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150 Words10 Marks

Q.Attitude is an important component that goes as input in the development of human being. How to build a suitable attitude needed for a public servant? (150 words, 10 Marks)

UPSC Mains 2021Ethics & Integrity

Syllabus Point

• Attitude - Content, Structure, Function

Approach

  1. Introduction (Definition) (30-40 words)
    • Define attitude and briefly explain its importance in development of human being.
  2. Body (Explanation) (80-90 words)
    • Explain the role of attitude in development of Human being
    • Why attitude matters in life of civil servants
    • What is suitable attitude for public servants?
    • Discuss the ways of developing suitable attitudes in public servants
  3. Conclusion (20 words)
    • Highlight importance of ethical education, practical experiences, and continuous self-reflection in developing the right attitude for public service. Explain briefly the role of a well-rounded, service-oriented attitude in ensuring good governance.

Introduction

Attitude refers to an individual's predisposition or mental state towards a particular person, object, or situation. It includes their beliefs, feelings, and behaviors towards something or someone. Attitudes can be positive, negative, or neutral, and they can change over time depending on experiences and interactions with the world.

Body

Attitude in development of Human being:

  • Attitude plays a significant role in shaping an individual's behavior, motivation, and decision-making. Positive attitudes can lead to better performance, higher self-esteem, and more satisfying relationships, while negative attitudes can lead to poor outcomes, such as decreased motivation, decreased well-being, and strained relationships.
  • It is essential to cultivate positive attitudes in individuals from an early age to help them develop into confident, self-aware, and successful individuals. This can be done through positive reinforcement, modeling, and education on the importance of positive attitudes.

Requirement of Attitude for public servant:

An ideal attitude is required for public servants as they hold positions of responsibility and trust in serving the public. They are tasked with the responsibility of serving and working for the people, and their actions and attitudes can have a significant impact on the lives of citizens.

Suitable Attitude for a public servant requires:

graph TD;
    SA["Suitable Attitude for a Public Servant"] --> Dedication["Dedication to Public Service"];
    SA --> Resilience["Resilience"];
    SA --> Integrity["Integrity"];
    SA --> Empathy["Empathy"];
    SA --> Accountability["Accountability"];
    SA --> Objectivity["Objectivity"];
    SA --> Openness["Openness to Feedback"];

Ways of Building suitable attitude in public servant:

  • Training and orientation programs: The first step towards developing a suitable attitude in public servants is to provide them with adequate training and orientation programs. These programs should focus on ethics, integrity, and the importance of public service.
    • For example, the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers are provided with a comprehensive training program at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, which includes courses on public administration, governance, and ethics.
  • Performance-based evaluations: Public servants' performance should be evaluated based on their adherence to ethical standards, their responsiveness to public needs, and their overall impact on society.
    • For instance, in India, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has introduced a performance appraisal system for public servants, which takes into account their integrity and conduct.
  • Accountability measures: Public servants should be held accountable for their actions, and any deviations from ethical standards should be punished.
    • For example, the Indian government has established various anti-corruption agencies such as the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate and punish corrupt public servants.
  • Positive reinforcement: Public servants who exhibit a suitable attitude should be recognized and rewarded for their efforts. This can include promotions, awards, and other forms of recognition.
    • For instance, the Indian government has introduced the Civil Services Day to recognize the contributions of public servants towards nation-building.
  • Leadership: The leadership within the public service needs to set a positive example and reinforce the importance of a suitable attitude. Leaders should encourage a culture of respect, accountability, and transparency, and provide opportunities for feedback and recognition.
graph TD;
    Building["Building a Suitable Attitude in Public Servants"] --> Training["Training and Orientation Programs"];
    Training --> Ethics["Ethics and Integrity"];
    Training --> Service["Public Service Importance"];
    
    Building --> Evaluation["Performance-based Evaluations"];
    Evaluation --> Standards["Ethical Standards"];
    Evaluation --> Responsiveness["Public Needs Responsiveness"];
    
    Building --> Reinforcement["Positive Reinforcement"];
    Reinforcement --> Promotions["Promotions"];
    Reinforcement --> Awards["Awards"];
    
    Building --> Accountability["Accountability Measures"];
    Accountability --> Agencies["Investigative Agencies"];
    Accountability --> Punitive["Punitive Actions"];
    
    Building --> Leadership["Leadership"];
    Leadership --> Respect["Culture of Respect"];
    Leadership --> Transparency["Transparency"];

Conclusion

A public servant should embody the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and dedication to the public good, always striving to serve the people with integrity and distinction. By investing in training, leadership, performance management, rewards and recognition, and ethics and integrity, public servants can be empowered to serve the public effectively and with a suitable attitude.

Previous QuestionSunil is a young civil servant and has a reputation for his competence, integrity, dedication and relentlessness in pursuit of difficult and onerous jobs. Considering his profile, he was picked up by his bosses to handle a very challenging and sensitive assignment. He was posted in a tribal-dominated district notorious for illegal sand mining. Excavating sand from river belts and transporting it through trucks and selling them in the black market was rampant. This illegal sand mining mafia was operating with the support of local functionaries and tribal musclemen who in turn were bribing selected poor tribals and had kept the tribals under fear and intimidation. Sunil being a sharp and energetic officer immediately grasped the ground realities and the modus operandi followed by the mafia through their devious and dubious mechanism. On making inquiries, he gathered that some of their own office employees are in hand and glove with them and have developed close unholy nexus. Sunil initiated stringent action against them and started conducting raids on their illegal operations of the movement of trucks filled with sand. The mafia got rattled as not many officers in the past had taken such strong steps against the mafia. Some of the office employees who were allegedly close to the mafia informed them that the officer is determined to clean up the mafia’s illegal sand mining operations in that district and may cause them irreparable damage. The mafia turned hostile and launched a counter-offensive. The tribal musclemen and mafia started threatening him with dire consequences. His family (wife and old mother) were stalked and were under virtual surveillance and thus causing mental torture, agony and stress to all of them. The matter assumed serious proportions when a muscleman came to his office and threatened him to stop raids etc., otherwise, his fate will not be different than some of his predecessors (ten years back one officer was killed by the mafia) A. Identify the different options available to Sunil in attending this situation B. Critically evaluate each of the options listed by you. C. Which of the above, do you think, would be most appropriate for Sunil to adopt and why?
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