Ethics & GovernancePublic Administration
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Ethical Decision-Making in Civil Service Examined Through Jones's 1991 Model and Kohlberg's Six Stages

PolitySUPPORT
Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCPrelims MediumMains High
07 Feb 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:19912007
Bodies:Lahore High Court
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What This Article Covers

1.The article examines whether systemic failures force honest officers to resign or if it's a test of individual ethical fortitude.

2.It introduces key ethical theories like Jones's 'Issue-Contingent Model', Kohlberg's stages of moral development, and Rest's four-component model.

3.The case study of Justice Syed Agha Haider illustrates how individual conscience can resist institutional pressure, offering a historical parallel for mains answers.

The Big Picture
Prelims · MediumMains · High

The resignation of honest civil servants is often blamed on a flawed 'system'. This analysis argues that while systemic pressures exist, ethical governance ultimately depends on individual probity and sound ethical decision-making frameworks. For aspirants, this is a core GS-IV theme linking to integrity, public service values, and administrative ethics.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Key Model (Year)Jones's Ethical Decision Making Model (1991)
Moral Intensity Components6 (Magnitude, Social Consensus, Probability, Temporal Immediacy, Proximity, Concentration)
Kohlberg's Stages3 Levels (Pre-conventional, Conventional, Post-conventional)
Historical CaseJustice Syed Agha Haider (Lahore High Court, Bhagat Singh trial)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Key Model (Year): Jones's Ethical Decision Making Model (1991)
  • ›Moral Intensity Components: 6 (Magnitude, Social Consensus, Probability, Temporal Immediacy, Proximity, Concentration)
  • ›Target this Data: Thomas Jones's Ethical Decision Making Model was proposed in 1991.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is mentioned as an organization where the article's author has served as an expert.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: The concept is linked to the 'Code of Conduct' for civil servants under the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules.

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Q1Static LinkageEasy

The article mentions the author has served as an expert/consultant to which of the following investigative agencies?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding ethical theories discussed in the article:

1. Thomas Jones's 'Issue-Contingent Model' emphasizes that ethical decision-making depends solely on the individual's character.

2. According to Rest's model, the first stage of ethical decision-making is making a moral judgment.

3. Kohlberg's theory of moral development includes a 'post-conventional' level where decisions are based on universal ethical principles.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to Thomas Jones's model, how many components constitute the 'moral intensity' of an ethical issue?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

The historical example of Justice Syed Agha Haider during the Bhagat Singh trial is primarily used in the article to illustrate which of the following concepts?

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