Best Recommended Books for IAS Mains GS Paper 4

The UPSC Civil services examination is conducted in 3 stages; namely:

1) Preliminary Examination

2) Mains Examination

3) Personality Test (Interview)

Among the 3 stages, the most significant stage is considered is Preliminary examination as it is a gateway to the aspirant’s dream post.

Besides this, the second stage also assumes an important part. In Mains Examination, the civil service aspirants have to appear for the compulsory language (2 papers), General Studies (4 papers). The civil service aspirants need to write the answers to these papers in descriptive form.

Now among the 4 general Studies papers, Gs 4 Paper (Ethics Paper) is considered as a game-changer paper. The reason to give huge importance to this paper is that this paper needs to be answered in generalized passion. It requires the aspirants to uses their common sense and tests their analytical ability.

So, to prepare for GS Paper 4 the aspirants should put minimum efforts in the right direction. And the right direction starts with the right selection of the Sources to be studied for GS Paper 4.

Here we are providing a crisp list of Sources for GS Paper 4: –

1. Syllabus Copy for GS 4
   • The most important one.
2. Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
   • Note: – Just read and understand the concepts. Don’t make notes out of this book.
3. IGNOU Study Material for Ethics Course
   • Note: – You can point out the standard definition from this source.
4. Administrative Reforms Commission Report on Ethics
   • Note: – Make a crisp note out of this report and revise multiple times. Quoting points, definitions, and terms from this source will add value to your answers.

Ethics Value addition: –

Ethics provides a wide scope for aspirants to add a number of latest concepts from current affairs. To stand out different in the race of lakhs of aspirants you should focus on adding value to your ethics answers.

To do Ethics Value addition, go through the following steps:

1. Pic a topic from Syllabus.
2. Read Lexicon and IGNOU chapters relevant to that topic.
3. After completing the standard sources, google the topics and see if there are good articles in The Hindu, Indian Express, live mint, etc.
4. Besides you can also quote any Current affairs incident or SC judgment relevant to the topic.