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Glossary Terms
| Term (EN) | Definition | Exam Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Ethics | Systematic study of moral principles guiding right conduct | Foundation of Unit 1 |
| Human Values | Core ideals (truth, compassion, justice) giving direction to life | All ethics Qs |
| Satya | Truth as alignment of thought, speech, and action — Gandhi | Integrity 5-mark |
| Ahimsa | Non-violence including structural, policy-level non-harm — Gandhi | Ethics framework |
| Means-Ends Purity | Corrupt means corrupt just ends; both must be ethical — Gandhi | Ethical dilemma |
| Trusteeship | Administrator as trustee of public resources, not owner — Gandhi | Accountability |
| Sarvodaya | Welfare of all; policy must prioritise the weakest — Gandhi/Vinoba | Inclusive governance |
| Antyodaya | Welfare of the last person in the queue — Gandhi's policy test | Priority-setting |
| Seva | Service to humanity as a spiritual-ethical duty — Vivekananda | Motivation |
| Rajdharma | Ruler's ethical obligation to ensure justice and welfare — Kautilya | Admin ethics Q |
| Yogakshema | Security (yoga) + welfare (kshema) — dual duty of administration | Policy duty |
| Danda | Proportional, impartial punishment as tool of justice — Kautilya | Rule of law |
| Constitutional Morality | Upholding constitutional values over popular sentiment — Ambedkar | Rights protection |
| Fraternity | Sense of brotherhood/sisterhood among citizens — Ambedkar | Social cohesion |
| Manabdharma | Humanity as the supreme religion — Tagore | Humanist governance |
| Deontological Ethics | Ethics based on duty/rules regardless of outcomes — Kant | Ethical framework |
| Consequentialist Ethics | An act is right if it produces best outcomes — Bentham/Mill | Policy evaluation |
| Virtue Ethics | Focus on cultivating virtuous character — Aristotle | Character Q |
| Integrity | Alignment of stated principles and actual conduct; wholeness | Civil service values |
| Impartiality | Serving all citizens without favour or prejudice | Admin conduct |
| Moral Courage | Acting on ethical principles despite personal/political cost | Leadership Q |
| Social Justice | Fair distribution of rights, opportunities, resources | Ambedkar/welfare |
| Rule of Law | Law, not persons, governs — no one above the law | Constitutional Q |
| Accountability | Being answerable for actions and decisions to citizens | Governance Q |
| Empathy | Understanding and sharing the feelings of another; essential for citizen-centred service | Service delivery Q |
Sources: RPSC Mains PYQ 2013–2023; RPSC 2026 Official Syllabus; Kautilya, Arthashastra (trans. R. Shamasastry); M. K. Gandhi, Hind Swaraj (1909) and An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth; B. R. Ambedkar, Annihilation of Caste (1936); Second ARC Reports (2009); UPSC GS4 Ethics Reference Material; Swami Vivekananda, Complete Works (Advaita Ashrama).