The Nolan Principles: Ethical Benchmarks of Public Life
The Seven Principles of Public Life, formulated by the UK’s Committee on Standards in Public Life chaired by Lord Nolan in 1995, serve as the international gold standard for public service ethics. The 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission (2nd ARC) of India has recommended incorporating these principles directly into a statutory Code of Ethics for all Indian civil servants.
| Definition & Global Context | - International gold standard for public life ethics formulated by UK Committee chaired by Lord Nolan in 1995 (recommended by 2nd ARC for Indian civil service) |
| Selflessness | - Acting solely in terms of public interest without seeking personal, familial, or financial material gain - Exemplar: Lal Bahadur Shastri resigning as Railway Minister in 1956 following Ariyalur train disaster taking moral responsibility |
| Integrity | - Avoiding placing oneself under financial or other obligations to outside entities that might influence official duties - Exemplar: IAS Ashok Khemka maintaining uncompromising integrity across 50+ punitive transfers resisting illegal land mutations |
| Objectivity | - Making public appointments, awarding contracts, and recommending benefits solely on merit and evidence - Exemplar: T.N. Seshan CEC objectively enforcing Model Code of Conduct curbing money and muscle power in Indian elections |
| Accountability | - Submitting official choices and actions to appropriate public scrutiny and accepting full consequences for failures - Exemplar: IAS Armstrong Pame publishing transparent crowdfunding expense sheets online for the 100km Manipur People's Road |
| Openness | - Being as transparent as possible regarding official decisions and restricting information only when wider public interest demands - Exemplar: Proactive online disclosure of cabinet decisions, public works budgets, and tender files under RTI Act Section 4 |
| Honesty | - Duty to declare private interests relating to public duties and taking proactive steps to resolve conflict of interest - Exemplar: Public officer voluntarily recusing themselves from selection boards or tender committees when relatives apply |
| Leadership | - Promoting and supporting ethical principles by personal moral example and setting the tone at the top - Exemplar: President APJ Abdul Kalam paying personal Rashtrapati Bhavan family stay costs from personal savings and donating salary to charity |
| Key Quotes | - Nolan Committee: Public office is a trust; holders must act in public interest, not personal benefit - Plato: The measure of a man is what he does with power |
| Conclusion | - Success lies in grounding daily administrative actions in the Nolan heptad to **"Sustain Democratic Legitimacy and Institutional Public Trust"** |