UPSC Mains 2023 GS4 Q2a: model answer
“Corruption is the manifestation of the failure of core values in the society.” In your opinion, what measures can be adopted to uplift the core values in the society ?
What the question wants
Link corruption to value failure; suggest measures through family, education, institutions, leadership.
How to structure it
Intro: corruption as abuse of entrusted power, rooted in greed and tolerance. Body: (1) How it reflects value failure: honesty, integrity, empathy weakened; materialism; social acceptance; (2) Measures: family and early socialisation, value education (NEP 2020), role models and leadership, civil service ethics training (Mission Karmayogi), rewarding honesty, media and civil society, religious and community institutions, strong institutions to support values (Lokpal, RTI). Conclusion: values plus systems.
- 1(1) How it reflects value failure: honesty, integrity, empathy weakened
- 2Materialism
- 3Social acceptance
- 4(2) Measures: family and early socialisation, value education (NEP 2020), role models and leadership, civil service ethics training (Mission Karmayogi), rewarding honesty, media and civil society, religious and community institutions, strong institutions to support values (Lokpal, RTI)
Model answer
Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. When honesty, integrity and concern for others weaken, and wealth is admired however it is earned, corruption becomes normal.
Measures to uplift core values
- Family: children learn honesty from parents who refuse shortcuts like bribes for a licence.
- Education: NEP 2020 stresses ethics and constitutional values; stories, debates and service learning make values practical.
- Role models: honouring honest officers, like those who exposed wrongdoing, and leaders who live simply, as Lal Bahadur Shastri did.
- Civil service training: Mission Karmayogi and ethics modules focused on public service.
- Social sanction: communities should stop admiring ill-gotten wealth.
- Media and civil society: campaigns like Vigilance Awareness Week.
- Institutions that reward honesty: RTI, Lokpal, whistleblower protection and fast punishment make values pay.
Values and institutions reinforce each other. As Gandhi said, the world has enough for everyone's need, but not for everyone's greed.
Keywords, cases and data to drop in
core values value education role models Mission Karmayogi social sanction
Where most answers lose marks
- Only legal measures.
- No link between values and corruption.
Fresh examples from current affairs
Supreme Court: no prior approval under Section 17A needed to probe a bribe demand
In a judgment of 16 October 2026, a Supreme Court Bench of Justices S.V.N. Bhatti and N.V. Anjaria held that investigating a bribe demand by a public servant does not need prior approval under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Asking for a bribe, the court said, is not part of discharging official duties.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Sections 7, 7A, 17A and 19 of the PC Act. · Mains GS-II/GS-IV: honest officers versus accountability.
19 Oct 2026Learn the concept
Question text as printed in the official UPSC question paper: https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/QP-CSM-23-GENERAL-STUDIES-PAPER-IV-180923.pdf The model answer is original Battle IAS work; use it to learn structure, not to memorise.