floor — a strong answer says both are needed
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