Meta-Ethics

The study of meta-ethics refers to the nature of ethical terms and concepts and to the attempt to understand the underlying assumptions behind moral theories; therefore, it is the branch of ethics that seeks to understand the nature of ethical properties, statements, attitudes, and judgments. It covers a broad range of questions surrounding how we know what moral truth is (and even if moral truth exists), and how we learn about moral facts. Meta-ethical questions are, by their very nature, abstract. It might seem that they do not necessarily bear much relation to the task of developing practical, decision-making tools. However, some of the issues are very important and relevant to that task and meta-ethics receives some attention here.
If we begin to consider whether or not one should be a just person, for example, then we are very quickly faced with questions about the nature of justice and about what being a ‘just’ person means. Is justice a human invention? Can we accept that ideas of justice can be different in different societies? Or is the notion of justice an eternal, unchanging concept that should be upheld by everyone, everywhere, and throughout all time? This is not merely an abstract, academic question. The question of whether or not one culture’s notion of justice can and should be imposed upon another has historically been – and continues to be – a cause of profound conflict between people.

Environmental and Development Ethics

Two such areas of applied ethics are of direct concern to us. The first, development ethics, emerged as a field of study in the second half of the 20th century. It questions and looks at the ethical implications of ideas such as ‘progress’ and at the implications of various types of social change. It considers the costs and gains from major socioeconomic changes, and whether those in wealthier countries have a duty to help those in poorer parts of the world. As with most areas of applied ethics, it has a purpose: to ‘help in identifying, considering and making ethical choices about societal “development”, and in identifying and assessing the explicit and implicit ethical theories’. In other words, it aims to give clearer understanding of the key issues surrounding socioeconomic development, and to unpick the many hidden assumptions about what is the ‘right’ or ‘good’ thing to do. Key issues include social and human rights, poverty reduction, the gap between rich and poor, and planned international intervention by some nations in the development of others.

A second area of applied ethics is environmental ethics. Environmental ethics emerged as a separate area of philosophical study during the 1970s. The approaches of environmental philosophers are varied, but most take as their starting point the belief that we are facing a critical point in our relationship with the non-human world, and that in order to avert (or reverse) an ecological crisis, we need to reassess the ways in which we value the non-human world. While not all environmental philosophers suggest that we need a new approach to the ethical values we assign to nature, many varied suggestions have been made as to which alternative frameworks we should use for valuing nature. These two important areas of applied ethics are central to understanding many important contemporary issues, such as those related to sustainable development, climate change, and environmental management. Issues are also raised by environmental and development ethicists in relation to another important area of applied ethics: corporate ethics (although some would regard business/corporate ethics as a further area of applied ethics in its own right).

Ethics and Morality

The terms ‘ethics’ and ‘morality’ are not always used consistently and precisely in everyday contexts, and their ordinary meanings do not always correspond with philosophers’ use of the terms. Ethics is often used in connection with the activities of organisations and with professional codes of conduct: for instance, medical and business ethics, which are often formalised in terms of exhaustive sets of rules or guidelines stating how employees are expected to behave in their workplaces (such as in respect of a duty of care or confidentiality that health-care workers owe to their patients; or the medical ethical principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, respect for autonomy, and justice). Morality, on the other hand, is more often used in connection with the ways in which individuals conduct their personal, private lives, often in relation to personal financial probity, lawful conduct and acceptable standards of interpersonal behaviour (including truthfulness, honesty, and sexual propriety).

These ‘everyday’ uses of the terms ‘ethics’ and ‘morality’ are not so much incorrect by philosophical standards, as too limited. The philosopher’s interest in the theoretical study of ethics is with the idea of conduct that is right, fair and just, does not cause harm, and that can be applied to a wide variety of cases. For our purposes, each of the terms ‘ethics’ and ‘morality’ captures the essence of that idea sufficiently well. In what follows, then, it is not really necessary to over-emphasise the distinction between ethics and morality; here, those terms may be used interchangeably to refer to ideas about how humans ought to act.

Ethics In Globalization

The ethics of globalization should be based on the following reality the existence of only one atmosphere, one economy and one community. Therefore a law applied by only one institution, the UN, and only one ethics.
Universal ethics, the ethics of globalization, should be an virtues - be free, in the sense of understanding each other, be true and fair, be tolerant and sensible, necessarily an ethic of duty - a duty in itself, with family, friends and humanity, the duty to comply with commitments freely made, should be an ethic of affections - preferential treatment for relatives and friends, although the end is to extend such treatment to all humanity. It must be an ethic of universal values, freedom, equality, solidarity, justice, truth and reason. It should understand and accept the partiality of fraternal affection, familiar and friendly, common to all cultures.
Universal ethics for a globalized world ( the ethics of the global village) have to consider both the duties and the rights of the individual and defend that individualism is not only compatible but also require altruism. It should reject psychological egoism, ethical selfishness and cultural relativism.
Fair and global ethics is an ethic based on defence of humanism as a living and dynamic humanism, which recognizes the state of ignorance of human beings regarding themselves and the timeliness of the Socratic commandment. It is a humanism that does not exclude other living beings ( so the ethic of a fair globalization is not a contractual ethic), and hence, defends the ecological balance. It is a humanism that advocates constant  human improvement - the virturous character traits towards Aristotle's ideas - and the accomplishment of  one's duties with onself, with humanity, with does not exclude preferential treatment for friends ( ethics of affection). It is a humanism that is not compatible with the current state of humanity: there is much to do in terms of the two main objectives mentioned by Aristotle : be happy ( to know onself) and lead a dignified life.

World institution plays a crucial role in protecting an ethic that promotes public awareness of the existence of only one atmosphere, one earth one word where all living beings - human and nonhuman - have an interdependent existence. The need to develop weaker economic must be understood not as a threat but as an essential factor for the development of the world economy, which can only benefit all. We must be aware of the need for global legal and economic rules, equal for all.
The values of patience and tolerance, respect and kindness are linked to the courage to resist, in a peaceful way, to all kinds of injustices and power abuses. We are fee and we are also co-responsible for everything that happens in the global village. The fight against hunger, extreme poverty, disease, illiteracy, war, environment destruction, weapons of mass destruction, can only be understood as something that benefits us all, citizens of the world, as interconnected beings in an area without borders, goods related to physical survival without which not even the idea of freedom services. If there is no sense of justice and solidarity, but also between rich and poor individuals within the same country, towns and villages to yawn still wider.
The benefits of globalization can be maximized if the ethics of globalization do not become utilitarian ethics and if economics ( economic science) is not based on the poorly rational assumption that the predominant individualism in humans is selfish individualism and the need to maximize egocentrism. 

Identifying Public Service Values

Public servants are servants of the public, of government, of their immediate organisation and of the law. Their role is traditionally conceptualised as part of an interconnected structure existing alongside but outside of the  private sphere. It is assumed public servants share the values of wider society, whilst also recognising the need for representative government. Though public servants perform a myrid of tasks and undertake a multitude of responsibilities, there are common elements to their work,

Public administrations were established to provide politically neutral and loyal service to governments. For the purposes of ensuring neutrality and loyalty, rules were formalised concerning such issues as impartiality, incorruptability, allegiance to the constitution, and obedience to the law. In order to provide an environment in which these rules could be adhered to, public servants were offered security of tenure, a meritocratic career path and post-service remuneration.
In line with the classic organisational form, the image of the public servant has traditionally been that of a `bureaucrat' - an image which tends to be associated with conservatism, an absence of radicalism or even hierarchial control. The public servant's duties today remain many, complex and often seemingly contradictory, but successful public servants recognise their multiple roles and prepare for them. These include :-

• Maintaining confidentiality
• Acting in the public interest
• Regulating
• Providing quality advice
• Adjudicating
• Avoiding conflicts of interest
• Ensuring accountability

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Values and Ethics

As a concept, values are often interchanged with ethics, particularly in relation to addressing corruption or maladministration. Values in and of themselves do not have agency i.e. they do not actually do anything. Instead it is the application of ethical codes to values that will lead to particular behaviour. Ethics, therefore, are in effect the rules that translate values into everyday life. At its most basic, ethics is about determining what is `wrong' , `good' , `bad' or `right', and ethical choices are informed by values which help actors decide on what option to take when faced with an ethical dilemma.   While the values of different bureaucracies may vary between states, similar ethical challenges are routinely met, particularly in respect of issues of resource management. It is because of conflicts between ethical and unethical behaviour that codes (or Standards) of conduct and rules of procedure have emerged in importance. They provide an aide or benchmark against which decisions can be made and acted upon. In his work on changing public sector values. Van Wart argues that ethics are a sub-set of values, and that values from our broad, socially derived ethical standards for how the world should operate. Ethics, is doing the right thing, that is, acting on values. Values inform all aspects of ethical decision-making - ethical judgment, ethical choice and ethical behaviour- and are reinforced by them.

Values cannot be negative or positive - rather, how they are used to inform decisions and performance can be viewed from negative or positive viewpoints. For example, confidentiality as a value may be interpreted in a positive manner ( provides for trust between an organisation and its customers) or negatively (it inhibits transparency). In a similar vein, not all values are ethical values (i.e. concerned with right and wrong), and values may be unethical or non-ethical. Also, some ethical values, including fairness and honesty, are more germane to the public service than others.

The Re-emergence of Values

Concern with values, standards and ethics in public life is not new. Values and ethics have a close but distinctive relationship in policy making. It is significant that many Whitehall-styled bureaucracies such as those of Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Britain have recently sought to review and restate public service values in the context of administrative reform and modernisation.

1. In several cases, the requirement for restating values has also come about as a consequence of revelations of political and administrative corruption.
2. Declining public trust in institutions of government internationally has also acted as a catalyst for re-establishing the primacy of public service values and as part of a `back- to - basics' approach to governing.
3. A renewed emphasis on values is also driven by the trend to develop `corporate culture' and the requisite concomitant need to clarify corporate values as a means to achieving corporate success, application of economic rationalism to the public service in an attempt to overcome its traditionally perceived failings, has also encouraged and engendered new value sets.

The first `wave' of structural reforms induced by the NPM movement ends, a new wave of cultural reforms is beginning, which emphasises the centrality of shared values (2007). These values are necessary to underpin reforms based on improving responsiveness  and efficiency and the extent to which new values replace rather than support existing values raises important questions in relation to performance and management. 

Need to Study Public Service Values

Public service organisations operate in environments subject to regular change and replete with competing demands and obligations. Process is as important as outcomes and public trust is predicated on democratic values bring represented at all stages in the decision making process. In an environment of uncertainties, and which is subject to frequent structural and functional change, values provide a compass for guiding activities. If the work of the public service is not based on or driven by an appropriate set of values, it may lose the trust and respect of those who rely on it - the public. Different emphases may ne placed on different values according to the administrative and political priorities at a given time, but adherence to a set of broadly coherent and accepted values is essential for stability and coherence. As public administrators' values are developed through an interaction of self, situation and society, it is important that values are therefore periodically reexamined and challenged.

Strengthening Ethics Infrastructure

It is important to construct and strengthen the ethics infrastructure so that the framework is in order and that confidence in the operations of State civil servants can be ensured as well as possible. The citizens have to be able to trust civil servants and the authorities, while at the same time, the operations have to be productive, effective and efficient.
Specific strategies which should be considered include :-

• Effective laws which require civil servants to give reasons for their official decisions, (for example; a Freedom of Information law).
• Management approaches which encourage all public officials and civil servants to deal positively with corruption and unethical practice when they encounter it.
• Whistleblower' protection law to protect appropriate 'public interest disclosures' of wrongdoing by officials.
• Ethics audits to identify risks to the integrity of the most important processes ( for example, financial management, tendering, recruitment and promotion, dismissal and discipline).
• New Human Resource Management strategies ( which link, for example, ethical performance with entry and advancement, and ethical `under-performance' with disciplinary processes), merit based promotion and recruitment, antidiscrimination  protections.
• Training and development in the content and rationale of Ethics codes, the application of ethical management principles, the proper use of official power, and the requirements of professional responsibility.
• Effective external and internal complaint and redress procedures.

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The Ethics Infrastructure

A well-functioning Ethics Infrastructure supports a public sector environment which encourages high standards of behaviour. Each function and elements is a separate, important building block, but the individual elements should be complementary and mutually reinforcing. The elements need to interact to achieve the necessary synergy to become a coherent and integrated infrastructure. The elements of infrastructure can be categorised according to the main functions serve more than one function.

• Guidance is provided by strong commitment from political leadership; statements of values such as codes of conduct; and professional socialisation activities such as education and training.
• Management can be realised through co-ordination by a special body or an existing central management agency, and through public service conditions, management policies and practices.
• Control is assured primarily through a legal framework enabling independent investigation and prosecution; effective accountability and control mechanisms; transparency, public involvement and scrutiny. The ideal mix and degree of these functions will depend on the cultural and political-administrative milieu of each country.

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Principles of Ethics Infrastructure

1. Ethical standards for public service should be clear.
2. Ethical standards should be reflected in the legal framework.
3. Ethical guidance should be available to public servants.
4. Public servants should their rights and obligations when exposing wrongdoing. 
5. Political commitment to ethics should reinforce the ethical conduct of public servants.
6. The decision-making process should be transparent and open to scrutiny.
7. There should be clear guidelines for interaction between the public and private sectors.
8. Managers should demonstrate and promote ethical conduct.
9. Management policies, procedures and practices should promote ethical conduct.
10. Public service conditions and management of human resources should promote ethical conduct.
11. Adequate accountability mechanisms should be in place within the public service.
12. Appropriate procedures and sanctions should exist to deal with misconduct.

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Modern Civil Service Ethics Laws & Codes of Ethics

• Serving the Public Interest :- Civil servants and public officials are expected to maintain and strengthen the public's trust and confidence in government, by demonstrating the highest standards of professional competence, efficiency and effectiveness, upholding the Constitution and the laws, and seeking to advance the public good at all times.
• Transparency :- Civil servants and public officials are expected to use powers and resources for public good, under government policy. They should be accountable for the decisions they make, and prepared to justify their actions.
• Integrity :- Civil servants and public officials are expected to make decisions and act solely in the public interest, without consideration of their private interests. Public employment being a public trust, the improper use of a public service position for private advantage is regarded as a serious breach of duty.
• Legitimacy :- Civil servants and public officials are required to administer the laws, and to exercise administrative power on behalf of the Government or the Parliament, or other such authority. That power and authority should be exercised legitimately, impartially and without fear or favour, for its proper public purpose as determined by the parliament or their employer.
• Fairness :- Civil servants and public officials should make decisions and act in a fair and equitable manner, without bias or prejudice, taking into account only the merits of the matter, and respecting the rights of affected citizens.

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The Seven Principles of Public Life

• Selflessness :- Holders of public office should take decisions solely in terms of the public interest . They should not do so in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.
• Integrity :- Holders of public office should not take place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties.
• Objectivity :- In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.
•  Accountability :- Holders of public offices are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
• Openness :- Holders of public offices should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.
• Honesty :- Holders of public offices have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.
• Leadership :- Holders of public offices should promote and support these principles by leadership and examples.

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Ethical Rules and Code of Ethics

It is now generally recognised that meaningful and enforceable Ethics codes, linked to systemic practices and procedures, based on legislation and backed by management leadership and high-level political commitment, and ongoing 'professional ethics' training, are essential.
Ethical codes are tools used by professions for the ultimate purpose of maintaining confidence between customers and the profession. The codes contain instruction for good operations. They do not always include detailed guidelines, but they may consist of core values and principles to be interpreted independently in varying work situations. Their power lies in providing easy-to-remember "rules of the thumb" in simple form. The problem is that rules may simplify matters too much. On the other hand, if we try to make rules comprehensive, they can easily become too complicated. The rules will not have the guiding effect hoped for unless they are publicly strengthened, supported by training and information and controlled by means of a board or other body.

ETHICS IN GOVERNANCE

When we talk about ethics in governance, we should be very clear

that the following are responsible for ensuring ethical conduct in governance :- a) Politicalb) Bureaucracy including law enforcementc) Strong Military: To enforce the will of the Nation – Give
examples of Nagaland NSCN (I & M) OP ORCHID, J & K, OP RAKSHAK
and OP PAWAN.
2. Why is it that in all
examples of Nagaland NSCN (I & M) OP ORCHID, J & K, OP RAKSHAK and OP PAWAN. 2. Why is it that in all Opinion Polls conducted in the country, the
Armed forces ( Armed forces (Army, Navy and Air forces) are always in the first position
and politicians the last ?
and politicians the last ?(a) CORRUPTION:Elimination of corruption is not only a moral imperative but an economic necessity for a nation aspiring to catch up with the rest of the world. The six perceived governance quality measures, each an aggregate of a number of sub-measures, are: voice and accountability; absence of2political instability and violence; government effectiveness; reasonableness of the regulatory burden; the rule of law; and the absence of graft. Of
these, the last two are the most directly significant in the context of ethical
governance.

these, the last two are the most directly significant in the context of ethical governance. 'Rule of law' measures whether crime is properly punished or
not; enforceability of contracts; extent of black market; enforceable rights of
property; extent of tax evasion; judiciary's independence; ability of business
and people to challenge government action in courts etc.
not; enforceability of contracts; extent of black market; enforceable rights of property; extent of tax evasion; judiciary's independence; ability of business and people to challenge government action in courts etc. 'Absence ofgraft' measures relative absence of corruption among government, political
and bureaucratic officials; of bribes related to securing of permits and
licences; of corruption in the judiciary; of corruption that scares off foreign
investors.
and bureaucratic officials; of bribes related to securing of permits and licences; of corruption in the judiciary; of corruption that scares off foreign investors.(b) INTEGRITY:Integrity is much more than financial honesty. Public office should be treated as a trust. There are two facets to corruption: (1) the institution which is highly corrupt; (2) individuals who are highly corrupt. Building trust and confidence requires an environment where there is a premium on transparency, openness, boldness, fairness and justice.
We should encourage this.
We should encourage this.(c) GOOD GOVERNANCE & ETHICS: IF I WAS TO DEFINE BOTH, ITWOULD BE ;-Good governance is ideally suited for a country like India where
many of our present day players in governance do not adhere to any
principle and ensure only their own interests.
many of our present day players in governance do not adhere to any principle and ensure only their own interests.Ethics is a set of standards that helps guide conduct.
3(d) INCOMPETENCE:While it may not always be possible to establish the criminal offence of misappropriation in a court of law, the Government servant can still be removed from service for causing serious monetary loss to the State. An engineer may have deliberately permitted the construction of a defective irrigation dam or building. It may not be possible to get him convicted in court on charges of corruption but he could be removed from service on grounds of incompetence. A tax official may have connived to allow the
leakage of revenue for return favours in the future. Such conduct may not
provide the ingredients of a criminal offence but can lead to his exit from
service.
leakage of revenue for return favours in the future. Such conduct may not provide the ingredients of a criminal offence but can lead to his exit from service.(e) ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR:Ethics is a set of standards that society places on itself and which helps guide behavior, choices and actions. The crux of ethical behavior does not lie in bold words and expressions enshrined as standards, but in their adoption in action, in sanction against their violations, in putting in place competent disciplinary bodies to investigate allegations of violations and impose sanctions quickly and in promoting a culture of integrity. Corruption is an important manifestation of the failure of ethics. If good behaviour is consistently rewarded and bad behavior consistently punished, the bulk of the people follow the straight and narrow path. However, if good behavior is not only not rewarded, but is actually fraught with difficulties and bad behavior is not only not punished, but is often extravagantly rewarded, then the bulk of the people tend to stray from the honourable path.(f) BRITISH LEGACY:In our society, corruption and abuse of office has been aggravated by three factors. First, there is a colonial legacy of unchallenged authority and propensity to exercise power arbitrarily. In a society which worships power, it is easy for public officials to deviate from ethical conduct. Second, there is enormous asymmetry of power in our society. Nearly 90% of our people are in the unorganized sector. Quite a number of them lead a precarious existence, depending on subsistence wages with no job security. And nearly 70% of the organized workers with job security and regular monthly wage are employed by the state directly or through public sector undertakings. Almost all these employees are 'educated' in a largely illiterate and semiliterate society and economically even the lowliest of public servants are better off than most people in the country. What is more, their employment in government comes with all the trappings of power. Such asymmetry of power reduces societal pressure to confirm to ethical behaviour and makes it easy to indulge in corruption. Over regulation, severe restrictions on economic activity, excessive state control, near-monopoly of the government in may sectors and an economy of scarcity all created conditions conducive to unbridled corruption. In addition, many state subsidies and beneficiary-oriented programmes has enhanced opportunities to indulge in corruption and reduced the citizens capacity to resist extortionary demands.(g) QUALITY OF POLITICS:Perhaps the most important determinant of the integrity of asociety or the prevalence of corruption is the quality of politics.(i) All forms of corruption are reprehensible and we need to promote a culture of zero-tolerance of corruption. But some forms of corruption are much more pernicious than others and deserve closer attention. In a vast majority of cases of bribery, the citizen is a victim of extortion and is compelled to pay a bribe in order to get a service to which he is entitled. Experience has taught most citizens that there is a vicious cycle of corruption operating and they often end up losing much more by resisting corruption. Delays, harassment, lost opportunity, loss of precious time and wages, uncertainty and, at times, potential danger of loss of lifeor limb could result from resistance to corruption and noncompliance with demands. (Give example of honest civilservants being killed. Sand Mafia, Quarrying, etc.) In such
cases, the citizen is an unwilling victim of coercive corruption. But
there are several cases of collusion between the bribe giver and
corrupt public servant. In such cases of collusive corruption, both
parties benefit at immense cost to society. Awarding of contracts
for public works and procurement of goods and services,
recruitment of employees, evasion of taxes, substandard projects,
collusive violation of regulations, adulteration of foods and drugs,
obstruction of justice and concealing or doctoring evidence in
investigation are all examples of such dangerous forms of
corruption. As the economy is freed from state controls,
extortionary corruption declines and collusive corruption tends to
increase. We need to fashion strong and effective instruments to
deal with this growing menace of collusive corruption, which is cases, the citizen is an unwilling victim of coercive corruption. But there are several cases of collusion between the bribe giver and corrupt public servant. In such cases of collusive corruption, both parties benefit at immense cost to society. Awarding of contracts for public works and procurement of goods and services, recruitment of employees, evasion of taxes, substandard projects, collusive violation of regulations, adulteration of foods and drugs, obstruction of justice and concealing or doctoring evidence in investigation are all examples of such dangerous forms of corruption. As the economy is freed from state controls, extortionary corruption declines and collusive corruption tends to increase. We need to fashion strong and effective instruments to deal with this growing menace of collusive corruption, which isundermining the very foundations of our democracy and endangering society. (ii) Ethics in governance, however, has a much wider import than what happens in the different arms of the government. An acrossthe-board effort is needed to fight deviations from ethical norms. Such an effort needs to include corporate ethics and ethics in business; in fact, there should be a paradigm shift from the pejorative 'business ethics' to 'ethics in business'. There is need for ethics in every profession, voluntary organization and civil society structure as these entities are now vitally involved in the process of governance. Finally, there should be ethics in citizenbehavior because such behavior impinges directly on ethicsin government and administration.
(A) Vigilance and Corruption:Strengthening pro-active vigilance to eliminate corruption and harassment to honest civil servants including, wherever necessary, limiting executive discretion. (Give example ofDr. Ashok Khemka, IAS).Addressing systemic deficiencies manifesting in reluctance
to punish the corrupt.
to punish the corrupt. a) Identify procedures, rules and regulations and factors
which lead to corruption
which lead to corruptionb) Measures to combat corruption and arbitrary decision
making, and
making, andc) Framework for their periodical review in consultation with
the stakeholders. the stakeholders.(B) Relationship between Political Executive and Permanent Civil
Services:
Improvements in the institutional arrangements for smooth,
efficient and harmonious relationship between civil service and
the political executive.
Services: Improvements in the institutional arrangements for smooth, efficient and harmonious relationship between civil service and the political executive.(C) Code of Conduct for different organs of Government:
(h) Suggested measures to improve:Criminalization of politics – Participation of criminals in the
electoral process - is the soft underbelly of our political system.
a) Disclosure of Antecedents of Candidates;
b) Disqualification of Persons Convicted of Criminal Offence;
c) Enforcement of the Code of Conduct;
d) Free and fearless polling;
e) Reduction in size of Council of Ministers;
f) Reform of Political Funding;
g) Tightening of anti-defection law
electoral process - is the soft underbelly of our political system. a) Disclosure of Antecedents of Candidates; b) Disqualification of Persons Convicted of Criminal Offence; c) Enforcement of the Code of Conduct; d) Free and fearless polling; e) Reduction in size of Council of Ministers; f) Reform of Political Funding; g) Tightening of anti-defection law(i) WHAT CONSTITUTES ETHICAL STANDARDS:One of the most comprehensive statements of what constitutesethical standards for holders of public office came from theCommittee on Standards in Public Life in the United Kingdom,popularly known as the Nolan Committee, which outlined thefollowing seven principles of public life:1. Selflessness: Holders of public office should take decisions solely
in terms of public interest. They should not do so in order to gain in terms of public interest. They should not do so in order to gainfinancial or other material benefits for themselves, their family or their friends. 2. Integrity: Holders of public office should not place themselves
under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or
organizations that might influence them in the performance of their
official duties.under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organizations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties. 3. Objectivity: In carrying out public business, including making
public appointments, awarding contracts or recommending
individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should
make choices on merit. public appointments, awarding contracts or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit. 4. Accountability: Holders of public office are accountable for their
decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to
whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office. decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office. 5. Openness or Transparency: Holders of public office should be as
open as possible about all the decisions and actions they take.
They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict
information only when the wider public interest clearly demands. open as possible about all the decisions and actions they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands. 6. Honesty: Holders of public office have a duty to declare any
private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to
resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public
interest. private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest. 7. Leadership: Holders of public office should promote and support
these principles by leadership and example. these principles by leadership and example.JUST WARGIVE EXAMPLE OF JUST WAR- 1948 (Yes)- 1965 (Yes)- 1971 (No but great victory)- 1999 (Yes)Ethics for Armed ForcesThere are a number of definition implefying what is a JUST WAR one such definition is :- 1) In self-defense, as long as there is a reasonable possibility of success. 2) Preventive war against a tyrant who is about to attack. 3) War to punish a guilty enemy. 4) Once war has begun, there remain moral limits to action. For example, one may not attack innocents or kill hostages. 5) It is obligatory to take advantage of all options for dialogue and negotiations before undertaking a war; war is only legitimate as a last resort. 6) The damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave and certain. 7) All other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective. 8) There must be serious prospects of success. 9) The use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. Invasion of IRAQ by US. 10) Fair treatment of prisoners of war. 11) Adherence to GENEVA CONVENTIONS.CONCLUSIONIndians have always valued a world beyond the material and have embraced spiritualism as a way of life. Instances abound in our epics of good behaviour, of the triumph of good over evil, of the wisdom of sages. Stories of the honesty, generosity and piety of legendry kings such as Vikramaditya, are told to our children even today. There is no reason why Ram Rajya cannot be attempted. In modern India, poverty, insufficiency and class conflicts are slowly giving way to a confident, inclusive, empowered India. On the Transparency International's Corruption Index, India's position has improved significantly, and hopefully will continue to do so. The vigilance of our enlightened people will ensure this. A more corruption free regime would lead to a much higher rate of growth of our GDP, bring an overall improvement in the economy and lead to greater transparency in government actions in serving its people. All this, in turn, will lead to greater empowerment of the people – the core need of a vibrant democracy.