10 marks
150 words
Distinguish / Illustrate
Distinguish between ethics, morality and law. Can an action be legal but unethical? Illustrate with an example from public administration.
Decoding the directive: “Distinguish / Illustrate”
Define crisply, then apply — the illustration is where marks are won in GS4 theory.
What UPSC is really asking
Give precise definitions distinguishing ethics (rational standards), morality (social/personal norms) and law (enforceable rules), then show a legal-but-unethical case from administration (e.g. exploiting a rule’s loophole).
Dimensions the examiner expects
Cover these dimensions
- Definitions — ethics vs. morality vs. law
- Overlap and divergence between the three
- Legal-but-unethical — a concrete administrative example
- Why the gap matters for a civil servant
Concepts & keywords to name
Use the right vocabulary
- Ethics — reasoned standards of right and wrong
- Morality — socially/individually held norms
- Law — codified, enforceable rules
- Discretion — where legality and ethics can diverge
Common mistakes to avoid
Don’t do this
- Vague, dictionary-like definitions with no distinction
- No administrative example
- Preaching instead of analysing
Quick hints before you write
Structuring tips
- Use a 3-way one-line contrast up front.
- Pick an administration example, not a generic one.
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