UPSC CSM 2021 — General Studies Paper IV (Full Question Paper)

Identify five ethical traits on which one can plot the performance of a civil servant. Justify their inclusion in the matrix.

Identify ten essential values that are needed to be an effective public servant. Describe the ways and means to prevent non-ethical behaviour in the public servants.

Impact of digital technology as reliable source of input for rational decision making is a debatable issue. Critically evaluate with suitable example.

Besides domain knowledge, a public official needs innovativeness and creativity of a high order as well, while resolving ethical dilemmas. Discuss with suitable example.

What does each of the following quotations mean to you?

(a) “Every work has got to pass through hundreds of difficulties before succeeding. Those that persevere will see the light, sooner or later.” —Swami Vivekananda

(b) “We can never obtain peace in the outer world until and unless we obtain peace within ourselves.” —Dalai Lama

(c) “Life doesn’t make any sense without interdependence. We need each other, and the sooner we learn that, it is better for us all.” —Erik Erikson

Attitude is an important component that goes as input in the development of human being. How to build a suitable attitude needed for a public servant?

In case of crisis of conscience does emotional intelligence help to overcome the same without compromising the ethical or moral stand that you are likely to follow? Critically examine.

“Refugees should not be turned back to the country where they would face persecution or human right violation.” Examine the statement with reference to ethical dimension being violated by the nation claiming to be democratic with open society.

Should impartial and being non-partisan be considered as indispensable qualities to make a successful civil servant? Discuss with illustrations.

An independent and empowered social audit mechanism is an absolute must in every sphere of public service, including judiciary, to ensure performance, accountability and ethical conduct. Elaborate.

“Integrity is a value that empowers the human being.” Justify with suitable illustration.

Sunil is a young civil servant with a reputation for competence, integrity and dedication. He was posted to a tribal-dominated district notorious for illegal sand mining, where a mafia operated with the support of local functionaries and tribal musclemen who bribed and intimidated poor tribals. Sunil quickly identified the mafia’s modus operandi and found some of his own office staff were complicit. He launched raids on the illegal sand-truck movement. The mafia turned hostile: his family was stalked and put under virtual surveillance, and a mafia strongman visited his office threatening him with the same fate as a predecessor officer killed by the mafia ten years earlier.

(a) Identify the different options available to Sunil in attending to this situation.

(b) Critically evaluate each of the options listed by you.

(c) Which of the above, do you think, would be the most appropriate for Sunil to adopt and why?

You are Vice Principal of a degree college in a middle-class town, and management has hinted you may be promoted to Principal. During annual examinations, a university flying squad caught two students using unfair means, with a senior lecturer (close to management) personally helping them. One student was the son of a local politician who helped affiliate the college to its present university; the other was the son of a local businessman who donates heavily to the college. Management asked you to resolve the issue with the flying squad “at any cost,” hinting your promotion depends on it, while student union members are protesting outside the gate demanding strict action against the defaulters.

(a) Discuss the ethical issues involved in the case.

(b) Critically examine the options available with you as Vice Principal. What option will you adopt and why?

An elevated corridor is being constructed to reduce traffic congestion in a state capital, with a strict deadline of 30 June 2021 so the Chief Minister can inaugurate it before elections are announced. As project manager, you noticed a minor crack in one pier during a surprise inspection, possibly due to poor material, and assessed that at least three piers need demolition and reconstruction — a fix that would delay the project four to six months. The chief engineer overruled this, citing the minister’s wish for no delay, revealed the contractor is the minister’s relative, and hinted your promotion to additional chief engineer is under the ministry’s consideration. You still feel the crack is dangerous to overlook.

(a) Under the given conditions, what are the options available to you as a project manager?

(b) What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by the project manager?

(c) What are the professional challenges likely to be faced by the project manager and his response to overcome such challenges?

(d) What can be the consequences of overlooking the observation raised by the inspecting team?

The COVID-19 pandemic spread rapidly; by 8 May 2020, India had reported 56,342 positive cases. With a population of over 1.35 billion, India struggled to control transmission and imposed a 55-day nationwide lockdown, while schools and colleges shifted to online teaching. India was not prepared for the crisis due to limited human resources, funds and infrastructure, and hospitals faced acute shortages of beds, oxygen cylinders, ambulances, staff and crematoria. You are a hospital administrator in a public hospital at the time coronavirus attacked large numbers of people, with patients pouring in day and night.

(a) Fully knowing this is a highly infectious disease with limited resources and infrastructure, what are your criteria and justification for putting your clinical and non-clinical staff to attend to the patients?

(b) If yours is a private hospital, whether your justification and decision would remain the same as that of a public hospital?

A reputed India-based food company developed a food product for the international market, got necessary approvals, and started exporting it, also announcing the product would soon be available to domestic consumers with almost the same quality and health benefits. It got the product approved by the domestic competent authority and launched it in the Indian market, gaining market share and profit both domestically and internationally. However, a random sample test by an inspecting team found the domestically-sold product varied from the approved formulation, and further investigation revealed the company was also selling rejected export products — ones that did not meet the country’s health standards — in the domestic market. This adversely affected the company’s reputation and profitability.

(a) What action do you visualize should be taken by the competent authority against the food company for violating the laid down domestic food standard and selling rejected export products in the domestic market?

(b) What course of action is available with the food company to resolve the crisis and bring back its lost reputation?

(c) Examine the ethical dilemma involved in the case.

Pawan, a state government officer of ten years’ standing, was transferred to a new office under a senior officer known for being difficult and insensitive, with a disturbed family life of his own. Over time, Pawan felt the senior officer routinely belittled him in front of others, rejecting his suggestions and humiliating him publicly without any real work-related shortcoming. The continuous harassment and public criticism cost Pawan his confidence, self-esteem and equanimity, leaving him perpetually tensed and anxious. It began spilling into his personal life — he lost his temper with his wife and family without reason, and his once-supportive wife became a victim of his negativity and hostile behaviour, damaging his physical and mental health.

(a) What are the options available with Pawan to cope up with the situation?

(b) What approach Pawan should adopt for bringing peace, tranquillity and congenial environment in the office and home?

(c) As an outsider, what are your suggestions for both boss and subordinate to overcome this situation and for improving the work performance, mental and emotional hygiene?

(d) In the above scenario, what type of training would you suggest for officers at various levels in the government offices?