5 November: probity in governance
Thursday 5 November 2026
GS Paper 4 · theory · 150 words · 10 marks
Probity is essential for an effective system of governance and socio-economic development. Discuss.
(UPSC Mains 2023, GS Paper 4, Q5(b))
You have seven minutes. Write your answer before you read anything below.
Open only after you have written
How to approach this question
The directive. Discuss asks why the statement holds and what follows from it. Cover both halves of the question, governance and development.
A shape that works in 150 words.
| Part | Words | What to write |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | 20 | What probity means, beyond obeying the law |
| Governance | 40 | Merit, trust, and a named standard |
| Development | 35 | Leakage and investment, with an example |
| India's framework | 35 | Two or three laws or reports |
| Conclusion | 20 | Steps that build probity into daily work |
Material you can use.
| Source | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| Nolan Committee, UK (1995) | Seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, leadership |
| Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended 2018) | Giving a bribe became an offence |
| RTI Act, 2005 | Citizens can see how decisions were made |
| Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 | Independent bodies to inquire into corruption |
| Second ARC, fourth report, Ethics in Governance (2007) | Recommended a code of ethics for civil servants |
| Mission Karmayogi | Capacity building for civil servants |
Mistakes to avoid.
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| A definition and nothing else | Link probity to a governance result |
| Forgetting development | Give the welfare leakage or investment link |
| A thinker's quote in place of reasoning | Your own reasoning, with a named law or report |
A model answer
Probity means integrity and honesty in public office, beyond what the law requires. Public trust rests on it.
Governance. Decisions made on merit use public money well. Citizens follow rules more readily when they trust officials. The Nolan Committee (UK, 1995) set out seven principles of public life, including integrity, objectivity and openness.
Development. Leakage in welfare schemes takes benefits from the poor. Direct Benefit Transfer reduced this by paying beneficiaries directly. Investors avoid places where contracts depend on bribes.
India's framework. The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was amended in 2018 to make giving a bribe an offence. The RTI Act, 2005 and the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 add scrutiny. The Second ARC's report Ethics in Governance (2007) recommended a code of ethics.
Laws punish corruption after it happens. A code of ethics, Mission Karmayogi training and protection for whistleblowers would help prevent it.
Word count: 146.
| Where | What earns credit |
|---|---|
| Opening | A definition that goes beyond the law |
| Body | Governance and development both covered, with named sources |
| Conclusion | Three concrete steps |