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Ethics in Contemporary Issues – UPSC GS4

This module of the GS Paper 4: Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude course covers technology and ai ethics, environmental ethics and bioethics. It has 2 study lessons and a 16-question practice quiz. Free lessons can be read in full; premium lessons show a preview.

Lessons in this module

1. Ethics of Technology, Data and Artificial Intelligence

Free 8 min

Digital technology has transformed governance in India – Aadhaar, UPI, DBT, DigiLocker, CoWIN, facial recognition at airports (DigiYatra), AI chatbots for farmers. These tools bring speed, scale and transparency. But they also raise new ethical…

2. Environmental Ethics and Bioethics

Premium 7 min

Environmental ethics asks what duties humans have toward nature, other species and future generations. Bioethics asks what is right in medicine, health and the life sciences – from consent in clinical trials to gene editing…

 Module quiz: Ethics in Contemporary Issues (16 questions)

Maps & infographics in this module

Eight cards on ethical issues in digital governance: privacy, surveillance, bias, black box, accountability, exclusion, deepfakes and cyber security
Technology must serve people, not replace judgement.
Table of AI ethics frameworks: OECD 2019, NITI Aayog 2021, UNESCO 2021, EU AI Act 2024 and IndiaAI Mission 2024
All stress human oversight.
Flow chart of the Puttaswamy proportionality test for using citizen data: law, legitimate aim, proportionality, safeguards, then proceed with audit and appeal
From the 2017 privacy judgment.
Table of approaches to environmental ethics from anthropocentric to biocentric, ecocentric, deep ecology and ecofeminism with thinkers
Indian traditions lean toward ecocentrism.
Timeline of environmental ethics in India from the Bishnoi sacrifice in 1730 to the 2024 recognition of a right against the adverse effects of climate change
From community action to constitutional rights.
Four cards on the principles of bioethics: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice
Beauchamp and Childress, 1979.

Frequently asked questions

Lessons: Ethics of Technology, Data and Artificial Intelligence; Environmental Ethics and Bioethics.

Answer: Puttaswamy (2017). Nine-judge bench.

Answer: ₹250 crore. Per instance.

Answer: 2021. Principles for AI.

Answer: Risk-based approach. 2024.

Related modules

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Attitude in Depth2 lessons
Aptitude and Foundational Values3 lessons
Emotional Intelligence in Depth2 lessons
Integrity and Probity in Governance2 lessons
Ethics in Public Administration3 lessons
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Probity in Governance in Depth5 lessons
Case Studies4 lessons
Case Studies with Model Answers5 lessons

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