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Glossary Terms
| Term (EN) | Definition | Exam Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Integrity | Alignment of stated values and actual conduct; Latin integer (whole) | Foundation Q |
| Impartiality | Decisions on objective criteria without favour or prejudice | T1 sub-topic |
| Non-Partisanship | Political neutrality; serving any government without party bias | Conduct rules Q |
| Probity | Complete uprightness beyond legality; financial + procedural + moral | Ethics standard Q |
| Conflict of Interest | Personal interest may bias official decision | COI management Q |
| Recusal | Withdrawing from a decision where COI exists | COI management |
| Divestiture | Disposing of conflicting financial interests | COI management |
| Whistleblowing | Exposing internal illegality/unethical conduct | Integrity under pressure |
| Nolan Principles | 7 principles of public life (UK, 1995): selflessness to leadership | Principles Q |
| Emotional Intelligence | Ability to perceive, manage, and reason with emotions — Goleman | EI Q 10-mark |
| Self-Awareness (EI) | Recognising one's own emotional states and biases | EI component |
| Self-Regulation (EI) | Managing impulses; thinking before acting | EI component |
| Empathy (EI) | Understanding others' emotional states | EI component |
| AIS Conduct Rules | All India Services (Conduct) Rules 1968 — regulates civil servant behaviour | Regulatory reference |
| RTI Act 2005 | Citizens' right to seek government information; default is disclosure | Transparency Q |
| CAG | Comptroller and Auditor General — financial accountability of government | Accountability Q |
| CVC | Central Vigilance Commission — integrity and anti-corruption oversight | Anti-corruption Q |
| Lokayukta | State-level administrative accountability body — Rajasthan has active Lokayukta | State accountability |
| Newspaper Test | Would you be comfortable if this decision appeared on the front page? | Integrity heuristic |
| Gandhi's Talisman | Will this benefit the poorest citizen? — integrity + impartiality check | Ethical heuristic |
| Political Neutrality | Civil servant's obligation to serve any government without partisan bias | Non-partisanship Q |
| Whistleblowers Act 2014 | Protection for public servants who disclose wrongdoing in good faith | Legal reference |
| 2nd ARC | Second Administrative Reforms Commission — Ethics in Governance Report 2007 | ARC reference |
| Svadharma | One's own contextual duty — administrator's duty to Constitution over party | Duty ethics |
| Fiduciary Duty | Trustee-like obligation: public servants hold power in trust for citizens | Public life ethics Q |
Sources: RPSC Mains PYQ 2013–2023; RPSC 2026 Official Syllabus; AIS (Conduct) Rules 1968; CCS (Conduct) Rules 1964; Whistleblowers Protection Act 2014; RTI Act 2005; Second ARC Report on Ethics in Governance (2007); Committee on Standards in Public Life (Nolan Report, UK, 1995); Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence (1995); Peter Salovey & John Mayer, Emotional Intelligence (1990); UPSC GS4 Ethics Reference Material; Kautilya, Arthashastra — on Rajdharma.