Author: Chandra Mohan Upadhyay

UPSC Mains General Studies Paper IV (GS-IV) delves into the realms of Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude. It constitutes one of the nine essential papers within the IAS Mains Examination. This article elucidates the strategy, structure, and syllabus of General Studies Paper IV, providing valuable insights for UPSC Civil Service Mains Examination aspirants, while adhering to the original length.

General Studies Paper IV encompasses the following core domains:

1. Ethics
2. Integrity
3. Aptitude

This paper serves as an assessment of a candidate’s ability to navigate matters of integrity and probity within the realm of public life. Furthermore, it evaluates their problem-solving and conflict resolution capabilities.

While there may be some minor thematic overlaps with Governance and Social Justice subjects found in General Studies II of the Civil Service Examination Mains papers, General Studies Paper IV predominantly stands as an independent component of the overall GS paper syllabus.

Focus Areas in GS 4 Paper

S.No	Ethics Topics
1.	Ethics and Human Interface
2.	Human Values
3.	Attitude
4.	Aptitude
5.	Emotional Intelligence
6.	Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world
7.	Public or Civil Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration
8.	Ethical issues in international relations and funding corporate governance
9.	Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; information
10.	Codes of ethics &  Citizen’s Charters

How to Approach GS 4 Paper

Topic	Tips to Prepare
Ethics and Human Interface	Aspirants should learn: How you inculcate it How you deal with society How do you see whether the action is ethical or not and  What are the principles that you follow to ensure that the action is ethical or not?
Human Values	Aspirants should focus on: How do people acquire values and majority of people acquire values when they read about the personality of importance like freedom fighters Consider a few books about 5-6 of great thinkers whom you admire, like or follow Note: UPSC may give some statement of any great personalities and would ask to discuss it by applying it to the present context. UPSC does not want thinkers’ point of view but what it looks for is how much the candidate has analyzed, utilized and applied it to the current context.
Attitude	Candidates should focus on Attitude:  Content, structure, function, its influence and relation with thought and behaviour for Part 2 of the question paper i.e. Case Study The moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion would be for Part 1 of the Ethics Question Paper i.e. theory. Note: Question may be asked either in Part 1 or Part 2 i.e. either in theory or case study
Aptitude	Important list of words that a candidate should embed in their answer in order to enhance their answer and score high: Integrity: not compromising on anything if someone offers your bribe will you compromise ●  Impartiality: Don’t show nepotism either for political parties or common man ●  Nonpartisanship: no biases for different political parties ●  Objectivity: be neutral ●  Dedication to public service ●  Empathy ●  Tolerance ●  Compassion towards weaker section Note: Candidates can refer to the ‘Ethics in Governance’ to cover this area as it gives a clear definition of the last five words or concepts including Nolan Committee Recommendations.
Emotional Intelligence	Here as an administrator, one has to follow the three procedures of Emotional Intelligence and they are: ●  Understand your emotions and control them ●  Understand others emotion and control them ●  Then, act according to solve the issue genuinely and effectively Note: Questions may be asked in both Part 1 and Part 2
Ethical issues in international relations	Candidates can take the example of Nepal Earthquake video how funding aided or any current similar such scenarios Note: Questions may be asked Part 2 i.e. case study
Sharing and transparency in government, Right to information, codes of ethics, codes of conduct	Candidates can refer to CCS, 1964 – The Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, which is of 300-400 pages
Citizen’s Charters, Work Culture, Quality of Service delivery, utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption	UPSC may ask direct questions on Citizen’s Charter Candidates should be aware of how to frame a Citizen’s Charter and the rules and regulations that should be followed before framing a citizen charter Questions in Case Study may also be expected

Let’s take a concise look at the approach to preparing for the Ethics paper:

1. Build Conceptual Clarity: Ensure a deep understanding of the syllabus topics.
2. Explore Relevant Resources: Study materials such as the Code of Conduct, citizen’s charter, RTI, and Probity in governance reports.
3. Dive into Ethics Literature: Read pertinent reports and consider Ramesh K. Arora’s book “Ethics in Governance.”
4. Learn from Past Papers: Analyze previous year question papers to grasp question patterns and trends.
5. Practice Decision-Making: Tackle CSAT decision-making questions to enhance your decision-making abilities.
6. Apply Keywords: Identify key terms from the syllabus and incorporate them effectively into your writing.
7. Embrace Thinkers’ Wisdom: Utilize quotes from influential thinkers to address current issues.
8. Master One Book: Focus on a single book and revisit it multiple times, prioritizing depth over breadth in your studies.

Ethics Books for UPSC:

S.No	Ethics Books for UPSC
1.	Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude – G Subba Rao & P N Roy Chowdhury
2.	Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude for IAS General Studies Paper IV – Niraj Kumar
3.	Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude – Santosh Ajmera & Nanda Kishore Reddy
4.	Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude – M Karthikeyan
5.	Ethics in Governance: Innovations, Issues and Instrumentalities – Ramesh K Arora
6.	ARC Reports

GS-IV Structure

Here are the important features of UPSC Mains General Studies Paper-IV – Structure/ General Studies IV paper, with the length remaining the same:

1. Question Count: The paper comprises twelve questions, divided into two sections. Previously, before 2018, there were fourteen questions, but the complexity has since increased, and the number of questions reduced.
2. Mandatory Questions: All questions in this paper are compulsory.
3. Marks Allocation: Questions are either 10 marks or 20 marks, depending on the answer’s required length. Responses to 10-mark questions must be within 150 words, while 20-mark questions necessitate answers within 250 words.
4. Total Marks: The paper is allotted a total of 250 marks.
5. Question Types:
   • Direct Conceptual Questions (125 marks): These assess a candidate’s comprehension of ethical issues, integrity-related concepts, and aptitude.
   • Case Studies (125 marks): These evaluate a candidate’s ability to apply these concepts to real-world scenarios involving various stakeholders, including politicians, pressure groups, the public, and others.
6. Variable Nature: This paper exhibits the most variation among the four General Studies Papers, with questions varying widely from year to year. Aspirants should acquaint themselves with the syllabus and recent question patterns.

The following is the detailed Syllabus for General Studies IV Paper in the UPSC Mains Examination:

The UPSC GS 3 constitutes one of the nine subjective papers within the UPSC Mains examination. It encompasses various subjects, including Economic Development, Technology, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management. This article aims to furnish you with a comprehensive GS 3 syllabus and exam structure for your IAS Exam preparations, maintaining the original length.

IAS Mains General Studies-III encompasses the following subjects:

1. Technology
2. Economic Development
3. Biodiversity
4. Environment
5. Security
6. Disaster Management

Focus Area in GS3 Paper

Subject	Topics
Economics	Economic Development in India Macroeconomics
Science & Technology	Dark Matter Higgs Boson Rare Earth Elements GM Crops Gene Editing Artificial Intelligence Space Technology Defence Technology
Biodiversity	Types of Biodiversity Biodiversity and Environment
Security	Internal Security Challenges in India Extremism Terrorism Money-Laundering
Disaster Management	Disaster Management in India PM Cares Fund National Disaster Management Plan 2016

How to Approach GS3 Paper

Subject	Sources
Economic Development	Current Affairs Select articles from ‘The Hindu’ Class 12 NCERT – ‘Introductory Macroeconomics’ Economic Survey of India and India Year Book
Biodiversity, Environment	Current Affairs Textbook of Environmental Studies For Undergraduate Courses by Erach Bharucha Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) Official Website
Technology	Current Affairs
Security & Disaster Management	Current Affairs Yojana (January 2017) edition- this covers Disaster Management perspectives.

Practical Tips for GS Paper 3 Preparation:

1. Prioritize Current Affairs: Given the significant overlap between IAS Mains GS-III and current affairs, utilize the Daily News Analysis for effective preparation.
2. Note-Taking Strategy: When making notes, use blank sheets of paper or an unruled notebook. Draw margins on both sides to familiarize yourself with the format of the answer booklet provided during the Mains Examination.
3. Mnemonics for Memorization: Employ mnemonic devices whenever possible. For instance, consider memorizing the components under ‘Bharat Nirman’ using the mnemonic ‘WRITE H,’ where each alphabet corresponds to a component:
   • W: Water
   • R: Roads
   • I: Irrigation
   • E: Electricity
   • T: Telephone
   • H: Housing
4. Visual Aids in Notes: Enhance your notes with illustrations. Utilize sticky notes to create brief diagrams, flowcharts, and other visual aids. These can be pasted in your textbooks or notebooks for reference and will prove invaluable during revision.
5. Clarify Doubts: For answers to even the smallest queries related to the economy, science, environment, or agriculture, rely on Civilsdaily’s Clarity Webinars.

GS-III Structure

The General Studies Paper III in the Mains Exam is characterized by the following key features:

1. Bilingual Questions: There are 20 questions presented in both English and Hindi, and candidates are required to respond in the language chosen during the application process.
2. Total Marks: The paper carries a total weightage of 250 marks.
3. Word Limit: For 10-mark questions, the word limit is set at 150 words, while 15-mark questions allow up to 250 words for answers.
4. Emphasis on Economic Development: This paper places a significant emphasis on Economic Development. Consequently, questions may venture into areas such as Social Justice and international relations, extending beyond the scope of GS II. Moreover, topics related to Environment may overlap with the geographical knowledge required for GS-I, as well as Economic Development and Biodiversity, which are covered in GS II. Therefore, meticulous analysis of each question and the ability to provide concise, to-the-point answers within the specified word limit is crucial. A thorough understanding of the UPSC GS 3 Syllabus is instrumental in achieving this.
5. Focus on Security and Disaster Management: Questions pertaining to Security and Disaster Management are predominantly found in the latter half of the paper. Therefore, it is imperative to revise topics related to Internal Security and Disaster Management. Additionally, staying updated on contemporary issues, including emerging challenges such as cybercrime, is essential for success in this paper.

For a comprehensive understanding of UPSC Mains General Studies Paper-III (UPSC GS 3 syllabus), please refer to the detailed syllabus outlined below: