BharatNotes What is Integrity and Probity?
Integrity is the steadfast adherence to a moral or ethical code — being honest, consistent, and undivided in one's principles whether or not anyone is watching. Probity, derived from the Latin probitas (goodness, uprightness), is integrity applied to public life. It denotes the highest standard of ethical conduct, honesty and incorruptibility expected of those who hold public office, particularly in financial matters such as procurement, public expenditure and the exercise of discretion.
The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), in its Fourth Report "Ethics in Governance" (2007), stressed that for a public servant probity involves more than simply avoiding corruption — it is the strict adherence to a code of ethics based on undeviating honesty, making office-holders accountable and willing to submit their decisions to public scrutiny.
Key Principles
The most cited articulation comes from the UK's Committee on Standards in Public Life (Nolan Committee), whose Seven Principles of Public Life (published 1995) remain a global benchmark.
| Principle | Core idea |
|---|---|
| Selflessness | Act solely in the public interest |
| Integrity | Avoid obligations that could improperly influence official duty |
| Objectivity | Decide on merit, without bias |
| Accountability | Be answerable and submit to scrutiny |
| Openness | Be transparent about decisions and actions |
| Honesty | Be truthful |
| Leadership | Promote and exemplify these principles |
In India, these ideas are operationalised through codes of conduct (e.g. AIS Conduct Rules), citizen's charters, the Right to Information Act, 2005, and institutions such as the Central Vigilance Commission and the Lokpal.
Integrity vs Probity
Although used together, the two are not identical:
- Integrity is a personal virtue — internal consistency between values and conduct, applicable to anyone.
- Probity is the public, observable manifestation of that integrity in office, emphasising financial honesty, accountability and openness to public scrutiny.
A person of integrity who never enters public office is not described as having "probity"; probity is the public-trust dimension of integrity.
Significance in Governance
Probity in governance is regarded by the Second ARC as a vital requirement for effective administration and socio-economic development. Its benefits include:
- Public trust — citizens cooperate with institutions they believe are honest.
- Corruption control — a culture of integrity discourages bribery, nepotism and misuse of power.
- Fairness and equity — impartial officers uphold legal procedure and protect vulnerable groups.
- Legitimacy — government bodies derive authority from the ethical conduct of their functionaries.
UPSC Angle
For GS-IV, integrity and probity are not abstractions but tools for case-study reasoning. Candidates should be ready to (i) define and differentiate the terms, (ii) cite the Nolan Principles and the Second ARC's Fourth Report, and (iii) apply the concepts to ethical dilemmas — for instance, whether a civil servant should resist political pressure to bend a tender process. As a foundational concept, it underpins the wider question family of corruption, accountability, transparency and ethical decision-making in public administration.
