Discuss the Public Services Code as recommended by the 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission.

Public service values

Allegiance to the Constitution, apolitical functioning, objectivity, impartiality, accountability, transparency and empathy for weaker sections sit at the apex.

Code of ethics

The middle tier guides decisions, above all on conflict of interest, where no rule speaks.

Code of conduct

Enforceable rules on gifts, assets and political activity form the base.

Statutory backing

A Public Services law would add merit-based recruitment and performance-linked accountability, a step the UK later took when its Civil Service Code became statutory in 2010.

From don'ts to do's

The code moves ethics from fear of penalty to Value Internalisation, values held as one's own.

Partial adoption

The draft Public Services Bill, 2007 was never enacted, though the 2014 amendment to the All India Services (Conduct) Rules added values like integrity and political neutrality.

Enforcement gap

Without training and ethics audits, the code risks staying on paper.