Aptitude and Foundational Values for Civil Service, Integrity, Impartiality and Non-partisanship, Objectivity, Dedication to Public Service, Empathy, Tolerance and Compassion towards the weaker sectio

These foundational values guide ethical and efficient public administration. They ensure civil servants remain impartial, people-centric, and responsive while upholding the Constitution and public trust in governance.

1. Integrity

Definition: Honesty and consistency of character, even when faced with pressure or personal loss.

Keywords	Examples
1. Whistleblowing	Ashok Khemka repeatedly transferred for exposing land scams but never compromised on the truth.
2. Moral uprightness	IRS officer refused bribes from a luxury hotel group and reported the evasion scam, leading to the recovery of ₹300 crore.
3. Conflict of Interest	A civil servant rejected a relative’s tender application due to a conflict of interest.
4. Administrative integrity	A collector ensured no political pressure altered flood relief fund allocation despite calls from local MPs.

2. Impartiality

Definition: Ensuring decisions are free from personal bias, favouritism, or prejudice in official conduct.

Keywords	Examples
1. Fair decision-making	District Magistrate cancelled a tender awarded to a known NGO after finding procedural flaws.
2. Balanced administration	A civil servant dealt equally with encroachments by both a temple and a mosque in a communal area.
3. Justice delivery	In a communal riot case, SP ensured arrests were made based on FIRs, not group affiliations.
4. Equity in service	The collector ensured fair food grain distribution in tribal and non-tribal villages alike.

3. Non-partisanship

Definition: Maintaining political neutrality and not aligning with or favouring any political party.

Keywords	Examples
1. Political neutrality	SDM refused to attend a ruling party rally during election time, citing the Model Code of Conduct.
2. Electoral ethics	The officer rejected MLA’s request to prioritise a specific caste group in the housing scheme list.
3. Neutral enforcement	The District Election Officer denied VIP status to a minister for violating campaign regulations.
4. Institutional accountability	Civil servant reported misuse of government vehicles for electioneering to ECI.

4. Objectivity

Definition: Basing decisions on facts, rules, and evidence without personal feelings or external influence.

Keywords	Examples
1. Evidence-based policy	IAS officer used health data to prioritize COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
2. Merit-based evaluation	Promotion decisions are made purely on Confidential Reports, not proximity to political leaders.
3. Rule-based governance	The officer denied flood relief to a group despite emotional appeals, as their village was unaffected.
4. Fact-based planning	Collector chose a tribal belt for a nutrition pilot based on malnutrition statistics.

5. Dedication to Public Service

Definition: Commitment to serve people selflessly and uphold public welfare above personal gain.

Keywords	Examples
1. Grassroots leadership	Armstrong Pame built a road in Manipur with public contributions and no government funds.
2. Selfless commitment	An IAS officer camped for 15 days in a flood-hit village to oversee relief personally.
3. Public-before-self	Female SDM resumed duties within a week of childbirth during disaster management in Kerala.
4. Duty-first mindset	An SP in Naxal-hit Chhattisgarh led patrols despite personal risk to encourage local police morale.

6. Empathy

Definition: The Ability to understand and share the feelings of others for responsive administration.

Keywords	Examples
1. Human dignity	Collector visited the family of a sanitation worker who died on duty, ensured compensation.
2. Sensitivity in governance	Officer created elderly-friendly helpdesks in government hospitals after observing difficulties of senior citizens.
3. Responsive leadership	IAS officer consoled a tribal mother whose child died of malnutrition and launched a local nutrition mission.
4. Empathetic innovation	Civil servant introduced Braille-based government scheme booklets for visually impaired citizens.

7. Tolerance

Definition: Respecting and accepting diverse views, practices, and cultures in a pluralistic society.

Keywords	Examples
1. Religious harmony	Officer mediated between Hindu and Muslim groups during Muharram–Dussehra clash, ensuring peaceful coexistence.
2. Cultural inclusiveness	IAS officer implemented Urdu signage in Hindi-dominant districts to respect linguistic minorities.
3. Respect for diversity	Civil servant allowed peaceful LGBTQ+ pride rally despite opposition from conservative groups.
4. Pluralism in practice	Collector supported inter-faith marriage counseling centres to protect couples from social backlash.

8. Compassion towards the weaker sections

Definition: Sensitivity, protection, and upliftment of the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable communities.

Keywords	Examples
1. Marginalised outreach	Officer launched a mobile health unit for remote tribal women in Odisha.
2. Social justice	Civil servant secured bonded labor release and facilitated their rehabilitation.
3. Vulnerability response	District Magistrate offered immediate cash help and education to orphaned children after floods.
4. Inclusiveness	IAS officer ensured transgender representation in District Vigilance Committees.