A quick-reference summary of core ethics concepts — for full depth, see our detailed UPSC Ethics notes.
Ethical theory — what ethics is, its determinants, and the frameworks of thinkers like Kant, Bentham, and Aristotle — doesn't change based on which exam you're taking. Rather than duplicate that material, this page summarises the essentials and points you to our full, in-depth notes.
Ethics is largely self-regulated conduct, shaped by family, religion, education, and personal conscience — distinct from externally enforced law. → Full Ethics & Human Interface notes
Attitude has affective, behavioural, and cognitive components; emotional intelligence (Goleman's model) covers self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. → Full Attitude notes and Emotional Intelligence notes
Aristotle (virtue ethics), Kant (deontology), Bentham/Mill (utilitarianism), and Indian thinkers like Gandhi and the Bhagavad Gita's concept of nishkama karma are frequently invoked in mains answers. → Full Contributions of Thinkers notes
What's worth studying specifically in this section is how these concepts apply to public service values and case studies — covered in the remaining topics of this section.
Download this topic's notes as a PDF, or search uploaded materials.
