Nolan Committee: 7 Ethics Principles with Examples

The Nolan Committee's 7 Ethics Principles shall be covered under UPSC IAS GS PAPER-IV syllabus (Ethics - in Private and Public Relationships; Public/Civil Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration).

UPSC asks at least a question from this topic every year directly or indirectly because this topic has the essence of the entire GS Paper IV - Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude. This topic can be said as the horoscope of IAS GS Paper IV.

Nolan Committee: 7 Ethics Principles

In 1994, John Major, the then UK Prime Minister established a Committee on Standards in Public Life, under the Chairmanship of Lord Nolan. The Nolan committee submitted a report called “The Seven Principles of Public Life”. Henceforth the report has become a famous guiding tool for ensuring ethics in public administration (government).

Nolan Committee recommendations: Seven Ethics principles

Selflessness: The public officers should take decisions solely in terms of public interest. They should not do or act so in order to gain any financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends.

Ex: Officers must uphold the spirit of public service while discharging his duties. While building infrastructures like roads, ports etc, Engineers or constructors shall ensure quality material is used in the public interest i.e. public safety :

Integrity: The public officers should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

Ex:

Officers shall spend their own money for travel and not using the official vehicle for personal needs etc.
Former A.P.J President Abdul Kalam did not use his office resources even for the smallest of his personal needs.

Objectivity: The public officers must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

Ex:

Officers shall not reveal any of the official decisions to his or her kins or kiths or friends that harm merit criteria and fair opportunities.
Officer showing nepotism while selecting an ineligible person by rejecting the qualified person.

Accountability: The public officers are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

Ex:

The officer shall be answerable for his acts of omission and commission in his official capacity. Government offices are provided with a lot of money, the head of the office is accountable to all the expenditures. They must give an account to the public or during an audit.
Politicians make promises during elections; they must be accountable after elections to people by meeting those promises. People hold them accountable by their vote.

Openness: Public officers should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.

Ex: Officer shall take decisions openly so that people will see what is happening in the government and trust the government.

Honesty: The public officers should be truthful. They have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest. It fosters self-accountability and responsibility.

Ex:

If in case a person (officer) is appointed as SEBI chairman, he shall reveal his private interests, i.e. if he has any shareholdings in any company, while taking up the charge.
Honesty is situational. Some people pretend to be honest when someone watches them and acts unethically when no one is observing them. Doing duty when cameras are on and neglecting duty when cameras are turned off.

Leadership: The public officers should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Ex:

By being punctual to office
By showing the highest concern for a fellow being or a person from the weaker section
By not accepting bribes or showing nepotism in duty one can be an example for other public officeholders. In other words, lead by example.

However, below mentioned values if added to the above seven principles would make public official not only ethical but more citizen-friendly.

Emotional intelligence: It is a very important skill in administration. It is not just awareness about one's emotions but also recognising that of others and managing them to bring a positive change.
Aptitude: Knowledge about rules, regulations and policies and values will help the officer make better decisions for upholding the public interest.

An IAS officer with aptitude, though financial resource constraints in the district, had mobilised local communities to build a water canal without government support.

Code of conduct: Behaviour of employee plays a larger role for the success of the organisation and help better service delivery. The character of the organisation is dependent on the character of the officer who heads it.

Ex: Many upright officers including T.N. Sheshan and Coorprate heads like Ratan Tata and Narayana Murthi etc.

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