Ethics in Public Administration is a fundamental concept that defines the professional moral code for public officials, ensuring that governance is fair, accountable, and citizen-centric. It is rooted in core values such as integrity, objectivity, impartiality, transparency, and accountability. The modern push for systemic reform in India originated with the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2nd ARC), which was established on August 31, 2005, and submitted its Fourth Report on Ethics in Governance between 2006 and 2009. This initiative was created to combat widespread corruption, enhance public trust, and address the lack of ethical standards in the administrative machinery.
The concept works through a dual mechanism of existing rules and proposed reforms. The current framework is primarily governed by the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, and the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, which mandate absolute integrity, devotion to duty, and political neutrality for civil servants. The 2nd ARC recommended shifting the focus from these prescriptive Codes of Conduct to a comprehensive, statutory-backed Code of Ethics that would internalize values rather than merely enforce rules.
This ethical framework connects directly to key anti-corruption and oversight institutions, including the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the establishment of Lokpal and Lokayuktas. It is also intrinsically linked to legislation like the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and the Right to Information (RTI) Act. A recent change includes the enactment of the Whistleblower Protection Act, 2014, which was recommended by the 2nd ARC to safeguard individuals who report unethical practices.